Geological characteristics and exploration breakthroughs of coal rock gas in Carboniferous Benxi Formation,Ordos Basin,NW China

To explore the geological characteristics and exploration potential of the Carboniferous Benxi Formation coal rock gas in the Ordos Basin,this paper presents a systematic research on the coal rock distribution,coal rock reservoirs,coal rock quality,and coal rock gas features,resources and enrichment.Coal rock gas is a high-quality resource distinct from coalbed methane,and it has unique features in terms of burial depth,gas source,reservoir,gas content,and carbon isotopic composition.The Benxi Formation coal rocks cover an area of 16×104km^(2),with thicknesses ranging from 2 m to 25 m,primarily consisting of bright and semi-bright coals with primitive structures and low volatile and ash contents,indicating a good coal quality.The medium-to-high rank coal rocks have the total organic carbon(TOC)content ranging from 33.49%to 86.11%,averaging75.16%.They have a high degree of thermal evolution(Roof 1.2%-2.8%),and a high gas-generating capacity.They also have high stable carbon isotopic values(δ13C1of-37.6‰to-16‰;δ13C2of-21.7‰to-14.3‰).Deep coal rocks develop matrix pores such as gas bubble pores,organic pores,and inorganic mineral pores,which,together with cleats and fractures,form good reservoir spaces.The coal rock reservoirs exhibit the porosity of 0.54%-10.67%(averaging 5.42%)and the permeability of(0.001-14.600)×10^(-3)μm^(2)(averaging 2.32×10^(-3)μm^(2)).Vertically,there are five types of coal rock gas accumulation and dissipation combinations,among which the coal rock-mudstone gas accumulation combination and the coal rock-limestone gas accumulation combination are the most important,with good sealing conditions and high peak values of total hydrocarbon in gas logging.A model of coal rock gas accumulation has been constructed,which includes widespread distribution of medium-to-high rank coal rocks continually generating gas,matrix pores and cleats/fractures in coal rocks acting as large-scale reservoir spaces,tight cap rocks providing sealing,source-reservoir integration,and five types of efficient enrichment patterns(lateral pinchout complex,lenses,low-amplitude structures,nose-like structures,and lithologically self-sealing).According to the geological characteristics of coal rock gas,the Benxi Formation is divided into 8 plays,and the estimated coal rock gas resources with a buried depth of more than 2000 m are more than 12.33×10^(12)m^(3).The above understandings guide the deployment of risk exploration.Two wells drilled accordingly obtained an industrial gas flow,driving the further deployment of exploratory and appraisal wells.Substantial breakthroughs have been achieved,with the possible reserves over a trillion cubic meters and the proved reserves over a hundred billion cubic meters,which is of great significance for the reserves increase and efficient development of natural gas in China.

Petroleum exploration and production in Brazil:From onshore to ultra-deepwaters

The Santos Basin in Brazil has witnessed significant oil and gas discoveries in deepwater pre-salt since the 21^(st)century.Currently,the waters in eastern Brazil stand out as a hot area of deepwater exploration and production worldwide.Based on a review of the petroleum exploration and production history in Brazil,the challenges,researches and practices,strategic transformation,significant breakthroughs,and key theories and technologies for exploration from onshore to offshore and from shallow waters to deep-ultra-deep waters and then to pre-salt strata are systematically elaborated.Within 15 years since its establishment in 1953,Petrobras explored onshore Paleozoic cratonic and marginal rift basins,and obtained some small to medium petroleum discoveries in fault-block traps.In the 1970s,Petrobras developed seismic exploration technologies and several hydrocarbon accumulation models,for example,turbidite sandstones,allowing important discoveries in shallow waters,e.g.the Namorado Field and Enchova fields.Guided by these models/technologies,significant discoveries,e.g.the Marlim and Roncador fields,were made in deepwater post-salt in the Campos Basin.In the early 21^(st)century,the advancements in theories and technologies for pre-salt petroleum system,carbonate reservoirs,hydrocarbon accumulation and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)logging stimulated a succession of valuable discoveries in the Lower Cretaceous lacustrine carbonates in the Santos Basin,including the world-class ultra-deepwater super giant fields such as Tupi(Lula),Mero and Buzios.Petroleum development in complex deep water environments is extremely challenging.By establishing the Technological Capacitation Program in Deep Waters(PROCAP),Petrobras developed and implemented key technologies including managed pressure drilling(MPD)with narrow pressure window,pressurized mud cap drilling(PMCD),multi-stage intelligent completion,development with Floating Production Storage and Offloading units(FPSO),and flow assurance,which remarkably improved the drilling,completion,field development and transportation efficiency and safety.Additionally,under the limited FPSO capacity,Petrobras promoted the world-largest CCUS-EOR project,which contributed effectively to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the enhancement of oil recovery.Development and application of these technologies provide valuable reference for deep and ultra-deepwater petroleum exploration and production worldwide.The petroleum exploration in Brazil will consistently focus on ultra-deep water pre-salt carbonates and post-salt turbidites,and seek new opportunities in Paleozoic gas.Technical innovation and strategic cooperation will be held to promote the sustainable development of Brazil's oil and gas industry.

