Formation of saddle dolomites in Upper Cambrian carbonates, western Tarim Basin (northwest China): Implications for fault-related fluid flow

The saddle dolomites occur more intensely in cores closely to fault than that in cores far away from the fault in Upper Cambrian carbonate of western Tarim basin, suggesting that formation of the saddle dolomites is likely related to fault-controlled fluid flow. They partially fill in fractures and vugs of replacement dolomite. The saddle dolomites exhibit complex internal textures, commonly consisting of core and cortex. In comparison with the matrix dolomites, the saddle dolomites show lower Sr-content and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, higher Fe- and Mn-content, and more negative δ¹⁸O values. Combined with high Th (100–130 °C) of primary fluid inclusions, it is suggested that the saddle dolomites precipitated from hydrothermal fluid derived from the deep evaporite-bearing Middle Cambrian strata, and the magnesium source may be due to dissolution of host dolomite during hydrothermal fluid migration. Fault activity resulted in petrographic and geochemical difference of the core and cortex of the saddle dolomites. The cores precipitated from the formation water mixed by deep brines at the early stage of fault activity, and the cortexes precipitated from the deep fluid with higher temperatures through the Middle Cambrian later. In summary, the formation of the saddle dolomites implies a hydrothermal fluid event related to fault activity, which also resulted in high porosity in Upper Cambrian carbonate in western Tarim Basin.     

Breaking of Solitary Waves on Uniform Slopes

The propagation,shoaling and breaking of solitary waves on mild slopes are simulated byboundary element method.In this paper,the criterion of breaking solitary waves on mild slopes is discussed.The criterion is that the ratio of horizontal velocity of water particles on the wave crest to wave celerity equalsone.However,the case that the ratio of horizontal velocity of water particles on the wave crest to wave ce-lerity is below one but the front face of wave profile becomes vertical is also considered as a breaking criteri-on.According to the above criteria,the breaking index for slopes 1:10 to 1:25 is studied.The result is com-pared to other researchers'.The deformation of solitary waves on slopes is discussed and the distribution offluid velocities at breaking is shown.     

Structurally controlled hydrothermal dolomites in Albian carbonates of the Asón valley,Basque Cantabrian Basin,Northern Spain

Shallow marine carbonate sedimentation dominated during the Albian in the western part of the Basque Cantabrian Basin in Northern Spain, forming the large Ramales Platform. This platform originated on a less subsiding tectonic block facing deeper and more subsiding areas to the south and east, which were created by tectonic activity in the Basin. Fracture-related hydrothermal dolomites hosted in these Albian carbonates are well exposed in the Asón valley area. Mapping in the studied area revealed several dolomite bodies related to main faults that cut the stratification almost at right angles. The bodies show a vertical development along fault-strike up to 900 m thick from which kilometre-scale branches expand following the stratification. Dolomitization is pervasive and independent of the limestone facies. Main dolomite facies are fine replacive, sucrosic and saddle. Petrography, C, O and Sr isotopes and fluid-inclusion analysis support a polyphase hydrothermal dolomitization at fluid temperatures between 75 °C and 240 °C and highly variable salinity of up to 22 wt.% NaCl. Fine dolomite replaced limestone first and then, sucrosic and saddle dolomites replaced part of the first dolomite and cemented newly created fracture porosity together with different calcite cements. Zebra dolomites and hydroclastic breccias are products of this later stage. Burial analysis of the host rock supports maximum burial temperatures of 80 °C and intense tectonic activity from the Albian to Turonian with a latest Albian peak subsidence. Albian stretching of the crust and subsequent ascent of the isotherms in the area is suggested to have produced sufficient heat to the dolomitizing fluids. The structural analysis indicates a strong transtensional tectonic activity in the studied area during Albian to Turonian time with the creation of an overstep between W–E trending and N–S trending faults. Fluids moved from subsiding areas to fractured uplifted parts of the Ramales Platform, enhanced by diapiric activity.     

