Numerical modeling study of mineralization induced by methane cold seep at the sea bottom

In order to investigate the response of authigenic minerals to gas hydrate geo-systems, the biogeochemical processes and its induced mineralization were predicted by employing the comprehensive reactive transport modeling approach. Based on the available data extracted from the northern continental slope area of the South China Sea, a 1-D vertical column model was developed. Three cases with different upward methane flux rates and three cases with different mineral compositions, i.e., a total of six cases were designed to investigate the effects of variations in the depth of sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ) and in the mineral composition on the formation of authigenic minerals. The simulation results indicate that the SMTZ depth influenced by both the upward methane flux rate and the initial composition played an important role in the formation of authigenic minerals. The AOM reaction is intensive at the interface, and the precipitation amount of calcite is large, which is mainly controlled by AOM. When the methane leakage rate is 20 times higher than the base case, aragonite starts to precipitate. During the simulation, oligoclase, k-feldspar, smectite-Na, smectite-Ca, chlorite dissolved. Our study specific to this area as a starting point may provide a quantitative approach for investigating carbonate and pyrite formation in hydrate-bearing sediments accounting for methane oxidation and sulfate reduction. The method presented here and the model built in this study can be used for other sites with similar conditions. In addition, this study may serve as an indication for the potential natural gas hydrate reservoir in depth, and is also significant for marine carbon and sulfur cycle.     

新疆乌苏市巴音沟煤层气勘探井护壁堵漏技术

在煤层气勘探井固体岩心钻探施工过程中,遇岩层构造发育、地下水系发达的施工条件,钻进中往往发生钻井多层漏失、护壁困难的情况。因煤层气勘探井对录井工作的特殊要求,护壁堵漏工作的成功与否成为钻探施工的关键。在进行钻井护壁堵漏处理时,因技术方法不得当或未采取正确的计算经常导致护壁堵漏失败,甚至引发重大的钻探事故。通过对工区施工的经验总结,提出了切实可行的护壁堵漏技术措施,为类似地层钻井勘探施工提供借鉴。     

煤层气U型对接井施工关键技术探讨

煤层气地面排采先后经历了常规直井、常规定向井、U型井以及羽状分支井等阶段,其中U型井具有同步排采,占地少、最大限度沟通煤层裂隙等优点而逐渐成为当今煤层气地面排采的新宠。以YQ01井组为例,对U型对接井施工中难点问题进行梳理,提出了各主要施工阶段需要注意事项及技术措施,解决了井眼轨迹控制难、复杂情况高发、水平井与直井连通精度高等问题。节省了钻井成本,为后续煤层气U型对接井施工提供了技术借鉴。     

Natural ring structures on the Baikal ice cover: Analysis of experimental data and mathematical modeling

Hydrophysical studies and mathematical modeling of ring structures during ice cover on Lake Baikal have shown that their existence at the stage of ice cover degradation is due to anticyclonic currents. Such currents can be generated as a result of local upwelling, which we associate with the rise of methane hydrates from the top layer of bottom sediments and their dissociation. Analysis of satellite images shows that the radii of ice rings range from 1300 to 2400 m, which is close to the baroclinic Rossby radius. The measured ice thicknesses in the area of the rings are in agreement with model calculations. Deep water renewal in Lake Baikal can also be associated with the rise of hydrates.     

沁水盆地原始水动力场类型及其对煤层气排采的影响

水动力场研究在煤层气勘探开发中具有重要作用。本文首先讨论了基于煤层气井排采资料的水动力场研究方法,在分析沁水盆地柿庄区块原始水动力场特点的基础上,结合前人在盆地其他区块水动力场的研究成果,分析了沁水盆地原始水动力场的类型,进而探讨了水动力场类型对煤层气排采的控制作用。研究表明:沁水盆地自边缘向腹部依次存在重力驱动型、滞流型和压实驱动型三种类型的区域原始水动力场;重力驱动型和滞流型水动力场具备煤层气保存条件,含气量高,煤层气排采效果相对较好,而压实驱动型水动力场虽具备一定的保存条件,但因地层压力较高,煤层气井排水降压困难,产气效果较差;无论是在重力驱动型还是滞流型的区域水动力场中,局部的低势汇聚区具备煤层气保存和排采的有利条件,煤层气开发效果一般较好。在未来煤层气勘探开发过程中,应将重力流驱型或滞流型水动力场所在区域中的局部低势汇聚区作为煤层气开发的甜点区。     

Geological Controls on the CBM Productivity of No.15 Coal Seam of Carboniferous–Permian Taiyuan Formation in Southern Qinshui Basin and Prediction for CBM High-yield Potential Regions

