Quantitative characterization of deep fault-karst carbonate reservoirs: A case study of the Yuejin block in the Tahe oilfield

The Ordovician reservoirs in the Tahe oilfield are dominated by fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs, of which fault-karst reservoirs are a hot topic in recent years. Fault-karst reservoirs feature high production, large burial depth, and strong heterogeneity under the control of faulting and karstification. Based on geological, logging, and seismic data, this study classified the Ordovician fault-karst reservoirs in the Yuejin block of the Tahe oilfield into three types, namely karst-cave, dissolved-vug, and fractured types, and established the integrated identification criteria of the three types of reservoirs. This study characterized karst caves, dissolved vugs, and multi-scale faults through seismic wave impedance inversion and frequency-domain detection of multi-scale faults. 3D geological models of different types of reservoirs were built using the combined deterministic and stochastic methods and characterized the spatial distribution of multi-scale faults, karst caves, dissolved vugs, and physical property parameters of reservoir. This study established the method for the geological modeling of fault-karst reservoirs, achieved the quantitative characterization and revealed the heterogeneity of fault-karst reservoirs. The karst-cave and dissolved-vug types are high in porosity and act as reservoirs, while the fractured type is high in permeability and act as flow pathway. This study lays the foundation for the development index prediction, well emplacement, and efficient development of the fault-karst carbonate reservoirs.

Ultra-deep carbonate basement reservoirs formed by polyphase fracture-related karstification in the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin, China

The Palaeozoic carbonate basement of the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin (OBBB) presents considerable potential for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the multistage tectonism and complex superimposed palaeo-karstification in the area are unclear, which leads to a lack of understanding on the formation mechanism and distribution of the deep carbonate basement reservoirs. In this study, the occurrence of a fracture-vug network and its fillings in carbonate reservoirs were investigated based on borehole cores, thin sections, and image logs from the southwestern slope of the OBBB's Bozhong Sag. Then the diagenetic fluid properties of the carbonate matrix and fillings were analysed via the data of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes, and major, rare elements from coring intervals. The results revealed that fracture-related karst reservoirs have lithologic selectivity inclined toward dolomite strata. The intersecting relationships, widths, and strikes of the fractures and the regional tectonic background indicate three structural fracture families: NW-, NNE-, and NNW- trending, related to the Indosinian, middle Yanshanian, and late Yanshanian orogeny, respectively. The Indosinian NW- and end-Mesozoic NNE-trending fractures produced by compressional tectonic stress mainly contributed to the formation of the basement reservoirs. The geochemistry of the calcite veins filling these fractures suggests two main types of diagenetic fluids. The fluid of autogenic recharge related to the earlier fills is karstification diffuse flow dominated by internal runoff from rainfall in the highland setting of the Indosinian thrusting orogenic belt. The other fluid of allogenic recharge related to the later fills is the main lateral freshwater flow dominated by external runoff from the catchment in the setting of the horst-lowland within the rifting basin, induced by the Yanshanian destruction of the North China Craton. Finally, the relationship between the three fracture families and two kinds of related fluids is revealed. This allows us to propose a model to understand the polyphase-superimposed fracture-related karst reservoir complexes within the deep carbonate basement of tilting fault blocks that neighbour the Bozhong hydrocarbon kitchen and predict the formation of potential plays with high accuracy.

A review of reservoir damage during hydraulic fracturing of deep and ultra-deep reservoirs