南海IODP 349航次基底玄武岩中碳酸盐岩脉的岩石学特征*

国际大洋发现计划(International Ocean Discovery Program, IODP)349航次在南海东部次海盆和西南次海盆残留扩张脊附近的U1431和U1433站位首次钻取基底玄武岩, 通过对16块基底玄武岩内的碳酸盐岩脉薄片镜下观察以及激光拉曼光谱分析, 揭示碳酸盐矿物为方解石和文石, 为典型的洋壳低温热液蚀变次生矿物。U1431站位碳酸盐岩脉为独立的方解石脉、文石脉交替出现; 而U1433站位则存在方解石脉、文石脉和方解石-文石共生脉三种情况。此外, U1431站位在基底~42.1m处出现了平行的方解石脉和文石脉, 揭示U1431存在不同来源热液的多期活动, 即可能存在多次或多阶段不同的热液注入。U1431和U1433站位的碳酸岩脉中, 文石的矿物集合体形状基本一致, 呈块状、纤维状和放射纤维状; 而方解石存在差异, U1431的方解石以斑块状、块状、粒状和纤维状出现, 而U1433的方解石仅出现块状。U1431站位的碳酸盐岩脉的丰度明显高于U1433站位。这些均揭示U1431站位的低温热液活动强, 而U1433站位则相对弱。两个站位的热液活动不同很可能是由于区域地质环境的差异造成——U1431附近的巨大海山为其提供了热液补给, 而U1433远离热液的补给/渗漏点。     

泥底辟/泥火山流体热效应及其对天然气水合物赋存的影响

泥底辟/泥火山流体热效应对天然气水合物赋存的影响是探索泥底辟/泥火山发育区水合物赋存规律的关键问题。笔者在分析总结国外泥底辟/泥火山流体热异常及其对天然气水合物赋存之影响的基础上,重点探讨了我国南海北部陆坡珠江口盆地神狐海域SH5站位未钻获水合物的原因及泥底辟/泥火山流体热效应对天然气水合物赋存的影响。当初寄予厚望的位于泥底辟之上的SH5站位未成功钻遇水合物的原因是晚期泥底辟刺穿水合物稳定带使深部高温流体沿着泥底辟和断裂通道上侵,该过程致使水合物稳定带温度场升高进而导致早期形成的水合物发生分解,因此,泥底辟/泥火山的流体热效应会直接制约水合物的赋存。探索泥底辟/泥火山流体热效应及其对水合物成藏的影响,不仅为丰富和完善流体渗漏构造环境下天然气水合物成藏动力学研究与勘探提供了热力学理论依据,而且对天然气水合物勘探开发及资源潜力评价等具有重要的指导意义。     

Investigation of a longfin inshore squid's swimming characteristics and an underwater locomotion during acceleration

In the present study, locomotion of a real longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) was numerically investigated. Geometry of a real squid was obtained using computed tomography (CT) images. In addition to a two-dimensional axisymmetric squid model, a modified squid model with no cavities around her head and an ellipse shaped model were generated with a fineness ratio (the ratio of body length to maximum body diameter) of 7.56. These numerical models were exposed to an acceleration with two different velocity programs. Added mass and basset forces on bodies were calculated during acceleration of the squid models starting from rest. Pressure and viscous drag forces were also calculated due to pressure variation along the squid models and friction on the surface of the models. The effect of a nozzle diameter on jet velocities and propulsive efficiency at all bodies were evaluated when time dependent velocity profiles (from 0 to 10 m/s in 0.5 and 1 s time durations) were set for the inlet of computational domain. The modified squid model required least thrust force during acceleration phase of time dependent velocity profile compared to the other models while the 0.02 m nozzle diameter provided largest propulsive efficiency for all models.     

