Lacustrine basin unconventional resource plays: Key differences

There has been a revival in hydrocarbon source rock characterization and development associated with growing interest in unconventional resources, where these fine-grained organic-rich rocks act as both source and reservoir. To-date, the exploration focus on shale reservoirs has been largely on marine systems. Lacustrine source rocks for conventional resources are geographically important, dominating regions such as China, Indonesia, and Brazil's resource-base. However, they have been generally untested for unconventional resources.There are a number of key differences in the nature of these hydrocarbon systems that should be considered when assessing whether lacustrine systems may represent future unconventional opportunities in areas where the conventional resource-base is dominated by lacustrine-sourced oil. Among the key differences between these depositional systems is the greater sensitivity to high frequency climatic variability within lacustrine systems. Lacustrine systems are highly sensitive to changes in the balance between precipitation and evaporation, which may lead to rapid changes in lake level, potentially exceeding 600 m. These changes in depositional conditions are geologically rapid and may occur over periods of thousands of years. Such changes can reduce the areal extent of potentially thick source rock intervals to only those portions of a basin where a permanent deep lake was present. Thus the core unconventional target area may be geographically limited compared with their marine counterpart. Although potentially areally limited, a review of many lacustrine source rocks suggests that their thicknesses are often significantly greater than marine source rocks. An examination of the more distal portions of lacustrine systems, where better source rock potential is present reveals that there is generally limited connectivity between source and conventional reservoir. In these settings, such as the Wind River basin (Waltman Shale), the hydrocarbons remain trapped within the shales, potentially leading to over-pressured hydrocarbon charged systems. Such conditions suggest that although areally limited, viable unconventional targets may exist, if suitable reservoir conditions are present. Finally, the character of the oils produced is different in these settings, with lacustrine oils being waxy and displaying different hydrocarbon generation and cracking kinetics. High wax oils display distinct flow characteristics, being more viscous, and may offer different production challenges than their non-waxy marine equivalents. Additionally, differences in their cracking kinetics may indicate that the timing of gas generation for shale gas plays may differ significantly from marine systems.     

荣成天鹅湖越冬大天鹅粪便的重金属水平

为对大天鹅(Cygnus cygnus)保护及湖区管理提供基础数据,作者于2011年11月~2012年3月研究了山东荣成天鹅湖越冬大天鹅食物来源及其粪便的重金属水平。结果表明:所选择的食物来源中,Zn、As和Cr在硬毛藻(Chaetomorpha linum)中含量最高,Cd在大叶藻(Zostera marina L.)叶片中含量最高,Pb在大叶藻根茎中含量最高,Cu在石莼(Ulva pertusa)中含量最高,Hg在小麦(Triticum aestivum)中含量最高;水生植物来源的粪便中Cd含量极显著高于陆地植物来源的粪便,陆地植物来源的粪便中Cr,Pb和Hg含量显著高于水生植物来源的粪便;摄食小麦苗可能造成大天鹅对Cd和Hg的积累。     

2000—2019年鄱阳湖生态经济区水源涵养时空变化

水源涵养是生态保护的一个重要方面,对鄱阳湖生态经济区生态保护具有重要意义。本文基于InVEST模型,对鄱阳湖生态经济区2000—2019年产水和水源涵养时空变化进行了分析,并运用空间自相关探究了高程、坡度与水源涵养功能的空间关系。结果表明:①鄱阳湖生态经济区多年平均产水深度为971.04 mm,多年平均水源涵养深度为299.298 mm;②2000—2019年水源涵养深度先上升后下降,变化幅度较大,整体呈上升趋势;③水源涵养功能呈地域分布,重要区和极为重要区主要分布在东部和西北部林地,一般重要区分布在鄱阳湖平原;④水源涵养与高程和坡度呈正相关,高值多出现在高海拔和坡度较大的地区。     

