Absence of a regional surface thermal high in the Baikal rift; new insights from detailed contouring of heat flow anomalies

Heat flow in active tectonic zones as the Baikal rift is a crucial parameter for evaluating deep anomalous structures and lithosphere evolution. Based on the interpretation of the existing datasets, the Baikal rift has been characterized in the past by either high heat flow, or moderately elevated heat flow, or even lacking a surface heat flow anomaly. We made an attempt to better constrain the geothermal picture by a detailed offshore contouring survey of known anomalies, and to estimate the importance of observed heat flow anomalies within the regional surface heat output. A total of about 200 new and close-spaced heat flow measurements were obtained in several selected study areas in the North Baikal Basin. With an outrigged and a violin-bow designed thermoprobe of 2–3-m length, both the sediment temperature and thermal conductivity were measured. The new data show at all investigated sites that the large heat flow highs are limited to local heat flow anomalies. The maximum measured heat flow reaches values of 300–35000 mW/m², but the extent of the anomalies is not larger than 2 to 4 km in diameter. Aside of these local anomalies, heat flow variations are restricted to near background values of 50–70 mW/m², except in the uplifted Academician zone. The extent of the local anomalies excludes a conductive source, and therefore heat transport by fluids must be considered. In a conceptual model where all bottom floor heat flow anomalies are the result of upflowing fluids along a conduit, an extra heat output of 20 MW (including advection) is estimated for all known anomalies in the North Baikal Basin. Relative to a basal heat flow of 55–65 mW/m², these estimations suggest an extra heat output in the northern Lake Baikal of only 5%, corresponding to a regional heat flow increase of 3 mW/m². The source of this heat can be fully attributed to a regional heat redistribution by topographically driven ground water flow. Thus, the surface heat flow is not expected to bear a signal of deeper lithospheric thermal anomalies that can be separated from heat flow typical for orogenically altered crust (40–70 mW/m²). The new insights on the geothermal signature in the Baikal rift once more show that continental rifting is not by default characterized by high heat flow.     

Measured and calculated spudcan penetration profiles for case histories in sand-over-clay

This paper reports five case histories of jack-up rig installation in layered soil profiles where a dominate feature was a stronger sand layer overlaying a weaker clay layer. In all cases a relatively continuous load-penetration profile was measured during installation of each of the three spudcan foundations. Summary site-investigation data is provided and consisted of mainly torvane, minature vane, unconsolidated undrained triaxial and pocket penetrometer tests for determining undrained shear strength of the clays and blow counts for deriving the relative density of sand. A statistical averaging method recommended in the InSafeJIP guidelines was used to provide the best fit of the undrained shear strength profile in the clay as this then allowed for spudcan load-penetration profiles to be estimated without introduction of user interpretation or bias. Sand properties were taken as provided in the original site-investigation report. Comparisons between load-penetration profiles calculated using the industry-standard ISO guideline, more recently proposed mechanism-based calculation method and three-dimensional large deformation finite element simulations are made with the measured data, leading to valuable insights for practitioners for estimating behaviour of jack-up installations in problematic sand-over-clay soil profiles.     

An investigation into the lateral loading response of shallow bucket foundations for offshore wind turbines through centrifuge modeling in sand

A shallow suction bucket is a new foundation type for offshore wind turbines. Due to its large size and bulky shape, the bucket and the soil within the bucket do not necessarily deform as a whole. Moreover, limited research has been conducted on the hydrodynamic wave influence on the shallow bucket bearing response. These factors pose great challenges to the shallow bucket foundation design. This paper presents a set of centrifuge tests of a shallow bucket model subjected to monotonic and dynamic lateral loads to study the lateral bearing response of shallow bucket foundations in the field under combined loads induced by wind, waves, etc. In addition to the routine measurements (e.g., load-displacement), the soil pressures on the bucket and the distribution and evolution of the excess pore pressures in the surrounding soils are also obtained. The deformation pattern of the bucket (e.g., rotation center) is revealed through displacement measurements. Finally, the proposed easy-to-use analytical equations using the limit equilibrium to assess the bearing capacity of bucket foundations, taking into account the influence of the soil strength degradation caused by hydrodynamic wave loadings, are found to yield good results upon comparison with the centrifuge data, providing useful guidelines for the design of shallow bucket foundations.     

Un- and reloading stiffness of monopile foundations in sand

The eigenfrequency of offshore wind turbine structures is a crucial design parameter, since it determines the dynamic behavior of the structure and with that the fatigue loads for the structural design. For offshore wind turbines founded on monopiles, the rotational stiffness of the monopile-soil system for un- and reloading states strongly affects the eigenfrequency. A numerical model for the calculation of the monopile’s behavior under un- and reloading is established and validated by back-calculation of model and field tests. With this model, a parametric study is conducted in which pile geometry, soil parameters and load conditions are varied. It is shown that of course the rotational stiffness varies with mean load and magnitude of the considered un- and reloading span, but that for most relevant load situations the initial rotational stiffness of the monopile system, i.e. the initial slope of the moment-rotation curve for monotonic loading, gives a good estimate of the actual stiffness. Comparisons of different p–y approaches show that the ordinary API approach considerably underestimates the initial stiffness, whereas the recently developed ‘Thieken’ approach and also the ‘Kallehave’ approach give a much better prediction and thus might be used in the design of monopiles in sand.     

