Research progress and development of deep and ultra-deep drilling fluid technology

The research progress of deep and ultra-deep drilling fluid technology systematically reviewed,the key problems existing are analyzed,and the future development direction is proposed.In view of the high temperature,high pressure and high stress,fracture development,wellbore instability,drilling fluid lost circulation and other problems faced in the process of deep and ultra-deep complex oil and gas drilling,scholars have developed deep and ultra-deep high-temperature and high-salt resistant water-based drilling fluid technology,high-temperature resistant oil-based/synthetic drilling fluid technology,drilling fluid technology for reservoir protection and drilling fluid lost circulation control technology.However,there are still some key problems such as insufficient resistance to high temperature,high pressure and high stress,wellbore instability and serious lost circulation.Therefore,the development direction of deep and ultra-deep drilling fluid technology in the future is proposed:(1)The technology of high-temperature and high-salt resistant water-based drilling fluid should focus on improving high temperature stability,improving rheological properties,strengthening filtration control and improving compatibility with formation.(2)The technology of oil-based/synthetic drilling fluid resistant to high temperature should further study in the aspects of easily degradable environmental protection additives with low toxicity such as high temperature stabilizer,rheological regulator and related supporting technologies.(3)The drilling fluid technology for reservoir protection should be devoted to the development of new high-performance additives and materials,and further improve the real-time monitoring technology by introducing advanced sensor networks and artificial intelligence algorithms.(4)The lost circulation control of drilling fluid should pay more attention to the integration and application of intelligent technology,the research and application of high-performance plugging materials,the exploration of diversified plugging techniques and methods,and the improvement of environmental protection and production safety awareness.

Cyclone separation in a supercritical water circulating fluidized bed reactor for coallbiomass gasification： Structural design and numerical analysis

A new concept of a supercritical water （SCW） circulating fiuidized bed reactor is proposed to produce hydrogen from coal/biomass gasification. The cyclone is a key component of the reactor system, in this paper, cyclones with a single circular inlet （SCI） or a double circular inlet （DCI） were designed to adapt to the supercritical conditions. We evaluated the separation performance of the two cyclones using numerical simulations. A three-dimensional Reynolds stress model was used to simulate the turbulent flow of the fluid, and a stochastic Lagrangian model was used to simulate the particle motion. The flow fields of both cyclones were three-dimensionally unsteady and similar to those of traditional gas-solid cyclones. Secondary circulation phenomena were discovered and their influence on particle separation was estimated. Analyzing the distribution of the turbulence kinetic energy revealed that the most intensive turbulence existed in the zone near the vortex finder while the flow in the central part was relatively stable. The particle concentration distribution was non-uniform because of centrifugal forces. The distribution area can be divided into three parts according to the motion of the particles. In addition, the separation efficiency of both cyclones increased with the inlet SCaN velocity. Because of its perturbance flow, the DCI separator had higher separation efficiency than the SCI separator under comparable simulations. However, this was at the expense of a higher pressure drop across the cyclone.

α-Synuclein pathology from the body to the brain:so many seeds so close to the central soil

α-Synuclein is a protein that mainly exists in the presynaptic terminals.Abnormal folding and accumulation of α-synuclein are found in several neurodegenerative diseases,including Parkinson’s disease.Aggregated and highly phospho rylated a-synuclein constitutes the main component of Lewy bodies in the brain,the pathological hallmark of Parkinson s disease.For decades,much attention has been focused on the accumulation of α-synuclein in the brain parenchyma rather than considering Parkinson s disease as a systemic disease.Recent evidence demonstrates that,at least in some patients,the initial α-synuclein pathology originates in the peripheral organs and spreads to the brain.Injection of α-synuclein preformed fibrils into the gastrointestinal tra ct trigge rs the gutto-brain propagation of α-synuclein pathology.However,whether α-synuclein pathology can occur spontaneously in peripheral organs independent of exogenous α-synuclein preformed fibrils or pathological α-synuclein leakage from the central nervous system remains under investigation.In this review,we aimed to summarize the role of peripheral α-synuclein pathology in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.We also discuss the pathways by which α-synuclein pathology spreads from the body to the brain.

