The Tianjin geothermal field （northeastern China）： Geochemistry and implications for possible plugging phenomena

The low-enthalpy geothermal system of Tianjin is located in and around the City of Tianjin （China）, in the NE part of the North China plain, a tectonic depression affected by subsidence since the Neogene. The regional aquifer system is from the top to the bottom, as follows： （1） the ＂Quaternary aquifer＂, in continental sediments; （2） the ＂Tertiary aquifer＂, in the continental depositional series; （3） the ＂Lower Palaezoic-Sinian aquifer＂, in Ordovician-Sinian calcareous rocks. Shallow （300-600 m） and deep （up to 2600 m） producing wells discharge water at up to 50 and 90 C, respectively. Exhausted fluid re-injection started in the 90＇s. Subsequently, a reduction in the injection process was observed, suggesting that sealing or plugging occurred in the reservoir（s）. The present work, based on chemical and isotopic data on fluids and minerals from productive and re-injection wells, describes the causes of the permeability reduction at the bottom hole of the re-injection wells. Geochemical data processing using speciation codes indicates that （1） sealing caused by precipitation of both calcite or amorphous silica is very unlike; （2） the saturation indices for several Fe and Zn sulfides and hydroxides are very positive, although fluids have neutral pH and low temperature （Fe- and Zn-rich minerals are present mainly as transported solids）; （3） pipes, casings, heat exchangers and steel flames are made of low-quality Fe and show evident oxidation effects; casings and producing liners in the wells are likely in the same conditions; （4） thermal fluids sampled in summer, when most wells are shut down, are characterized by more negative redox potential and lower pH than those collected in winter, probably because in summer there is less casing-hot water interaction and, consequently, Fe-oxidation in the casing is reduced. Accordingly, the plugging problem does not seem to be a natural process related to the chemical characteristics of the produced fluid. It is, on the contrary, possibly induced by the oxidation of casings, pumps, pipes, etc.     

Quantitative assessment of the residual risk in a rockfall protected area

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) has become an indispensable tool for the management of landslide hazard and for planning risk mitigation measures. In this paper we present the evaluation of the rockfall risk at the Solà d’Andorra slope (Andorra Principality) before and after the implementation of risk mitigation works, in particular, the construction of protective fences. To calculate the risk level we have (i) identified the potential rockfall release areas, (ii) obtained the volume distribution of the falling rocks, (iii) determined the frequency of the rockfall events, and (iv) performed trajectographic analysis with a 3D numerical model (Eurobloc) that has provided both the expected travel distances and the kinetic energy of the blocks. The risk level at the developed area located at the foot of the rock cliff has been calculated taking into account the nature of the exposed elements and their vulnerability. In the Forat Negre basin, the most dangerous basin of the Solà d’Andorra, the construction of two lines of rockfall protection fences has reduced the annual probability of loss of life for the most exposed person inside the buildings, from 3.8×10⁻⁴ to 9.1×10⁻⁷ and the societal risk from 1.5×10⁻² of annual probability of loss of life to 1.2×10⁻⁵.     

A model, study on seasonal spatial-temporal variability of the Lagrangian Residual Circulations in the Bohai Sea

1 IntroductionThe BohaiSea is a sem i-closed shallow sea w ith a m ean depth ofaround 20 m ,com posed oftheLiaodong Bay,the BohaiBay,the Laizhou Bay and the BohaiBasin,and connected to the N orthY ellow Sea through a latitudinal strait. The tidal dynam ic…     

Zr–LREE rich minerals in residual peraluminous granulites, another factor in the origin of low Zr–LREE granitic melts?

There is a significant enrichment in some trace elements in the major residual minerals of peraluminous granulite xenoliths from the lower crust. Those trace elements are released from the breakdown of accessory phases at high-T granulite-facies conditions (> 850 °C). Around 10–35% of Zr is hosted in granulite rutile and garnet, whereas, the entire LREE–Eu budget is controlled by feldspar. The Zr- and REE-compatible behaviour of the major granulite phases, combined with the scarcity of accessory phases, which are mostly included in major granulite minerals, leads to a disequilibrium in accessory dissolution in the peraluminous partial melts. Thus the melt extracts less Zr and LREE and, consequently, generates the false impression of having lower-T when applying current accessory phase dissolution models.     

Residual circulation in eastern Long Island Sound: Observed transverse-vertical structure and exchange transport

Residual currents in eastern Long Island Sound (LIS) are investigated using direct velocity measurements from an acoustic Doppler current profiler mounted on a ferry. Circulation at the site has major influence on exchange of water and water-borne materials between LIS and the coastal ocean. Ferry sampling enables sufficient averaging to isolate the residual motion from stronger tidal currents, and captures its spatial structure. Mean along-estuary currents based on about 2 years of sampling reveal a vigorous estuarine exchange circulation (peak 25–30 cm s⁻¹ at depth), with flow eastward out of the estuary in the upper water column of the southern half and inward westward movement strengthening with depth over the central and north section. Application of volume conservation implies there is a strong eastward current out of the estuary in the shallowest 7 m where no measurements were made, as expected for estuarine exchange flow. Water from the Connecticut River, entering LIS on the north shore nearby to the west, does not appear to exit the estuary directly eastward along the north shore unless this occurs wholly in the shallow layer not sampled. Transverse currents have complex structure with generally northward (southward) flow where shallow outward (deep inward) motion occurs. An idealized semi-analytic solution for transverse-vertical structure of along- and across-estuary flow has limited success accounting for observed currents, despite inclusion of bathymetric, frictional, and rotational influences; this suggests the importance in LIS of dynamics it omits, in particular stratification, or does not represent with sufficient realism, such as complex bathymetry. Estimated annual-mean exchange volume transport, based on the better-sampled deep inward component, is 22,700±5000 m³ s⁻¹. This is comparable to previous estimates from some salt budget and hydrographic analyses, and implies advection contributes substantially to the total salt transport, contrary to results of a recent box-model analysis of hydrographic measurements. At seasonal timescales, changes to the transverse-vertical velocity structure are modest, but amplitude variations cause exchange volume transport increases (decreases) to 30,000 m³ s⁻¹ (18,000 m³ s⁻¹) in the summer (winter) months; a power-law dependence of exchange on river flow, as seen in other estuaries, is not supported. Strengthened summer transport is associated with enhanced stratification, suggesting that mixing effects modulate the exchange. To the extent that advection by residual flow contributes to total exchange between LIS and coastal waters, the flushing of materials from LIS should occur substantially faster in summer than in winter.     

