Deep bedrock geothermal resources in the Maichen Sag,Beibuwan Basin and their potential for exploitation and utilization

The Maichen Sag in the south-central part of the Beibuwan Basin is abundant in geothermal resources that have not been widely exploited and utilized due to inadequate research on it.This study evaluated the geothermal resources in the Maichen Sag based on the regional geological setting and geothermal conditions.Grid units for assessment and a geological model for areas with geothermal resources were established using spatial analysis techniques.The spatial distribution models of the physical and thermophysical properties of the geothermal reservoirs were also built using the Kriging interpolation method.Based on the terrestrial heat flow distribution in the target areas,the spatial distribution of the geo-temperature field through the inversion under the constraints of the temperature data from boreholes were predicted.Factors such as deep geo-temperature,thermophysical properties of rocks,and terrestrial heat flow values,were integrated into this quantitative evaluation of geothermal resources through the geological modeling-based volume method and the geothermal reservoir engineering-based numerical simulation method.The results show that the Maichen Sag has favorable heat source conditions with intersected,deep-rooted faults and widely developed Upper Paleozoic fissured granite geothermal reservoirs.The northern outer slope zone at a burial depth of 3‒5 km on the tectonic plane of the basement in the sag is suggested to be a potential target area,where,as calculated using the volume method,is likely to be the home to the total geothermal resources of 80.4×10^(9)GJ(i.e.,2.75×10^(9)tonnes of coal equivalent(tce))in the bedrock geothermal reservoirs at a burial depth of 3‒6 km.The geotemperature of 172‒201℃at a formation depth of 5 km in the sag also indicates that the deep geothermal resources are of high value for exploitation.

SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION AND UTILIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE INLAND RIVERBASIN OF ARID NORTHWEST CHINA

Calculated in terms of surface runoff plus irrepeated groundwater, there is about 8. 67 ×1010m3 of total available water resources in the inland river basins of arid Northwest China. Water resources is the decisive factor for survival of oases and human being. But there have arisen several aspects of Serious eco-environment problems resulted from irrational exploitation and utilization. From now on, the development and utilization of water not only requires to promote regional economy, but also needs to protect and improve the environment based on their potential. Sustainable utilization needs to broaden new sources and saving water at first. Then three measures are recommended.

Rational Exploitation of Resources and Prevention of Geohazards in Karst Regions

This paper discusses the rational exploitation of main resources and prevention of geohazards in karst regions. There exist relationship chains between natural disasters in the earth, which include the chain between geological hazards and climatic hazards, the chain between geological hazards and biogenic hazards as well as the one between geological hazards. Irrational exploitation of all resources will inevitably cause hazards. Therefore it is very important to discuss the problem related to prevention of geohazards by rational exploitation of resources.

Assessment and exploitation of the waterfront resources in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Waterfront resources are important and special kind of natural resources in the marginal area between land and wat er. The Yangtze River, the longest river in China, is not only rich in waterfront resources, but also has favorable development conditions with gr eat potentiality. Aided by large-scale underwater topographic map, the maj or factors of the waterfront resources in the middle and lower reache s of the Yangtze River, such as the stability, the water depth and the natural conditions for port construction, are assessed in this pap er respectively on the basis of the overall investigations. The result s show that: (1) the waterfront resources are abundant in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, but lack of perfectly combined high grade waterfront; (2) there exists an obvious regional difference in the natural quality of the waterfront along the Yangtze; (3) the fore-bank water depth and waterfront stability are the main natural fa ctors related to the waterfront quality in the middle and lower reach es of the Yangtze River; (4) the waterfronts along the Yangtze are mainl y used for port, warehouse and industrial purposes; and (5) the waterfronts near important cities are highly used, especially the high-quality waterfronts. In addition, some suggestions for the development and utilization of the waterfron t resources are presented in this paper.

Economic Critical Resources for the Industrial Exploitation of Natural Gas Hydrate

Since the implementation of several pilot production tests were in natural gas hydrate(NGH) reservoirs in terrestrial and marine settings, the study of NGH has entered a new stage of technological development for industrial exploitation. Prior to the industrial exploitation of any given NGH reservoir, the economic feasibility should be examined. The first step of economic evaluation of a NGH reservoir is to know whether its resource amount meets the requirement for industrial exploitation. Unfortunately, few relevant studies have been conducted in this regard. In this study, the net present value(NPV) method is employed to estimate the economic critical resources required for the industrial exploitation of NGHs under different production scenarios. Sensitivity analysis is also performed in order to specify the effects of key factors, such as the number of production wells, gas price, technological improvement and tax incentive, on the economic critical resources. The results indicate that China requires the lowest economic critical resource for a NGH reservoir to be industrially exploited, ranging from 3.62 to 24.02 billion m3 methane. Changes in gas price and tax incentives also play significant roles in affecting the threshold and timeline for the industrial exploitation of NGH.

