Evolution of nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems in thermal capsules and geological implications for deeply-buried hydrocarbon reservoirs

Organic-inorganic interactions between hydrocarbons and most minerals in deeply buried reservoirs remain unclear.In this study,gold capsules and fused silica capillary capsules(FSCCs)with different com-binations of nC_(16)H_(34),water(distilled water,CaCl_(2) water)and minerals(quartz,feldspar,calcite,kaolinite,smectite,and illite)were heated at 340℃ for 3-10 d,to investigate the evolution and reaction pathways of the organic-inorganic interactions in different hot systems.After heating,minerals exhibited little alteration in the anhydrous systems.Mineral alterations,how-ever,occurred obviously in the hydrous systems.Different inorganic components affected nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation differently.Overall,water promoted the free-radical thermal-cracking reaction and step oxidation reaction but suppressed the free-radical cross-linking reaction.The impact of CaCl_(2) water on the nC_(16)H_(34) degradation was weaker than the distilled water as high Ca^(2+)concentration suppressed the formation of free radicals.The presence of different waters also affects the impact of different minerals on nC_(16)H_(34) degradation,via its impact on mineral alterations.In the anhydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-mineral systems,calcite and clays catalyzed generation of low-molecular-weight(LMW)alkanes,particularly the clays.Quartz,feldspar,and calcite catalyzed generation of high-molecular-weight(HMW)alkanes and PAHs,whereas clays catalyzed the generation of LMW alkanes and mono-bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(M-BAHs).In the hydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-distilled water-mineral systems,all minerals but quartz promoted nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation to generate more LMW alkanes,less HMW alkanes and PAHs.In the nC_(16)H_(34)-CaCl_(2) water-mineral systems,the promotion impact of minerals was weaker than that in the systems with distilled water.This study demonstrated the generation of different hydrocarbons with different fluorescence colors in the different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems after heating for the same time,implying that fluorescence colors need to be interpreted carefully in investigation of hydrocarbon charging histories and oil origins in deeply buried reservoirs.Besides,the organic-inorganic interactions in different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems proceeded in different pathways at different rates,which likely led to preservation of liquid hydrocarbons at different depth(temperature).Thus,quantitative investigations of the reaction kinetics in different hydrocarbon-water-rock systems are required to improve the prediction of hydrocar-bon evolution in deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Mechanical response features and failure process of soft surrounding rock around deeply buried three-centered arch tunnel

Due to the extreme complexity of mechanical response of soft surrounding rock(SR) around a tunnel under high geostatic stress conditions, the integration of physical and numerical modeling techniques was adopted. Based on the similarity theory, new composite-similar material was developed, which showed good agreement with the similarity relation and successfully simulated physico-mechanical properties(PMP) of deep buried soft rock. And the 800 mm×800 mm×200 mm physical model(PM) was conducted, in which the endoscopic camera technique was adopted to track the entire process of failure of the model all the time. The experimental results indicate that the deformation of SR around a underground cavern possessed the characteristics of development by stages and in delay, and the initial damage of SR could induce rapid failure in the later stage, and the whole process could be divided into three stages, including the localized extension of crack(the horizontal load(HL) was in the range of 130 k N to 170 k N, the vertical load(VL) was in the range of 119 k N to 153.8 k N), rapid crack coalescence(the HL was in the range of 170 k N to 210 k N, the VL was in the range of 153.8 k N to 182.5 k N) and residual strength(the HL was greater than 210 k N, the VL was greater than 182.5 k N). Under the high stress conditions, the phenomenon of deformation localization in the SR became serious and different space positions show different deformation characteristics. In order to further explore the deformation localization and progressive failure phenomenon of soft SR around the deeply buried tunnel, applying the analysis software of FLAC3 D three-dimensional explicit finite-difference method, based on the composite strain-softening model of Mohr-Coulomb shear failure and tensile failure, the calculation method of large deformation was adopted. Then, the comparative analysis between the PM experiment and numerical simulation of the three centered arch tunnels was implemented and the relationship of deformation localization and progressive failure of SR around a tunnel under high stress conditions was discussed.

Geological characteristics and high production control factors of shale gas reservoirs in Silurian Longmaxi Formation, southern Sichuan Basin, SW China