Failure Process after Peak Strength of Artificial Joints by Fractal Dimension

Because lack of information when the joints exhibit strain softening behavior, the transition from peak to residual values is assumed to decrease either linearly or exponentially. Also, displacement of slide side after peak is much larger than the peak displacement and the stress approaches the residual state, thus studying failure process after peak strength is very important. In this research, three types of artificial joints with tooth-shaped asperity under repeated direct-shear were tested. Continuously movement of slide side after peak strength was monitored during shearing test. Reduction of shear parameters was examined according to two failure criteria (Barton and Patton). JRC value (Joint Roughness Coefficient) for a given profile was estimated by fractal dimension. One of the results of this study is that Barton’s criterion predicts a good estimation of residual strength and the second result is when the amount of fractal dimension of a joint surface increases, the JRC amount also increases, and with having value of h (height average) and l (base average) of a tooth-shaped asperity can determine the JRC of joint surface. M. Askari is a M.Sc Student of Engineering Faculty, Mining Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran.     

Lidar and Sun photometer observations of atmospheric boundary-layer characteristics over an urban area in a mountain valley

We present measurements of the vertical aerosol structure and the aerosol optical depth in the lower troposphere performed above the city of Sofia (an urban area situated in a mountain valley), western Bulgaria by means of a ground-based aerosol lidar operating continuously for a number of years. The lidar measurements were accompanied by measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum performed in October 2004 using Microtops II radiometers. The maximum values of the AOD were found to occur 1–2 h before the complete development of the atmospheric boundary layer, i.e. during the residual layer destruction, which confirms our hypothesis concerning the slope circulation effect on the processes taking place in the atmospheric boundary layer. The AOD values obtained by the lidar are lower than those taken by the sun photometer. Further, the AOD exhibits two different types of behaviour. In the case of a ‘clear atmosphere’ (i.e. in the absence of volcanic eruptions and/or dust transport from the Sahara) most of the aerosol accumulated within the atmospheric boundary layer over the urban area considered. The combined use of the two instruments allows the comparison between the optical characteristics of the atmospheric aerosol (e.g. aerosol extinction coefficient, etc.) obtained by the lidar and through an independent method (sun photometer).     

The combined effect of moisture and temperature on the anomalous expansion behaviour of marble

Three calcitic marble types often used as cladding material and different in lattice preferred orientation (texture), grain shape preferred orientation, grain size distribution and grain interlocking are investigated to study the combined effect of thermal cycles (day-night) and moisture on the decay of marble, particularly on the bowing phenomenon. Repetitive heating-cooling under dry conditions leads to considerable inelastic residual strain only in the first thermal cycle. The residual strain continuously increases again if water is present, whereby the moisture content after a thermal cycle has a certain impact on the decay rate. The water-enhanced thermal dilatation strongly correlates with the deterioration rate obtained from the laboratory bow test. All applied approaches reveal that the texture in combination with the grain shape preferred orientation control the intensity and anisotropy of marble deterioration, thus, the cutting direction of facade panels has to be considered in terms of durability. On-site analysis from building facades confirm the laboratory results such as the bowing tendency of different marbles, directional dependence, relevance of moisture content during cyclical heating and the loss of strength due to environmental impact.Special Issue: Stone decay hazards     

从东海石油地质重要进展看西太平洋大陆边缘新生代盆地的构造演化——一种海沟向洋后退的残余弧后盆地演化模式

东海盆地石油地质研究在近二十年里主要取得五方面的进展 :证明了盆地是由一组大陆边缘新生界由西向东逐个变新的“盆地群体”组成 ,建立了陆架地区以组为单位的整个新生代地层单元 ,详细划分了西湖凹陷的内部地质结构 ,认定了煤和煤系沉积是东海陆架区的主力油气源岩 ,通过大量钻井验证了盆地中三类不同成因的圈闭。从环西太平洋盆地形成的地球动力学背景看 ,西太平洋是一个自北而南的沟—弧—盆 (陆缘海 )系统 ;大体以台湾海峡为界 ,东海盆地是一个由转换或被动边缘演化而来的聚敛边缘 ,而南海属于由活动或聚敛边缘转化而来的被动边缘。东海盆地与菲律宾海盆地具有相似的时空演化特征 ,由此论证了东海新生代盆地属于残余弧后向洋后退盆地     

方解石,白云石,菱铁矿分别与含CO2水溶液反应平衡时的温度和压力

本文运用热力学原理确立了方解石、白云石、菱铁矿分别与含CO_2水溶液反应平衡时的温度和压力函数关系式。它们反应平衡所需要的最高临界温度分别为266K,264K和261K,最低临界压力分别为86.5MPa,106.8MPa和133.7MFa;在含CO_2水溶液中的溶解度均随压力增大、温度降低而增加;其生成则随压力减小和温度升高而变易。当温度、压力和水中含CO_2的量相同时,它们的溶解度大小顺序是方解石>白云石>菱铁矿。