Depositional model of the Member Deng-2 marginal microbial mound-bank complex of the Dengying Formation in the southwestern Sichuan Basin, SW China: Implications for the Ediacaran microbial mound construction and hydrocarbon exploration

Recent advances in hydrocarbon exploration have been made in the Member Deng-2 marginal microbial mound-bank complex reservoirs of the Dengying Formation in the western Sichuan Basin, SW China,where the depositional process is regarded confusing. The microfacies, construction types, and depositional model of the Member Deng-2 marginal microbial mound-bank complex have been investigated using unmanned aerial vehicle photography, outcrop section investigation, thin section identification,and seismic reflections in the southwestern Sichuan Basin. The microbialite lithologic textures in this region include thrombolite, dendrolite, stromatolite, fenestral stromatolite, spongiostromata stone,oncolite, aggregated grainstone, and botryoidal grapestone. Based on the comprehensive analysis of“depositional fabrics-lithology-microfacies”, an association between a fore mound, mound framework,and back mound subfacies has been proposed based on water depth, current direction, energy level and lithologic assemblages. The microfacies of the mound base, mound core, mound flank, mound cap, and mound flat could be recognized among the mound framework subfacies. Two construction types of marginal microbial mound-bank complex have been determined based on deposition location, mound scale, migration direction, and sedimentary facies association. Type Jinkouhe microbial mound constructions(TJMMCs) develop along the windward margin owing to their proximity to the seaward subfacies fore mound, with a northeastwardly migrated microbial mound on top of the mud mound,exhibiting the characteristics of large-sized mounds and small-sized banks in the surrounding area. Type E'bian microbial mound constructions(TEMMCs) primarily occur on the leeward margin, resulting from the presence of onshore back mound subfacies, with the smaller southwestward migrated microbial mounds existing on a thicker microbial flat. The platform margin microbial mound depositional model can be correlated with certain lateral comparison profile and seismic reflection structures in the 2D seismic section, which can provide references for future worldwide exploration. Microbial mounds with larger buildups and thicker vertical reservoirs are typically targeted on the windward margin, while small-sized microbial mounds and flats with better lateral connections are typically focused on the leeward margin.

On electro-acoustic characteristics of a marine broadband sparker for seismic exploration

The construction of major marine infrastructure projects and the exploration and development of deep-sea mineral resources require fine imaging of seabed strata and structures.The highresolution marine seismic exploration based on a high broadband sparker source is an important approach to reveal seabed stratum and reservoir structure,and identify geohazard.To optimize the performance of sparker seismic source,we investigated the electro-acoustic characteristics of spark discharge under conditions of different charging voltages and electrode numbers.Results show that the sound source level increased with the increase of the charging voltage,whereas the main frequency decreased when the charging voltage increases.In addition,it was found that the charging capacitance had more obvious influence on the main frequency than the sound source level did.Although the load energy decreased with increasing electrode number,the sound source level still increased but the main frequency decreased.Meanwhile,the primary to bubble(P/B)ratio increased with the increase of the electrode number.To gain a deeper insight into the electro-acoustic characteristics,we investigate the relationship between sound source level and power peak,from which a good correlation was observed.A more practical statistical analysis on the rise rate of current was processed,and a perfect logarithmic function was derived.Furthermore,we found that the main frequency was most possibly subjected to the electrical energy,especially the charging energy per electrode.The results indicate that the charging energy per electrode less than 10 J could increase the main frequency to above 300 Hz.At last,the main frequency could be reduced to 20 Hz when the charging energy of a single-electrode discharge was enhanced to over 4 kJ.This study shall be helpful in developing a sparker seismic source and improving the performance for marine engineering exploration and geohazard assessment.

