The Geological Formations of Koun Fao (East of Côte d’Ivoire): Petrographic Characterization and Associated Deformations

This study aims to contribute to improve knowledge on geological formations of Comoé basin. The petrographic study of the geological formations of Koun Fao has highlighted two major lithological families: magmatic rocks consisting of monzonites, monzogranites, diorites, biotite granodiorites, syenites, porphyritic micromonzonites and porphyritic dacite and metamorphic rocks from sedimentary origin (quartz schists, meta-greywackes, schists, andalusite chloritoschist and paragneiss). These formations are affected by amphibolite to greenschist facies metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration (pervasive and vein) marked by the presence of quartz, epidotes, chlorites and sericite. Minerals such as andalusite, muscovite and chlorite characterize a local low pressure contact metamorphism in the andalusite chloritoschist. Remote sensing data (Landsat 8 image) coupled with field data allowed the production of a geological map of the area. The study of the structures and microstructures highlighted two deformation mechanisms. These are flattening and simple shear (ductile and brittle). The study area is affected by four deformation phases: D1 marked by a N-S to NNE-SSW elongation, D2 marked by a NW-SE to NNW-SSE compression phase, D3 which is a NE-SW to NNE-SSW transpression phase and D4, responsible for late structures, marked by a NW-SE to NNW-SSE transpression phase.

Evaluating Sediment Production Caused by the Lithology of the Geological Formations in Sedimentary Basins (Case Study: Lali Area, Khuzestan, Iran)

As sediments are produced and accumulated in sedimentary basins especially in dams’ reservoirs and they highly affect the reservoirs life span, it is essential to scrutinize the effect of lithology and types of geological formations of an area on the life span of reservoirs specifically from the viewpoints of the erodability of these formations due to their lithology type. Lali area, Khuzestan, Iran and the water catchment of the intended area (based on geological situation and Taraz dam situation) are placed in the sedimentary-structural zone of the folded Zagros. The method of this research is based on analyzing the topography and geology maps and field work in order to identify the lithology of the geological formations. In fact, the amount of its erodability has been characterized by the type of the geological formations. The current research aims at putting the geological results, lithological data of the formations types and the outcrop of the soil-lithological units together in order to evaluate the sedimentary and erosive factors of these units and precisely identify the area’s geological formations to remove the ambiguities in this issue. Studies indicate that formations made of looser gypsum and marl like Pabde-Gurpi and Gachsaran are exposed to more sedimentation and erosion than the formations made of compacted lime stone and conglomerate with silica-lime cement such as Bakhtiary and Asmari formations and the sand stones of Aghajari formation reveal the moderate to high resistance. Thus, the lithological identification of the formations, the type of sediments and their looseness and hardness contribute to detect the amount and type of deposits entering into the dam reservoir. The type and amount of these transported and deposited sediments are assessed to predict more suitable optimized ways to exploit dams’ reservoirs.

A review of CO2 storage in geological formations emphasizing modeling,monitoring and capacity estimation approaches

The merits of CO2 capture and storage to the environmental stability of our world should not be underestimated as emissions of greenhouse gases cause serious problems.It represents the only technology that might rid our atmosphere of the main anthropogenic gas while allowing for the continuous use of the fossil fuels which still power today’s world.Underground storage of CO2 involves the injection of CO2 into suitable geological formations and the monitoring of the injected plume over time,to ensure containment.Over the last two or three decades,attention has been paid to technology developments of carbon capture and sequestration.Therefore,it is high time to look at the research done so far.In this regard,a high-level review article is required to provide an overview of the status of carbon capture and sequestration research.This article presents a review of CO2 storage technologies which includes a background of essential concepts in storage,the physical processes involved,modeling procedures and simulators used,capacity estimation,measuring monitoring and verification techniques,risks and challenges involved and field-/pilot-scale projects.It is expected that the present review paper will help the researchers to gain a quick knowledge of CO2 sequestration for future research in this field.

