Non-parametric Bayesian networks for parameter estimation in reservoir simulation: a graphical take on the ensemble Kalman filter (part I)

Reservoir simulation models are used both in the development of new fields and in developed fields where production forecasts are needed for investment decisions. When simulating a reservoir, one must account for the physical and chemical processes taking place in the subsurface. Rock and fluid properties are crucial when describing the flow in porous media. In this paper, the authors are concerned with estimating the permeability field of a reservoir. The problem of estimating model parameters such as permeability is often referred to as a history-matching problem in reservoir engineering. Currently, one of the most widely used methodologies which address the history-matching problem is the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). EnKF is a Monte Carlo implementation of the Bayesian update problem. Nevertheless, the EnKF methodology has certain limitations that encourage the search for an alternative method.For this reason, a new approach based on graphical models is proposed and studied. In particular, the graphical model chosen for this purpose is a dynamic non-parametric Bayesian network (NPBN). This is the first attempt to approach a history-matching problem in reservoir simulation using a NPBN-based method. A two-phase, two-dimensional flow model was implemented for a synthetic reservoir simulation exercise, and initial results are shown. The methods’ performances are evaluated and compared. This paper features a completely novel approach to history matching and constitutes only the first part (part I) of a more detailed investigation. For these reasons (novelty and incompleteness), many questions are left open and a number of recommendations are formulated, to be investigated in part II of the same paper.     

地下水机器学习方法研究

随着我国地下水监测工作的高速发展,高频率高密度水位监测数据的出现催生了对其进行深入信息挖掘的需求。在传统地下水模型研究中,地下水水位监测值常位于模型构建过程的下游,当水位监测的时空密度逐渐增大时,新增信息无法有效传导至模型的规划阶段并指导概念模型的修订。文章提出了一种地下水系统补排边界的识别方法,在不建立地下水数值模型的前提下,以监测井空间位置为节点,按照德劳内原则建立三角网格。在此网格系统中,首先定义一个水力梯度变换函数gradF,以求取网格中任意位置的水力梯度;借鉴机器学习领域的优化算法,使用水力梯度场驱动含水层中随机分布质点的运行轨迹,并以此推断和识别区域内地下水补给和排泄边界。在环境地学计算平台EnviFusion-CGS中实现,并构建了详细工作流程。以山东省青岛市大沽河中下游含水层为示范区,对含水系统的补给区和排泄区的空间分布及其动态变化进行了分析,取得了良好效果。本研究为构建和修订已有含水层概念模型提供了新思路。     

西北地区地下水水量-水位双控指标确定研究——以民勤盆地为例

地下水是西北内陆河流域干旱半干旱地区重要的供水水源、生态因子和环境因子。当前缺乏针对西北干旱半干旱地区特点的地下水水量和水位双控管理指标确定方法研究,无法为西北地区开展流域水资源管理生态保护提供技术支撑。本研究基于地下水可持续利用和生态保护的原则,提出了一套确定西北地区地下水水量-水位双控指标的技术方案。采用“以位定量”的思路,依据指标监测井代表的不同地下水功能区的地下水管理水位,确定水位指标区间值;将通过天然植被排泄的地下水量作为不可袭夺的排泄项,以数值模拟方法预报求解满足水位指标约束的地下水开采量,计算水量指标区间值。以民勤盆地为研究区开展示例研究,依据技术方案计算得到水位指标的下限阈值为埋深5.00～49.37 m,上限阈值为埋深0.00～5.00 m,水量指标上限为6 000×104 m3/a,下限为10 000×104 m3/a。采用2012—2016年区内实际开采量和监测水位变化趋势进行验证,当开采量在水量指标区间内运行时,水位也基本在水位指标区间内变化。该技术方法可以为西北地区开展双控管理提供一定的技术支撑。     

A way to synchronize models with seismic faults for earthquake forecasting: Insights from a simple stochastic model

Numerical models are starting to be used for determining the future behaviour of seismic faults and fault networks. Their final goal would be to forecast future large earthquakes. In order to use them for this task, it is necessary to synchronize each model with the current status of the actual fault or fault network it simulates (just as, for example, meteorologists synchronize their models with the atmosphere by incorporating current atmospheric data in them). However, lithospheric dynamics is largely unobservable: important parameters cannot (or can rarely) be measured in Nature. Earthquakes, though, provide indirect but measurable clues of the stress and strain status in the lithosphere, which should be helpful for the synchronization of the models.The rupture area is one of the measurable parameters of earthquakes. Here we explore how it can be used to at least synchronize fault models between themselves and forecast synthetic earthquakes. Our purpose here is to forecast synthetic earthquakes in a simple but stochastic (random) fault model. By imposing the rupture area of the synthetic earthquakes of this model on other models, the latter become partially synchronized with the first one. We use these partially synchronized models to successfully forecast most of the largest earthquakes generated by the first model. This forecasting strategy outperforms others that only take into account the earthquake series. Our results suggest that probably a good way to synchronize more detailed models with real faults is to force them to reproduce the sequence of previous earthquake ruptures on the faults. This hypothesis could be tested in the future with more detailed models and actual seismic data.     

