The application of three-dimensional seismic spectral decomposition and semblance attribute to characterizing the deepwater channel depositional elements in the Taranaki Basin of New Zealand

In the past few years, three-dimensional（3-D） seismogram has become an essential tool for the interpretation of subsurface stratigraphy and depositional systems. Seismic stratigraphy in conjunction with seismic geomorphology has elevated the degree to which seismic data can facilitate geological interpretation, especially in a deepwater environment. Technologies such as time slicing and interval attribute analysis can enhance geomorphological interpretations, and, when integrated with stratigraphic analyses, can yield insights regarding distribution of seal and reservoir facies. Multiple attributes corendering can further bring out features of geological interest that other technologies may overlook. This method involves corender spectral decomposition components（SDC） with semblance attributes to describe the distribution of deepwater channel elements and the boundaries of deepwater sinuous channel. Applying this technology to four elements is observed：（1） point-bars,（2） migration of channel meander loops,（3） channel erosion/cut, and（4） avulsion. The planview expression of the deepwater channel ranges from low sinuosity to high sinuosity. Furthermore, this technology has enabled interpreters to visualize details of complex depositional elements and can be used to predict net-to-gross ratio in channel systems, which can be incorporated into borehole planning for exploration as well as development needs to improve risk management significantly. The technology is applied to the study area in an effort to illustrate the variety of interpretation technologies available to the geoscientist.

Hydrodynamic Effect of the Regulation Project of Yangtze River Deepwater Channel Downstream of Nanjing

A two-dimensional flow numerical model of the tidal reaches, which total length is more than 700 km, is established from Datong to the Yangtze River estuary. The tidal levels, velocities, diversion ratios and dynamic axes before and after the separate regulation of each reach and combined regulation of all reaches are obtained. The comparative analysis shows that the regulation project of a separate reach basically has no impact on velocity distributions and variations of diversion ratios of upper and lower reaches, the variations of dynamic axes are only within the local scope of the project. The regulation project of a separate reach also has less impact on the water level in the lower adjacent reaches, but will make the water levels in the upper reaches rise. After the implementation of the regulation projects for all reaches, the rise of water level in the upstream reaches will have a cumulative impact.

Fractal Characteristics and Prediction of Backsilting Quantity in Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Channel

Fractal interpolation has been an important method applied to engineering in recent years. It can not only be used to fit smooth curve and stationary data but also show its unique superiorities in the fatting of non-smooth curve and non-stationary data. Through analyzing such characteristic values as average value, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis of measured backsilting quantities in the Yangtze Estuary 12.5 m Deepwater Channel during2011–2017, the fractal interpolation method can be used to study the backsilting quantity distribution with time.According to the fractal interpolation made on the channel backsilting quantities from January 2011 to December2017, there was a good corresponding relationship between the annual(monthly) siltation quantities and the vertical scaling factor. On this basis, a calculation formula for prediction of the backsilting quantity in the Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Channel was constructed. With the relationship between the predicted annual backsilting quantities and the vertical scaling factor, the monthly backsilting quantities can be obtained. Thus, it provides a new method for estimating the backsilting quantity of the Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Channel.

Morphodynamic Characteristics and Medium-Term Simulation of the North-South Passage Under the Impact of the Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Navigation Channel Project

The morphological evolution characteristics of the North-South Passage area since the construction of the Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Navigation Channel Project(DNCP)are analyzed on the basis of the measured data.A twodimensional morphodynamics numerical model of the Yangtze Estuary is established to verify the morphological evolution of the North-South Passage under the influence of the DNCP and to predict the future evolution in the next 40 years.Data analysis shows that the North Passage has experienced rapid adjustment stages and adaptive stages after the construction of the DNCP.Slow erosion occurred along the main channel,and slow siltation could be observed in the area between the groins.The South Passage showed a state of upper section erosion and down section deposition.At present,the whole South Passage is in a slight erosion state.According to the numerical model,the eroding and silting speed of the North Passage will slow down in the future.The present state that erosion occurs in the main channel and siltation occurs between the groins will continue.The South Passage will still maintain upper section erosion and down section deposition in the future.Due to the main channel erosion of the North Passage and siltation of the South Passage,the sediment division ratio of the North Passage will increase in the future but still be smaller than 50%.After morphological evolution of 40 years,the direction of residual sediment transport caused by M2 and M4 tidal components in the North Passage has not changed,but the transport rate will decrease.It is considered that the morphological evolution of the North-South Passage could reach a relatively stable state after 40 years.

