Gas generation and expulsion characteristics of Middle–Upper Triassic source rocks,eastern Kuqa Depression,Tarim Basin,China: implications for shale gas resource potential

Frontier exploration in the Kuqa Depression, western China, has identified the continuous tight-sand gas accumulation in the Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic as a major unconventional gas pool. However, assessment of the shale gas resource in the Kuqa Depression is new. The shale succession in the Middle–Upper Triassic comprises the Taliqike Formation (T₃t), the Huangshanjie Formation (T₃h) and the middle–upper Karamay Formation (T_2–3k), with an average accumulated thickness of 260 m. The high-quality shale is dominated by type III kerogen with high maturity and an average original total organic carbon (TOC) of about 2.68 wt%. An improved hydrocarbon generation and expulsion model was applied to this self-contained source–reservoir system to reveal the gas generation and expulsion (intensity, efficiency and volume) characteristics of Middle–Upper Triassic source rocks. The maximum volume of shale gas in the source rocks was obtained by determining the difference between generation and expulsion volumes. The results indicate that source rocks reached the hydrocarbon expulsion threshold of 1.1% VR and the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion reached their peak at 1.0% VR and 1.28% VR, with the maximum rate of 56 mg HC/0.1% TOC and 62.8 mg HC/0.1% TOC, respectively. The volumes of gas generation and expulsion from Middle–Upper Triassic source rocks were 12.02 × 10¹² m³ and 5.98 × 10¹² m³, respectively, with the residual volume of 6.04 × 10¹² m³, giving an average gas expulsion efficiency of 44.38% and retention efficiency of 55.62%. Based on the gas generation and expulsion characteristics, the predicted shale gas potential volume is 6.04 × 10¹² m³, indicating a significant shale gas resource in the Middle–Upper Triassic in the eastern Kuqa Depression.     

Mosaic desert pavement influences water infiltration and vegetation distribution on fluvial fan surfaces

Desert pavements (DPs) are critical for maintaining ecological stability and promoting near-surface hydrological cycling in arid regions. However, few studies have focused on eco-hydrological processes of DPs in the ecological systems of fluvial fans. Although DP surfaces appear to be barren and flat, we found that the surfaces are characterized by surface mosaic patterns of desert pavement (mosaic DP) and bare ground (mosaic BG). We investigated the effects of mosaic DP on water infiltration and vegetation distribution at six sites in fluvial fans (one on a hillside and five within the sectors of fans) along a southwest belt transect in northern Linze County, in the central Hexi Corridor (China). We found significant differences in mosaic DP between the hillside and sector sites in terms of pavement thickness and vesicular horizon thickness (Av thickness), particle composition, and bulk density, although significant differences were absent for mass soil water content, gravel coverage, and surface gravel size. The mosaic DP inhibited water infiltration by the pavement layer, where the sorptivity (S), initial infiltration rate (i_int), steady-state infiltration rate (i_sat) and infiltration time (T) averaged 1.19 cm/min^-0.5, 0.64 cm/min, 0.13 cm/min and 12.76 min, respectively. Where the pavement layer was scalped, the S, i_int, and i_sat increased by 0.27 cm/min^-0.5, 0.52 cm/min, and 0.40 cm/min, respectively, and the T reduced by 7.42 min. Water infiltration was mainly controlled by the pavement layer thickness (+), Av thickness (−), surface gravel coverage (−), fine earth (+) and fine gravel (−) in the pavement layer. The DP surfaces only had a sparse covering of shrubs, but an abundance of herbs. Few shrubs were present on the mosaic DP, but a greater number of shrubs and herbs grew on the mosaic BG. It can be concluded that DPs can maintain vegetation stability for different surface mosaic patterns. This study deepens our understanding of the eco-hydrological cycle of DP landscapes in arid regions.     