Natural gas exploration potential and favorable targets of Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin,NW China

Based on the organic geochemical data and the molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of natural gas of the Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin,combined with sedimentary environment analysis and hydrocarbon-generating simulation,the gas-generating potential of the Fengcheng source rock is evaluated,the distribution of large-scale effective source kitchen is described,the genetic types of natural gas are clarified,and four types of favorable exploration targets are selected.The results show that:(1)The Fengcheng Formation is a set of oil-prone source rocks,and the retained liquid hydrocarbon is conducive to late cracking into gas,with characteristics of high gas-generating potential and late accumulation;(2)The maximum thickness of Fengcheng source rock reaches 900 m.The source rock has entered the main gas-generating stage in Penyijingxi and Shawan sags,and the area with gas-generating intensity greater than 20×10^(8) m^(3)/km^(2) is approximately 6500 km^(2).(3)Around the western Central Depression,highly mature oil-type gas with light carbon isotope composition was identified to be derived from the Fengcheng source rocks mainly,while the rest was coal-derived gas from the Carboniferous source rock;(4)Four types of favorable exploration targets with exploration potential were developed in the western Central Depression which are structural traps neighboring to the source,stratigraphic traps neighboring to the source,shale-gas type within the source,and structural traps within the source.Great attention should be paid to these targets.

Accurate Source-Receiver Positioning Method for a High-Resolution Deep-Towed Multichannel Seismic Exploration System

The near-seabed multichannel seismic exploration systems have yielded remarkable successes in marine geological disaster assessment,marine gas hydrate investigation,and deep-sea mineral exploration owing to their high vertical and horizontal resolution.However,the quality of deep-towed seismic imaging hinges on accurate source-receiver positioning information.In light of existing technical problems,we propose a novel array geometry inversion method tailored for high-resolution deep-towed multichannel seismic exploration systems.This method is independent of the attitude and depth sensors along a deep-towed seismic streamer,accounting for variations in seawater velocity and seabed slope angle.Our approach decomposes the towed line array into multiline segments and characterizes its geometric shape using the line segment distance and pitch angle.Introducing optimization parameters for seawater velocity and seabed slope angle,we establish an objective function based on the model,yielding results that align with objective reality.Employing the particle swarm optimization algorithm enables synchronous acquisition of optimized inversion results for array geometry and seawater velocity.Experimental validation using theoretical models and practical data verifies that our approach effectively enhances source and receiver positioning inversion accuracy.The algorithm exhibits robust stability and reliability,addressing uncertainties in seismic traveltime picking and complex seabed topography conditions.

Two stages power generation test of the hot dry rock exploration and production demonstration project in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau,China

The Hot Dry Rock(HDR)is considered as a clean and renewable energy,poised to significantly contribute to the global energy decarbonization agenda.Many HDR projects worldwide have accumulated valuable experience in efficient drilling and completion,reservoir construction,and fracture simulation.In 2019,China Geological Survey(CGS)initiated a demonstration project of HDR exploration and production in the Gonghe Basin,aiming to overcome the setbacks faced by HDR projects.Over the ensuing four years,the Gonghe HDR project achieved the first power generation in 2021,followed by the second power generation test in 2022.After establishing the primary well group in the initial phase,two directional wells and one branch well were drilled.Noteworthy progress was made in successfully constructing the targeted reservoir,realizing inter-well connectivity,power generation and grid connection,implementing of the real-time micro-seismic monitoring.A closed-loop technical validation of the HDR exploration and production was completed.However,many technical challenges remain in the process of HDR industrialization,such as reservoir fracture network characterization,efficient drilling and completion,multiple fracturing treatment,continuous injection and production,as well as mitigation of induced seismicity and numerical simulation technology.