Integrated U-Pb,Lu-Hf and(U-Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China

Low-temperature Sb(Au-Hg) deposits in South China account for more than 50% of the world’s Sb reserves,however,their genesis remains controversial.Here we report the first study that integrates U-Pb and Lu-Hf analysis by LA-(MC)-ICPMS and conventional(U-Th)/He analysis,all applied to single zircon crystals,in an attempt to constrain the origin and timing of world-class Sb(Au-Hg) deposits in Banxi(South China).Zircon separated from a quartz-stibnite ore and an altered country rock samples revealed similar U-Pb age spectra defining two major populations-Paleoproterozoic(~1900-2500 Ma) and Neoproterozoic(~770 Ma),which are characterized by variable εHf(t) values(-10.7 to 9.1 and-16.5 to 11.2,respectively) and Hf crustal model ages(TDMC)(2.48 to 3.24 Ga and 0.97 to 2.71 Ga,respectively).The U-Pb age and Hf isotopic features of the zircons are consistent with the Banxi Group in the region,indicating that the zircons involved in the low-temperature hydrothermal system were originally from the Banxi Group country rocks.Thirty-three mineralization-related zircon crystals yielded a mean(U-Th)/He age of 123.8±3.8 Ma,which is interpreted to represent the timing of the latest low-temperature mineralization stage of the Banxi Sb deposit.The combined U-Pb,Lu-Hf and(U-Th)/He data suggest that Precambrian basement rocks were the major contributors to the low-temperature mineralization,and that Early Cretaceous(130-120 Ma) could be the most important ore-forming epoch for the Sb deposits in South China.This study also demonstrates the analytical feasibility of integrated U-Pb-Lu-Hf-(U-Th)/He "triple-dating",all applied to single zircon crystals.This approach reveals the full evolution of zircon,from its origin of the magmatic source,through its crystallization and low-temperature cooling.Although this study demonstrates the usefulness of this integrated approach in dating low-temperature mineralization,it has great potential for zircon provenance and other studies that may benefit from the large amount of information that can be extracted from single zircon crystals.

Research progress and prospect of plugging technologies for fractured formation with severe lost circulation

By reviewing the mechanisms of drilling fluid lost circulation and its control in fractured formations, the applicability and working mechanisms of different kinds of lost circulation materials in plugging fractured formations have been summarized. Meanwhile, based on the types of lost circulation materials, the advantages, disadvantages, and application effects of corresponding plugging technologies have been analyzed to sort out the key problems existing in the current lost circulation control technologies. On this basis, the development direction of plugging technology for severe loss have been pointed out. It is suggested that that the lost circulation control technology should combine different disciplines such as geology, engineering and materials to realize integration, intelligence and systematization in the future. Five research aspects should be focused on:(1) the study on mechanisms of drilling fluid lost circulation and its control to provide basis for scientific selection of lost circulation material formulas, control methods and processes;(2) the research and development of self-adaptive lost circulation materials to improve the matching relationship between lost control materials and fracture scales;(3) the research and development of lost circulation materials with strong retention and strong filling in three-dimensional fracture space, to enhance the retention and filling capacities of materials in fractures and improve the lost circulation control effect;(4) the research and development of lost circulation materials with high temperature tolerance, to ensure the long-term plugging effect of deep high-temperature formations;(5) the study on digital and intelligent lost circulation control technology, to promote the development of lost circulation control technology to digital and intelligent direction.

Research progress of chronic cervicogenic headache based on the concept of muscular dural bridge complex

Since it was put forward in 1995,musculo-dural bridge has been widely concerned.With the deepening of research,the structure,shape and physiological functions of musculo-dural bridge are gradually known.Previous studies have found that the musculo-dural bridge between muscle and dura mater can not only transfer proprioception,prevent the rupture of dura mater and ensure the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid,but also be related to chronic cervicogenic headache.Therefore,this article mainly discusses the composition of musculo-dural bridge complex and its relationship with chronic cervicogenic headache,so as to provide a new diagnosis and treatment idea for the occurrence,development and treatment of related diseases in clinic.

