A stable meshfree method for fully coupled flow-deformation analysis of saturated porous media

A fully coupled meshfree algorithm is proposed for numerical analysis of Biot’s formulation. Spatial discretization of the governing equations is presented using the Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM). Temporal discretization is achieved based on a novel three-point approximation technique with a variable time step, which has second order accuracy and avoids spurious ripple effects observed in the conventional two-point Crank Nicolson technique. Application of the model is demonstrated using several numerical examples with analytical or semi-analytical solutions. It is shown that the model proposed is effective in simulating the coupled flow deformation behaviour in fluid saturated porous media with good accuracy and stability irrespective of the magnitude of the time step adopted.     

Development of stochastic dynamic Nash game model for reservoir operation II. The value of players’ information availability and cooperative behaviors

Stochastic dynamic game models can be applied to derive optimal reservoir operation policies by considering interactions among water users and reservoir operator, their preferences, their levels of information availability and cooperative behaviors. The stochastic dynamic game model with perfect information (PSDNG) has been developed by [Ganji A, Khalili D, Karamouz M. Development of stochastic dynamic Nash game model for reservoir operation. I. The symmetric stochastic model with perfect information. Adv Water Resour, this issue]. This paper develops four additional versions of stochastic dynamic game model of water users interactions based on the cooperative behavior and hydrologic information availability of beneficiary sectors of reservoir systems. It is shown that the proposed models are quite capable of providing appropriate reservoir operating policies when compared with alternative operating models, as indicated by several reservoir performance characteristics. Among the proposed models, the selected model by considering cooperative behavior and additional hydrologic information (about the randomness nature of reservoir operation parameters), as exercised by reservoir operator, provides the highest attained level of performance and efficiency. Furthermore, the selected model is more realistic since it also considers actual behavior of water users and reservoir operator in the analysis.     

An alternative approach for quasi‐static large deformation analysis of saturated porous media using meshfree method

An alternative coupled large deformation formulation combined with a meshfree approach is proposed for flow–deformation analysis of saturated porous media. The formulation proposed is based on the Updated Lagrangian (UL) approach, except that the spatial derivatives are defined with respect to the configuration of the medium at the last time step rather than the configuration at the last iteration. In this way, the Cauchy stresses are calculated directly, rendering the second Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor not necessary for the numerical solution of the equilibrium equations. Moreover, in contrast with the UL approach, the nodal shape function derivatives are calculated once in each time step and stored for use in subsequent iterations, which reduces the computational cost of the algorithm. Stress objectivity is satisfied using the Jaumann stress rate, and the spatial discretisation of the governing equations is achieved using the standard Galerkin method. The equations of equilibrium are satisfied directly, and the nonlinear parts of the system matrix are derived independent of the stresses of the medium resulting in a stable numerical algorithm. Temporal discretisation is effected based on a three‐point approximation technique that avoids spurious ripple effects and has second‐order accuracy. The radial point interpolation method is used to construct the shape functions. The application of the formulation and the significance of large deformation effects on the numerical results are demonstrated through several numerical examples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bedding Angle Identification from BIF Marker Shales via Modified Dynamic Time Warping

Mathematical Geosciences - When modelling a stratified orebody, accurately representing the dip and dip direction is important for accurate resource estimation. In the banded iron formation-hosted...     

Boundary Identification and Surface Updates Using MWD

Mathematical Geosciences - In the banded iron formation-hosted iron ore deposits in the Hamersley Range of Western Australia, the stratigraphic boundaries are generally modelled using data from...     

Fault rupture and stress changes associated with the November 27, 2005 Qeshm Island (Iran) earthquake (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>W</Subscript> = 6.0)

The November 27, 2005 Qeshm Island earthquake (M_w 6.0) occurred along the Zagros Thrust and Fold Belt which accommodates about half of the deformation caused by the Arabian and Eurasian Plates convergence. As typical for the belt, the earthquake was associated with buried reverse faulting and produced no surface rupture. Here, teleseismic broadband P velocity waveforms of the earthquake are inverted to obtain coseismic finite-fault slip distribution of the earthquake. It is obtained that rupture was controlled by failure of a single asperity with largest displacement of approximately 0.6 m, which occurred at a depth of 9 km. The slip model indicated radial rupture propagation from the hypocentre and confirmed blind reverse faulting within deeper part (below the depth of 6 km) of the sedimentary cover above the Hormuz Salt, lying between the cover and the basement, releasing a seismic moment of about 1.3?×?10¹⁸ Nm (M_W?=?6.0). The results also confirm that the Hormuz Salt behaves as a barrier for rupture propagation to the basement below and occurrence of the aftershock activity downdip from the rupture within the Hormuz Salt. Calculated Coulomb stress variations caused by the coseismic rupture indicates stress coupling between the 2005 Qeshm Island earthquake and both the largest aftershock several hours later and the 2008 Qeshm Island earthquake (M_W?=?5.9). The stress calculations further indicated stress load at the depth range (15–20 km) of the well-located aftershocks, corresponding to depths of the Hormuz Salt and top of the basement and providing plausible explanation for occurrence of the aftershocks within those layers.     