FINE SILT PARTICLE PATHLINE OF DREDGING SEDIMENT IN THE YANGTZE RIVER DEEPWATER NAVIGATION CHANNEL BASED ON EFDC MODEL

Based on the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code （EFDC）, a three-dimensional baroclinic model for lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Yangtze River Estuary, Hangzhou Bay and the adjacent sea areas was established with the sigma-coordinate in the vertical direction and the orthogonal curvilinear coordinates in the horizontal direction. The fine silt particle tracers were injected during different tides with the calibrated three-dimensional numerical model in the Yangtze River Estuary to simulate the migration tracks of the tracers in the following three days, and thereby study the migration behavior of the fine silt particles of dredged sediment after dumping at different locations in the navigation channel in the Yangtze River Estuary. The study shows that the particle paths of the tracer particles basically migrate to the open sea along the middle axis of river course in the form of reciprocating oscillation, the migration and diffusion directions of tracer particles are basically parallel to the navigation channel in guide levee, similar to long belt distribution, and the tracer particles migrate to the southeast out of the guide levee. The particle which is on the southern and northern sides enter groin and cross the navigation channel in the process of movement, and is easy to deposit in the navigation channel. The migration tracks of the particles released at different layers are basically similar at the same release station, but specifically different, varying at different cross sections. The result can be used for the choice and evaluation of dredging schemes in the Yangtze River Deepwater Navigation Channel.

Mass transport deposits and processes in the north slope of the Xisha Trough,northern South China Sea

Triple mass-transport deposits （MTDs） with areas of 625, 494 and 902 km^2, respectively, have been identified on the north slope of the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea margin. Based on high-resolution seismic reflection data and multi-beam bathymetric data, the Quaternary MTDs are characterized by typical geometric shapes and internal structures. Results of slope analysis showed that they are developed in a steep slope ranging from 5° to 35°. The head wall scarps of the MTDs arrived to 50 km in length （from headwall to termination）. Their inner structures include well developed basal shear surface, growth faults, stepping lateral scarps, erosion grooves, and frontal thrust deformation. From seismic images, the central deepwater channel system of the Xisha Trough has been filled by interbedded channel-levee deposits and thick MTDs. Therefore, we inferred that the MTDs in the deepwater channel system could be dominated by far-travelled slope failure deposits even though there are local collapses of the trough walls. And then, we drew the two-dimensional process model and three- dimensional structure model diagram af the MTDs. Combined with the regional geological setting and previous studies, we discussed the trigger mechanisms of the triple MTDs.

Comprehensive analysis on the sediment siltation in the upper reach of the deepwater navigation channel in the Yangtze Estuary

The results from both the field measurements and numerical simulation were reported to comprehensively analyze the sediment siltation in the upper reach of the Deepwater Navigation Channel Project in the Yangtze Estuary after the project has been implemented. In this research, firstly some basic information about the river evolution in the Yangtze Estuary is analyzed, including the variations of water depths in the Hengsha Passage and the inlet cross-sections of the North Passage and the South Passage, and changes of diversion ratios of ebb flow and sediment flux in the North Passage and the South Passage, Then the Delfl3D-FLOW model is applied to simulate the hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the Yangtze Estuary. This model has been calibrated and the simulated results agree well with the measured data of the tidal levels, flow velocities and suspended sediment concentration （SSC）, indicating that the model can well simulate the hydrodynamics and sediment transport of the Yangtze Estuary caused by the Deepwater Navigation Channel Project. The research results show that the development of the Hengsha Passage and decrease of diversion ratio of ebb flow and sediment flux in the North Passage are the main reasons of sediment siltation in the upper reach of the Deepwater Navigation Channel in the Yangtze Estuary.

Dispersal and Fate of Dredged Materials Disposed of in the Changjiang Estuary Determined by Use of An in Situ Rare Earth Element Tracer

To investigate the dispersal pattern and the fate of dredged materials disposed at a pre-selected disposal site, a field tracer experiment was conducted in the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary during the 2005 flood season. Three tons of dredged materials were mixed with 2.792 kg of sodium hexachloroiridate （IV） hexahydrate （SHH）, which contained the rare earth element tracer iridum （Ir）. Sampling was conducted at pre-selected sections of the estuary on the second, third and fourth day after the release of dredged materials. All samples were evaluated by use of neutron activation analysis. The majority of the dredged material was dispersed nearly parallel to the navigation channel and deposited between the channel and the south dike. Only a small quantity of dredged materials entered or crossed the navigation channel, and the back silting ratio in the navigation channel was about 5%. The dredged materials also dispersed southeasterly beyond two dike heads.