Integrated geo-microbial and trace metal anomalies for detection of hydrocarbon microseepage in Ahmedabad block of Cambay basin,India

The aim of the present work is to define the geo-microbial signatures along with trace metals, and to investigate whether the geo-microbial anomalies have correlation with trace metal anomalies in Ahmedabad block of Cambay basin. The surface geochemical techniques are based on seepage of light hydrocarbon gases from the oil and gas pools to the shallow surface and can bring up near-surface oxidation reduction zones that favor the development of a diverse array of chemical and mineralogical changes. The paper reports the role of hydrocarbon microseepage in surface alterations of trace metal concentrations and hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria and its interrelationship. For the purpose a total of 90 soil samples are collected in grid pattern of 2 x 2 km interval. The paper reports the chemical alterations associated with trace metals in soils that are related to hydrocarbon microseepages above some of the major oil and gas fields of this petroliferous region. The concentrations of V (0 to149 ppm), Cr (2 to 192 ppm), Cu (4 to 171 ppm), Se (98 to 440 ppm), Zn (56 to 1215 ppm) are obtained. It is observed that the concentrations of trace elements are tremendously increased when they are compared with their normal concentrations in soils. In this study the hydrocarbon oxidizing bacterial counts ranged between 1.0 x 10³ and 1.59 x 10⁶ cfu/g of soil sample respectively. The attempt has made for the first time, which revealed good correlation as both these anomalies are found as apical in relation. Integrated studies between trace elements and hydrocarbon oxidizing bacterial anomalies showed positive correlation with existing oil and gas wells in the study area.     

Elimination of Interferences in the Determination of Palladium,Platinum and Rhodium Mass Fractions in Moss Samples using ICP‐MS/MS

Moss samples (Pleurozium schreberi) exposed to traffic‐related emission of Pd, Pt and Rh were analysed in this study. Successful elimination of interferences was achieved in the determination of Pd, Pt and Rh mass fractions in these samples using inductively coupled plasma‐tandem mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS/MS). Based on the results, a reliable determination of Pd, Pt and Rh mass fractions in microwave‐digested moss samples was obtained using ammonia (10% NH₃ in He) in the collision/reaction cell when ¹⁰³Rh was measured either on‐mass (103→103) or with mass‐shift (103→171) and mass‐shifts for ¹⁰⁸Pd (108→159) and ¹⁹⁵Pt (195→229) were used. The ICP‐MS/MS procedure was validated using BCR‐723 (road dust) as a reference material. In addition, a good agreement between the ICP‐MS/MS results and the results obtained with cloud point extraction and quadrupole ICP‐MS was observed for the moss samples.     

Petrophysical parameters and modelling of the Eocene reservoirs in the Qadirpur area,Central Indus Basin,Pakistan: implications from well log analysis

The Eocene rock units of the Qadirpur field, Central Indus Basin (Pakistan), are investigated petrophysically for their detailed reservoir characterization. The different petrophysical parameters determined include the following: true resistivity, shale volume, total porosity, effective porosity, density and neutron porosity, water and hydrocarbon saturation, bulk volume of water, lithology, gas effect, P-wave velocity, movable hydrocarbon index and irreducible water saturation and integrated with different cross-plots. The Eocene reservoirs are excellent with high effective porosity (2–32 %) and hydrocarbon saturation (10–93 %). Among these, the Sui Upper Limestone is an overall a poor reservoir; however, it has some hydrocarbon-rich intervals with high effective porosity and better net pay. All the net pay zones identified show low and variable shale volume (5–30 %). The secondary porosity has added to the total and effective porosities in these reservoirs. The main contributors to the porosity are the chalky, intercrystalline and vuggy/fracture types. The thickness of the reservoirs zones ranges from 4.5 to 62 m. These reservoirs are gas-producing carbonates with almost irreducible water saturation (0.002–0.01) and are likely to produce water-free hydrocarbons. The lower values of moveable hydrocarbon index (0.07–0.9) show that the hydrocarbons are moveable spontaneously to the well bore. The proposed correlation model shows that the reservoirs have an inclined geometry and are a part of an anticlinal trap.     

Lunar concrete: Prospects and challenges

The possibility of using concrete as a construction material at the Moon surface is considered. Dissimilarities between the Earth and the Moon and their possible effects on concrete are also emphasized. Availability of constituent materials for concrete at lunar surface is addressed. An emphasis is given to two types of materials, namely, hydraulic concrete and sulfur concrete. Hydraulic concrete necessitates the use of water and sulfur concrete makes use of molten sulfur in lieu of cement and water.     