Coalbed methane (CBM) resources in No.15 coal seam of Taiyuan Formation account for 55% of the total CBM resources in southern Qinshui Basin (SQB), and have a great production potential. This study aims at investigating the CBM production in No.15 coal seam and its influence factors. Based on a series of laboratory experiments and latest exploration and development data from local coal mines and CBM companies, the spatial characteristics of gas production of No.15 coal seam were analyzed and then the influences of seven factors on the gas productivity of this coal seam were discussed, including coal thickness, burial depth, gas content, ratio of critical desorption pressure to original coal reservoir pressure (RCPOP), porosity, permeability, and hydrogeological condition. The influences of hydrological condition on CBM production were analyzed based on the discussions of four aspects: hydrogeochemistry, roof lithology and its distribution, hydrodynamic field of groundwater, and recharge rate of groundwater. Finally, a three-level analytic hierarchy process (AHP) evaluation model was proposed for predicting the CBM potentials of the No.15 coal seam in the SQB. The best prospective target area for CBM production of the No.15 coal seam is predicted to be in the districts of Panzhuang, Chengzhuang and south of Hudi.     

Methane fluxes and gas hydrates as well as seismic activity in the Okhotsk Sea

The research works of methane concentration in water column of the Okhotsk Sea from 1984 to 2005 were reviewed. And some regularities of methane distribution in water column in the North-East Sakhalin slope of the Okhotsk Sea were concluded.     

DISCUSSION: ‘HYDROLOGICAL MODEL OF PEAT-MOUND FORM WITH VERTICALLY VARYING HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY’ BY ADRIAN C. ARMSTRONG

In this comment we argue that the premise on which the peat mound model developed by Armstrong (Earth Surface Process and Landforms, 1995, 20 , 473–477) is based, that hydraulic conductivity shows an exponential decline with depth in bog peats, is unsound. Empirical evidence in the literature for such an exponential decline is less sound than Armstrong suggests. In addition, Armstrong's suggestion that the hypothesis of Baird and Gaffney (Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 1995, 20 , 561–566) supports an exponential decline is shown to be erroneous.     

平端深海偏顶蛤(Gigantidas platifrons)实验室蓄养过程鳃部含菌上皮细胞超微结构动态变化研究

平端深海偏顶蛤(Gigantidasplatifrons)是南海台西南冷泉区的典型优势物种,鳃丝上皮细胞内共生大量甲烷氧化菌,通过甲烷有氧氧化合成有机物为共生体系提供物质能量,是平端深海偏顶蛤赖以生存的重要能量来源器官,溶酶体在共生体系的营养互作和稳态维持中可能发挥重要作用,本研究使用电镜技术观测了常压培养过程中(0d,30d,90d)平端深海偏顶蛤共生体系中共生菌和溶酶体的动态变化,通过鳃上皮含菌细胞超显微结构的变化研究常压培养对深海共生体系的影响,并探讨溶酶体在宿主—共生菌营养传递和共生菌群稳态维持中的关键作用。研究发现,在原位状态样品中(0d)共生菌和溶酶体呈极化分布,细胞结构完整清晰;蓄养30d后,含菌细胞出现明显破碎,共生菌数量大幅降低,溶酶体数量、范围和消化程度大幅增加,对细胞顶端的甲烷氧化菌进行分解;而90d后,共生菌在溶酶体的作用下消失殆尽,鳃部有明显细胞脱落后留下的坑洞,细胞呈现空泡状,无法明确区分各种细胞组分。上述结果展示了长期常压蓄养过程中鳃上皮含菌细胞中溶酶体与甲烷氧化菌的动态变化,推测当共生菌丢失后溶酶体也同步降低活跃度,平端深海偏顶蛤在共生互作中通过溶酶体主导消化和调控共生菌。     

超临界态甲烷密度研究

超临界甲烷密度不仅是非常规天然气资源量计算与吸附能力测定的重要参数,同时也是衡量超临界甲烷扩散效率与溶解有机物能力的主要指标。通过对比分析各种气体状态方程的适用性,认为基于亥姆霍兹能量基本状态方程可以准确计算0~30 MPa、270~360 K条件下甲烷的密度。利用Microsoft Office Excel编写了甲烷密度的计算程序,与NIST （美国国家标准与技术研究院）商业软件计算结果相比,误差小于0.05%。分析了0~100 MPa、270~360 K范围内甲烷密度的变化规律。结果表明,甲烷密度随压力增大而增大,在低于30 MPa时增速较大且对温度的敏感性较强,高于30 MPa时增速逐渐变缓,且敏感性减弱。在煤层原位条件下随着埋深的增大,甲烷密度随温度升高而减小,随压力增大而增大;在温度与压力共同作用下,甲烷密度呈先增速不变、近似线性增加,后增速逐渐减小、凸曲线形增加的变化规律。游离态甲烷密度受温度的影响比吸附态甲烷小,是深部煤层气资源增量的主要贡献者。研究结果为深部煤层气赋存及其潜力预测提供了基础参数。