Deep and ultra-deep reservoirs have gradually become the primary focus of hydrocarbon exploration as a result of a series of significant discoveries in deep hydrocarbon exploration worldwide.These reservoirs present unique challenges due to their deep burial depth(4500-8882 m),low matrix permeability,complex crustal stress conditions,high temperature and pressure(HTHP,150-200℃,105-155 MPa),coupled with high salinity of formation water.Consequently,the costs associated with their exploitation and development are exceptionally high.In deep and ultra-deep reservoirs,hydraulic fracturing is commonly used to achieve high and stable production.During hydraulic fracturing,a substantial volume of fluid is injected into the reservoir.However,statistical analysis reveals that the flowback rate is typically less than 30%,leaving the majority of the fluid trapped within the reservoir.Therefore,hydraulic fracturing in deep reservoirs not only enhances the reservoir permeability by creating artificial fractures but also damages reservoirs due to the fracturing fluids involved.The challenging“three-high”environment of a deep reservoir,characterized by high temperature,high pressure,and high salinity,exacerbates conventional forms of damage,including water sensitivity,retention of fracturing fluids,rock creep,and proppant breakage.In addition,specific damage mechanisms come into play,such as fracturing fluid decomposition at elevated temperatures and proppant diagenetic reactions at HTHP conditions.Presently,the foremost concern in deep oil and gas development lies in effectively assessing the damage inflicted on these reservoirs by hydraulic fracturing,comprehending the underlying mechanisms,and selecting appropriate solutions.It's noteworthy that the majority of existing studies on reservoir damage primarily focus on conventional reservoirs,with limited attention given to deep reservoirs and a lack of systematic summaries.In light of this,our approach entails initially summarizing the current knowledge pertaining to the types of fracturing fluids employed in deep and ultra-deep reservoirs.Subsequently,we delve into a systematic examination of the damage processes and mechanisms caused by fracturing fluids within the context of hydraulic fracturing in deep reservoirs,taking into account the unique reservoir characteristics of high temperature,high pressure,and high in-situ stress.In addition,we provide an overview of research progress related to high-temperature deep reservoir fracturing fluid and the damage of aqueous fracturing fluids to rock matrix,both artificial and natural fractures,and sand-packed fractures.We conclude by offering a summary of current research advancements and future directions,which hold significant potential for facilitating the efficient development of deep oil and gas reservoirs while effectively mitigating reservoir damage.

Visualization and characterization of experimental hydraulic fractures interacting with karst fracture-cavity distributions

Karst fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs,in which natural cavities are connected by natural fractures to form cavity clusters in many circumstances,have become significant fields of oil and gas exploration and exploitation.Proppant fracturing is considered as the best method for exploiting carbonate reservoirs;however,previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual types of geological formations,such as natural fractures or cavities,on fracture propagation.In this study,true-triaxial physical simulation experiments were systematically performed under four types of stress difference conditions after the accurate prefabrication of four types of different fracture-cavity distributions in artificial samples.Subsequently,the interaction mechanism between the hydraulic fractures and fracture-cavity structures was systematically analyzed in combination with the stress distribution,cross-sectional morphology of the main propagation path,and three-dimensional visualization of the overall fracture network.It was found that the propagation of hydraulic fractures near the cavity was inhibited by the stress concentration surrounding the cavity.In contrast,a natural fracture with a smaller approach angle(0°and 30°)around the cavity can alleviate the stress concentration and significantly facilitate the connection with the cavity.In addition,the hydraulic fracture crossed the natural fracture at the 45°approach angle and bypassed the cavity under higher stress difference conditions.A new stimulation effectiveness evaluation index was established based on the stimulated reservoir area(SRA),tortuosity of the hydraulic fractures(T),and connectivity index(CI)of the cavities.These findings provide new insights into the fracturing design of carbonate reservoirs.

Development and technology status of energy storage in depleted gas reservoirs

Utilizing energy storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs can improve productivity while reducing power costs and is one of the best ways to achieve synergistic development of"Carbon Peak–Carbon Neutral"and"Underground Resource Utiliza-tion".Starting from the development of Compressed Air Energy Storage(CAES)technology,the site selection of CAES in depleted gas and oil reservoirs,the evolution mechanism of reservoir dynamic sealing,and the high-flow CAES and injection technology are summarized.It focuses on analyzing the characteristics,key equipment,reservoir construction,application scenarios and cost analysis of CAES projects,and sorting out the technical key points and existing difficulties.The devel-opment trend of CAES technology is proposed,and the future development path is scrutinized to provide reference for the research of CAES projects in depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Synergistic anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system with high emulsification efficiency for enhanced oil recovery in low permeability reservoirs

Emulsification is one of the important mechanisms of surfactant flooding. To improve oil recovery for low permeability reservoirs, a highly efficient emulsification oil flooding system consisting of anionic surfactant sodium alkyl glucosyl hydroxypropyl sulfonate(APGSHS) and zwitterionic surfactant octadecyl betaine(BS-18) is proposed. The performance of APGSHS/BS-18 mixed surfactant system was evaluated in terms of interfacial tension, emulsification capability, emulsion size and distribution, wettability alteration, temperature-resistance and salt-resistance. The emulsification speed was used to evaluate the emulsification ability of surfactant systems, and the results show that mixed surfactant systems can completely emulsify the crude oil into emulsions droplets even under low energy conditions. Meanwhile,the system exhibits good temperature and salt resistance. Finally, the best oil recovery of 25.45% is achieved for low permeability core by the mixed surfactant system with a total concentration of 0.3 wt%while the molar ratio of APGSHS:BS-18 is 4:6. The current study indicates that the anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system can improve the oil flooding efficiency and is potential candidate for application in low permeability reservoirs.