The fossil phase in the life of a galaxy group

We investigate the origin and evolution of fossil groups in a concordance ΛCDM cosmological simulation. We consider haloes with masses between  1 × 10¹³  and  5 × 10¹³  h ⁻¹ M_⊙  , and study the physical mechanisms that lead to the formation of the large gap in magnitude between the brightest and the second most bright group member, which is typical for these fossil systems. Fossil groups are found to have high dark matter concentrations, which we can relate to their early formation time. The large magnitude gaps arise after the groups have built up half of their final mass, due to merging of massive group members. We show that the existence of fossil systems is primarily driven by the relatively early infall of massive satellites, and that we do not find a strong environmental dependence for these systems. In addition, we find tentative evidence for fossil group satellites falling in on orbits with typically lower angular momentum, which might lead to a more efficient merger on to the host. We find a population of groups at higher redshifts that go through a 'fossil phase': a stage where they show a large magnitude gap, which is terminated by renewed infall from their environment.     

Carbonate alteration of ophiolitic rocks in the Arabian–Nubian Shield of Egypt: sources and compositions of the carbonating fluid and implications for the formation of Au deposits

Ultramafic portions of ophiolitic fragments in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) show pervasive carbonate alteration forming various degrees of carbonated serpentinites and listvenitic rocks. Notwithstanding the extent of the alteration, little is known about the processes that caused it, the source of the CO₂ or the conditions of alteration. This study investigates the mineralogy, stable (O, C) and radiogenic (Sr) isotope composition, and geochemistry of suites of variably carbonate altered ultramafics from the Meatiq area of the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. The samples investigated include least-altered lizardite (Lz) serpentinites, antigorite (Atg) serpentinites and listvenitic rocks with associated carbonate and quartz veins. The C, O and Sr isotopes of the vein samples cluster between ?8.1‰ and ?6.8‰ for δ¹³C, +6.4‰ and +10.5‰ for δ¹⁸O, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7028–0.70344, and plot within the depleted mantle compositional field. The serpentinites isotopic compositions plot on a mixing trend between the depleted-mantle and sedimentary carbonate fields. The carbonate veins contain abundant carbonic (CO₂±CH₄±N₂) and aqueous-carbonic (H₂O-NaCl-CO₂±CH₄±N₂) low salinity fluid, with trapping conditions of 270–300°C and 0.7–1.1 kbar. The serpentinites are enriched in Au, As, S and other fluid-mobile elements relative to primitive and depleted mantle. The extensively carbonated Atg-serpentinites contain significantly lower concentrations of these elements than the Lz-serpentinites suggesting that they were depleted during carbonate alteration. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope compositions of Au deposits in the CED are similar to those from the carbonate veins investigated in the study and we suggest that carbonation of ANS ophiolitic rocks due to influx of mantle-derived CO₂-bearing fluids caused break down of Au-bearing minerals such as pentlandite, releasing Au and S to the hydrothermal fluids that later formed the Au-deposits. This is the first time that gold has been observed to be remobilized from rocks during the lizardite–antigorite transition.     

Two solution methods for dynamic game in reservoir operation

During the last decade, a number of models have been developed to consider the conflict in dynamic reservoir operation. Most of these models are discrete dynamic models which are developed based on game theory. In this study, a continuous model of dynamic game and its corresponding solutions are developed for reservoir operation. Two solution methods are used to solve the model of continuous dynamic game, namely the Ricatti equations and collocation methods. The Ricatti equations method is a closed form solution, requiring less computational efforts compared with discrete models. The collocation solution method applies Newton's method or a quasi-Newton method to find the problem solution. These approaches are able to generate operating policies for dynamic reservoir operation. The Zayandeh-Rud river basin in central Iran is used as a case study and the results are compared with alternative water allocation models. The results show that the proposed solution methods are quite capable of providing appropriate reservoir operating policies, while requiring rather short computational times due to continuous formulation of state and decision variables. Reliability indices are used to compare the overall performance of the proposed models. Based on the results from this study, the collocation method leads to improved values of the reliability indices for total reservoir system and utility satisfaction of water users, compared to the Ricatti equations method. This is attributed to the flexible structure of the collocation model. When compared to alternative water allocation models, lower values of reliability indices are achieved by the collocation method.