Application of a Bayesian model to infer the contribution of coalbed natural gas produced water to the Powder River,Wyoming and Montana

The Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming and Montana contains significant coal and coal bed natural gas (CBNG) resources. CBNG extraction requires the production of large volumes of water, much of which is discharged into existing drainages. Compared to surface waters, the CBNG produced water is high in sodium relative to calcium and magnesium, elevating the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). To mitigate the possible impact this produced water may have on the quality of surface water used for irrigation, the State of Montana passed water anti‐degradation legislation, which could affect CBNG production in Wyoming. In this study, we sought to determine the proportion of CBNG produced water discharged to tributaries that reaches the Powder River by implementing a four end‐member mixing model within a Bayesian statistical framework. The model accounts for the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹³C_DIC, [Sr] and [DIC] of CBNG produced water and surface water interacting with the three primary lithologies exposed in the PRB. The model estimates the relative contribution of the end members to the river water, while incorporating uncertainty associated with measurement and process error. Model results confirm that both of the tributaries associated with high CBNG activity are mostly composed of CBNG produced water (70–100%). The model indicates that up to 50% of the Powder River is composed of CBNG produced water downstream from the CBNG tributaries, decreasing with distance by dilution from non‐CBNG impacted tributaries from the point sources to ~10–20% at the Montana border. This amount of CBNG produced water does not significantly affect the SAR or electrical conductivity of the Powder River in Montana. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Origin of salinity in a multilayered aquifer with high salinization vulnerability

The Kaluvelly watershed is a coastal area (Tamil Nadu, India) where water abstraction has resulted in a dramatic fall in the level of the water table and a piezometric depression in the most exploited aquifer, the Vanur aquifer. In addition, intensification/mechanization of agriculture may have affected the quality of recharge water. An initial hydrodynamic study showed that the Vanur aquifer is highly vulnerable to salinization due to potential seawater intrusion, and our aim was to determine the source of salinity recorded in the groundwater of this multilayered aquifer. Our approach involved the use of existing boreholes and of a moderate number of samples, with the aim of developing appropriate water resource management techniques. Major element, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, ²H/¹H and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ratios were measured in rainwater, surface water and groundwater collected during five sampling campaigns over a 2‐year period. Geochemical data indicate that the Vanur aquifer is recharged and that small mixings between aquifers fluctuate according to monsoon intensity. There was no evidence of seawater intrusion. The range of recorded salinity originated mainly from water–rock interaction but a disconnection of some deeper parts of the aquifer was apparent. Strontium isotopic ratios in the recharge area suggest an anthropogenic influence, possibly related to fertilizer use. A high SO₄/Cl ratio was observed in the aquifer; in the deeper parts, the influence of a formation containing lignite is hypothesized, whereas near the surface, sulphate may partly originate from fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion. Water isotopic data suggest that the origin of precipitation in this region has been unchanged for several hundreds or thousands of years. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational homogenization of uncoupled consolidation in micro‐heterogeneous porous media

Variationally consistent homogenization is exploited for the analysis of transient uncoupled consolidation in micro‐heterogeneous porous solids, whereby the classical approach of first‐order homogenization for stationary problems is extended to transient problems. Homogenization is then carried out in the spatial domain on representative volume elements (RVE), which are introduced in quadrature points in standard fashion. Along with the classical averages, a higher‐order conservation quantity is obtained. An iterative FE²‐algorithm is devised for the case of nonlinear permeability and storage coefficients, and it is applied to pore pressure changes in asphalt‐concrete (particle composite). Various parametric studies are carried out, in particular, with respect to the influence of the ‘substructure length scale’ that is represented by the size of the RVE's. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of runoff generation processes using combined hydrometric,tracer and geophysical methods in a headwater catchment in South Africa / Identification des processus de génération de l'écoulement par combinaison de méthodes hydrométriques,de traçage et géophysiques dans un bassin versant sud-africain

Résumé

Des mesures hydrométriques classiques et l'imagerie 2-D de résistivité électrique (IRE) détaillée ont été combinées avec le prélèvement de traceurs pour identifier les processus hydrologiques en jeu dans un bassin versant semi-aride de la province Cap-Oriental, en Afrique du Sud. L'étude des événements de précipitation et d'écoulement a souligné la forte relation qui existe entre les précipitations et les caractéristiques de la génération des écoulements. L'observation du potentiel hydrique du sol ainsi que du niveau d'eau souterraine a mis en évidence le développement d'une nappe perchée dans le sol. Ces résultats sont confirmés par des séparations d'hydrogrammes à base de traceurs et illustrent le rôle important des écoulements souterrains superficiels. L'étude par IRE a permis de mieux connaître la structure du sous-sol. Finalement, l'étude par IRE, combinée avec des mesures obtenues par réflectométrie en domaine temporel (TDR), a permis d'extrapoler à des mesures sélectives de teneur en eau. Pour récapituler, l'utilisation et la combinaison de différentes méthodes de terrain ont mené au développement d'un modèle conceptuel du fonctionnement hydrologique de ce bassin versant. Le rôle dominant des mécanismes de subsurface a été démontré.     