Air pressure law of a reservoir constructed in karst sinkholes

Karst sinkholes with natural negative landform provide favorable conditions for the pumped storage reservoir construction for less excavation work.However,the construction of the reservoir would plug the natural karst channels for water and air,which would cause remarkable air pressure in karst channels when the groundwater level fluctuates.A large laboratory simulation test was carried out to study the air pressure variation of a reservoir built on the karst sinkhole.The air pressure in the karst channel and inside the model was monitored during the groundwater rising and falling process.Result showed that the variation of air pressure in the karst channel and the surrounding rock exhibited a high degree of similarity.The air pressure increased rapidly at the initial stage of water level rising,followed by a slight decrease,then the air pressure increased sharply when the water level approached the top of the karst cave.The initial peak of air pressure and the final peak of air pressure were defined,and both air pressure peaks were linearly increasing with the water level rising rate.The negative air pressure was also analyzed during the drainage process,which was linearly correlated with the water level falling rate.The causes of air pressure variation in karst channels of a pumped storage reservoir built on the karst sinkhole were discussed.The initial rapid increase,then slight decrease and final sudden increase of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of air compression in karst channel and air seepage into the surrounding rock.For the drainage process,the instant negative air pressure and gradual recovering of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of negative air pressure induced by water level falling and air supply from surrounding rock.This work could provide valuable reference for the reservoir construction in karst area.

Characteristics,classification and KNN-based evaluation of paleokarst carbonate reservoirs:A case study of Feixianguan Formation in northeastern Sichuan Basin,China

The Feixianguan Formation reservoirs in northeastern Sichuan are mainly a suite of carbonate platform deposits.The reservoir types are diverse with high heterogeneity and complex genetic mechanisms.Pores,vugs and fractures of different genetic mechanisms and scales are often developed in association,and it is difficult to classify reservoir types merely based on static data such as outcrop observation,and cores and logging data.In the study,the reservoirs in the Feixianguan Formation are grouped into five types by combining dynamic and static data,that is,karst breccia-residual vuggy type,solution-enhanced vuggy type,fractured-vuggy type,fractured type and matrix type(non-reservoir).Based on conventional logging data,core data and formation microscanner image(FMI)data of the Qilibei block,northeastern Sichuan Basin,the reservoirs are classified in accordance with fracture-vug matching relationship.Based on the principle of cluster analysis,K-Nearest Neighbor(KNN)classification templates are established,and the applicability of the model is verified by using the reservoir data from wells uninvolved in modeling.Following the analysis of the results of reservoir type discrimination and the production of corresponding reservoir intervals,the contributions of various reservoir types to production are evaluated and the reliability of reservoir type classification is verified.The results show that the solution-enhanced vuggy type is of high-quality sweet spot reservoir in the study area with good physical property and high gas production,followed by the fractured-vuggy type,and the fractured and karst breccia-residual vuggy types are the least promising.

Hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics in basement reservoirs and exploration targets of deep basement reservoirs in onshore China

