Formation pressure testing at the Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well, Alaska North Slope: Operational summary, history matching, and interpretations

In February 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy, BP Exploration (Alaska), and the U.S. Geological Survey, collected open-hole pressure-response data, as well as gas and water sample collection, in a gas hydrate reservoir (the BPXA-DOE-USGS Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well) using Schlumberger's Modular Dynamics Formation Tester (MDT) wireline tool. Four such MDT tests, ranging from six to twelve hours duration, and including a series of flow, sampling, and shut-in periods of various durations, were conducted. Locations for the testing were selected based on NMR and other log data to assure sufficient isolation from reservoir boundaries and zones of excess free water. Test stages in which pressure was reduced sufficiently to mobilize free water in the formation (yet not cause gas hydrate dissociation) produced readily interpretable pressure build-up profiles. Build-ups following larger drawdowns consistently showed gas-hydrate dissociation and gas release (as confirmed by optical fluid analyzer data), as well as progressive dampening of reservoir pressure build-up during sequential tests at a given MDT test station.History matches of one multi-stage, 12-h test (the C2 test) were accomplished using five different reservoir simulators: CMG-STARS, HydrateResSim, MH21-HYDRES, STOMP-HYD, and TOUGH + HYDRATE. Simulations utilized detailed information collected across the reservoir either obtained or determined from geophysical well logs, including thickness (11.3 m, 37 ft.), porosity (35%), hydrate saturation (65%), both mobile and immobile water saturations, intrinsic permeability (1000 mD), pore water salinity (5 ppt), and formation temperature (3.3-3.9 °C). This paper will present the approach and preliminary results of the history-matching efforts, including estimates of initial formation permeability and analyses of the various unique features exhibited by the MDT results.     

Production and respiration control the marine microbial metabolic balance in the eastern North Atlantic subtropical gyre

Two main contrasted hypotheses have arisen during the last decades about the factors controlling the planktonic net metabolic balance in oligotrophic waters: gross primary production controls net community production vs. variability of net community production is also influenced by changes in microbial respiration. This work discusses both hypotheses analyzing the variability of metabolic rates along a gradient from the margin to the centre of the North Atlantic oligotrophic gyre, i.e. from relatively productive to more oligotrophic conditions. Net community production (NCP) was close to zero (between −3.34 and −11.77 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹) at the margin of the gyre and tended towards net heterotrophy (−44.03 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹) to the centre of the gyre as both gross primary production (GPP) and community respiration (CR) decreased. The strong relationships found between nutrient availability and both NCP and GPP suggest that factors controlling GPP are prevalent in determining NCP variability in this biogeographic region. However implementation of existing models to predict NCP from the measured GPP indicates that the precise estimation of NCP in different oligotrophic systems requires consideration of the magnitude and variability of microbial respiration rates.     

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Modeling of orientation and structure

The comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the current target of the mission Rosetta, initially planned to investigate comet 46P/Wirtanen. These two comets have similar orbits, except the distance to the Sun at perihelion, but different orbital histories and different masses. Thus, structures of the nuclei can be significantly different. The evolution of comet Wirtanen was simulated by several authors, while comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko became an object of high interest only recently and is not well investigated. In the present work we simulate the evolution of the nucleus, down to tens of meters below the surface, using an extended version of the model previously applied for comet Wirtanen [Kossacki et al., 1999. Comet 46P/Wirtanen: evolution of the subsurface layer. Icarus 142, 202-218.]. The model includes strengthening of the nucleus due to sintering of the ice grains. Simulations are performed for different latitudes, accounting for the evolution of the orbit and for changes of the nucleus orientation, as well as diurnal and seasonal changes of insolation. The calculated loss of water vapor from the comet is integrated over the nucleus surface and is compared with the observational data. We have found, that the sublimation through the dust mantle can be large enough to reproduce the profile of the total water production as a function of time from perihelion. The required dependence of thickness of the dust layer on latitude qualitatively matches present distribution of the absorbed solar flux. The non-gravitational acceleration in the comet motion together with the simulated sublimation flux are used in order to estimate the mass and the bulk density of the nucleus.     

The first offshore natural gas hydrate production test in South China Sea

Natural gas hydrates (NGH) is one of key future clean energy resources. Its industrialized development will help remit the huge demand of global natural gas, relieve the increasing pressure of the environment, and play a vital role in the green sustainable growth of human societies. Based on nearly two decades’ studying on the reservoir characteristics in the South China Sea (SCS) and the knowledge of reservoir system, the China Geological Survey (CGS) conducted the first production test on an optimal target selected in Shenhu area SCS in 2017. Guided by the “three-phase control” exploitation theory which focused on formation stabilization, technologies such as formation fluid extraction, well drilling and completing, reservoir stimulating, sand controlling, environmental monitoring, monitoring and preventing of secondary formation of hydrates were applied. The test lasted for 60 days from May 10^th when starting to pump, drop pressure and ignite to well killing on July 9^th, with gas production of 3.09×10⁵ m³ in total, which is a world record with the longest continuous duration of gas production and maximal gas yield. This successful test brings a significant breakthrough on safety control of NGH production.     