新疆赛里木湖的湖滩岩特征、时代及其对 MIS3阶段湖面变化的指示意义

在对西天山赛里木湖盆地进行第四纪地质调查与5万填图基础上,发现沿该湖泊的不同湖岸阶地上都不同程度地发育了可指示湖面变化的湖滩岩。水准测量结果表明,典型的湖滩岩最常见于高出现今湖面7.1~9.4 m和33.4~39.4 m的低、高两级湖积台地上。对湖滩岩样品进行岩石学和矿物学研究进一步揭示,湖滩岩主要由内碎屑、藻团块、陆源碎屑、胶结物和填隙物等构成,胶结物主要为亮晶方解石,夹少量文石,表明赛里木湖周边的湖滩岩为典型的方解石胶结砂屑砾屑岩。湖滩岩样品的U系年代测试结果表明,低、高两级台地上的湖滩岩主要形成于距今24.8±1.5 ka至27.6±1.5 ka和55.4±3.8 ka的晚更新世晚期,大致对应末次冰期间冰阶MIS3阶段早期和末期的相对暖湿气候阶段。湖滩岩及其测年结果指示,赛里木湖最近一期最高湖面出现在距今55.4 ka左右末次间冰阶早期,其后由于气候的干旱化,湖面整体处于逐步下降过程,在相对暖湿期间经历了多次湖面相对稳定期并形成湖滩岩。     

内蒙古布日敦湖湖泊沉积物粒度的风沙活动指示意义

本文通过研究位于东亚季风过渡带的布日敦湖湖泊沉积物粒度组成和碳、氧同位素特征,结合210Pb/137Cs年代数据,建立布日敦湖近50年的粒度变化序列。通过与中国北方100个气象站数据的年平均沙尘暴日数进行对比,建立研究区可靠的风沙活动指标。研究发现,布日敦湖湖泊沉积物粒度特征对研究区风沙活动具有指示意义。其中,细颗粒(4~16μm)含量变化与翁牛特旗沙尘暴日数变化趋势较吻合,可以指示区域风沙活动;而粗颗粒组分(64μm)含量变化趋势与沙尘暴日数变化差异较大,推测可能受到大规模人类活动导致的湖区附近土地沙化影响,所以不能指示风沙活动。研究区生态环境脆弱,大规模人类活动会导致生态环境恶化和土地沙化,为现代北方沙尘活动提供沙源,并为未来的沙尘活动恶化埋下隐患,因而研究区不适宜进行大规模人类活动。本文的研究成果对保护研究区生态环境和区域防风固沙具有重要意义。     

Late Pleistocene paleoclimatic history documented by an oxygen isotope record from carbonate sediments in Qarhan Salt Lake,NE Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Late Pleistocene paleoclimatic variability on the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (NE QTP) was reconstructed using a chronology based on AMS ¹⁴C and ²³⁰Th dating results and a stable oxygen isotopic record. These are derived from lake carbonates in a 102-m-long Qarhan sediment core (ISL1A) collected from the eastern Qaidam Basin. Previous research indicates that the δ¹⁸O values of lacustrine carbonates are mainly controlled by the isotopic composition of lake water, which in turn is a function of regional P/E balance and the proportion of precipitation that is monsoon-derived on the NE QTP. Modern isotopic observations indicate that the δ¹⁸O values of lake carbonates in hyper-arid Qaidam Basin are more positive during the warm and wet period. Due to strong evaporation and continental effect in this basin, the positive δ¹⁸O values in the arid region indicate drier climatic conditions. Based on this interpretation and the δ¹⁸O record of fine-grained lake carbonates and dating results in ISL1A, the results imply that drier climatic conditions in the Qarhan region occurred in three intervals, around 90–80 ka, 52–38 ka and 10–9 ka, which could correspond to late MIS 5, middle MIS 3 and early Holocene, respectively. These three phases were almost coincided with low lake level periods of Gahai, Toson and Qinghai Lakes (to the east of Qarhan Lake) influenced by ASM on the orbital timescales. Meanwhile, there was an episode of relatively high δ¹⁸O value during late MIS 3, suggesting that relatively dry climatic condition in this period, rather than “a uniform Qarhan mega-paleolake” spanning the ∼44 to 22 ka period. These results insight into the understanding of “the Greatest Lake Period” on the QTP.     

江西省鄱阳湖信江决口三角洲沉积特征及模式

利用实地考察、浅钻孔、探槽及卫星影像等方法,对鄱阳湖信江决口三角洲进行了系统研究。该决口三角洲是洪水冲破信江西岸天然堤流入附近的河漫湖泊形成的,其平面形态为鸟足状,总体延伸方向与主河道近垂直。在横切剖面上整个决口三角洲沉积体呈透镜状覆盖在早期的湿地或河漫湖泊沉积之上。鄱阳湖信江决口三角洲可分为3个亚相:决口三角洲平原、决口三角洲前缘和决口前三角洲。决口三角洲平原主要发育决口河道、决口天然堤、废弃决口河道和湿地,其中决口河道又可以进一步划分为决口水道、边滩、汊口滩;决口三角洲前缘主要发育河口坝、支流间湾。河漫湖泊规模小、深度浅、波浪能量弱,对河口坝和决口河道砂体的改造较弱,不易形成连片分布的席状砂;决口前三角洲不发育。决口三角洲沉积受河流作用和河漫湖泊作用的共同控制,其演化可以划分为主河道天然堤生长阶段、决口初期阶段、进积分汊阶段及分汊—废弃阶段4个阶段。     

