Facies Analysis, Sequence Stratigraphy and Diagenetic Studies of the Jurassic Carbonates of the Kohat Basin, Northwest Pakistan: Reservoir Implications

The present study deals with the depositional facies, diagenetic processes and sequence stratigraphy of the shallow marine carbonates of the Samana Suk Formation, Kohat Basin, in order to elucidate its reservoir quality. The Samana Suk Formation consists of thin to thick-bedded, oolitic, bioclastic, dolomitic and fractured limestone. Based on the integration of outcrop, petrographic and biofacies analyses, the unit is thought to have been deposited on a gentle homoclinal ramp in peritidal, lagoonal and carbonate shoal settings. Frequent variations in microfacies based sea-level curve have revealed seven Transgressive Systems Tracts (TSTs) and six Regressive Systems Tracts (RSTs). The unit has undergone various stages of diagenetic processes, including mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation, micritization, dissolution and dolomitization. The petrographic analyses show the evolution of porosity in various depositional and diagenetic phases. The fenestral porosity was mainly developed in peritidal carbonates during deposition, while the burial dissolution and diagenetic dolomitization have greatly enhanced the reservoir potential of the rock unit, as is further confirmed by the plug porosity and permeability analyses. The porosities and permeabilities were higher in shoal facies deposited in TSTs, as compared to lagoonal and peritidal facies, except for the dolomite in mudstone, deposited during RSTs. Hence good, moderate and poor reservoir potential is suggested for shoal, lagoonal and peritidal facies, respectively.     

DEM-aided study of Coulomb and Roscoe theories for shear band inclination

Acta Geotechnica - In general, there are two classical solutions in soil mechanics to predict the shear band orientation in dense granular materials: the Coulomb and Roscoe theories. The present...     

Burdigalian–Serravalian calcareous nannoplanktons from Qom Formation, North-Center Iran

The aim of this study is to determine calcareous nannofossil species found in Kamar-Kuh area and demonstrate this use for biostratigraphic studies. The Qom Formation is widely distributed in Kamar-Kuh section and has nine members(a–f). In this study, 12 samples were taken and prepared with smear slide. Some of the determined species are listed below, and some of them are photographed by light and scanning microscope. According to obtained nannofossils, 16 species, nine genera, and six families were determined. Obtained nannofossils indicated age of Burdigalian–Serravalian (middle Miocene) for this section.     

地震液化条件下重力式码头的变形破坏机理

现场调查发现在神户地震期间重力式码头破坏时都发生了相当大的侧向位移，因此，阐明挡土墙有变形机理对于改善抗震设计具有十分重要的意义。为此，根据相似原理设计了重力式码头的地基模型，进行了一系列的振动台试验。试验结果表明：基底土的强度降低和局部液化是挡土墙变形破坏的主导因素。墙后动土压力的增加为挡土墙的运动提供了条件。在液化条件下重力式码头地基的运动以侧向位移为主。重力作用是地基侧向运动的主要影响因素。减少作用于挡土墙上的动土压力和充分填实基底下的砂土是增加重力式码头抗震稳定性的重要措施。     

Experimental Study of the Effect of Clay and Oil Polarity on Oil Recovery by Low Salinity Water Flooding Using Glass Micromodel

Natural Resources Research - Low salinity water flooding (LSWF) has been recognized as one of the promising methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in sandstone reservoirs. Both the positive...     

Development of water management strategies in southern Mesopotamia during the fourth and third millennium B.C.E.

The last two decades witnessed increasing scholarly interest in the history of water management in southern Mesopotamia. Thanks to many geoarchaeological research projects conducted throughout the central and southern Iraqi floodplains, a general understanding of the macrophases of anthropogenic manipulation of this vast hydraulic landscape has been achieved. However, current narratives mostly rely on studies at a regional scale and are based on excessively long chronological phases (often spanning a whole millennium). A finer-tuned analysis at a submillennial scale is needed to better appreciate the dynamics that led to the development of artificial canals and irrigation systems and the creation of harbours in cities and other navigation-related facilities. The Iraqi-Italian QADIS project is addressing this issue through a systematic geoarchaeological investigation in the south-eastern area of the Qadisiyah province. We aim to update the current narrative by analysing case studies involving specific periods of occupation. We performed 17 boreholes to propose a date on the functioning period of the hydraulic works in five selected archaeological sites of this region. This approach allowed us to understand changes in water management strategies in both the short and the medium term (i.e., on a scale of centuries). In this paper, we present the results for the fourth and third millennia B.C.E. This period witnessed a crucial passage from the basic exploitation of natural watercourses for irrigation and occasional navigation to the emergence of the first system of artificial canals and intraurban harbours.