Detection of free gas and gas hydrate based on 3D seismic data and cone penetration testing: An example from the Nigerian Continental Slope

We present a new method to characterize free gas, gas hydrates and carbonate concretions occurrence which are considered as high-risk factors for sub-sea developments in the Niger delta. This method is based on the combination of 3D seismic data to the geotechnical site characterizations using piezocone CPTU tests (Cone Penetration Test with additional measurement of the pore water pressure). A special processing of the 3D seismic data has enabled the determination of the interval compressional velocity. Using the effective-medium theory, velocity anomalies (negative and positive) within the first 15 m were translated in gas hydrate and free gas distribution. The calibration of the P wave velocity anomalies was done thanks to in-situ geotechnical testing carried out during two oceanographic surveys (2003 and 2004). Comparison between in-situ testing, recovered cores and the prediction of the gas and the gas hydrate distribution based on the compressional wave velocity have shown that 3D seismic data is a valuable tool to identify heterogeneous areas but the use of the piezocone was essential to discriminate between gas hydrate occurrences and carbonate concretions' presence. Furthermore, in-situ compressional wave velocity (V_p) measurements have clearly demonstrated what it was suspected from the 3D seismic data, the co-existence in the study area between gas hydrate and free gas.     

基于孔压静力触探的岩土参数正态性检验方法对比

岩土参数的正态分布是岩土工程可靠分析的基本假定之一。目前,岩土工程参数的正态性检验以KS （Kolmogorov-Smirnov）检验为主,然而诸多研究表明,对于小样本数据,KS检验的正态性检验结果并不可靠。本文以废黄河泛滥沉积相粉土中的孔压静力触探（CPTU）锥尖阻力q_t数据为研究对象,首先采用ANOVA （方差分析）检验,从CPTU测试资料中进行总体的样本筛选,然后应用SW （Shapiro-Wilk）检验、KS检验、LF （Lilliefors）检验和AD （Anderson-Darling）检验等4种正态性检验方法,在不同样本容量条件下,对测试数据进行正态性检验评价。当测试数据的样本容量充足时,分析结果表明：SW检验结果最为严格,KS检验结果最不保守,而LF检验和AD检验的严格性介于两者之间;对于常规岩土工程设计,采用KS检验结果即可满足稳定性分析要求,对于复杂岩土工程设计,采用SW检验对设计参数进行正态性检验,可降低设计的不确定性。     

基于孔压静力触探试验的水运工程土分类方法研究

土的工程分类是工程勘察和设计应用的关键问题之一。基于孔压静力触探测试（piezocone penetration test,简称CPTU）原位测试参数进行土分类是高效实用的方法。国内外现有分类方法的名称及标准与我国《水运工程岩土勘察规范》（JTS 133－2013）不符合。因此,建立基于CPTU原位测试参数、符合我国行业标准的土工程分类方法具有重要工程意义。在收集大量国内外水运工程CPTU测试资料的基础上,对比分析了616个间距小于5 m的CPTU测试孔和相应钻孔取样与室内土工试验成果。选择国内外7种常用的CPTU土分类图进行应用比较,发现这些土分类图所采用的应力修正计算方法在考虑浅层土体的有效上覆应力修正时存在一定的缺陷,通过引入新的应力修正方法和修正土分类边界线,建立了适合我国水运工程的CPTU土分类方法。对比应用分析表明,该分类图能够准确地进行水运工程土类划分,尤其适合于软土、粉细砂和中粗砂的划分,可作为我国水运工程的土工程分类方法。     

大直径超长灌注桩水平承载性能的参数敏感性

大直径超长灌注桩是高规格建（构）筑物桩基工程的发展趋势,但有关其水平承载性能的研究还较少。依托江苏靖江文化中心大直径超长灌注桩建设项目,通过现场试桩试验获得了桩身水平受力及承载变形特征。采用孔压静力触探（CPTU）测试p-y曲线法构建了大直径超长灌注桩水平承载数值计算模型,在与现场试桩结果比对验证之后,进一步研究了桩径尺寸效应、桩顶嵌固形式、桩身倾角、竖向载荷对大直径超长灌注桩的影响规律。最后通过计算各影响因素的参数敏感度,实现了对大直径超长灌注桩水平承载性能参数敏感性的客观定量评价。研究结果表明：原位测试CPTU可以很好地应用于大直径超长灌注桩的水平承载分析,大直径超长灌注桩参数敏感度由大到小依次为：桩顶嵌固形式、尺寸效应、竖向荷载、桩身倾角。     