Based on the global basement reservoir database and the dissection of basement reservoirs in China,the characteristics of hydrocarbon accumulation in basement reservoirs are analyzed,and the favorable conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation in deep basement reservoirs are investigated to highlight the exploration targets.The discovered basement reservoirs worldwide are mainly buried in the Archean and Precambrian granitic and metamorphic formations with depths less than 4500 m,and the relatively large reservoirs have been found in rift,back-arc and foreland basins in tectonic active zones of the Meso-Cenozoic plates.The hydrocarbon accumulation in basement reservoirs exhibits the characteristics in three aspects.First,the porous-fractured reservoirs with low porosity and ultra-low permeability are dominant,where extensive hydrocarbon accumulation occurred during the weathering denudation and later tectonic reworking of the basin basement.High resistance to compaction allows the physical properties of these highly heterogeneous reservoirs to be independent of the buried depth.Second,the hydrocarbons were sourced from the formations outside the basement.The source-reservoir assemblages are divided into contacted source rock-basement and separated source rock-basement patterns.Third,the abnormal high pressure in the source rock and the normal–low pressure in the basement reservoirs cause a large pressure difference between the source rock and the reservoirs,which is conducive to the pumping effect of hydrocarbons in the deep basement.The deep basement prospects are mainly evaluated by the factors such as tectonic activity of basement,source-reservoir combination,development of large deep faults(especially strike-slip faults),and regional seals.The Precambrian crystalline basements at the margin of the intracontinental rifts in cratonic basins,as well as the Paleozoic folded basements and the Meso-Cenozoic fault-block basements adjacent to the hydrocarbon generation depressions,have favorable conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation,and thus they are considered as the main targets for future exploration of deep basement reservoirs.

Micromechanism and mathematical model of stress sensitivity in tight reservoirs of binary granular medium

Research on reservoir rock stress sensitivity has traditionally focused on unary granular structures,neglecting the binary nature of real reservoirs,especially tight reservoirs.Understanding the stresssensitive behavior and mathematical characterization of binary granular media remains a challenging task.In this study,we conducted online-NMR experiments to investigate the permeability and porosity evolution as well as stress-sensitive control mechanisms in tight sandy conglomerate samples.The results revealed stress sensitivity coefficients between 0.042 and 0.098 and permeability damage rates ranging from 65.6%to 90.9%,with an average pore compression coefficient of 0.0168—0.0208 MPa 1.Pore-scale compression occurred in three stages:filling,compression,and compaction,with matrix pores playing a dominant role in pore compression.The stress sensitivity of binary granular media was found to be influenced by the support structure and particle properties.High stress sensitivity was associated with small fine particle size,high fines content,high uniformity coefficient of particle size,high plastic deformation,and low Young's modulus.Matrix-supported samples exhibited a high irreversible permeability damage rate(average=74.2%)and stress sensitivity coefficients(average=0.089),with pore spaces more slit-like.In contrast,grain-supported samples showed low stress sensitivity coefficients(average=0.021)at high stress stages.Based on the experiments,we developed a mathematical model for stress sensitivity in binary granular media,considering binary granular properties and nested interactions using Hertz contact deformation and Poiseuille theory.By describing the change in activity content of fines under stress,we characterized the non-stationary state of compressive deformation in the binary granular structure and classified the reservoir into three categories.The model was applied for production prediction using actual data from the Mahu reservoir in China,showing that the energy retention rates of support-dominated,fill-dominated,and matrix-controlled reservoirs should be higher than 70.1%,88%,and 90.2%,respectively.

Formation of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic reservoirs in the offshore Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on the geological and geophysical data of Mesozoic oil-gas exploration in the sea area of Bohai Bay Basin and the discovered high-yield volcanic oil and gas wells since 2019,this paper methodically summarizes the formation conditions of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic oil and gas reservoirs in the Bohai Sea.Research shows that the Mesozoic large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices in the Bohai Sea are the material basis for the formation of large-scale volcanic reservoirs.The upper subfacies of effusive facies and cryptoexplosive breccia subfacies of volcanic conduit facies of volcanic vent-proximal facies belts are favorable for large-scale volcanic reservoir formation.Two types of efficient reservoirs,characterized by high porosity and medium to low permeability,as well as medium porosity and medium to low permeability,are the core of the formation of large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.The reservoir with high porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intermediate-felsic vesicular lava or the cryptoexplosive breccia superimposed by intensive dissolution.The reservoir with medium porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intense tectonism superimposed by fluid dissolution.Weathering and tectonic transformation are main formation mechanisms for large and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs in the study area.The low-source“source-reservoir draping type”is the optimum source-reservoir configuration relationship for large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.There exists favorable volcanic facies,efficient reservoirs and source-reservoir draping configuration relationship on the periphery of Bozhong Sag,and the large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices close to strike-slip faults and their branch faults are the main directions of future exploration.

