Temperature–salinity modeling for Ruwais coastal area in United Arab Emirates

A three dimensional rectangular grid model is applied to resolve the temperature–salinity dynamics of Ruwais, a segment of the UAE coast which is well known as dense water formation zone. The model employs a heat flux module and a turbulence closure scheme that facilitate realistic calculation of temperature–salinity dynamics. A field survey campaign is carried out to support the modeling study, involving measurements of tide, currents, temperature, and salinity. Investigation is done for two meteorologically extreme conditions, i.e. summer and winter. The model study showed that the western flux develops an anticlockwise circulation in the study area. The water industrial discharges elevated the temperature and salinity of the water near the southeastern shoreline. This water mass propagated towards north under the influence of gravity.     

The planetary spin and rotation period: a modern approach

Using a new approach, we have obtained a formula for calculating the rotation period and radius of planets. In the ordinary gravitomagnetism the gravitational spin (S) orbit (L) coupling, $\vec{L}\cdot\vec{S}\propto L^{2}$ , while our model predicts that $\vec{L}\cdot\vec{S}\propto\frac{m}{M}L^{2}$ , where M and m are the central and orbiting masses, respectively. Hence, planets during their evolution exchange L and S until they reach a final stability at which MS∝mL, or $S\propto\frac{m^{2}}{v}$ , where v is the orbital velocity of the planet. Rotational properties of our planetary system and exoplanets are in agreement with our predictions. The radius (R) and rotational period (D) of tidally locked planet at a distance a from its star, are related by, $D^{2}\propto\sqrt{\frac{M}{m^{3}}}R^{3}$ and that $R\propto\sqrt{\frac {m}{M}}a$ .     

Offshore Carbonate Facies Characterization and Reservoir Quality of Miocene Rocks in the Southern Margin of South China Sea

Carbonate rocks are important hydrocarbon reservoirs around the globe and in Southeast Asia a key one, particularly, is the Central Luconia province. Understanding the internal characteristics, distribution, geometry and lateral extent of these rocks is essential for exploration and production success. Detailed work on Miocene carbonate reservoir facies, north of Bintulu, offshore Sarawak includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of photomicrographs and reservoir quality, considering especially microporosity. Stratigraphically, these carbonates are known as Cycles IV and V and are represented by eight major facies types (F-1 to F-8]. They comprise: coated grain packstone (F-1) (av. ? = 3%, av. Kh = 0.5 mD) (av = Average; ? = total porosity, and Kh = permeability); massive coral lime grainstone (F-2) (av. ? = 14.7%, av. Kh = 6 mD); oncolite lime grain-dominated packstone (F-3) (av. ? = 10%, av. Kh = 4 mD); skeletal lime/dolo-packstone (F-4) (av. ? = 15%, av. Kh = 4.6 mD); coral (platy) lime mud-dominated packstone (F-5) (av. ? = 4%, av. Kh = 0.5 mD); coral (branching) lime-dominated pack-grainstone (F-6) (av. ? = 15%, av. Kh = 1 mD); cross-bedded skeletal lime packstone (F-7) (av. ? = 20%, av. Kh = 2 mD); and bioturbated carbonate mudstone/chalk (F-8) (av. ? = 8%, av. Kh = 0.8 mD). Study of thin sections reveals that red algae, foraminifera, and corals are the dominant fossil components with a minor admixture of skeletal fragments of echinoderms, bivalves, bryozoans, and green algae. All parameters, e.g., facies characterization, petrography, porosity–permeability value, and microporosity value were utilized to obtain a reliable reservoir quality. The microporosity value was quantified using digital image analysis software and is significant for recognition of good reservoir quality. Consideration of the presence of microporosity against the total porosity in the carbonate rocks has improved the correlation coefficient (R2) value, which has increased from 0.51 to 0.82.     

Presence of microporosity in Miocene carbonate platform,Central Luconia,offshore Sarawak,Malaysia

The Luconia Province—offshore Sarawak—is a key hydrocarbon province in Malaysia. However, the gas reservoirs in Central Luconia pose unique problems and challenges as they have partially water-filled microporosity that overprint wireline logs. Microporosity in Central Luconia occurs throughout the Miocene carbonates and is a crucial element that influences fluid flow properties and ultimately the recovery of hydrocarbons. Quantification of macroporosity was achieved using petrographic analysis of thin sections and the FESEM images. The point counting technique was used to estimate the amount of macroporosity from the thin section, which was then subtracted from the total porosity to derive microporosity. The qualitative investigation of the Miocene carbonates indicates the presence of three different types of microporosity namely grain-based microporosity, matrix-based microporosity, and cement-based microporosity. Quantification of microporosity showed that the microporosity varies from sample to sample, ranging from 10 to 60% of the total measured porosity. The depositional texture, mineralogy, and microtexture control this microporosity variation including its abundance and type. The microporosity in Central Luconia is diagenetically controlled based on four major diagenetic mechanisms namely (1) mechanical process/endolithic grains/marine diagenesis; (2) leaching/meteoric diagenesis; (3) cementation/shallow diagenesis; and (4) deeper diagenesis environment.     

First U–Pb geochronology on detrital zircons from Early-Middle Cambrian strata of the Torgau-Doberlug Syncline (eastern Germany) and palaeogeographic implications

International Journal of Earth Sciences - LA-ICP-MS U–Pb data from detrital zircons of the Ediacaran to Cambrian siliciclastic sequence of the Torgau-Doberlug Syncline (TDS, Saxo-Thuringia,...