Distribution of gas hydrate reservoir in the first production test region of the Shenhu area,South China Sea

In May and July of 2017, China Geological Survey (CGS), and Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) carried out a production test of gas hydrate in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea and acquired a breakthrough of two months continuous gas production and nearly 3.1 × 10⁵ m³ of production. The gas hydrate reservoir in the Shenhu area of China, is mainly composed of fine-grained clay silt with low permeability, and very difficult for exploitation, which is very different from those discovered in the USA, and Canada (both are conglomerate), Japan (generally coarse sand) and India (fracture-filled gas hydrate). Based on 3D seismic data preserved-amplitude processing and fine imaging, combined with logging-while-drilling (LWD) and core analysis data, this paper discusses the identification and reservoir characterization of gas hydrate orebodies in the Shenhu production test area. We also describe the distribution characteristics of the gas hydrate deposits and provided reliable data support for the optimization of the production well location. Through BSR feature recognition, seismic attribute analysis, model based seismic inversion and gas hydrate reservoir characterization, this paper describes two relatively independent gas hydrate orebodies in the Shenhu area, which are distributed in the north-south strip and tend to be thicker in the middle and thinner at the edge. The effective thickness of one orebody is bigger but the distribution area is relatively small. The model calculation results show that the distribution area of the gas hydrate orebody controlled by W18/W19 is about 11.24 km², with an average thickness of 19 m and a maximum thickness of 39 m, and the distribution area of the gas hydrate orebody controlled by W11/W17 is about 6.42 km², with an average thickness of 26 m and a maximum thickness of 90 m.     

Systems of provision: Fast fashion and jeans

Using the example of jeans and the fast fashion sector, this critical review explores how systems of provision analysis can be used to understand geographical connections between spaces of production and places of consumption. The study of global commodity chains and production networks has proliferated in economic geography, yet the focus on transactions between places frequently omits to consider the material culture that surrounds processes of making and buying. In contrast, in cultural geography the meanings and transformations associated with ‘following things’ has explored the shifting meanings of commodities as well as personal experiences of shopping with a focus on signifying culture. Ben Fine’s systems of provision approach can offer a more comprehensive analysis. Fine considers how the role of the consumer has emerged as well as the economic processes through which value is established in goods and is an inclusive way of examining the activities that connect consumption and production. Through discussing some of the recent and emerging work on denim jeans this review shows how a systems of provision approach can effectively map a ‘fast fashion’ system and provides a framework that can be applied to other economic geographies.     

高纯碳酸锶清洁生产国内外研究进展

高纯碳酸锶是一种高附加价值的重要锶化合物,由于它具有独特的物理化学性能,因而被广泛应用于电子、化工、材料等领域。但高纯碳酸锶的生产仍存在环境污染严重、产品质量难以稳定控制、生产成本高等问题。综述了国内外高纯碳酸锶清洁生产工艺研究与应用进展,详细介绍了天青石碳还原法、天青石复分解法、粗碳酸锶酸溶碱析法、粗碳酸锶焙烧分解法、硝酸锶法、氯化锶法等高纯碳酸锶主要生产工艺的研究与应用进展,评述了各生产工艺产生的污染物的净化处理方法与技术改进,剖析了各工艺的优点和存在的问题。结合我国目前高纯碳酸锶的生产现状及与国外生产技术存在的差距,并对我国高纯碳酸锶生产技术的发展方向进行了展望。     

宇宙成因核素在地质年代学研究中的新进展

根据地表暴露岩石或埋藏物中宇宙成因核素浓度可计算样品的暴露年龄或埋藏年龄,从而估算出研究区域的侵蚀速率和抬升速率等重要地质信息,该方法现已成为晚新生代地质和地貌变化研究的重要手段。概述了近5年来国内外宇宙成因核素在地质年代学研究中的最新进展,主要包括以下几个方面:①10Be研究进展,26Al/10Be双核素测年计算模型的改进和完善,以及21Ne的加入对26Al-10Be测年方法的拓展;②宇宙成因36Cl在碳酸盐岩中的研究和应用进展;③53Mn、41Ca等新核素的研究和应用;④宇宙成因核素测年技术在国内的应用进展。最后,分析了宇宙成因核素测年存在的主要问题及下一步重点研究方向。     

Physics-based modeling of cosmogenic nuclides part II – Key aspects of in-situ cosmogenic nuclide production

Characteristics of the spallogenic component of nuclide production are investigated through the use of a physics-based model. Calculated production rates for commonly used nuclides indicate differences in scaling up to 15% at very high altitude. Angular distribution of nuclide forming particles suggests the current method of shielding correction, which is neither altitude nor latitude dependent, can be improved on. Subsurface production profiles suggest that erosion corrections should be performed with non-constant attenuation lengths. Results are parameterized for easy application.     

贵州省主要粮食作物综合增产潜力

从大气作物土壤系统出发,建立了贵州省主要粮食和物综合生产潜力模式,提出了作物增产潜力指数的概念,分析了在现实条件下和未来条件下作物综合增产潜力的前景。