Examination of Resource Curse Hypothesis: Mineral Resources Exploitation and Economic Growth in Xinjiang Autonomous Region

The mineral resources exploitation stage and the economic growth rate are various in different regions of Xinjiang Autonomous region. Using the method of location quotient, this paper identifies and classifies the intensive regions of three types of mineral resources, known as coal, oil and natural gas, respectively. The intensive regions of economic growth were also identified, according to the rate of per capita GDP growth at prefecture, autonomous prefecture and city. The relationships between different mineral resources and economic growth are different, for example, the relationship between economic growth and coal resource is positive, while the relationship between economic growth and oil resource, or natural gas resource is negative. This study empirically examines the effects of natural resources on economic growth of Xinjiang. The results show that whilst natural resources have a positive impact on growth, and can make a negative impact on growth through the transmission channels, such as investment, manufacture, human capital, and scientific and technologic innovation. Moreover, it studies the transmission channels, that is, the effect of natural resources on the other explanatory variables, and calculates the indirect effect of natural resources on growth for each transmission channel, and comprehensive effects of natural resources on growth. The calculated result of comprehensive effects indicates that the positive direct effects of natural resources on growth are shown to outweigh the negative indirect effect of Xinjiang autonomous region.

Thinking on Exploitation of Tourism Resources and Development of Tourism Industry in the Republic of Kiribati

The endowment of tourism resources is the material foundation for the development of tourism industry. However,at present,there is no special study about Kiribati’s tourism resources,landscape features,and industrial development inside and outside of Kiribati. Through review and analysis,the author believes that Kiribati’s national tourism resources are rich,distinctive and have high development potential,and it will play a major role in Kiribati’s economic and social development. Its tourism resources could be exploited from 9 aspects including characteristic geography,human landscape,ecological environment,water sports and historical sites. At present,the infrastructure such as transportation and communication in Kiribati is poor,and the tourism industry is still weak and small,remains at starting stage,lacks overall planning,and professional talents are short. In summary,it is necessary to be improved in many ways. It is recommended that Kiribati should vigorously develop cultural and educational undertakings,strengthen the infrastructure construction across the country,formulate national tourism development plans,focus on the construction of five major scenic tourist areas,and stick to the green,ecological and sustainable development principle.

CHARACTERISTICS AND RATIONAL EXPLOITATION OF LAND RESOURCES IN XIZANG

ＣＨＡＲＡＣＴＥＲＩＳＴＩＣＳ ＡＮＤ ＲＡＴＩＯＮＡＬ ＥＸＰＬＯＩＴＡＴＩＯＮ ＯＦ ＬＡＮＤ ＲＥＳＯＵＲＣＥＳ ＩＮ ＸＩＺＡＮＧＣＨＡＲＡＣＴＥＲＩＳＴＩＣＳＡＮＤＲＡＴＩＯＮＡＬＥＸＰＬＯＩＴＡＴＩＯＮＯＦＬＡＮＤＲＥＳＯＵＲＣＥＳＩＮＸ...

Characteristics,Current Status and Strategy on Exploitation of Agricultural Natural Resources in China

This paper formulated the present characteristics, current status and the problems of agricultural natural China. Measures of preservation and strategy about exploitation of agricultural natural resources were put forward, provide a scientific basis for the government to make policies .

Marine Engineering Geological Exploration Information System(MEGEIS):A GIS-based Application to Marine Resources Exploitation

Based on the ArcGIS geographic information system and the ORACLE database management system,this paper reports our studies on the technology of Marine Engineering Geological Exploration Information System(MEGEIS). By analyzing system structure,designing function modules and discussing data management,this paper systematically proposes a framework of technol-ogy to integrate,manage,and analyze the seabed information comprehensively. Then,the technology is applied to the design and development of the Bohai Sea Oilfield Paradigm Area Information System. The system can not only meet the practical demands of marine resources exploration and exploitation in the Bohai Sea oilfield,but also serve as a preparatory work in theory and technology for the realization of the 'Digital Seabed'.

A STUDY ON THE OPTIMAL EXPLOITATION POLICY OF MULTI-MINE RESOURCES

At the present stage, the exploitation loss and waste of mineral resources are serious.lf this trend goes on, it will undoubtedly accelerate the resource depletion. Based on the values of mineral resources and their natural and economic attibutes, this paper sets up a multi-mine mineral resource exploitation model in the market competition. In addition, it analyses the struc-ture of the model and derives optimal conditions. Finally it gives a detailed interpretation of the practical application of the model for instance.

Earth Resources Exploitation and Sustainable Development: Geological and Engineering Perspectives

Earth resources are the essential basis for an economy of a country and well-being of her citizens. Their exploitation is a key factor in economic growth and development of the nation, but one that can have serious negative environmental and socio-economic impacts. Therefore it is important to understand their origin/occurrence and exploitation in terms of environmental sustainability. The human society has profited from exploitation of earth resources, precisely when energy use became much more efficient during the industrial era. Some of these earth resources (renewable and non-renewable) are oil and gas, coal, water, metal ore, wind, air etc. and their methods of exploitation are surface and subsurface mining methods [1]. Thus the geological perspectives of earth resources refer to origin and occurrence of these earth resources while the engineering perspectives refer to the processes involved in the extraction (mining), processing and utilization of the resources. To fulfill the requirement of sustainable development, the efficiency with which resources are utilized has to be improved. The main concerns associated with earth resources, therefore, are generally the costs and environmental impacts of extracting, transporting, and refining them. The economics of earth resources deals with the supply, demand and allocation of the resources.