不纯碳酸盐岩的变质作用

不纯碳酸盐岩中的矿物共生组合与变质时的总压和二氧化碳分压密切相关。总压增高促使透闪石、透辉石和橄榄石等矿物生成温度增高。变质过程中岩石中流体成分的变化有两种极端情况,即渗滤作用和缓冲作用。渗滤作用下变质反应,变质矿物界线和变质矿物特征等均与缓冲作用下有所差异,以此可以区别它们。湖北宿松群和河北红旗营子群不纯大理岩是在渗滤作用下变质的。山西五台群板峪口组不纯大理岩是在缓冲加渗滤作用下变质的。     

混合表面活性剂存在下镓与O—Cl—PF显色反应的研究

本文研究了在pH 6.5-7.8的(CH_2)_6N_4-HCl缓冲介质中,CDMAA和TritonX-100对Ga与o-Cl-PF和F~-显色反应的增敏作用。结果表明,Ga-o-Cl-PF-F-CDMAA-TritonX-100多元配合物λ_(max)为565nm,表观摩尔吸光系数ε=1.74×10~5L·mol~(-1)·Cm~(-1),Ga含量在0～6.0μg/25ml范围内符合比尔定律,用合成样和标样进行本方法考验,结果满意。     

Primary cracking of kerogens. Experimenting and modelling C1, C2–C5, C6–C15 and C15+ classes of hydrocarbons formed

Mathematical models of hydrocarbon formation can be used to simulate the natural evolution of different types of organic matter and to make an overall calculation of the amounts of oil and/or gas produced during this evolution. However, such models do not provide any information on the composition of the hydrocarbons formed or on how they evolve during catagenesis.From the kinetic standpoint, the composition of the hydrocarbons formed can be considered to result from the effect of “primary cracking” reactions having a direct effect on kerogen during its evolution as well as from the effect of “secondary cracking” acting on the hydrocarbons formed.This report gives experimental results concerning the “primary cracking” of Types II and III kerogens and their modelling. For this, the hydrocarbons produced have been grouped into four classes (C₁, C₂–C₅, C₆–C₁₅ and C₁₅₊). Experimental data corresponding to these different classes were obtained by the pyrolysis of kerogens with temperature programming of 4°C/min with continuous analysis, during heating, of the amount of hydrocarbons corresponding to each of these classes.The kinetic parameters of the model were optimized on the basis of the results obtained. This model represents the first step in the creation of a more sophisticated mathematical model to be capable of simulating the formation of different hydrocarbon classes during the thermal history of sediments. The second step being the adjustment of the kinetic parameters of “secondary cracking”.     

Influence of the surface microlayer on the flux of nonconservative trace gases (CO,H2, CH4, N2O) across the ocean-atmosphere interface

Gas exchange experiments were conducted in the tropical Atlantic Ocean during a ship expedition with FS Meteor using a small rubber raft. The temporal change of the mixing ratios of CO, H₂, CH₄ and N₂O in the headspace of a floating glass box and the concentrations of these gases in the water phase were measured to determine their transfer velocities across the ocean-atmosphere interface. The ocean acted as a sink for these gases when the water was undersaturated with respect to the mixing ratio in the headspace. The transfer velocities were different for the individual gases and showed still large differences even when normalized for diffusivity. Applying the laminar film model, film thicknesses of 20 to 70 m were calculated for the observed flux rates of the different gas species. When the water was supersaturated with respect to atmospheric CO, H₂, CH₄ and N₂O, the transfer velocities of the emission process were smaller than those determined for the deposition process. In case of H₂ and CH₄, emission was even not calculable although, based on the observed gradient, the laminar film model predicted significant fluxes at the air-sea interface. The results are interpreted by destruction processes active within the surface microlayer.     

Production of N2O,CH4, and CO2 from soils in the tropical savanna during the dry season

Emissions of N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ from soils at two sites in the tropical savanna of central Venezuela were determined during the dry season in February 1987. Measured arithmetic mean fluxes of N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ from undisturbed soil plots to the atmosphere were 2.5×10⁹, 4.3×10¹⁰, and 3.0×10¹³ molecules cm^-2 s^-1, respectively. These fluxes were not significantly affected by burning the grass layer. Emissions of N₂O increased fourfold after simulated rainfall, suggesting that production of N₂O in savanna soils during the rainy season may be an important source for atmospheric N₂O. The CH₄ flux measurements indicate that these savanna soils were not a sink, but a small source, for atmospheric methane. Fluxes of CO₂ from savanna soils increased ninefold two hours after simulated rainfall, and remained three times higher than normal after 16 hours. More research is needed to clarify the significance of savannas in the global cycles of N₂O, CH₄, CO₂, and other trace gases, especially during the rainy season.     

The role of vibrationally excited nitrogen in the ionosphere

Theoretical and experimental aspects of the production, transformation, diffusion and loss of N₂ in the upper atmosphere are considered. The N₂-CO₂ near-resonant system in theD andE regions is taken into account. We describe our understanding of the methods necessary to find the vibrational populations of N₂ and CO₂ (asymmetric mode of CO₂). The calculations of the vibrational temperatures in theD, E, andF regions for the mid-latitude ionosphere and an aurora are presented. The connection between the excited species and the 4.26-m radiation intensities is considered. The models for the rate coefficient of the reaction of O⁺ with N₂ and the electron density decrease resulting from N₂ in the F region are discussed.