Numerical modeling and neural networks to identify model parameters from piezocone tests: II. Multi‐parameter identification from piezocone data

This paper completes the study presented in the accompanying paper, and demonstrates a numerical algorithm for parameter prediction from the piezocone test (CPTU) data. This part deals with a development of neural network (NN) models which are able to map multi‐variable input data onto typical geotechnical characteristics and constitutive parameters of the modified Cam clay model, which has been applied in this study. The identification procedure is designed for the coupled hydro‐mechanical boundary value problem in normally‐and lightly overconsolidated clayey soils including partially drained conditions that may appear during cone penetration. The NN models are trained with pseudo‐experimental measurements derived with the aid of the numerical model of the piezocone test, presented in the accompanying paper. Different input configurations containing CPTU measurements and some complementary data are studied with respect to the accuracy of predicted parameter values. Finally, the performance of the developed NN predictors is tested with field CPTU data which are derived from three well‐documented characterization sites, and the obtained predictions are compared with benchmark laboratory results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

浅谈孔压静力触探

本文简单介绍了孔压触探所用设备及准备工作,对孔压触探探头的饱和过程和JTY-3A型静探数据采集仪的操作步骤进行了说明,最后提出了测试有关要求及注意事项。     

An analytical study of the effect of penetration rate on piezocone tests in clay

Finite element cavity expansion analysis investigating the effect of penetration rate on piezocone tests in clay is presented. A coupled analysis was performed, in which the rate of cavity expansion was linked to the penetration rate of the cone and the cone angle, using the assumption that the deformation was wholly radial, and took place only between the cone tip and the cone shoulder. The soil was modelled using modified cam clay with two sets of parameters and varying values of overconsolidation ratio (OCR). The influence of penetration rate on the stress and pore pressure distributions was examined. For slower penetration rates, the excess pore pressure at the cone shoulder is lower since consolidation is permitted coincident with penetration. The radial profiles of post‐penetration voids ratio demonstrate that partially drained penetration is permitted by volume change in the near field, in addition to radial movement in the far field. The radial distribution of excess pore pressure after slow penetration differs from the undrained case, with a relatively low radial gradient existing at the cone face. As a result, the dissipation curves after slow penetration lag behind those following fast penetration. The cone velocity is made dimensionless by normalizing with the coefficient of consolidation and the cone diameter. ‘Backbone’ curves of normalized velocity against normalized tip resistance and excess pore pressure capturing the transition from undrained to drained penetration are derived. The normalized pore pressure backbone curve is unique, whilst the normalized tip resistance shows a small dependency on OCR. These backbone penetration curves are compared with centrifuge model piezocone tests conducted at varying rates, and subsequent dissipation tests. The numerical and experimental results suggest that the value of consolidation coefficient operative during the dissipation phase is 2–4 times higher than the virgin compression value due to changes in the operative soil stiffness, as demonstrated from the stress paths of individual soil elements. The use of multi‐rate penetration tests to deduce values of consolidation coefficient is discussed, in light of these differences. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Consolidation Parameters Interpretation of CPTU Dissipation Data Based on Strain Path Theory for Soft Jiangsu Quaternary Clays

When a piezocone (CPTU) penetrates the ground, pore pressures are set up due to the stress changes. Pore pressure dissipation occurs in the subsequent consolidation process in a manner dependent on the initial stress distribution. The process of analysis can be used to interpret the consolidation parameters from CPTU data based on strain path approach. For the two approaches to the CPTU analysis, the Houlsby and Teh method used an elastic-plastic model, while the Levadoux and Baligh solution used parameters specifically appropriate for Boston Blue Clay. This article discusses a comparison between the two theoretical predictions and field CPTU measurements deployed in Jiangsu (China) Quaternary clays. The values of the coefficient of consolidation calculated from the two methods are then compared with high-quality laboratory tests. Both theoretical predictions provide good agreement for the shape of the dissipation curve, but the predicted c _h values are different and thought should indeed be given to the use of an appropriate value of G/s _u.