Evaluating the characteristics of geological structures in karst groundwater inflow, Nowsud Tunnel

Highly permeable geological structures such as dissolution channels, open fractures, and faults create environmental challenges regard to hydrological and hydrogeological aspects of underground construction, often causing significant groundwater inflow during drilling due to the limitations of empirical and analytical methods. This study aims to identify the geological factors influencing water flow into the tunnel. High-flow zones' geological features have been identified and examined for this purpose. According to the geological complexity of the Nowsud tunnel, presence of different formations with different permeability and karstification have led to a high volume of underground inflow water (up to 4700 L/s) to the tunnel. The Nowsud tunnel faces significant geological and hydrogeological challenges due to its passage through the Ilam formation's LI2 unit, characterized by dissolution channels, faults, and fractures. The highest inflow rate (4700 L/s) occurred in the Hz-9 zone within the Zimkan anticline. The relationship between geological features and groundwater inflow indicates that anticlines are more susceptible to inflow than synclines. Additionally, different types of faults exhibit varying hydraulic effects, with strike-slip faults having the most significant impact on groundwater inflow, thrust faults conducting less water into the tunnel, and inflow through normal faults being negligible compared to the other two types of faults. The novelty of this paper lies in its detailed analysis of geological features influencing groundwater inflow into the Nowsud tunnel, providing empirical data on high-flow zones and differentiating the hydraulic effects of various fault types, which enhances the understanding and prediction of groundwater inflow in underground constructions.

Exploring social-ecological system resilience in South China Karst:Quantification,interaction and policy implication

China’s Grain to Green Program(GTGP),which is one of the largest payments for ecosystem services(PES)in the world,has made significant ecological improvements to the environment.However,current understanding of its outcomes on the social-ecological system(SES)remains limited.Therefore,taking the South China Karst as an example,a SES resilience evaluation index system was constructed followed by an exploratory spatial analysis,root mean square error,and Self-Organizing Feature Map to clarify the spatiotemporal changes and relationship of SES resilience,achieve the zoning of SES resilience and provide restoration measures.The results showed an upward trend in social resilience from 2000 to 2020,especially its subsystem of social development.Regional ecological resilience was stable,owing to a slightly declined ecosystem services and increased landscape pattern.Spatially,nearly half of the counties exhibited a distribution mismatch in SES resilience.There was an obvious inverted U-shaped relationship of SES resilience,indicating a clear threshold effect,and the constraint relation-ship of SES resilience eased over time,demonstrating the effectiveness of the ecological restoration program.GTGP played a positive role in reducing regional SES trade-off,but this positive effect was limited,reflecting the limitations of overemphasizing the conversion from farmland to forest and grassland.Regional SES resilience can be divided into four clusters,which were the key optimization zone for social system,the SES resilience safety zone,the key restoration zone for SES resilience,and the key optimization zone for ecological system.Adaptive adjustments for the GTGP in these zones should be taken to achieve maximum SES benefits in the future.

A Well Productivity Model for Multi-Layered Marine and Continental Transitional Reservoirs with Complex Fracture Networks

Using the typical characteristics of multi-layered marine and continental transitional gas reservoirs as a basis,a model is developed to predict the related well production rate.This model relies on the fractal theory of tortuous capillary bundles and can take into account multiple gas flow mechanisms at the micrometer and nanometer scales,as well as the flow characteristics in different types of thin layers(tight sandstone gas,shale gas,and coalbed gas).Moreover,a source-sink function concept and a pressure drop superposition principle are utilized to introduce a coupled flow model in the reservoir.A semi-analytical solution for the production rate is obtained using a matrix iteration method.A specific well is selected for fitting dynamic production data,and the calculation results show that the tight sandstone has the highest gas production per unit thickness compared with the other types of reservoirs.Moreover,desorption and diffusion of coalbed gas and shale gas can significantly contribute to gas production,and the daily production of these two gases decreases rapidly with decreasing reservoir pressure.Interestingly,the gas production from fractures exhibits an approximately U-shaped distribution,indicating the need to optimize the spacing between clusters during hydraulic fracturing to reduce the area of overlapping fracture control.The coal matrix water saturation significantly affects the coalbed gas production,with higher water saturation leading to lower production.