中南半岛近海偶极子演变过程研究

中南半岛近海偶极子结构是指在夏季与越南离岸流伴生的一对中尺度涡现象,其中气旋涡位于离岸流北侧,反气旋涡位于离岸流南侧,偶极子结构对于中南半岛近海水文要素具有重要影响。本文基于卫星高度计数据和HYCOM海洋模式的模拟结果,以2012年为例研究了该偶极子的演变过程,结果表明：偶极子结构7月出现,9月初鼎盛,10月消失;鼎盛时,两个涡旋直径均大于300km,在温跃层引起的最大位温异常可达±5℃。垂向结构上,反气旋涡呈中心对称,而气旋涡有非对称性,且影响深度大于反气旋涡。在200m以下,气旋涡有随深度增加向东倾斜的趋势,而反气旋涡有随深度增加向西偏移的趋势,但该趋势在200m层以上并不显著。对偶极子涡旋区域进行能量分析,结果表明偶极子能量主要来自于越南离岸流提供的正压和斜压能量,即越南离岸流区域是偶极子结构的主要能量源,局地风场对偶极子结构的维持也具有重要作用。能量既可以由离岸流输送给涡旋,也可以从涡旋向离岸流转化,但总体上是离岸流向涡旋提供能量。     

Salt structures in the Laizhouwan depression, offshore Bohai Bay basin, eastern China: New insights from 3D seismic data

Using the new high-quality 3D seismic data, this paper addresses the salt structures in the KL11 area of the Laizhouwan depression in the southern offshore Bohai Bay basin. In the study area, the salt in the Sha-4 Member of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation thickened, and then formed an S–N trending salt wall, which changes shape regularly along its trend from salt diapir to salt pillow. The change in thickness of the suprasalt layers record five growth phases of the salt wall from the Eocene to the Quaternary: (1) early diapirism, (2) active diapirism, (3) passive diapirism, (4) relative structural quiescence, and (5) arching. The evolution of the salt structures was mostly governed by the multi-phase compression induced by the dextral strike-slip of the Tan–Lu fault, which formed a restraining bend in the study area. There was an original passive stock in the south, which was later tectonically squeezed by E–W compression and became a diapir. As the shortening propagated to the north from the original stock, the salt pillow was created in the north. Relative structural quiescence then followed until the next phase of compression, which arched the thick roof of the salt wall.     

埕北油田聚合物的筛选与性能评价

埕北油田具有原油黏度高、油层渗透能力强和非均质性严重等特点,水驱开发效果差,剩余油储量大。目前,埕北油田综合含水90%,采出程度30%左右,而生产平台工作时间已达到设计使用寿命,急需高效、快速的开发技术。针对埕北油藏地质、流体性质和开发现状,利用室内仪器检测和理论分析方法,开展了聚合物筛选和聚合物性能评价,利用模糊综合评判方法对聚合物进行了优选,推荐使用中国石油大庆炼化公司生产＂抗盐＂和＂超高＂部分水解聚丙烯酰胺。     

值得重视的海域海相油气勘探

当前我国海域油气的勘探领域和勘探层位大部分局限于新生界,而对古生代海相地台沉积、特提斯海相沉积、南海生物礁、南海和冲绳等深水盆地领域的勘探涉足不深。通过海域海相油气的地质调查与研究以及新区评价,认为在我国海域拓宽找油的战略选区,力争海域海相油气勘探获得突破、发现储量规模大的整装油田是有可能的。     

Total mercury and methylmercury in sediments near offshore drilling sites in the Gulf of Mexico

Concentrations of total Hg in sediments near six drilling sites in the Gulf of Mexico were elevated well above average background values of 40–80 ng/g. The excess Hg was associated with barite from discharged drilling mud. In contrast with total Hg, concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) in these sediments did not vary significantly at nearfield (<100 m) versus farfield (>3 km) distances from the drilling sites. Observed variability in concentrations of MeHg were related to local differences in redox state in the top 10 cm of sediment. Low to non-detectable concentrations of MeHg were found in nearfield sediments that were anoxic, highly reducing and contained abundant H₂S. At most drilling sites, nearfield samples with high concentrations of total Hg (>200 ng/g) had similar or lower amounts of MeHg than found at background (farfield) stations. Higher values of MeHg were found in a few nearfield sediments at one site where concentrations of TOC were higher and where sediments were anoxic and moderately reducing. Overall, results from this study support the conclusion that elevated concentrations of MeHg in sediments around drilling sites are not a common phenomenon in the Gulf of Mexico.