Geological Conditions and Prospect Forecast of Shale Gas Formation in Qiangtang Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The presence of shale gas has been confirmed in almost every marine shale distribution area in North America.Formation conditions of shale gas in China are the most favorable for marine,organic-rich shale as well.But there has been little research focusing on shale gas in Qiangtang Basin,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,where a lot of Mesozoic marine shale formations developed.Based on the survey results of petroleum geology and comprehensive test analysis data for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,for the first time,this paper discusses characteristics of sedimentary development,thickness distribution,geochemistry,reservoir and burial depth of organic-rich shale,and geological conditions for shale gas formation in Qiangtang Basin.There are four sets of marine shale strata in Qiangtang Basin including Upper Triassic Xiaochaka Formation （T3x）,Middle Jurassic Buqu Formation （J2b）,Xiali Formation （J2x） and Upper Jurassic Suowa Formation （J3s）,the sedimentary types of which are mainly bathyal-basin facies,open platform-platform margin slope facies,lagoon and tidal-fiat facies,as well as delta facies.By comparing it with the indicators of gas shale in the main U.S.basins,it was found that the four marine shale formations in Qiangtang Basin constitute a multi-layer distribution of organic-rich shale,featuring a high degree of thickness and low abundance of organic matter,high thermal evolution maturity,many kinds of brittle minerals,an equivalent content of quartz and clay minerals,a high content of feldspar and low porosity,which provide basic conditions for an accumulation of shale gas resources.Xiaochaka Formation shale is widely distributed,with big thickness and the best gas generating indicators.It is the main gas source layer.Xiali Formation shale is of intermediate thickness and coverage area,with relatively good gas generating indicators and moderate gas formation potential.Buqu Formation shale and Suowa Formation shale are of relatively large thickness,and covering a small area,with poor gas generating indicators,and limited gas formation potential.The shale gas geological resources and technically recoverable resources were estimated by using geologic analogy method,and the prospective areas and potentially favorable areas for Mesozoic marine shale gas in Qiangtang Basin are forecast and analyzed.It is relatively favorable in a tectonic setting and indication of oil and gas,shale maturity,sedimentary thickness and gypsum-salt beds,and in terms of mineral association for shale gas accumulation.But the challenge lies in overcoming the harsh natural conditions which contributes to great difficulties in ground engineering and exploration,and high exploration costs.

Geochemical characteristics and geological significance of picritic rocks in Permian Tiaohu Formation from Santanghu Basin, Xinjiang, NW China

1 Introduction Santanghu Basin is located between the Armantai and Karamaili suture zone,at the junction of the Siberia,Kazakhstan and Tarim plates(Chen and Jahn,2004;Xiao et al.,2008).As an important part of the Central Asian

Reassessing Groundwater Potentials and Subsurface water Hydrochemistry in a Tropical Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria

This review presented a detailed re-assessment of the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Tropical Anambra Basin.It identified and discussed the major geological formations and their groundwater potentials.The geological examination showed that the Ajali Formation is confined in places forming an artesian condition;the potentials of this aquifer decline in the western basin due to a decrease in thickness.The sandstone associates of the Nsukka Formation are aquiferous and have produced high-pressure artesian boreholes along the Oji River.The Imo Shale is characterized by permeability stability all over much of the intermediate unit.The Bende-Ameki aquifer has a lesser amount of groundwater when equated to other formations;the geologic characteristics do not produce favorable hydrogeological conditions for groundwater occurrence.The stratigraphical and structural framework suggested the presence of an efficient throughflow in the basin.Based on physical and chemical parameters of water quality,the basin holds water of acceptable quality.While there are considerable investigations on the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry,studies are short of analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater,water quality index,heavy metals pollution index as well as total hazard quotient.Suitability of groundwater based on agricultural water quality indices(e.g.SAR)is also salient.Therefore,future studies should address these owing to increasing dependence on groundwater.

