Application of MODFLOW for oil reservoir simulation during the Deepwater Horizon crisis

When the Macondo well was shut in on July 15, 2010, the shut-in pressure recovered to a level that indicated the possibility of oil leakage out of the well casing into the surrounding formation. Such a leak could initiate a hydraulic fracture that might eventually breach the seafloor, resulting in renewed and uncontrolled oil flow into the Gulf of Mexico. To help evaluate whether or not to reopen the well, a MODFLOW model was constructed within 24 h after shut in to analyze the shut-in pressure. The model showed that the shut-in pressure can be explained by a reasonable scenario in which the well did not leak after shut in. The rapid response provided a scientific analysis for the decision to keep the well shut, thus ending the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater Horizon blow out.     

Some challenges of an "upside down" nitrogen budget--science and management in Greenwich Bay, RI (USA)

When nutrients impact estuarine water quality, scientists and managers instinctively focus on quantifying and controlling land-based sources. However, in Greenwich Bay, RI, the estuary opens onto a larger and more intensively fertilized coastal water body (Narragansett Bay). Previous inventories of nitrogen (N) inputs to Greenwich Bay found that N inputs from Narragansett Bay exceeded those from the local watershed, suggesting that recent efforts to reduce local watershed N loads may have little effect on estuarine water quality. We used stable isotopes of N to characterize watershed and Narragansett Bay N sources as well as the composition of primary producers and consumers throughout Greenwich Bay. Results were consistent with previous assessments of the importance of N inputs to Greenwich Bay from Narragansett Bay. As multiple N sources contribute to estuarine water quality, effective management requires attention to individual sources commensurate with overall magnitude, regardless of the political complications that may entail.     

How useful are port surveys focused on target pest identification for exotic species management?

Monitoring surveys are an important tool for detecting new arrivals of exotic species, for documenting patterns of invasion, and exotic species impacts. Faced with time and cost constraints, these surveys are increasingly focused on lists of target pest species, identified as being most likely to arrive and cause significant harm. We used the national survey of Australian international ports for introduced marine pests as a case study to assess: (1) the taxonomic rigor of surveys focused on detection of target species; and (2) how the ability of port surveys to inform invasion patterns is dependent on taxonomic approach. Our analysis of the 46 available reports revealed common sub-optimal taxonomic practices that compromised their utility to identify abiotic conditions that are good predictors of biological invasion. Thus, although surveys for target species may provide information on the distribution of a handful of species, they may fail to do much else.     

含铝硅酸盐1)吉布斯生成自由能的预测及Y.塔达方法向高温条件下推引的可能性

近几年来,Y.塔达等人^[3-7]建立了一种预测化合物吉布斯生成自由能的经验方法。     

四川盆地湄潭组生烃潜力分析及勘探意义

四川盆地油气资源丰富，盆地内发育多套富有机质泥页岩，并形成了多套优质生储盖组合。奥陶系是四川盆地下组合目前勘探关注的重要层系，但尚未取得重要油气勘探突破，该成藏组合是否存在烃源岩是该层系油气勘探关注的核心问题之一。下奥陶统湄潭组主要为一套陆棚相泥页岩沉积，分布广、厚度大，其生烃潜力备受关注。基于地层发育特征，通过岩性组合分析、古生物鉴定和微量元素测试，并结合有机质丰度（TOC）参数，结果显示四川盆地在湄潭组沉积期存在川南和川北两个沉积中心:川南沉积中心厚度大，但砂岩或砂质含量多，不利于烃源岩发育；川北沉积中心湄潭组岩性主要为深灰色-灰黑色泥岩、页岩和粉砂质泥岩；疑源类化石和微量元素组成表明沉积环境利于烃源岩发育，TOC达到一般烃源岩标准，因此认为川北地区存在湄潭组烃源岩沉积中心。通过湄潭组有机地球化学分析和源储匹配成藏解剖，结合烃源岩空间分布预测认为，湄潭组烃源岩能为川北-川东北地区上寒武统-奥陶系油气成藏提供烃源保障；以湄潭组为烃源，可形成上生下储、源储通过不整合相接的"湄潭组生-上寒武统洗象池组储"有利成藏组合和下生上储、源储通过断层相接的"湄潭组生-中奥陶统宝塔组储"的潜在成藏组合。湄潭组生烃潜力的确认和2种成藏组合的建立，扩大了川北-川东北地区勘探空间，对上寒武统-奥陶系实现勘探突破具有重要意义。     

Environmental pollution in the Gulf of Guinea--a regional approach

Environmental pollution in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG) coastal zone has caused eutrophication and oxygen depletion in the lagoon systems, particularly around the urban centres, resulting in decreased fish (reproduction) levels and waterborne diseases. A pollution sources assessment was undertaken by six countries in the region as a first step in defining a region-wide Environmental Management Plan. Results show that households produce 90% of solid waste. Industry, however, is responsible for substantial amounts of hazardous waste, specifically the Nigerian petroleum industry. The latter is also responsible for the spilling of large amounts of oil. BOD load from industrial effluents is slightly larger than domestic loads in the industrialised coastal zone. Wastewater treatment systems are either absent or inadequate. Apart from large-scale gas flaring in Nigeria, air pollution, in terms of COx, HC, NOx and SO2 emissions, is contributed mainly by traffic. Particulates, originate mainly from industries and domestic biomass burning.     

年

年是什么?年是摸不着,年是看不见的。但每个人都能的的确确感受到年跳动的脉搏。年体现在一张具体的日历上;年体现在游子匆匆归家的脚步里;年体现在红红火火的春联上;年体现在热热闹闹的鞭炮中;年更体现在年夜饭那一顿热气腾腾的饺子上·……年是分水岭,年是坐标系,年更是孩子们的节日。离年还有一段时间,性急的孩子便把一个一个鞭炮燃放在空中,拉开了年的序幕。“大寒小寒,杀猪过年”,孩子们向猪叫得欢的人家跑去,早上猪还懒懒的躺在热呼呼的草垫上,似乎还没有从睡梦中清醒,女主人便“涝涝”地在猪圈门口叫着,猪抬起头,还以为又要给它好吃…     

绿泥石片岩和斜长角闪岩在高温高压下的物理力学性质及其应用

在高温高压下绿泥石片岩和斜长角闪岩中含水矿物的脱水作用可以引起岩石物理力学性质的异常变化。在半封闭条件下，含水矿物的脱水温度有随压力增加而降低的趋势。脱水作用可能是华北地区壳内低速高导层（体）的形成原因之一。这一低速高导层（体）同时也是低强度的软弱层（体），有利于地震在其上覆脆性岩层中的孕育与发生