Marine shale gas resources have great potential in the south of the Sichuan Basin in China.At present,the high-quality shale gas resources at depth of 2000–3500 m are under effective development,and strategic breakthroughs have been made in deeper shale gas resources at depth of 3500–4500 m.To promote the effective production of shale gas in this area,this study examines key factors controlling high shale gas production and presents the next exploration direction in the southern Sichuan Basin based on summarizing the geological understandings from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale gas exploration combined with the latest results of geological evaluation.The results show that:(1)The relative sea depth in marine shelf sedimentary environment controls the development and distribution of reservoirs.In the relatively deep water area in deep-water shelf,grade-I reservoirs with a larger continuous thickness develop.The relative depth of sea in marine shelf sedimentary environment can be determined by redox conditions.The research shows that the uranium to thorium mass ratio greater than 1.25 indicates relatively deep water in anoxic reduction environment,and the uranium to thorium mass ratio of 0.75–1.25 indicates semi-deep water in weak reduction and weak oxidation environment,and the uranium to thorium mass ratio less than 0.75 indicates relatively shallow water in strong oxidation environment.(2)The propped fractures in shale reservoirs subject to fracturing treatment are generally 10–12 m high,if grade-I reservoirs are more than 10 m in continuous thickness,then all the propped section would be high-quality reserves;in this case,the longer the continuous thickness of penetrated grade-I reservoirs,the higher the production will be.(3)The shale gas reservoirs at 3500–4500 m depth in southern Sichuan are characterized by high formation pressure,high pressure coefficient,well preserved pores,good pore structure and high proportion of free gas,making them the most favorable new field for shale gas exploration;and the pressure coefficient greater than 1.2 is a necessary condition for shale gas wells to obtain high production.(4)High production wells in the deep shale gas reservoirs are those in areas where Long11-Long13 sub-beds are more than 10 m thick,with 1500 m long horizontal section,grade-I reservoirs penetration rate of over 90%,and fractured by dense cutting+high intensity sand injection+large displacement+large liquid volume.(5)The relatively deep-water area in the deep-water shelf and the area at depth of 3500–4500 m well overlap in the southern Sichuan,and the overlapping area is the most favorable shale gas exploration and development zones in the southern Sichuan in the future.With advancement in theory and technology,annual shale gas production in the southern Sichuan is expected to reach 450×108 m3.

Prospecting for coal in China with remote sensing

With the rapid development of China＇s economy, coal resources are increasingly in great demand. As a result, the remaining coal reserves diminish gradually with large-scale exploitation of coal resources. Easily-found mines which used to be identified from outcrops or were buried under shallow overburden are decreasing, especially in the prosperous eastern regions of China, which experience coal shortages. Currently the main targets of coal prospecting are concealed and unidentified underground coal bodies, making it more and more difficult for coal prospecting. It is therefore important to explore coal prospecting by taking advantage of modern remote sensing and geographic information system technologies. Given a theoretical basis for coal prospecting by remote sensing, we demonstrate the methodologies and existing problems systematically by summarizing past practices of coal prospecting with remote sensing. We propose a new theory of coal prospecting with remote sensing. In uncovered areas, coal resources can be prospected for by direct interpretation. In coal beating strata of developed areas covered by thin Quaternary strata or vegetation, prospecting for coal can be carried out by indirect interpretation of geomorphology and vegetation. For deeply buried underground deposits, coal prospecting can rely on tectonic structures, interpretation and analysis of new tectonic clues and regularity of coal formation and preservation controlled by tectonic structures. By applying newly hyper-spectral, multi-polarization, multi-angle, multi-temporal and multi-resolution remote sensing data and carrying out integrated analysis of geographic attributes, ground attributes, geophysical exploration results, geochemical exploration results, geological drilling results and remote sensing data by GIS tools, coal geology resources and mineralogical regularities can be explored and coal resource information can be acquired with some confidence.

Effects of straw size in buried straw layers on water movement in adjacent soil layers

Deeply buried straw retention can improve the soil content of organic matter,its capacity for moisture preservation,the agroecological environment utilization efficiency of water resources,ensuring a stable crop yield;at the same time,the quantitative effects of deeply buried straw retention on soil moisture have a direct influence on the promotion and application of the technology.Using an infiltration and evaporation experiment of a one-dimensional soil column,the effects of straw size on the water content of the straw and the adjacent soil were evaluated when the straw was deeply buried in soil;the infiltration and evaporation features of different sized straw and its adjacent soil were analyzed;the hydraulic conductivity,sorptivity and saturated water content of the straw were obtained;in the end,the water distribution laws of straw and adjacent soil under the same conditions were concluded.The experiment was comprised of rod-shaped straw(RS),segment-shaped straw(SS)and filament-shaped straw(FS)to control treatment(CK).The results indicated that from the perspective of infiltration,the infiltration rate of filament-shape straw was the lowest at the stage of straw unsaturation.The hydraulic conductivities of rod-shaped,filament-shaped and segment-shaped straws are 4.01 mm/min,1.33 mm/min and 0.03 mm/min at the stage of straw and adjacent soil saturation,respectively.There is a strong effect on preventing infiltration from segment-shaped straw;with the help of the Philip model of long duration,the sorptivity of the soil with rod-shaped,filament-shaped and segment-shaped straws was 12.31 mm/min0.5,11.02 mm/min0.5 and 24.26 mm/min0.5 at the unsaturation stage,respectively.The segment-shape straw improved the water absorption capacity of the soil and straw column.The water retention capacities indicated that the saturated water contents of sandy loam,filament-shaped straw,segment-shaped straw and rod-shaped straw were 0.38 cm^(3)/cm^(3),0.29 cm^(3)/cm^(3),0.26 cm^(3)/cm^(3)and 0.13 cm^(3)/cm^(3),respectively.Additionally,the evaporation rate indicated that the soil moisture content of soil below different straw layers retained approximately 30%;that the more crushed the straw was,the more moisture the straw layer lost;and that the cumulative evaporation of rod-shaped straw,filament-shaped straw and segment-shaped straw within 120 days was 1.5 mm,13.5 mm and 25.5 mm,respectively.