Fabric dilatancy and the plasticity modeling of granular media

A novel conceptual model of the mechanics of sands is developed within an elastic–plastic framework. Central to this model is the realization that volume changes in anisotropic granular materials occur as a result of two fundamentally different mechanisms. The first is purely kinematic, dilative, and is the result of the changes in anisotropic fabric. There is also a second volume change in granular media that occurs as a direct response to changes in stress as in a standard elastic/plastic continuum. The inclusion of the two sources of volume change results in three important datum states. When subjected to isotropic strains, the resulting stress state in granular materials is not isotropic but lies upon the kinematic normal consolidation line. There exists a state at which the fabric‐induced volumetric strain rate becomes equal to the stress‐induced volumetric strain rate making the total plastic volumetric strain rate equal to zero. Granular response changes from contractive to dilative at this phase transformation line. The third datum state is the one in which the stress‐induced volumetric strain rate is zero. The sand, however, continues to dilate at this state with the difference between stress and dilation ratio a constant as predicted by Taylor's stress–dilatancy rule. These predictions are shown in accordance with experimental data from a series of drained tests and undrained on Ottawa sand. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

油企业抗震防灾规划信息管理系统的设计

基于石油企业抗震防灾工作对网络与数据库的信息管理系统的需求，对数据库产品进行了简要分析，并根据石油企业抗震防灾规划的需求和信息管理的一般模式，提出了石油企业抗震防灾规划信息计算机管理系统的设想。认为，以 Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ａｃｃｅｓｓ 数据库软件为基础，利用 Ｖ Ｂ或 Ｖ Ｃ等可视化前端应用开发工具，是目前比较好的方案，它将使石油企业抗震防灾规划工作在办公自动化方面迈向新的台阶     

对陕北地区石油储量计算中扩边问题的讨论

针对陕北地区油藏类型的特殊性,依据容积法计算模型,对控制储量计算中确定含油面积时的扩边问题进行了讨论,并提出了新的认识.     

Paleo-oil reservoir pyrolysis and gas release in the Yangtze Block imply an alternative mechanism for the Late Permian Crisis

The causes of the global mass extinction that occurred around the Permian–Triassic boundary have been widely studied through the geological record and in various locations. The results show that volcanic activity was a key factor in initiating the crisis during the Late Permian. Compared to other thermal events triggered by volcanic activity, pyrolysis of petroleum in Pre-Permian reservoirs has rarely been suggested as a significant source of the greenhouse gases that caused the mass extinction. In this study, geochemical analysis is carried out of a huge paleo-oil reservoir in the Yangtze Block (YB), South China. The detection of mineral inclusions and pyrobitumens is evidence of rapid pyrolysis of accumulated oil in the Ediacaran reservoir. New evidence from hydrothermal minerals and the presence of domain mesophase in the pyrobitumen suggest that the pyrolysis process occurred abruptly and that greenhouse gases were rapidly released through venting pipes. The dating of such a complex geological event in this old and deeply buried reservoir is inevitably difficult and potentially unreliable. However, cross-validation of the multiple evidence sources, including hydrothermal minerals and domain mesophase, indicates that the rapid oil pyrolysis must have been driven by a major thermal event. Reconstruction of burial and thermal histories suggests that the thermal event was most likely to have been triggered by the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), which was in a period of significant volcanic activity during the Late Permian. Massive volumes of gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, and possibly hydrogen sulfide, were released, causing a significant increase in greenhouse gases that may have contributed to global warming and the resulting mass extinction during the Late Permian Crisis (LPC).     

Formation mechanism,experimental method,and property characterization of grain-displacing methane hydrates in marine sediment: A review

Grain-displacing hydrate deposits exist at many marine sites, which constitute an important part of methane hydrate resources worldwide. Attributed to the difficulties in acquiring field data and synthesizing experimental samples, the formation and property characterization of grain-displacing hydrate remains less understood and characterized than the pore-filling hydrate in current literature. This study reviews the formation mechanisms of grain-displacing hydrate from the perspective of geological accumulation and microscale sedimentary property. The experimental methods of synthesizing grain-displacing hydrate in the laboratory and the current knowledge on the property of grain-displacing hydrate sediment are also introduced. Shortcomings in current theories and suggestions for future study are proposed. The work is hoped to provide valuable insights for the research into the hydrate accumulation, geophysics, and hydrate exploitation targeted at the grain-displacing hydrate in the marine sediments.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Experimental investigation of hydrate formation in water-dominated pipeline and its influential factors

Blockage in water-dominated flow pipelines due to hydrate reformation has been suggested as a potential safety issue during the hydrate production. In this work, flow velocity-dependent hydrate formation features are investigated in a fluid circulation system with a total length of 39 m. A 9-m section pipe is transparent consisted of two complete rectangular loops. By means of pressurization with gas-saturated water, the system can gradually reach the equilibrium conditions. The result shows that the hydrates are delayed to appear as floccules or thin films covering the methane bubbles. When the circulation velocity is below 750 rpm, hydrate is finally deposited as a “hydrate bed” at upmost of inner wall, narrowing the flow channel of the pipeline. Nevertheless, no plugging is observed during all the experimental runs. The five stages of hydrate deposition are proposed based on the experimental results. It is also revealed that a higher driving pressure is needed at a lower flow rate. The driving force of hydrate formation from gas and water obtained by melting hydrate is higher than that from fresh water with no previous hydrate history. The authors hope that this work will be beneficial for the flow assurance of the following oceanic field hydrate recovery trials.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Stability analysis of seabed strata and casing structure during the natural gas hydrates exploitation by depressurization in horizontal wells in South China Sea

Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are a new type of clean energy with great development potential. However, it is urgent to achieve safe and economical NGHs development and utilization. This study established a physical model of the study area using the FLAC^3D software based on the key parameters of the NGHs production test area in the South China Sea, including the depressurization method, and mechanical parameters of strata, NGHs occurrence characteristics, and the technological characteristics of horizontal wells. Moreover, this study explored the law of influences of the NGHs dissociation range on the stability of the overburden strata and the casing structure of a horizontal well. The results are as follows. With the dissociation of NGHs, the overburden strata of the NGHs dissociation zone subsided and formed funnel-shaped zones and then gradually stabilized. However, the upper interface of the NGHs dissociation zone showed significant redistribution and discontinuity of stress. Specifically, distinct stress concentration and corresponding large deformation occurred in the build-up section of the horizontal well, which was thus prone to suffering shear failure. Moreover, apparent end effects occurred at the end of the horizontal well section and might cause the deformation and failure of the casing structure. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures in the build-up section and at the end of the horizontal section of the horizontal well to prevent damage and ensure the wellbore safety in the long-term NGHs exploitation.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Identification of functionally active aerobic methanotrophs and their methane oxidation potential in sediments from the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Large amounts of gas hydrate are distributed in the northern slope of the South China Sea, which is a potential threat of methane leakage. Aerobic methane oxidation by methanotrophs, significant methane biotransformation that occurs in sediment surface and water column, can effectively reduce atmospheric emission of hydrate-decomposed methane. To identify active aerobic methanotrophs and their methane oxidation potential in sediments from the Shenhu Area in the South China Sea, multi-day enrichment incubations were conducted in this study. The results show that the methane oxidation rates in the studied sediments were 2.03–2.36 μmol/gdw/d, which were higher than those obtained by sediment incubations from other areas in marine ecosystems. Thus the authors suspect that the methane oxidation potential of methanotrophs was relatively higher in sediments from the Shenhu Area. After the incubations family Methylococcaea (type I methanotrophs) mainly consisted of genus Methylobacter and Methylococcaea_Other were predominant with an increased proportion of 70.3%, whereas Methylocaldum decreased simultaneously in the incubated sediments. Collectively, this study may help to gain a better understanding of the methane biotransformation in the Shenhu Area.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

油源断裂输导油气通道演化形式的研究方法及其应用

为了研究含油气盆地下生上储式油源断裂附近油气分布规律,在不同时期油源断裂输导油气通道及影响因素研究的基础上,通过确定油源断裂伴生裂缝可能发育部位和地层脆性发育部位,识别其活动期输导油气通道。通过断裂填充物泥质含量和填充物输导油气所需的最小泥质含量,识别其停止活动后输导油气通道,二者结合建立了一套油源断裂输导油气通道演化形式的研究方法,并将其应用于渤海湾盆地冀中坳馅廊固凹陷大柳泉地区旧州断裂在沙三中-下亚段内输导油气通道演化形式的研究中,结果表明:旧州断裂在沙三中-下亚段内共发育4种输导通道演化形式,其中一直输导通道演化形式仅分布在F;断裂东部局部和F;断裂的东部端部;先输导后不输导通道演化形式主要分布在F;断裂西部、F;断裂中西部及东部和F;断裂处;先不输导后输导通道演化形式主要分布在除东部局部的F;断裂、F;断裂的中东部;一直不输导通道演化形式主要分布在F;断裂中部、F;断裂和F;断裂交界处及F;断裂东部。一直输导和先输导后不输导通道演化形式分布处或附近应是沙三中-下亚段油气成藏的有利部位,与目前旧州断裂附近沙三中-下亚段已发现油气分布相吻合,表明该方法用于研究油源断裂输导油气通道演化形式是可行的。     

Experimental evaluation of shear strength behaviour of plastic and non-plastic silts

Silt is available in many parts of the world in combination with sands and clays. However, due to lack of clear understanding of its engineering behaviour, most of the time it is interpreted in terms of either sands or clays. Structures that are usually built on silty soils are designed to take into account design procedures developed for sandy or clayey soils. Presence of silts in combination with varying amount of sand and clays produces silt that is either plastic or non-plastic in nature. Silt is available in and around the Delhi region, in a majority mixture along with fine sands, which is non-plastic in nature. On the other hand silty deposits found in offshore Bombay High region are found in abundance along with significant amounts of clays and are termed as plastic silts. In this paper a comparison of the stress-strain behaviour of plastic and non-plastic silts is carried out under triaxial compression loading during both drained and undrained conditions. Two representative samples each from Delhi and Bombay High regions were considered for this comparison and results of stress-strain under four sets of confining pressure are discussed in detail. It is observed from this study that behaviour of silts is mainly dependent on the composition and structure of the resultant soil matrix. It is concluded from the results that shear strength parameters as well as volume change/pore pressure response of silty soils is dominated by the constituent soil present along with the silt. It is seen from the comparative behaviour of non-plastic and plastic silts that the presence of sand and clays has a governing effect on pore pressure development and the resultant friction angle. The study also corroborated that the nature of silt is transitional both in the case of plastic and non-plastic forms.