New insights into the origin and migration of brines in deep Devonian aquifers, Alberta, Canada

Analysis of hydraulic heads and chemical compositions of Devonian formation waters in the west central part of the Alberta Basin, Canada, characterizes the origin of formation waters and migration of brines. The Devonian succession in the study area lies 2000–5000 m below the ground surface, and has an approximate total thickness of 1000 m and an average slope of 15 m/km. Four Devonian aquifers are present in the study area, which form two aquifer systems [i.e., a Middle–Upper Devonian aquifer system (MUDAS) consisting of the Elk Point and Woodbend–Beaverhill Lake aquifers, and an Upper Devonian aquifer system (UDAS) consisting of the Winterburn and Wabamun aquifers]. The Ireton is an effective aquitard between these two systems in the eastern parts of the study area. The entire Devonian succession is confined below by efficient aquitards of the underlying Cambrian shales and/or the Precambrian basement, and above by overlying Carboniferous shales of the Exshaw and Lower Banff Formations.The formation water chemistry shows that the Devonian succession contains two distinct brine types: a ‘heavy brine,’ located updip, defined approximately by TDS >200 g/l, and a ‘light brine’ with TDS <200 g/l. Hydraulic head distributions suggest that, presently, the ‘light brine’ attempts to flow updip, thereby pushing the ‘heavy brine’ ahead. The interface between the two brines is lobate and forms large-scale tongues that are due to channeled flow along high-permeability pathways. Geological and hydrogeochemical data suggest that the following processes determined the present composition of the ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ brines: original seawater, evaporation beyond gypsum but below halite saturation, dolomitization, clay dehydration, gypsum dewatering, thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR), and halite dissolution. The influx of meteoric (from the south) and metamorphic (from the west) waters can be recognized only in the ‘light brine.’ Albitization can be unequivocally identified only in the ‘heavy brine.’ The ‘heavy brine’ may be residual Middle Devonian evaporitic brine from the Williston Basin or the Elk Point Basin, or it may have originated from partial dissolution of thick, laterally extensive Middle Devonian evaporite deposits to the east of the study area. The ‘light brine’ most probably originated from dilution of ‘heavy brine’ in post-Laramide times.     

Integrating geophysical and hydrochemical borehole-log measurements to characterize the Chalk aquifer, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Geophysical and hydrochemical borehole-logging techniques were integrated to characterize hydraulic and hydrogeochemical properties of the Chalk aquifer at boreholes in Berkshire, UK. The down-hole measurements were made to locate fissures in the chalk, their spatial extent between boreholes, and to determine the groundwater chemical quality of the water-bearing layers. The geophysical borehole logging methods used were caliper, focused resistivity, induction resistivity, gamma ray, fluid temperature, fluid electrical conductivity, impeller and heat-pulse flowmeter, together with borehole wall optical-imaging. A multiparameter data transmitter was used to measure groundwater temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and redox potential of the borehole fluid down-hole. High permeability developed at the Chalk Rock by groundwater circulation provides the major flow horizon at the Banterwick Barn study site and represents a conduit system that serves as an effective local hydraulic connection between the boreholes. The Chalk Rock includes several lithified solution-ridden layers, hardgrounds, which imply a gap in sedimentation possibly representing an unconformity. Lower groundwater temperature, high dissolved-oxygen content, and flowmeter evidence of preferential groundwater flow in the Chalk Rock indicated rapid groundwater circulation along this horizon. By repeating the logging at different times of the year under changing hydraulic conditions, other water-inflow horizons within the Chalk aquifer were recognized. Electronic Publication     

A new approach to soil characterisation for hydrology–stability analysis models

Landslide stability analysis increasingly utilises high-resolution coupled hydrology–slope stability models (CHASM) to improve stability assessments in areas subject to dynamic pore pressure regimes. In such environments, the estimation of soil hydraulic conductivity (K) is a key parameter but one which is not always readily available or determined with the required resolution. By using basic soil particle-size distribution (PSD) data, we evaluate the microscopic composition of the actual soil, and applying the analytical relations obtain by a Self-Consistent Method (SCM) approach, we determine an appropriate value of K. This is of importance in that it allows within-soil type variability to be reflected in terms of K and hence within the model structure. The SCM methodology is briefly reviewed and an illustrative application is undertaken for a slope typical of Hong Kong. The results show model output sensitivity in terms of moisture content and factor of safety (FOS) when comparing K values determined using the SCM approach and the conventional field determination. In attempting to determine slope hydrological processes and attendant stability conditions, we conclude that the application of SCM approach offers a novel methodology for potentially improving the parameterisation of hydrology–slope stability models.     

