Us public and private regulation of LNG transport

The authors examine the propositions that the private banking sector is capable of assuring that liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects are economically viable and that the insurance sector is capable of rating the relative risks of LNG projects to assure their operations are as safe as possible. If the markets could assure these outcomes, government regulation of LNG projects could be reduced. Reviews of public and private regulation of safety and economic viability suggest that the private sector cannot serve these functions adequately. Unless private financial and insurance enterprises are induced by government regulations to smooth their own operating cycles, private self-regulation of major new developments is unlikely to be effective. In the case of LNG, the red tape of governmental bureaucracy may have prevented the large-scale development of costly, potentially hazardous, white elephants, but for all the wrong reasons.     

Vertical distribution of trace elements in the surface waters offshore Nova Scotia

Concentrations of the trace elements Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni were measured in shallow vertical profiles (maximum depth 500 m) off the Scotian Shelf in the western North Atlantic. The distributions of the trace elements show variations with depth, the most consistent of which are for Fe and Zn. A minimum concentration near the surface followed by an increase with depth is attributed to in situ mechanisms.     

Atmospheric inputs of trace metals to the northeast Atlantic Ocean: the importance of southeasterly flow

The study of aerosols and rainwater presented here demonstrates that episodic atmospheric deposition events associated with southeasterly flow are quantitatively significant for large areas of the North Atlantic Ocean. This paper considers aluminium and manganese, with predominantly crustal sources, and lead and zinc, which are mobilised into the atmosphere primarily through anthropogenic activity. High levels of all trace metals are associated with southeasterly flow from Europe as the air passes over heavily populated and industrialised regions before reaching the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Fluxes calculated using the 1% HNO₃ acid soluble metal concentration show that, although the climatological norm for this area is westerly flow, short-lived southeasterly transport events dominate the input of trace metals to this ocean region. This material may be toxic to phytoplankton or may be represent a new source of nutrients to the biological community. A significant decrease in atmospheric lead levels in polluted air is seen between June 1996 and May 1997, reflecting the decrease in use of leaded fuels in Europe. Comparing atmospheric flux values to sediment trap metal fluxes shows that the atmosphere represents the dominant source of zinc to the deep ocean, whereas an additional, non-atmospheric, manganese source this required, perhaps from mobilisation of sedimentary material from the continental shelf or long range advection of manganese rich Saharan material.     

临兴上古生界致密储层裂缝发育特征及对致密气富集影响

临兴区块上古生界储集层为致密砂岩，裂缝发育特征及对致密气富集影响尚不清楚，一定程度上制约了甜点区预测。 根据岩心、露头、薄片及测井资料，分析了研究区裂缝发育特征，探讨了裂缝对致密砂岩气富集的影响。临兴区块上古生界主 要发育高角度缝，其次为中低角度缝及水平缝，微观上根据裂缝与矿物颗粒的相对位置关系，可识别出粒内缝、粒缘缝和穿粒 缝，其中粒缘缝最为发育。受塑性泥岩阻挡，裂缝垂向延伸较差，一般延伸1~2 m后消失于泥岩层中，受燕山期北西—南东向 地应力影响，裂缝走向多为北东—南西向，裂缝密度一般2~5条/ｍ。裂缝可改善储集空间、提高油气充注效率，储层裂缝发育 区渗透率可增大1~2个数量级，含气饱和度高，此外，研究区裂缝是油气垂向运移的有效通道，影响着石盒子组及石千峰组致 密气的富集，在后期的勘探开发过程中应充分寻找裂缝发育区，并通过进一步压裂获得高产。     

从页岩气革命看中国资源勘探的战略方向

美国页岩油气开发的巨大成功不仅对美国乃至世界油气供应格局产生明显影响,而且对地下资源勘探开发思路有重大启示.首先,向低品位资源开发能使可用资源的数量成倍增加;其次,找油找矿思路的拓宽可导致新区新领域的开拓;第三,实现上两点必须有技术水平创新式发展.中国矿产资源发展的战略方向亦应强调向多种低品位资源的开拓,提高选矿水平,推进资源的综合勘探开发利用.为此,要积极持续地进行找矿新思路、新领域和新技术研究.     

