The effects of clay minerals and organic matter on nanoscale pores in Lower Paleozoic shale gas reservoirs,Guizhou, China

In organic-rich gas shales, clay minerals and organic matter (OM) have significant influences on the origin, preservation, and production of shale gas. Because of the substantial role of nanoscale pores in the generation, storage, and seepage of shale gas, we examined the effects of clay minerals and OM on nanoscale pore distribution characteristics in Lower Paleozoic shale gas reservoirs. Using the Niutitang and Longmaxi shales as examples, we determined the effects of clay minerals and OM on pores through sedimentation experiments. Field emission–scanning electron microscopy combined with low-pressure N₂ adsorption of the samples before and after sedimentation showed significant differences in pore location and pore size distribution between the Niutitang and Longmaxi shales. Nanoscale pores mostly existed in OM in the Longmaxi shale and in clay minerals or OM–clay composites in the Niutitang shale. The distribution differences were attributed largely to variability in thermal evolution and tectonic development and might account for the difference in gas-bearing capacity between the Niutitang and Longmaxi reservoirs. In the nanoscale range, mesopores accounted for 61–76% of total nanoscale pore volume. Considerably developed nanoscale pores in OM were distributed in a broad size range in the Longmaxi shale, which led to good pore connectivity and gas production. Numerous narrow pores (i.e., pores?<?20 nm) in OM–clay composites were found in the Niutitang shale, and might account for this shale’s poor pore connectivity and low gas production efficiency. Enhancing the connectivity of the mesopores (especially pores?<?20 nm and those developed in OM–clay composites) might be the key to improving development of the Niutitang shale. The findings provide new insight into the formation and evolutionary mechanism of nanoscale pores developed in OM and clay minerals.     

音频大地电磁测深法在辽宁瓦房店金伯利岩矿区的应用

辽宁瓦房店地区是我国著名的金刚石矿产地之一,前人在该区做过大量的研究工作,但找矿方法一直没有突破。本文采用音频大地电磁测深法(AMT)对已知的金伯利岩矿区进行试验,探讨AMT技术在金伯利岩矿区深部探测的应用效果。针对30号金伯利岩岩管区布设了5条剖面,结果显示岩管呈低阻反映,异常明显。结合地质资料,初步推断该区断裂、成矿带和低阻异常展布特征,为在该区进一步开展矿产勘查提供基础资料,对今后瓦房店地区寻找隐伏的金伯利岩体具有重要意义,也为其他类似地区寻找隐伏金伯利岩提供新思路。     

Effect of loading duration on uncertainty in creep analysis of clay

Some studies suggest that creep parameters should be determined using a greater quantity of creep test data to provide more reliable prediction regarding the deformation of soft soils. This study aims to investigate the effect of loading duration on model updating. One‐dimensional consolidation data of intact Vanttila clay under different loading durations collected from the literature is used for demonstration. The Bayesian probabilistic method is used to identify all unknown parameters based on the consolidation data during the entire consolidation process, and their uncertainty can be quantified through the obtained posterior probability density functions. Additionally, the optimal models are also determined from among 9 model candidates. The analyses indicate that the optimal models can describe the creep behavior of intact soft soils under different loading durations, and the adopted method can evaluate the effect of loading duration on uncertainty in the creep analysis. The uncertainty of a specific model and its model parameters decreases as more creep data are involved in the updating process, and the updated models that use more creep data can better capture the deformation behavior of an intact sample. The proposed method can provide quantified uncertainty in the process of model updating and assist engineers to decide whether the creep test data are sufficient for the creep analysis.     