Experimental Investigation on Condensate Revaporization During Gas Injection Development in Fractured Gas Condensate Reservoirs

The gas field in the Bohai Bay Basin is a fractured metamorphic buried-hill reservoir with dual-media characteristics. The retrograde vaporization mechanism observed in this type of gas condensate reservoir differs significantly from that observed in sand gas condensate reservoirs. However, studies on improving the recovery of fractured gas condensate reservoirs are limited;thus, the impact of retrograde vaporization on condensate within fractured metamorphic buried-hill reservoirs remains unclear. To address this gap, a series of gas injection experiments are conducted in pressure-volume-temperature(PVT) cells and long-cores to investigate the retrograde vaporization effect of condensate using different gas injection media in fractured gas condensate reservoirs. We analyze the variation in condensate volume, gas-to-oil ratio, and condensate recovery during gas injection and examine the influence of various gas injection media(CO_(2), N_(2), and dry gas) under different reservoir properties and varying gas injection times. The results demonstrate that the exchange of components between injected gas and condensate significantly influences condensate retrograde vaporization in the formation. Compared with dry gas injection and N_(2) injection,CO_(2) injection exhibits a superior retrograde vaporization effect. At a CO_(2) injection volume of 1 PV, the percentage shrinkage volume of condensate is 13.82%. Additionally, at the maximum retrograde condensation pressure, CO_(2) injection can increase the recovery of condensate by 22.4%. However, the condensate recovery is notably lower in fractured gas condensate reservoirs than in homogeneous reservoirs, owing to the creation of dominant gas channeling by fractures, which leads to decreased condensate recovery. Regarding gas injection timing, the effect of gas injection at reservoir pressure on improving condensate recovery is superior to that of gas injection at the maximum retrograde condensation pressure. This research provides valuable guidance for designing gas injection development plans and dynamic tracking adjustments for fractured gas condensate reservoirs.

Fine quantitative characterization of high-H2S gas reservoirs under the influence of liquid sulfur deposition and adsorption

In order to clarify the influence of liquid sulfur deposition and adsorption to high-H2S gas reservoirs,three types of natural cores with typical carbonate pore structures were selected for high-temperature and high-pressure core displacement experiments.Fine quantitative characterization of the cores in three steady states(original,after sulfur injection,and after gas flooding)was carried out using the nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)transverse relaxation time spectrum and imaging,X-ray computer tomography(CT)of full-diameter cores,basic physical property testing,and field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging.The loss of pore volume caused by sulfur deposition and adsorption mainly comes from the medium and large pores with sizes bigger than 1000μm.Liquid sulfur has a stronger adsorption and deposition ability in smaller pore spaces,and causes greater damage to reservoirs with poor original pore structures.The pore structure of the three types of carbonate reservoirs shows multiple fractal characteristics.The worse the pore structure,the greater the change of internal pore distribution caused by liquid sulfur deposition and adsorption,and the stronger the heterogeneity.Liquid sulfur deposition and adsorption change the pore size distribution,pore connectivity,and heterogeneity of the rock,which further changes the physical properties of the reservoir.After sulfur injection and gas flooding,the permeability of TypeⅠreservoirs with good physical properties decreased by 16%,and that of TypesⅡandⅢreservoirs with poor physical properties decreased by 90%or more,suggesting an extremely high damage.This indicates that the worse the initial physical properties,the greater the damage of liquid sulfur deposition and adsorption.Liquid sulfur is adsorbed and deposited in different types of pore space in the forms of flocculence,cobweb,or retinitis,causing different changes in the pore structure and physical property of the reservoir.

Genomic divergence and mutation load in the Begonia masoniana complex from limestone karsts

Understanding genome-wide diversity,inbreeding,and the burden of accumulated deleterious mutations in small and isolated populations is essential for predicting and enhancing population persistence and resilience.However,these effects are rarely studied in limestone karst plants.Here,we re-sequenced the nuclear genomes of 62 individuals of the Begonia masoniana complex(B.liuyanii,B.longgangensis,B.masoniana and B.variegata)and investigated genomic divergence and genetic load for these four species.Our analyses revealed four distinct clusters corresponding to each species within the complex.Notably,there was only limited admixture between B.liuyanii and B.longgangensis occurring in overlapping geographic regions.All species experienced historical bottlenecks during the Pleistocene,which were likely caused by glacial climate fluctuations.We detected an asymmetric historical gene flow between group pairs within this timeframe,highlighting a distinctive pattern of interspecific divergence attributable to karst geographic isolation.We found that isolated populations of B.masoniana have limited gene flow,the smallest recent population size,the highest inbreeding coefficients,and the greatest accumulation of recessive deleterious mutations.These findings underscore the urgency to prioritize conservation efforts for these isolated population.This study is among the first to disentangle the genetic differentiation and specific demographic history of karst Begonia plants at the whole-genome level,shedding light on the potential risks associated with the accumulation of deleterious mutations over generations of inbreeding.Moreover,our findings may facilitate conservation planning by providing critical baseline genetic data and a better understanding of the historical events that have shaped current population structure of rare and endangered karst plants.