A computational approach to Quaternary lake-level reconstruction applied in the central Rocky Mountains,Wyoming, USA

Sediment-based reconstructions of late-Quaternary lake levels provide direct evidence of hydrologic responses to climate change, but many studies only provide approximate lake-elevation curves. Here, we demonstrate a new method for producing quantitative time series of lake elevation based on the facies and elevations of multiple cores collected from a lake's margin. The approach determines the facies represented in each core using diagnostic data, such as sand content, and then compares the results across cores to determine the elevation of the littoral zone over time. By applying the approach computationally, decisions are made systematically and iteratively using different facies classification schemes to evaluate the associated uncertainty. After evaluating our assumptions using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), we quantify past lake-elevation changes, precipitation minus evapotranspiration (Δ_P−ET), and uncertainty in both at Lake of the Woods and Little Windy Hill Pond, Wyoming. The well-correlated (r = 0.802 ± 0.002) reconstructions indicate that water levels at both lakes fell at > 11,300, 8000–5500, and 4700–1600 cal yr BP when Δ_P − ET decreased to − 50 to − 250 mm/yr. Differences between the reconstructions are typically small (10 ± 24 mm/yr since 7000 cal yr BP), and the similarity indicates that our reconstruction method can produce statistically comparable paleohydrologic datasets across networks of sites.     

Unraveling rift margin evolution and escarpment development ages along the Dead Sea fault using cosmogenic burial ages

The Dead Sea fault (DSF) is one of the most active plate boundaries in the world. Understanding the Quaternary history and sediments of the DSF requires investigation into the Neogene development of this plate boundary. DSF lateral motion preceded significant extension and rift morphology by ~ 10 Ma. Sediments of the Sedom Formation, dated here between 5.0 ± 0.5 Ma and 6.2_− 2.1^+ inf Ma, yielded extremely low ¹⁰Be concentrations and ²⁶Al is absent. These reflect the antiquity of the sediments, deposited in the Sedom Lagoon, which evolved in a subdued landscape and was connected to the Mediterranean Sea. The base of the overlying Amora Formation, deposited in the terminal Amora Lake which developed under increasing relief that promoted escarpment incision, was dated at 3.3_− 0.8^+ 0.9 Ma. Burial ages of fluvial sediments within caves (3.4 ± 0.2 Ma and 3.6 ± 0.4 Ma) represent the timing of initial incision. Initial DSF topography coincides with the earliest Red Sea MORB's and the East Anatolian fault initiation. These suggest a change in the relative Arabian–African plate motion. This change introduced the rifting component to the DSF followed by a significant subsidence, margin uplift, and a reorganization of relief and drainage pattern in the region resulting in the topographic framework observed today.     

Geochronology and paleoenvironment of pluvial Harper Lake,Mojave Desert,California, USA

Accurate reconstruction of the paleo-Mojave River and pluvial lake (Harper, Manix, Cronese, and Mojave) system of southern California is critical to understanding paleoclimate and the North American polar jet stream position over the last 500 ka. Previous studies inferred a polar jet stream south of 35°N at 18 ka and at ~ 40°N at 17–14 ka. Highstand sediments of Harper Lake, the upstream-most pluvial lake along the Mojave River, have yielded uncalibrated radiocarbon ages ranging from 24,000 to > 30,000 ¹⁴C yr BP. Based on geologic mapping, radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating, we infer a ~ 45–40 ka age for the Harper Lake highstand sediments. Combining the Harper Lake highstand with other Great Basin pluvial lake/spring and marine climate records, we infer that the North American polar jet stream was south of 35°N about 45–40 ka, but shifted to 40°N by ~ 35 ka. Ostracodes (Limnocythere ceriotuberosa) from Harper Lake highstand sediments are consistent with an alkaline lake environment that received seasonal inflow from the Mojave River, thus confirming the lake was fed by the Mojave River. The ~ 45–40 ka highstand at Harper Lake coincides with a shallowing interval at downstream Lake Manix.