屋盖MR智能隔震系统对升船结构顶部厂房地震鞭梢效应的模糊控制

基于抑制升船结构顶部厂房地震鞭梢效应的目的，本文提出了升船结构顶部厂房屋盖MR智能隔震模糊控制的思想。文中，在建立屋盖智能隔震升船结构计算力学模型的基础上，建立了屋盖MR智能隔震系统对升船结构顶部厂房地震反应模糊控制的设计计算方法。文中并以中国某大坝巨型升船结构为背景，设计了屋盖MR智能隔震系统对升船结构顶部厂房地震反应模糊控制的控制系统。仿真分析和对MR阻尼器的参数研究表明，安装合适的屋盖MR智能隔震系统并采用模糊控制策略能有效地抑制具有不确定参数升船结构顶部厂房地震反应的鞭梢效应，且模糊控制器能保持较好的稳定性能。     

Constraints on hydraulic parameters and implications for groundwater flux across the upland–estuary interface

Analyses of independent laboratory- and field-scale measurements from two sites on Sapelo Island, Georgia reveal heterogeneity in hydraulic parameters across the upland–estuary interface. Regardless of the method used (short-duration pumping tests, amplitude attenuation of tidal pumping data, sediment grain size distributions, and falling head permeameter tests), we obtain hydraulic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹ for the fine-grained, well-sorted, clean sands that make up the upland areas. Proximal to the upland–estuary boundary, the tidal pumping analyses and permeameter tests suggest that hydraulic conductivities decrease by more than two orders of magnitude, a result consistent with the presence of a clogging layer. Such a clogging layer may arise due to a variety of physical, chemical, or biological processes. The extent and orientation of the layers of reduced hydraulic conductivity near the upland–estuary boundary influence the nature of the aquifer's response to tidal forcing. Where the lower conductivity layer forms a relatively flat creek bank, tidal pumping produces a primarily mechanical response in the adjacent aquifer. Where the creek bank is nearly vertical, there is a more direct hydraulic connection between the tidal creek and the adjacent aquifer. The clogging layer likely contributes to the development of complicated flow pathways across the upland–estuary boundary. Effective flow paths calculated from tidal pumping data terminate within the marsh, beyond the boundary of the upland aquifer, suggesting a diffuse regime of groundwater discharge in the marsh. We postulate that, in many settings, submarsh flow may be as important as seepage faces for groundwater discharge into the marsh–estuary complex.     

鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程施工和运行对湖区及尾闾洪水动力的影响

鄱阳湖是长江水系中的两大通江湖泊之一,在调节长江水位、涵养水源、改善当地气候和维护周围地区生态平衡等方面都起着巨大的作用。鄱阳湖水利枢纽的修建可能导致湖泊水文情势和水动力的变化。本文基于MIKE 21构建鄱阳湖二维水动力模型,选取1954年和1998年特大洪水年以及1991年长江倒灌年作为运行期的典型年,选取1995年作为施工期典型年,按照规划中的鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程施工及运行调度方案,计算水利枢纽修建前后鄱阳湖水位和流量的变化,定量分析枢纽工程对长江干流、鄱阳湖湖区及尾闾附近洪水动力的影响。结果表明:不同典型年鄱阳湖水利枢纽对长江干流、湖区及尾闾的洪水动力影响相似,其中洪水期、倒灌期及施工期一期对长江防洪、湖区及尾闾附近的影响较小,施工期二期湖区水位壅高幅度最高达0.237 m,对鄱阳湖湖区及尾闾附近防洪有一定影响;枢纽工程对星子、都昌、康山等湖区水文站水位影响幅度较为接近,且越靠近尾闾,影响越小。整体而言,鄱阳湖水利枢纽的修建会导致洪水年鄱阳湖湖区水位壅高,倒灌期湖区水位降低,湖区流速降低,但变化幅度均较小,故枢纽工程施工期和运行期对汛期行洪影响不大。     