Deformation patterns of upper Quaternary strata and their relation to active tectonics,Po Basin,Italy

Despite increased application of subsurface datasets below the limits of seismic resolution, reconstructing near‐surface deformation of shallow key stratigraphic markers beneath modern alluvial and coastal plains through sediment core analysis has received little attention. Highly resolved stratigraphy of Upper Pleistocene to Holocene (Marine Isotope Stage 5e to Marine Isotope Stage 1) alluvial, deltaic and coastal depositional systems across the southern Po Plain, down to 150 m depth, provides an unambiguous documentation on the deformation of previously flat‐lying strata that goes back in time beyond the limits of morphological, historical and palaeoseismic records. Five prominent key horizons, accurately selected on the basis of their sedimentological characteristics and typified for their fossil content, were used as highly effective stratigraphic markers (M1 to M5) that can be tracked for tens of kilometres across the basin. A facies‐controlled approach tied to a robust chronology (102 radiocarbon dates) reveals considerable deformation of laterally extensive nearshore (M1), continental (M2 and M3) and lagoon (M4 and M5) marker beds originally deposited in a horizontal position (M1, M4 and M5). The areas where antiformal geometries are best observed are remarkably coincident with the axes of buried ramp anticlines, across which new seismic images reveal substantially warped stratal geometries of Lower Pleistocene strata. The striking spatial coincidence of fold crests with the epicentres of historic and instrumental seismicity suggests that deformation of marker beds M1 to M5 might reflect, in part at least, syntectonically generated relief and, thus, active tectonism. Precise identification and lateral tracing of chronologically constrained stratigraphic markers in the ¹⁴C time window through combined sedimentological and palaeoecological data may delineate late Quaternary subsurface stratigraphic architecture at an unprecedented level of detail, outlining cryptic stratal geometries at the sub‐seismic scale. This approach is highly reproducible in tectonically active Quaternary depositional systems and can help to assess patterns of active deformation in the subsurface of modern alluvial and coastal plains worldwide.     

普朗斑岩型铜矿床成矿元素多重分形特征及其矿化强度指示

成矿元素品位的变化受控于长期地质作用过程,具有较强的非线性特征,定量刻画其变化特征有助于深入理解成矿过程,并为找矿预测提供理论依据。运用多重分形去趋势移动均值（MFDMA） 法,分析云南普朗斑岩型铜矿床4号勘探线钻孔Cu元素品位的多重分形特征及其对矿化强度的指示意义。结果显示：所有钻孔Cu元素品位具有多重分形特征,且不同矿化等级的元素分布存在局部奇异性差异,多重分形强度随矿化强度等级减弱而增加;这些特征指示在钾硅化带—带内侧强矿化钻孔的高品位相对聚集,而带外侧角岩化—青磐岩化带的高品位相对分散;通过数据随机重排技术推测Cu品位多重分形结构奇异性差异是由其分布概率密度和长相关性共同作用引起,后者的作用贡献大于前者。     

青藏高原云团东传过程及其中中尺度对流系统的统计特征

利用逐小时风云卫星TBB资料、逐小时中国自动站与CMORPH降水产品融合数据以及国家级地面观测站24小时累积降水量,统计分析2010～2016年夏季,伴随下游地区（104°E以东）降水的青藏高原云团东传过程以及东传过程中镶嵌于云团中的中尺度对流系统（Mesoscale Convective System,简称MCS）特征。结果表明,共出现120次伴随下游降水的高原云团东传过程,6月出现最频繁,但持续时间较长的过程多出现在7月。云团向东传播的主要三条路径是平直东传、沿长江折向东传和复合东传。其中路径二——沿长江折向东传中的过程是高影响过程,因为过程次数较多（46次）,过程平均持续时间较长（62小时）,在下游地区引发的降水日数和暴雨日数最多。属于东传过程的MCS在7月形成最多,集中分布在青藏高原东坡、云贵高原东部、长江沿岸及其以南地区。高原MCS影响长江中下游地区降水主要是通过向东传播的形式实现,因为即使生命史更长的中α尺度对流系统（Meso-α Convective System,简称MαCS）也鲜少直接移动至110°E以东地区。不同区域的中α尺度持续性拉长形对流系统（Permanent Elongated Convective System,简称PECS）的日变化特征显示,东传过程MCS更容易在夜间从高原东坡向东传播至下游地区。在三条路径中,路径二中的东传过程MCS数量最多、在下游地区发展最旺盛并与降水日数和覆盖范围存在更好的对应关系。