基于SPA的喀斯特地区水安全评价——以贵州省为例

根据目前公认的水安全内涵,将水安全分为三个子系统。水资源子系统、水环境子系统和水灾害子系统。三者相互联系、相互作用,形成了复杂、时变的水安全系统。基于水安全的基本原理和喀斯特区域特有的水循环机理,依据 “驱动力（D）—压力（P）—状态（S）—影响（I）—响应（R）”模型建立了贵州省喀斯特区域水安全评价指标体系。基于集对分析理论,引入能够体现系统确定性和不确定性的同异反联系度计算公式,建立了城市水安全的评价模型。将集对分析法运用到水安全的评价中, 可以先通过计算评价样本与评价指标之间的联系度对样本作初步的排序, 再对样本作进一步的同一、差异、对立的集对分析,以判断出评价样本的等级。研究结果表明:（1）在水资源安全状态方面,贵州省9个州市中4个处于安全状态,2个处于基本安全状态,2个处于不安全状态,1个处于危机状态;（2）在水环境安全状态方面,2个处于安全状态,4个处于基本安全,3个处于不安全;（3）在水灾害安全状态方面,1个处于非常安全,4个处于安全,1个处于基本安全,2个处于不安全,1个处于危机;（4）在水安全综合状态下,有3个处于安全状态,有4个处于基本安全状态,有2个处于不安全状态,没有处于非常安全和危机状态。      

Hydrochemical and statistical studies of the groundwater salinization combined with MODPATH numerical model: case of the Sfax coastal aquifer,Southeast Tunisia

Shallow groundwater is one of the main water resources in the arid and semi-arid regions. However, it is threatened by not only the reduced rainfall and recharge capacity, but also the water table drawdown and seawater intrusion. Such factors could cause a deterioration of the water quality and consequently the loss of a valuable hydraulic resource. This study aimed to improve our knowledge on the groundwater chemical quality evolution of the Sfax shallow aquifer, one of the most vulnerable areas in Tunisia, by developing a geochemical study using statistical and numerical methods. Salinization was identified by factorial analysis, PCA, and hierarchical clustering analysis in addition to the numerical MODPATH model. These findings confirmed that the groundwater quality has deteriorated due to natural and anthropogenic processes with a different influence of mineralization factors. They also revealed the location of seawater intrusion by focusing on the most vulnerable areas which are Chaffar and Djbeniana. Methodologically, the use of MODPATH model for seawater intrusion determination might be considered as the backbone for future studies in Tunisian coastal aquifers. The numerical model supports the results obtained by the geochemical analysis. Both methods are valuable tools as they contribute to trend determinations, management, and recovery plans.     

Correction: Feasibility of nitrate reduction combined with persulfate oxidation in the remediation of groundwater contaminated by gasoline

Hydrogeology Journal -     

Small rock‐slope failures conditioned by Holocene permafrost degradation: a new approach and conceptual model based on Schmidt‐hammer exposure‐age dating,Jotunheimen, southern Norway

Rock‐slope failures (RSFs) constitute significant natural hazards, but the geophysical processes that control their timing are poorly understood. However, robust chronologies can provide valuable information on the environmental controls on RSF occurrence: information that can inform models of RSF activity in response to climatic forcing. This study uses Schmidt‐hammer exposure‐age dating (SHD) of boulder deposits to construct a detailed regional Holocene chronology of the frequency and magnitude of small rock‐slope failures (SRSFs) in Jotunheimen, Norway. By focusing on the depositional fans of SRSFs (≤10³ m³), rather than on the corresponding features of massive RSFs (~10⁸ m³), 92 single‐event RSFs are targeted for chronology building. A weighted SHD age–frequency distribution and probability density function analysis indicated four centennial‐ to millennial‐scale periods of enhanced SRSF frequency, with a dominant mode at ~4.5 ka. Using change detection and discreet Meyer wavelet analysis, in combination with existing permafrost depth models, we propose that enhanced SRSF activity was primarily controlled by permafrost degradation. Long‐term relative change in permafrost depth provides a compelling explanation for the high‐magnitude departures from the SRSF background rate and accounts for: (i) the timing of peak SRSF frequency; (ii) the significant lag (~2.2 ka) between the Holocene Thermal Maximum and the SRSF frequency peak; and (iii) the marked decline in frequency in the late‐Holocene. This interpretation is supported by geomorphological evidence, as the spatial distribution of SRSFs is strongly correlated with the aspect‐dependent lower altitudinal limit of mountain permafrost in cliff faces. Results are indicative of a causal relationship between episodes of relatively warm climate, permafrost degradation and the transition to a seasonal‐freezing climatic regime. This study highlights permafrost degradation as a conditioning factor for cliff collapse, and hence the importance of paraperiglacial processes; a result with implications for slope instability in glacial and periglacial environments under global warming scenarios.     