Multivariate analysis of flood characteristics in a climate change context of the watershed of the Baskatong reservoir,Province of Québec,Canada

The analysis of the impact of climate change (CC) on flood peaks has been the subject of several studies. However, a flood is characterized not only by its peak, but also by other characteristics such as its volume and duration. Little effort has been directed towards the study of the impact of CC on these characteristics. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare flood characteristics in a CC context, in the watershed of the Baskatong reservoir (Province of Québec, Canada). Comparisons are based on observed flow data and simulated flow series obtained from hydrological models using meteorological data from a regional climate model for a reference period (1971–2000) and a future period (2041–2070). To this end, two hydrological models HSAMI and HYDROTEL are considered. Correlations, stationarity, change‐points, and the multivariate behaviour of flood series were studied. The results show that, at various levels, all flood characteristics could be affected by CC. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

宽窄相间河道水流紊动特性试验研究

为了探索宽窄相间河道的水流紊动特性，以西南地区宝兴河上游宽窄相间河段为研究对象，基于室内概化模型试验，采用多普勒声学流速仪（ADV）测量了室内模型典型断面上的三维瞬时流速，分析典型断面上的纵向时均流速、紊动强度、雷诺切应力和紊动能的分布规律。试验结果显示：宽窄相间水槽中，扩散段边壁的紊动强度大于中心区域的紊动强度，最大值位于0.2倍水深处；扩散段两侧坡脚处紊动能最大；侧壁区的平面和立面雷诺切应力最大值出现在扩散段内，中心区域最大雷诺切应力位于两槽间的中间断面处；扩散段内水流紊乱，两侧出现旋涡和涡脱，易造成侧壁侵蚀加强，引起河道拓宽。深入分析了宽窄相间河道水流的紊动特性，可为山区河流治理和自然灾害防治提供参考。     

三峡水库汛期控制水位及运用条件

随着长江上游梯级水库的陆续建成投运，三峡水库的水文情势和功能需求与设计条件相比发生了显著变化，仍维持固定的汛限水位运行已不能适应新形势需求。本文通过辨析三峡水库设计阶段汛限水位的设置条件，挖掘流域洪水特性和洪水遭遇规律，论证三峡水库汛期运行水位动态控制的可行性。结果表明：① 三峡水库设计推求的汛限水位145 m的适用条件是应对流域性大洪水，而流域性洪水发生概率小且特征明显，可以通过水文水情分析提前预判。② 根据流域洪水类型、洪水分期和遭遇规律，预判发生区域性大洪水时，三峡水库6月初至梅雨期结束汛限水位按145 m设置，从梅雨期结束后逐渐提高水位，8月20日后过渡到155 m。③ 在考虑上游水库群联合调度和气象水文预报的配合下，正常年份三峡水库汛期运行水位可在155 m上下浮动，并考虑提前蓄水。④ 三峡水库汛期运行水位动态控制，不会增加防洪风险和库区淤积风险，对中下游江湖关系和水文情势有利，可显著提高发电、航运、生态保护和供水等综合利用效益。     

Application of the threshold method to air quality data

A new threshold method is explained in a manner suitable for workers in the general scientific area. Its application to the prediction of extreme pollutant concentrations is described and the results are compared with those of a conventional procedure, using a set of published data. A discussion concerning the difficulties of the presently used statistical technique is also included.     

Fractographic determination of joint length distribution in chalk

Summary Measurements of fracture joint distribution combined with determinations of plume length and orientation on a vertical section of a single chalk layer near Beer Sheva, Israel, reveal that joints marked by unilateral and circular plumes are skewed towards the shorter sizes while joints decorated by bilateral plumes are skewed towards the longer sizes. The mean lengths of the unilateral and bilateral joints are 66.5 cm and 155.6 cm, with standard deviations of 30 cm and 60.6 cm, respectively. These results as well as joint length observations from other areas seem to suggest a bimodal length distribution. However, since the minor maximum is generally very weak, and due to some additional uncertainties, further confirmation of the present observations is needed.     

应用粒度分析辨别某些第四纪混杂堆积成因初探

本文从粒度特征分析了青海昆仑山垭口地区的第四纪混杂堆积和甘肃武都泥石流堆积以及贡嘎山海洋性冰川的现代冰碛之间的差异性,明显看出,由于各种第四纪混杂堆积的搬运介质、搬运过程及沉积过程不同,第四纪混杂堆积的粒度特征存在明显的不同。沉积物的粒度特征反映了沉积环境。因此,用粒度特征来辨别各种第四纪混杂堆积也是一种行之有效的方法。     

青海湖沉积物中的粘土矿物

本文对青海湖沉积物中的粘土矿物和沉积环境进行了初步研究。沉积物的粒度成分一般以粉砂级为主,湖周沉积物较粗,湖内沉积物较细。湖中粘土矿物以伊利石-绿泥石为主,含少量蒙脱石和高岭石等。沉积物表层未见蒙脱石,粘土中Al₂O₃、K₂O和MgO的相对百分含量的特征与海粘土的化学成分特征相似。