Pressure characteristics of bubble collapse near a rigid wall in compressible fluid

High speed liquid jet and shockwave can be produced when a bubble collapses near a rigid wall, which may cause severe damage to solid structures. A hybrid algorithm was adopted to simulate bubble motion and associated pressures near a wall combining Level Set-Modified Ghost Fluid-Discontinuous Galerkin (LS-MGF-DG) method and boundary element method (BEM). Numerical results were compared with experimental data to validate the presented algorithm. Jet formation was simulated by BEM and the induced pressure on the wall was calculated with auxiliary function. The pressure at the point on the wall where the jet points to reaches its peak value after the jet penetrates the bubble. Bubble collapse and rebounding were simulated by the LS-MGF-DG method. Shock-wave is induced when the bubble collapse toroidally to a minimum volume and the pressure at wall center reaches the maximum due to shockwave superposition. A third pressure peak is found associated with the bubble rebounds and bubble splitting. In the case studied, a higher pressure was found due to collapse shockwave than bubble jet and affects a larger area of the wall. In addition, the three pressure peaks due to jet impact, collapse impact as well as bubble rebounding and splitting decrease with the increase of the standoff distance.     

Wedge impact with the influence of ice

This work presents a canonical study on a wedge entering water near a single piece of ice using computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) and a Wagner-type theoretical model with corrections for non-linear effects. Calculations for a series of conditions with ice of different sizes and locations relative to the wedge are conducted. The hydrodynamic force due to impact, the pressure distribution on the wedge surface, and the pile-up phenomenon are examined to study the role of ice in the impact process. The theoretical model is shown to be accurate and can serve as a useful method to assess slamming loads under the influence of ice. It is shown that even for the case of a small piece of ice, the slamming force on the wedge can increase by 30%.     

Prediction of hydrodynamic loading on a mini TLP with free surface effects

This paper describes the extension of a fluid-flow simulations method to capture the free surface evolution around a full-scale Tension Leg Platform (TLP). The focus is on the prediction of the resulting hydrodynamic loading on the various elements of the TLP in turbulent flow conditions and, in particular, on quantifying the effects of the free surface distortion on this loading. The basic method uses finite-volume techniques to discretize the differential equations governing conservation of mass and momentum in three dimensions. The time-averaged forms of the equations are used, and the effects of turbulence are accounted for by using a two-equation, eddy-viscosity closure. The method is extended here via the incorporation of surface-tracking algorithm on a moving grid to predict the free-surface shape. The algorithm was checked against experimental measurements from two benchmark flows: the flow over a submerged semi-circular cylinder and the flow around a floating parabolic hull. Predictions of forces on a model TLP were then obtained both with and without allowing for the deformation of the free surface. The results suggest that the free surface effects on the hydrodynamic loads are small for the values of Froude number typically encountered in offshore engineering practice.     

Experimental and numerical study on vortex-induced motions of a deep-draft semi-submersible

An experimental study on vortex-induced motions (VIM) of a deep-draft semi-submersible (DDS) was carried out in a towing tank, with the aim to investigate the VIM effects on the overall hydrodynamics of the structure. In order to study the fluid physics associated with VIM of the DDS, a comprehensive numerical simulation was conducted to examine the characteristics of vortex shedding processes and their interactions due to multiple cylindrical columns. The experimental measurements were obtained for horizontal plane motions including transverse, in-line and yaw motions as well as drag and lift forces on the structure. Spectral analysis was further carried out based on the recorded force time history. These data were subsequently used to validate the numerical model. Detailed numerical results on the vortex flow characteristics revealed that during the “lock-in”, the vortex shedding processes of the upstream columns enhance the vortex shedding processes of the downstream columns leading to the rapid increase of the magnitude of VIM. In addition to the experimental measurements, for the two uniform flow incidences (0° and 45°) investigated, comprehensive numerical data of the parametric study on the VIM characteristics at a wide range of current strength will also serve as quality benchmarks for future study and provide guidance for practical design.