Notes for the 50th Anniversary Special Issue of Petroleum Exploration and Development

The year of 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Petroleum Exploration and Development.For half a century,Petroleum Exploration and Development has been committed to disseminating petroleum technology,witnessing and recording the glorious journey of China's petroleum industry from being weak to becoming strong.The journal has also become a bright banner in China's petroleum technology industry.

Characteristics and close-range exploration methods of near- Earth asteroid 2016HO_(3)

The characteristics of asteroids are vital parameters for planning asteroid exploration missions.These characteristics have been explored in close range for some typical asteroids,and are summarized in the article.This allows estimates of the characteristics of asteroid 2016HO_(3),the target of the first Chinese asteroid exploration mission,Tianwen 2.We obtain 80 characteristic parameters in 9 categories and analyze their impacts on the mission.By comparing three close-range exploration modes,we provide advantages and disadvantages of each,and propose suitable methods for the exploration of 2016HO_(3).Owing to the weak gravity and small size of 2016HO_(3),a combination of multiple hovering positions and active orbiting is recommended for scientific exploration.

Applications of artificial intelligence in geothermal resource exploration: A review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly important in geothermal exploration,significantly improving the efficiency of resource identification.This review examines current AI applications,focusing on the algorithms used,the challenges addressed,and the opportunities created.In addition,the review highlights the growth of machine learning applications in geothermal exploration over the past decade,demonstrating how AI has improved the analysis of subsurface data to identify potential resources.AI techniques such as neural networks,support vector machines,and decision trees are used to estimate subsurface temperatures,predict rock and fluid properties,and identify optimal drilling locations.In particular,neural networks are the most widely used technique,further contributing to improved exploration efficiency.However,the widespread adoption of AI in geothermal exploration is hindered by challenges,such as data accessibility,data quality,and the need for tailored data science training for industry professionals.Furthermore,the review emphasizes the importance of data engineering methodologies,data scaling,and standardization to enable the development of accurate and generalizable AI models for geothermal exploration.It is concluded that the integration of AI into geothermal exploration holds great promise for accelerating the development of geothermal energy resources.By effectively addressing key challenges and leveraging AI technologies,the geothermal industry can unlock cost‐effective and sustainable power generation opportunities.

Latest Scientific Results of China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration(2022–2024)

China has successfully launched six lunar probes so far.From Chang'E-1 to Chang'E-4,they completed the circling,landing and roving exploration,of which Chang'E-4 was the first landing on the far side of the Moon in human history.Chang'E-5 was launched in December 2020,bringing back 1731 g of lunar soil samples.Through the detailed analysis of the samples,the scientists understand the history of late lunar volcanism,specifically extending lunar volcanism by about 800 million to 1 billion years,and proposed possible mechanisms.In addition,there are many new understandings of space weathering such as meteorite impacts and solar wind radiation on the Moon.China's first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 was successfully launched in July 2021.Through the study of scientific data,a number of important scientific achievements have been made in the topography,water environment and shallow surface structure of Mars.This paper introduces the main scientific achievements of Chang'E-4,Chang'E-5 and Tianwen-1 in the past two years,excluding technical and engineering contents.Due to the large number of articles involved,this paper only introduces part of the results.

Exploration of Operation and Maintenance Management Mode and Innovation Mechanism of Pilot Base of Chemical Park

Based on the current situation of the operation and maintenance management of the pilot base in many chemical parks in China,this paper conducts an in-depth exploration of the operation and maintenance management and innovation mode of the pilot base from the aspects of the evaluation of the pilot project entering the park,safety and environmental protection supervision,pilot mode,and industrialization mode of the pilot test results,so as to provide solutions for accelerating the process and industrialization of the pilot project and realizing the innovation value of the pilot base.