天然气水合物和游离气饱和度估算的影响因素

讨论了不同水合物胶结类型的流体饱和多孔隙固体中地震波的衰减情况,分析了估算天然气水合物和游离气饱和度影响因素.结果表明, 地层孔隙度、纵波速度模型和弹性模量的计算方法是影响反演水合物和游离气饱和度的关键因素.含水合物地层的吸收与水合物胶结类型密切相关,当水合物远离固体颗粒,像流体一样充填在孔隙时,品质因子出现负异常,而当水合物胶结固体颗粒影响骨架的弹性性质,其品质因子出现正异常.根据布莱克海台地区164航次995井的测井资料,分别应用低频和高频速度模型估算了水合物和游离气饱和度.由低频速度模型得到的水合物饱和度(占孔隙空间的)10%～20%,游离气饱和度(占孔隙空间的)0.5%～1%;而由高频速度模型得到的水合物饱和度(占孔隙空间的)5%～10%,游离气饱和度(占孔隙空间的)1%～2%.     

中国石化枯竭气藏型储气库注采技术及发展建议

经长输管线输送的天然气注入到地下空间而形成的人工气藏称为地下储气库。国内外现有储气库大多数是枯竭气藏型地下储气库。中国石化储气库建设起步较晚,基础较为薄弱,同时与国内外已建成储气库相比,中石化储气库建设面临的地质条件和注采工况也较为复杂。以中国在建最大储气库项目中原文23储气库为例,其复杂地质条件以及面临的"快瞬变非稳态增压"注采难题需要进行专门研究。分析了目前中石化枯竭型气藏储气库建库现状,提出了建库技术挑战,总结了现阶段取得的注采关键技术研究成果,通过分析中国石化枯竭气藏型储气库注采技术研究现状和最新进展,提出了国产化技术完善、智能化注采营运、一体化模拟实验室的建设等方面的发展建议和要求,为持续加强规模化储气库群建设的支持提供参考。     

新近纪以来的构造运动是中国气藏形成的重要因素

新近纪以来的构造运动是全球最新的地壳形变和造山运动的发展演化阶段。由于中国地处印度陆块、西伯利亚陆块与太平洋板块所围限的三角地带。是世界上新近纪以来构造运动比较活跃的地区,以及天然气极易散失,也难以保存的特点,因此,新近纪以来构造运动特征是研究中国气藏形成和保存不可忽视的重要地质因素。总结中国天然气的成藏历程,虽然各类盆地有所不同,但都有上新世以来构造运动的影响。上新世以来的构造运动对于中国天然气的成藏及分布有一定的破坏作用,促使一些盆地天然气受到了一定程度的散失,但总体上以促进成藏、聚集作用为主：①在西部盆岭之间形成了一系列中国式的前陆型盆地,为形成大中型气田刨造了有利条件。并控制了盆地本部气藏的最终定型。②在中部的四川盆地形成了成排成带的背斜,是四川盆地气藏形成、定型的主要时期;鄂尔多斯盆地的整体快速隆升及进一步西倾,促进了从靖边至乌审旗气田群天然气的进一步聚集。③在东部,上新世末期的渤海运动为以渤中拗陷为主体的渤海海域晚期成藏刨造了有利的地质条件;在其他盆地也促进了二次生烃及次生气藏的形成;并形成了一批无机成因的二氧化碳气田。④在近海海域,既促进了有机成因气藏的形成,也促进了无机成因非烃气藏以及无机与有机成因天然气的混源,致使区内形成了比较复杂的气藏特征。总之,新近纪以来活跃的构造运动形成了中国天然气以晚期、超晚期生烃成藏、定型为主的成藏模式,是研究中国气藏形成不可忽视的重要的地质阶段。