Conditions for the enrichment of karst hydrothermal resources in Bohai Bay Basin

Drilling for karst hydrothermal resources in eastern China has posed challenges,including disparities between the temperature and yield of geothermal water.It is evident that relying solely on geothermal anomalies or indications of karst reservoirs is inadequate for the exploration of karst hydrothermal resources.This study seeks to elucidate the cause of geothermal sweet spots by analyzing the interplay between geothermal anomalies and karst reservoirs and the underlying geological conditions for karst hydrothermal enrichment.Key findings include:(1)the Bohai Bay Basin has been geologically favorable for the development of karst hydrothermal resources since the Mesozoic era;(2)the karst hydrothermal enrichment varies significantly between the basin’s margin and its interior.On the basin margin,the enrichment is largely driven by groundwater activity and faults,particularly where faults facilitate the upwelling of geothermal water.In contrast,within the basin’s interior,karst hydrothermal resources are predominantly influenced by buried hills and are especially enriched in areas facilitating the discharge of deep geothermal waters.

Experimental study of the influencing factors and mechanisms of the pressure-reduction and augmented injection effect by nanoparticles in ultra-low permeability reservoirs

Nanoparticles(NPs)have gained significant attention as a functional material due to their ability to effectively enhance pressure reduction in injection processes in ultra-low permeability reservoirs.NPs are typically studied in controlled laboratory conditions,and their behavior in real-world,complex environments such as ultra-low permeability reservoirs,is not well understood due to the limited scope of their applications.This study investigates the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of NPs in decreasing injection pressure under various injection conditions(25—85℃,10—25 MPa).The results reveal that under optimal injection conditions,NPs effectively reduce injection pressure by a maximum of 22.77%in core experiment.The pressure reduction rate is found to be positively correlated with oil saturation and permeability,and negatively correlated with temperature and salinity.Furthermore,particle image velocimetry(PIV)experiments(25℃,atmospheric pressure)indicate that the pressure reduction is achieved by NPs through the reduction of wall shear resistance and wettability change.This work has important implications for the design of water injection strategies in ultra-low permeability reservoirs.

Influence of multi-stage volcanic events on the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene reservoirs and its geological significance in the northern Central Myanmar Basin

The northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust triggered multiple magmatic activities in the West Myanmar Arc,which in turn influenced the deposition of sedimentary pyroclastic rocks from the Cretaceous to Eocene strata in the Central Myanmar Basin(CMB).The pore structure of these lithologic reservoirs is complex and rich in tuffaceous sandstone,which plays an adverse role in reservoir development in this region.To understand the development characteristics and genetic mechanism of the pyroclastic rocks within three sets of reservoirs in this area,a comprehensive analysis was conducted through borehole core observations,thin section identification,scanning electron microscope analysis,and mercury injection tests.The tuffaceous sandstone from the upper Cretaceous to the Eocene is dominated by intermediate-acid volcanic rock debris.The pyroclastic rocks exhibit evident chloritization and ironization,with residual intergranular pores being the principal type accompanied by a smaller amount of intergranular dissolved pores and intragranular dissolved pores.The highest porosity is observed in the Eocene tuffaceous sandstone,ranging from 8%to 12%.The Late Cretaceous to Paleocene sandstones exhibit lower porosity levels of only 4%-6%.These reservoirs are characterized by their low porosity and low-permeability.Despite the presence of a good source rock in this area,the volcanic debris particles filling the pores,as well as their subsequent devitrification,chloritization,and limonite mineralization,result in pore throat blockage and narrowing.The reservoirs in this area are small in size,exhibit poor reservoir connectivity and lateral continuity,and fail to meet the necessary conditions for commercial-scale hydrocarbon accumulation and migration.