EXPLOITATION & DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA'S SALT LAKE RESOURCES

This article recounts the current state of the research, developmemt and exploitation of the salt-lake resources in China’s hinterland with emphasis placed on those in Qinghai Province. It suggests that R&D input in and exploitation of the resources be stepped up, as this is of vital significance in boosting the regional economy of northwest China.

A NATION-WIDE SOIL SURVEY RATIONALIZES EXPLOITATION OF VARIOUS SOIL RESOURCES

To tap the production potential of soil resources in China by making a nationwide soil investigation is a precondition for developing the farming production as a means of coping with the current population explosion and providing necessities for people’s livelihood.This article expounds practical methods for the survey and elucidates rational exploitation in line with soil conditions in different localities across the land.

THE CONDITIONS OF THE GLACIAL WATER RESOURCE AND WAYS OF ITS EXPLOITATION AND UTILIZATION IN CHINA

ＴＨＥ ＣＯＮＤＩＴＩＯＮＳ ＯＦ ＴＨＥ ＧＬＡＣＩＡＬ ＷＡＴＥＲ ＲＥＳＯＵＲＣＥ ＡＮＤ ＷＡＹＳ ＯＦ ＩＴＳ ＥＸＰＬＯＩＴＡＴＩＯＮ ＡＮＤ ＵＴＩＬＩＺＡＴＩＯＮ ＩＮ ＣＨＩＮＡＴＨＥＣＯＮＤＩＴＩＯＮＳＯＦＴＨＥＧＬＡＣＩＡＬＷＡ...

A Game-Theoretic Perspective on Resource Management for Large-Scale UAV Communication Networks

As a result of rapid development in electronics and communication technology,large-scale unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)are harnessed for various promising applications in a coordinated manner.Although it poses numerous advantages,resource management among various domains in large-scale UAV communication networks is the key challenge to be solved urgently.Specifically,due to the inherent requirements and future development trend,distributed resource management is suitable.In this article,we investigate the resource management problem for large-scale UAV communication networks from game-theoretic perspective which are exactly coincident with the distributed and autonomous manner.By exploring the inherent features,the distinctive challenges are discussed.Then,we explore several gametheoretic models that not only combat the challenges but also have broad application prospects.We provide the basics of each game-theoretic model and discuss the potential applications for resource management in large-scale UAV communication networks.Specifically,mean-field game,graphical game,Stackelberg game,coalition game and potential game are included.After that,we propose two innovative case studies to highlight the feasibility of such novel game-theoretic models.Finally,we give some future research directions to shed light on future opportunities and applications.

Comparative Analysis for Evaluating Wind Energy Resources Using Intelligent Optimization Algorithms and Numerical Methods

Statistical distributions are used to model wind speed,and the twoparameters Weibull distribution has proven its effectiveness at characterizing wind speed.Accurate estimation of Weibull parameters,the scale(c)and shape(k),is crucial in describing the actual wind speed data and evaluating the wind energy potential.Therefore,this study compares the most common conventional numerical(CN)estimation methods and the recent intelligent optimization algorithms(IOA)to show how precise estimation of c and k affects the wind energy resource assessments.In addition,this study conducts technical and economic feasibility studies for five sites in the northern part of Saudi Arabia,namely Aljouf,Rafha,Tabuk,Turaif,and Yanbo.Results exhibit that IOAs have better performance in attaining optimal Weibull parameters and provided an adequate description of the observed wind speed data.Also,with six wind turbine technologies rating between 1 and 3MW,the technical and economic assessment results reveal that the CN methods tend to overestimate the energy output and underestimate the cost of energy($/kWh)compared to the assessments by IOAs.The energy cost analyses show that Turaif is the windiest site,with an electricity cost of$0.016906/kWh.The highest wind energy output is obtained with the wind turbine having a rated power of 2.5 MW at all considered sites with electricity costs not exceeding$0.02739/kWh.Finally,the outcomes of this study exhibit the potential of wind energy in Saudi Arabia,and its environmental goals can be acquired by harvesting wind energy.

Method of prediction on surface subsidence caused by underground resource exploitation

Studying on the question of surface subsidence has not only theory meanings but also practical value. The underground resource exploitation is regarded as subsidence source that causes surface subsidence, and the overlaying strata and the surface subsidence are the result of the subsidence source diffusion, and then the stochastic statistic theory is applied to predict the subsidence caused by ground mining. From the theoretic analysis and calculation, the author draws the conclusion as follows: the model has more general statistic significance, and more parameters can be measured directly.