Landsliding triggered by reservoir operation: a general conceptual model with a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir

The Three Gorge Reservoir, one of the largest civil engineering projects in human history, dams the Yangtze River to form a 660-km-long and 1.13-km-wide reservoir. Today, although the project has been completed and is in normal operation, the on-going landslide initiation and movement in response to the reservoir operating is one of the main geologic hazards. The Huangtupo (meaning “yellow soil slope” in Chinese) Slope typifies such on-going landslides along the reservoir. Observations from a multi-year monitoring program conducted on this slope indicate that there are multiple slides on the reservoir banks that move episodically into the reservoir and their movements appear to be highly correlated with the initial and seasonal changes in the reservoir pool level. A hydro-mechanical numerical model is constructed to investigate the quantitative links among the episodic movements and the variations in pore water pressure, suction stress, hydrostatic reservoir water loading, and slope self-weight induced by the fluctuating water levels. Modeling results identify regions within the variably saturated slope where significant changes in stress occur during the periods of the initial impoundment that raised water levels from 68 to 135 m and that occur in response to seasonal fluctuations of the reservoir pool level between 145 and 175 m. We find that the rise or decline of reservoir pool level can either increase or decrease the stability of landslide. In general, hydrostatic reservoir water loading has positive correlation with the stability; pore water pressure and suction stress have negative correlation with the stability; and the effects of slope self-weight depend on the dip angle and mechanical properties of sliding surface.     

鄂尔多斯高原地下水流系统的多层结构循环模式—来自深孔中PACKER系统分层水头测定的证据

地下水流系统和循环模式分析是研究地下水形成机理的基础,对正确认识和评价地下水资源具有重要意义。鄂尔多斯高原在含水系统和众多地下水排泄区的控制下,形成了多个不同规模、不同循环深度、相互独立的地下水流系统。PACKER系统分层试验测定的不同深度水头的数据证明,鄂尔多斯高原地下水流系统存在托斯多层水流模式,区域性水流系统一般包含浅循环、中间循环和深循环3个循环系统。浅循环系统的发育深度在200m以内,深循环系统的发育深度大于400m。     

Prediction method of debris flow by logistic model with two types of rainfall: a case study in the Sichuan, China

Debris flow is a serious disaster that frequently happens in mountainous area. This study presents an effective method for forecasting it by rainfall, which is one of the important components for prediction. The Sichuan Province is taken as an example. The geographic information system (GIS) is chosen as a tool to estimate the precipitation of hazard point, and use of statistical technique is made to calculate attenuation coefficient of effective antecedent precipitation. With such methodologies, the logistic regression model is used to comparatively establish the prediction model of two forms rainfall combination: (1) intraday rainfall and 10-day previous rainfall, (2) intraday rainfall and two types of effective antecedent rainfall which are short-time-heavy rainfall and long-time-light rainfall. The results indicate that the location of debris flows and the distribution of rainfall are factors interrelated. Secondly, the contribution rate of intraday rainfall is the highest. Thirdly, the second form rainfall combination has a higher prediction accuracy, 2.3% for short-time-heavy rainfall and 2.1% for long-time-light rainfall, which suggests that a moderate improvement is achieved by the rainfall classification.     

基于SWAT和遥感方法的黄土台塬区土壤水库均衡——以甘肃省陇东黄土董志塬为例

以甘肃省陇东黄土董志塬为研究区,采用SWAT模型和遥感方法,就黄土台塬区地下水库均衡进行综合研究. 结果表明：黄土台塬区土壤水分负均衡常出现在5、6月份,该期水分亏缺不利于植被的健康稳定生长,是灌溉调节的主要时段. 1981-2010年间,气温升高使陆表蒸散需求增加,降水减少使土壤水库补给减少,二者共同导致台塬区土壤水库负衡态势的加重. 气候变化背景下,积极寻求外调水源是解决黄土台塬区水资源短缺问题的重要手段.