Application of integrated geophysical techniques in geothermal exploration in Binhai County, Jiangsu Province

Integrated geophysical technology is a necessary and effective means for geothermal exploration.However,integration of geophysical technology for large‐scale surveys with those for geothermal reservoir localization is still in development.This study used the controlled source audio‐frequency magnetotelluric method technology for large‐scale exploration to obtain underground electrical structure information and micromotion detection technology to obtain underground wave velocity structure information.The combination of two detection technologies was used for local identification of geothermal reservoirs.Further,auxiliary correction and inversion constraint were implemented through the audio magnetotelluric sounding technology for maximum authenticity restoration of the near‐and transition‐field data.Through these technology improvements,a geothermal geological model was established for the Binhai County of Jiangsu Province in China and potential geothermal well locations were identified.On this basis,a geothermal well was drilled nearly 3000m deep,with a daily water volume of over 2000m3/day and a geothermal water temperature of 51°C at the well head.It is found that predictions using the above integrated geophysical exploration technology are in good agreement with the well geological formation data.This integrated geophysical technology can be effectively applied for geothermal exploration with high precision and reliability.

Laboratory or Department?Exploration and Creation in Computer Science and Technology

In the very beginning,the Computer Laboratory of the University of Cambridge was founded to provide computing service for different disciplines across the university.As computer science developed as a discipline in its own right,boundaries necessarily arose between it and other disciplines,in a way that is now often detrimental to progress.Therefore,it is necessary to reinvigorate the relationship between computer science and other academic disciplines and celebrate exploration and creativity in research.To do this,the structures of the academic department have to act as supporting scaffolding rather than barriers.Some examples are given that show the efforts being made at the University of Cambridge to approach this problem.

New Data on Coal, Gypsum, Iron and Silica Sand Deposits and Geochemical Exploration (Pakistan): Revision of 25 Years History of Dinosaur Discoveries from Pakistan

Discoveries of many coal seams at depths by drilling carried by Geological Survey of Pakistan in Sor Range and Harnai Gochina, extended the coal seams at depth which is challenge for mine owners to exploit feasibly. Bed to bed gypsum samplings (and their chemical analyses) of huge gypsum deposits from Sulaiman foldbelt is a base for industrialist and also planers to develop cement and gypsum industries to increase export and foreign exchange for the development of area and Pakistan. Low and high grade sedimentary iron deposits, silica sand and uranium host rocks and their extensions in Sulaiman and Kirthar foldbelts are presented. Anomalies of a few base metals arise as a result of geochemical exploration carried at part of Loralai District of Balochistan. Theropod dinosaurs were frequent in India, while Poripuchian titanosaurs (Sauropoda, Dinosauria) were frequent in Pakistan. Besides some ichnotaxa, many bone taxa such as 1 titanosauriform, 14 titanosaurian sauropod (including one new titanosaur), and 3 theropod dinosaurs are established from Pakistan. Among these 12 titanosaur species and 3 theropod species are named in about 10 km2 area of Vitakri dome and 2 titanosaur species are named in about a few hundred square meter area of Mari Bohri (Kachi Bohri) which is about 10 km westward from Vitakri dome. Pakistan is a unique country which discoverd 14 diversified titanosaurs in a short area and also in a short period (67 - 66 million years ago/Ma). About 400 bones found from a few meter thick upper part of upper shale horizon of latest Maastrichtian Vitakri Formation which is base for titanosaur taxa. Cranial material is in low fraction (but include significant diverse snouts), caudal vertebrae are prominent, the cervicals, dorsals and sacrals have significant numbers, forelimb and hind limb bones have balanced fraction. Humeri, femora and tibiae are most common. To know the position of Pakistani titanosaurs among titanosaurs and sauropods, there is a need to extend list of characters for phylogenetic analyses. This broad feature list should include main characters of titanosaurs from Pakistan and also from global world.