Numerical comparison of two modes of gas-solid riser operation： Fluid catalytic cracking vs CFB combustor

Two modes of gas-solid riser operation, i.e., fluid catalytic cracking （FCC） and circulating fluidized bed combustor （CFBC）, have been recognized in literature; particularly in the understanding of choking phenomena. This work compares these two modes of operation through computational fluid dynamics （CFD） simulation. In CFD simulations, the different operations are represented by fixing appropriate boundary conditions： solids flux or solids inventory. It is found that the FCC and CFBC modes generally have the same dependence of solids flux on the mean solids volume fraction or solids inventory. However, during the choking transition, the FCC mode of operation needs more time to reach a steady state; thus the FCC system may have insufficient time to respond to valve adjustments or flow state change, leading to the choking. The difference between FCC and CFBC systems is more pronounced for the systems with longer risers. A more detailed investigation of these two modes of riser operation may require a three-dimensional full loop simulation with dynamic valve adjustment.

Clinical Efficacy of Minimally Invasive Subpial Tonsillectomy(MIST)for Treatment of Chiari Malformation(TypeⅠ)with Syringomyelia

Background To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive subpial tonsillectomy(MIST)in the treatment of Chiari malformation(type I)with syringomyelia.Methods A total of 209 Chiari malformation(type I)patients with syringomyelia were studied.The patients were grouped based on the syrinx diameter changes:complete disappearance group(48 patients),obvious shrinkage group(147 patients),and non-obvious shrinkage group(14 patients).The Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale(CCOS)was used to compare clinical data of the three groups of patients before treatment.The correlations between disease duration and syrinx diameter changes as well as post-treatment clinical symptoms were analyzed.The related factors of efficacy were analyzed.Results Age and disease duration were the oldest/longest in the non-obvious shrinkage group,and the youngest/shortest in the complete disappearance group(P<0.05).The maximum diameter reduction of syrinx was the greatest in the complete disappearance group,and the smallest in the non-obvious shrinkage group(P<0.05).The proportions of patients with hypoesthesia,limb weakness,and muscle atrophy were the largest in the non-obvious shrinkage group,and the smallest in the complete disappearance group(P<0.05).The CCOS score were the highest in the complete disappearance group,and the lowest in the non-obvious shrinkage group(P<0.05).There were statistically significant(P<0.05)negative correlations between disease duration and maximum diameter reduction of syrinx,CCOS pain score,CCOS non-pain score,CCOS functionality score,and CCOS complication score,disease duration and hypoesthesia,limb weakness,muscle atrophy,and sleep apnea.Result of multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that age,disease duration,and preoperative syrinx diameter were the risk factors for efficacy(P<0.05).Conclusion For patients with Chiari malformation complicated by syringomyelia,the longer the disease duration,the more difficult it is to achieve syrinx reduction and improve the clinical symptoms.“Minimally invasive subpial tonsillectomy(MIST)and cisterna magna reconstruction”is an improved surgical approach to treat Chiari malformation(cerebellar tonsil herniation).It has the advantages of small incision,less postoperative reaction,and fewer complications,and it emphasizes the reshaping and repair of cerebellar tonsils,reconstruction of cisterna magna,and restoration of cerebrospinal fluid circulation.

Waste to energy(WTE)in China:from latecomer to front runner

This paper discusses the 2000-2018 evolution of energy and metals recovery from urban wastes in the European Union and China.As a result of the zero-landfilling directive,in twenty years the European Union tripled its recycling rate(11%-30%)and its composting rate(6%-17%),doubled its WTE rate(14%-28%)and more than halved its landfilling(64%-25%).At the beginning of this century,the rapidly growing cities of China were literally surrounded by landfills.Therefore,the national government instituted policies,such as a credit of US$30 per MWh of WTE(waste to energy)electricity that resulted in the construction,by 2020,of 510 WTE plants with an annual WTE capacity of 193 million tons.In comparison,the European Union(EU)WTE capacity is 96 million tons and the USA has remained static at about 27 million tons,i.e.,10%of its post-recycling MSW(municipal solid waste),with the other 90%being landfilled.In the first decade of this century,two WTE technologies,moving grate and circulating fluid bed were developed in China at about the same rate.However,since 2010,the moving grate technology has become dominant and the WTE plants are built functionally and esthetically comparable to and U.S.plants.