The Characteristics of the Hydrothermal Exhalative Dolostone of Lucaogou Formation in Santanghu basin and its Geology Setting Indication

The NW-SE trending Santanghu basin is located in Xinjiang,NW China,between Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains.The tectonic evolution history of north Xinjiang has long been debated,especially the question when did that area began its intraplate rift evolution stage.This abstract discusses the features and possible origin of the hydrothermal exhalative dolostone of Lucaogou Formation in Santanghu basin,aiming to provide relevant information about this question.The target dolostone are characterized by extreme thin lamina of 0.3cm–1 cm thick.Dolomite,ankerite,potassium feldspar and analcite are dominant composition.Most dolomite is poor crystallized and is in anhedral or subhedral shapes.Ankerite is generally porphyritic,few is in irregular shapes.It has to be noted that the porphyritic ankerite commonly develop zonal textures characterized by rings with various Fe O content.Potassium feldspar and analcite（<50%）are commonly observed in dolostones.Thin sections show some analcite is tetragonal trisoctahedron with harbour–like corrosion rims.Besides,few fragments of carbonatite rocks are observed in Lucaogou Formation and they perform intermittent or scattered distribution in rock layers.Previous work done by our study team showsδ13C PDB values are 4.8‰;1.4‰,6.93‰on average.Theδ18 O PDB values are between-5‰;21.1‰,-10.94‰on average.Paleosalinity calculated byδ13C andδ18 O is between 128.35 and 136.81,134.42 on average.Sr content of dolostones in study area reaches to164×10-6;37×10-6（379.1×10-6 on average）,most dolostone in target area are between 0.70457;.706194, average at 0.705360.Considering either accompanying residual tuff or residual leucite is found via electron probe,this indicates the analcite may derive form analcime phonolite.Furthermore,fragments of carbonatite rocks proves mantle-derived magmatism exist.The rapid variation ofδ18 O indicates multiple interactions of hydrothermal fluids with lake water during Lucaogou sedimentary period.87Sr/86Sr values are much lower than that of crustal silica rocks while are more close to mantle derived rocks,which indicates diagenetic hydrothermal fluid is mantle-origin.It has been reported that dolostone does not intergrow with iron-rich dolostone in study area.According to the latest X diffraction results of cores,iron-rich dolostone distributes rather locally.Given that ankerite commonly develop zonal textures characterized by various Fe O content,we confirm it is due to multiple hydrothermal fluids activities in different hydrothermal vents.There should be abundant hydrothermal vents during Lucaogou period.Deep faults and its relevant fractures built plenty paths for mantle-origin hydrothermal fluids to run up.Different vents owned various fluid properties,so did relevant sedimentation products.Hence we inclined to believe Santanghu basin was at intraplate rift evolution stage,under regional extension condition in late Carboniferous.During early-mid Permian the basin was a starved,deep lacustrine intracontinental rift basin.Accordingly,in northern Xinjiang,ocean basin may close in late Carboniferous and started continental sedimentary development in early Permian.

Experimental study of the azimuthal performance of 3D acoustic transmitter stations

Better well logging techniques for geologic investigations are urgently needed to identify and evaluate complex reservoirs.We describe a new type of 3D transmitter station with corresponding circuits and bodies.They can be used in a promising new technique of acoustic reflection well logging,that features better azimuthal detection capabilities,as well as better investigation depth.The transmitter stations consist of three-level subarrays that can radiate acoustic energy in any required azimuth of 3D space by circularly exciting various combinations at different levels.We tested the 3D acoustic transmitter stations and obtained laboratory directivity measurements with the3 D acoustic transmitter stations for the first time.The results show that the 3-d B beam width in the horizontal plane ranges from 59° to 67° as a result of phase-delayed excitation.The main beam is steered in the vertical plane at a deflection angle that ranges from 0° to 16° when the delay time of the excitation pulse between each pair of adjacent arc arrays is gradually adjusted.The 3-d B beam width is equal to 11°,whereas the deflection angle in the vertical plane is equal to 14°.Each of the four third-level subarrays in the same circumferential direction display consistent horizontal and vertical directivities,thus satisfying the requirements of azimuthal acoustic reflection logging.