Review of Artificial Intelligence for Oil and Gas Exploration: Convolutional Neural Network Approaches and the U-Net 3D Model

Deep learning, especially through convolutional neural networks (CNN) such as the U-Net 3D model, has revolutionized fault identification from seismic data, representing a significant leap over traditional methods. Our review traces the evolution of CNN, emphasizing the adaptation and capabilities of the U-Net 3D model in automating seismic fault delineation with unprecedented accuracy. We find: 1) The transition from basic neural networks to sophisticated CNN has enabled remarkable advancements in image recognition, which are directly applicable to analyzing seismic data. The U-Net 3D model, with its innovative architecture, exemplifies this progress by providing a method for detailed and accurate fault detection with reduced manual interpretation bias. 2) The U-Net 3D model has demonstrated its superiority over traditional fault identification methods in several key areas: it has enhanced interpretation accuracy, increased operational efficiency, and reduced the subjectivity of manual methods. 3) Despite these achievements, challenges such as the need for effective data preprocessing, acquisition of high-quality annotated datasets, and achieving model generalization across different geological conditions remain. Future research should therefore focus on developing more complex network architectures and innovative training strategies to refine fault identification performance further. Our findings confirm the transformative potential of deep learning, particularly CNN like the U-Net 3D model, in geosciences, advocating for its broader integration to revolutionize geological exploration and seismic analysis.

Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Construction for Biochemistry Course in Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Biochemistry is a fundamental core course in disciplines such as agriculture,forestry,medicine,animal husbandry,veterinary medicine,and food science.By prioritizing"educating people"in the teaching process of this professional course,we can unearth diverse ideological and political elements related to agricultural production practices within the curriculum knowledge system and the forefront of discipline development.Exploring various teaching methods and utilizing diverse teaching tools are effective strategies to achieve ideological and political education that silently influences students in the field of biochemistry.The goal is to nurture students strong ideals and beliefs,fostering a deep connection to the sentiments of"agriculture,rural areas and farmers in a great nation."This approach aims to instill a sense of responsibility towards strengthening agriculture,shaping students into individuals from South China Agricultural University who possess lofty aspirations and the courage to shoulder responsibility in the new era.

Exploration of the Integration of Curriculum Ideology and Politics into the Educational Pathway of Standardized Training for General Practice Residents

In recent years,the national higher education reform has proposed the concept of curriculum ideological and political education as a major element.This integration into the standardized training of general practice residents(commonly referred to as general resident training)is an unavoidable trend in the teaching field.Based on the actual situation of our unit at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University,this paper emphasizes the necessity of incorporating ideological and political education into the general resident training curriculum,despite the absence of pertinent practical experience in how to effectively incorporate such courses into comprehensive residential training.In our hospital,we must assess the ideological and political education in the curriculum of general resident training,proposing a scientific,reasonable ideological and political education concept system for general practice courses,integrating ideological and political education with general practice resident training,and strengthening the team of ideological and political education physicians to teach them to carry out such education,this would foster enthusiasm and initiative.Strengthening admission education and training for general practice resident training,as well as regularly hosting symposiums to share ideas and understand the mission of doctors can provide effective experience for ideological and political education in general resident training courses.

Practice and Exploration of Ideological and Political Education for Postgraduate Students Under the Mentor Responsibility System

This study aims to address the problems existing in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students,and combines the implementation of the mentor responsibility system to explore the role orientation,work content,and practical effects of mentors in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students.Through questionnaire surveys,interviews,and other research methods,the current situation of ideological and political education of postgraduate students under the mentor responsibility system is analyzed,and corresponding optimization strategies are proposed.

Exploration of Curriculum Reform in the Context of Digital Empowerment:Taking the“Class Management”Course in the Primary Education Major of Higher Vocational Normal School as an Example

In the era of digital empowerment,the digital reform of higher vocational courses has become an inevitable trend.To explore professional curriculum reform,this study takes the“Class Management”course in the primary education major of higher vocational teachers as the research object,analyzes the importance of digital empowerment to curriculum reform,and discusses the teaching of the“Class Management”course new model and content reform plan.Digital technology empowering traditional courses is a new trend,which is both an opportunity and a challenge.This study aims to explore the application of digital technology in courses and provide certain guidelines for curriculum reform in the field of education.