Evaluation of various relationships of reaeration rate coefficient for modeling dissolved oxygen in a river with extreme flow variations in Pakistan

Mathematical relationships have been developed for reaeration rate coefficient (K_a) by various researchers. These relationships have a number of variables such as depth, velocity, width, slope, Froud number, molecular diffusion coefficient, kinematic viscosity and the gas‐transfer Reynolds number. From these variables, 29 relations have been developed and divided into four groups. To evaluate their predictive capability for highly variable flow rivers receiving high pollution loads form large cities, these relationships have been used to model dissolved oxygen (DO) in the River Ravi. Such rivers are either saturated with DO during high flows or anaerobic during critical low‐flow conditions. The evaluation is based on the agreement between model DO values calculated using K_a obtained from the available equations and the measured DO concentrations in the river samples in terms of sum of square of residuals (SSR) and coefficient of determination (R²). It has been found that in general, the group of equations containing depth and velocity as the only two variables affecting K_a performed better than the equations in other groups as reflected by lower SSR and higher R² values. The study results also reveal that the turbulence‐based reaeration rate coefficient equation containing additional variables also resulted in close agreement between DO model results and the measured values. The study results identify the most important parameters affecting the reaeration rate coefficient and the suitability of various K_a relationships as well for rivers with highly variable flows. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integration of Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis and 3D Geostatistical Modeling of Pliocene–Pleistocene Delta,F3 Block,Netherlands

This research is focused on the analysis of the sequence stratigraphic units of F3 Block, within a wave-dominated delta of Plio–Pleistocene age. Three wells of F3 block and a 3D seismic data, are utilized in this research. The conventional techniques of 3D seismic interpretation were utilized to mark the 11 surfaces on the seismic section. Integration of seismic sequence stratigraphic interpretation, using well logs, and subsequent 3D geostatistical modeling, using seismic data, aided to evaluat...     

“Shock event”, an impact phenomenon observed in water wells around the Arabian Gulf coastal city Dammam,Saudi Arabia: possible relationship with Sumatra tsunami event of December 26, 2004

A sudden disturbance in water level was recorded by hydrographs monitoring wells in the coastal city Dammam, Saudi Arabia on December 26, 2004. The water level was being recorded from the shallow (1–3 M deep) coastal aquifer at that time. In two wells, this disturbance was observed ~12 h after the Sumatra earthquake/tsunami event of December 26, 2004. The timing of this event is synchronous in two wells near the coast, but an inland well away from the coast line did not show any such disturbance. It is hypothesized that this disturbance, we call it the “shock event”, is resulted by sudden impact of tsunamis traveling in the Arabian Gulf from southeast toward northwest. As the tsunamis propagated, they suddenly impacted the coastal shallow groundwater aquifer resulting in the “shock event”.     

GIS-based high-resolution spatial interpolation of precipitation in mountain–plain areas of Upper Pakistan for regional climate change impact studies

In this study, the baseline period (1960–1990) precipitation simulation of regional climate model PRECIS is evaluated and downscaled on a monthly basis for northwestern Himalayan mountains and upper Indus plains of Pakistan. Different interpolation models in GIS environment are used to generate fine scale (250?×?250 m²) precipitation surfaces from PRECIS precipitation data. Results show that the multivariate extension model of ordinary kriging that uses elevation as secondary data is the best model especially for monsoon months. Model results are further compared with observations from 25 meteorological stations in the study area. Modeled data show overall good correlation with observations confirming the ability of PRECIS to capture major precipitation features in the region. Results for low and erratic precipitation months, September and October, are however showing poor correlation with observations. During monsoon months (June, July, August) precipitation pattern is different from the rest of the months. It increases from south to north, but during monsoon maximum precipitation is in the southern regions of the Himalayas, and extreme northern areas receive very less precipitation. Modeled precipitation toward the end of the twenty-first century under A2 and B2 scenarios show overall decrease during winter and increase in spring and monsoon in the study area. Spatially, both scenarios show similar pattern but with varying magnitude. In monsoon, the Himalayan southern regions will have more precipitation, whereas northern areas and southern plains will face decrease in precipitation. Western and south western areas will suffer from less precipitation throughout the year except peak monsoon months. T test results also show that changes in monthly precipitation over the study area are significant except for July, August, and December. Result of this study provide reliable basis for further climate change impact studies on various resources.