Coupled heat-mass transport effects on moisture redistribution prediction in clay barriers

The issues associated with coupled transient heat and mass transfer in unsaturated clay barriers surrounding a buried heat source are considered, and the effects of driving forces in both the liquid and vapour phases are discussed. The reasons for the inability of the model of Philip and de Vries (1957) to accurately predict the redistribution of moisture in unsaturated clay barriers are explained. The model of Yong and Xu (1988) is used to predict the moisture redistribution of non-swelling unsaturated clay barriers. The large variations of the moisture values predicted by the two models are also discussed.     

Quantification of River Nile/Quaternary aquifer exchanges via riverbank filtration by hydrochemical and biological indicators,Assiut, Egypt

This study approach seeks to characterize the hydraulic interactions between the Nile and the Quaternary aquifer via riverbank filtration (RBF) in Abu Tieg area, Assuit Governorate. The substantial removal/reduction of the most problematic substances during percolation of Nile water into abstraction wells was investigated using physico-chemical and biological indicators. Four sites with 11 municipal wells (20–750 m from the Nile) tapping the alluvial aquifer that is fed by the riverbank infiltrate were monitored. Bank-filtrated water was compared with those of the Nile and groundwater. Results showed that infiltrated Nile water ratio into the wells ranged from 39 to 80% reflecting the effect of distance from the Nile. Removal efficiency of total algal, total and faecal coliforms in bank-filtered water was 99.9%, while turbidity removal ranged from 93 to 98%. Fe, Mn and Zn in the bank-filtered water were relatively higher than those in the Nile, but were still under the allowable standards except those of Mn. LSI and WQI for the bank-filtered water indicated that the water was ranked as non-corrosive and of excellent quality. Comparison of physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the bank-filtered water with those of the Nile and groundwater showed the high efficiency of RBF as a treatment technology with minimal cost compared to conventional methods.     

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.     

Using time-lapse 4D seismic to monitor saturation changes in carbonate reservoirs

In the past ten years, time-lapse (4D) seismic has evolved as a standard way of monitoring reservoir performance. The method is now being used as good reservoir management practice to provide evidence of saturation changes within the reservoir at field scale. 4D provides a new piece of data describing the dynamic behavior of the reservoir fluids between the wells, often limited to small scale monitoring at the borehole scale. Thus, it provides sophisticated techniques for reservoir monitoring and management relying on the integration of geological models, static and dynamic properties of the reservoir rock, and detailed production and pressure field data.While 4D seismic data has been very successful in monitoring hydrocarbon production from clastic reservoirs, this work has focused on implementing 4D time lapse to monitor saturation changes in carbonate reservoirs and it’s capability to be used as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) tool that can help in enhancing the recovery factor for the filed and help to locate new drilling to sweep more oil out of the reservoir and locate the by-pass oil.The principal goal of this research was to detect the maximum change in seismic attributes (amplitude, acoustic impedance, travel time) that could occur as a result of oil production, water and gas injection in carbonate reservoirs by using time-lapse 4D seismic.     

Middle Miocene ostracods from Wadi Sudr,westcentral Sinai,Egypt: systematic,biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeographic affinity with the Mediterranean realm

The investigation of the exposed middle Miocene strata from Wadi Sudr yielded well-preserved ostracod carapaces. Detailed taxonomic and paleontological studies led to the recognition of 36 ostracod species belonging to 25 genera, 4 species of them were considered new which fully described. Three assemblage biozones were recorded as follows: Actinocythereis spinosa–Actinocythereis hystrix zone, Chrysocythere cataphracta muricata-Cytheretta africana zone, and Disopontocypris schweijeri-Bythocypris tripolensis zone. The recorded biozones were calibrated with the previously studied middle Miocene planktonic foraminiferal biozones on the same samples and also correlated with the Miocene ostracod biozones from the neighboring countries. Our ostracod assemblages present in the lower and upper parts of the studied section (section II) indicated an inner neritic marine environment of moderate energy of currents and rapid sedimentation, while the assemblages in the middle part showed more deeper (outer neritic) environments with low energy of currents and low rate of sedimentation. The palaeobiogeographic distribution of the studied ostracods showed high affinity with the ostracod assemblages of the southern Mediterranean and moderate to low affinities with that of the northern and eastern Mediterranean respectively. The highly ornamented ostracod species with structures on the carapace were recorded from both Northern and Southern Mediterranean, while the smooth ones were found in the Southern Mediterranean only. The highly ornamented species are more widely distributed in both Southern and Northern Mediterranean than the smooth species. This may indicate that the ornamented species are more able to migrate than the smooth ones.     

Uncertainty analysis of HEC-HMS model using the GLUE method for flash flood forecasting of Mekerra watershed,Algeria

In this paper, the lumped quasi-distributed hydrological model HEC HMS is used to simulate the rainfall–runoff process of the Mekerra watershed, located in the northwest of Algeria. The model parameters’ uncertainty and the predictive intervals were evaluated with the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) approach. According to the results, good simulations were obtained with different values of variables for many sets of parameters generated randomly by the Monte Carlo procedure, which is known as Equifinality. After the analysis, only the hydraulic conductivity at saturation parameter appears well defined, taking values within a limited range. In addition, results indicated that combinations of likelihood measures associated with multiple and different periods of observations reduce a posterior uncertainty of estimated parameters and predictive intervals in some degree. Overall, the GLUE analysis showed that there is a significant uncertainty associated with hydrological modelling of watershed Mekerra, to a great extent due to multiple sources of errors.     

Land use/land cover change impact on groundwater quantity and quality: a case study of Ajman Emirate,the United Arab Emirates,using remote sensing and GIS

Ajman is a rapidly urbanizing emirate with land development succeeding at a fast pace. This study aims to monitor land use/land cover changes and assesses the impact of these changes on groundwater quality and quantity of the shallow aquifer using multitemporal remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS). To monitor the land use/land cover changes, the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) algorithms were utilized. The obtained maps were correlated against a set of total dissolved solid (TDS); Mg, Cl, and NO₃ groundwater quality index; and depth to the groundwater table maps constructed from groundwater data. The spatial analysis revealed a sharp depletion in groundwater quality and quantity related to the increase in the land use/land cover classes. The mean total TDS is from 21,971 to 26,450 mg/L and depth to groundwater level from ?12.33 to ?17.2 m over a period of 15 years. Maps of normalized difference and groundwater quality sustainability showed that the eastern side of the study area has a high value of groundwater quality sustainability and normalized difference, while the western side of the study area has a minimal value of groundwater quality sustainability and normalized difference. This study is of great assistance for decision makers and land developers to relate to municipal land allotment in rapidly developing regions such as Ajman.