Spatial Discontinuities in Support for Hydraulic Fracturing: Searching for a “Goldilocks Zone”

Recent research suggests that those located closer to energy development are, on average, more supportive of this development. However, case studies in specific locations reveal additional nuance. In a case study of Bakken Shale residents, Junod et al. identified a “Goldilocks Zone” of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) acceptance—an area on the periphery of development that is “just right” because residents feel close enough to receive economic benefits but far enough away to avoid negative impacts. We explore whether this Goldilocks Zone extends nationally by combining geocoded public opinion data (N?=?23,154) with UOGD locations. Using multilevel regression modeling, we find that respondents located within 115?km of newly active UOGD are more supportive of hydraulic fracturing while those located within 115–305?km are comparatively less supportive. While we do not uncover a national-level Goldilocks Zone, our work highlights innovative approaches for examining spatial relationships in energy development opinion.     

LiDAR-based fluvial remote sensing to assess 50–100-year human-driven channel changes at a regional level: The case of the Piedmont Region,Italy

Remote Sensing (RS) technology has recently offered new and promising opportunities to analyze river systems. In this paper, we present a calibration of characteristic Hydraulic Scaling Law (HSL) using a regional database of river geomorphic features. We consistently linked discharge with channel geometry features for estimated Bankfull Channel Depth (eBCD), Active Channel Width (ACW), and Low Flow water Channel Width (LFCW), which are continuously available from RS data along the river course. We then used historical information and external sources of information on channel reaches that were relatively unaffected by human pressure over periods ranging from a few decades to a century (measured in comparable geographical areas) to infer relatively Unaltered HSLs (rUHSLs). Adopting rUHSL validated with available local historical evidence on channel geometry, we were able to assess historical changes in channel geometry consistently over the entire region and within the studied temporal window. The case study was conducted for the Po basin in the Piedmont Region, north-west Italy. From our analysis, it emerges that regionally 74% of the river network has riverbed incisions exceeding 1 m, while 66% of channels have halved their historical widths with a total of 617 ha of land subtracted from the active channel. LFCW is, on average, wider in Alpine rivers compared with those located in the North Apennines. Although it is currently not possible to measure the accuracy of these estimates, the evidence generated is coherent with available historical information, characteristic hydraulic scaling laws, evidence from relatively unaltered reaches and the available literature on local fluvial systems. This methodology provides robust, novel and quantitative information regarding decadal to secular channel changes that have occurred on a regional scale. This new layer of information enriches our ability to rationally address assessments of large-scale past and future channel trajectories. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水力压裂微地震井地联合监测系统及仪器

水力压裂技术是油气田增产和低渗透油田开发的有效技术手段,通过监测油层裂缝延展过程中产生的微地震事件,能够有效地判断裂缝走向.现有的井中监测方法存在成本较高、施工难度大的问题;地面监测存在信号信噪比低、垂向分辨能力差等问题.本文采用井地联合微地震监测的方法,在地面布置采集仪器的同时,选择邻近的单口监测井放置井中仪器,对微地震事件进行联合监测定位.采用联合监测的方法,在水平方向和垂直方向上都能够获得较好的监测视角,对比单一监测方法提高了微地震事件的定位精度.在此方法的基础上研制的井地联合微地震监测仪器系统,解决了现有仪器系统在进行联合监测时通讯链路不通的问题,实现了在压裂施工现场对微地震联合监测数据的实时回收、处理及结果呈现.应用本系统在大庆油田进行现场监测,获取的微地震事件对压裂裂缝进行了有效评价;通过对已知射孔点进行反演定位,采用井地联合监测将定位误差由地面监测的32 m降低至14 m,验证了本文技术的有效性.     

川东北新元古代克拉通裂陷的厘定及其深层油气意义

四川盆地安岳震旦—寒武系特大型气田的发现,极大地鼓舞了相关学者对四川盆地深层油气勘探新领域的探索热情,然而,对于川东北地区深层古地理格局的认识尚存在不少争议.本文通过对四川盆地北缘、东北缘新元古代—寒武纪地层剖面的综合调查与区域对比研究,基于关键事件序列的系统厘定,重建了川东北及邻区的新元古代—寒武纪原型盆地地层格架;...