Separate-layer balanced waterflooding development technology for thick and complex carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East

Based on the waterflooding development in carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East,in order to solve the problem of the poor development effects caused by commingled injection and production,taking the thick bioclastic limestone reservoirs of Cretaceous in Iran-Iraq as an example,this paper proposes a balanced waterflooding development technology for thick and complex carbonate reservoirs.This technology includes the fine division of development units by concealed baffles and barriers,the combination of multi well type and multi well pattern,and the construction of balanced water injection and recovery system.Thick carbonate reservoirs in Iran-Iraq are characterized by extremely vertical heterogeneity,development of multi-genesis ultra-high permeability zones,and highly concealed baffles and barriers.Based on the technologies of identification,characterization,and sealing evaluation for concealed baffles and barriers,the balanced waterflooding development technology is proposed,and three types of balanced waterflooding development modes/techniques are formed,namely,conventional stratigraphic framework,fine stratigraphic framework,and deepened stratigraphic framework.Numerical simulations show that this technology is able to realize a fine and efficient waterflooding development to recover,in a balanced manner,the reserves of thick and complex carbonate reservoirs in Iran and Iraq.The proposed technology provides a reference for the development optimization of similar reservoirs.

Impact of Green Buildings( LEED and Estidama) in the Middle East and China

0 Introduction The growing number of accredited green buildings reflects the development and adoption of various green building rating systems in our building construction industry globally and within the Middle East over the past 5 years.While the US based LEED system,Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,has been widely utilized as an international

China’s Partnership Diplomacy in the Middle East

Since the end of the Cold War,China has gradually formulated a global and multi-dimensional partnership network.China’s partnership diplomacy in the Middle East is a crucial component of said network,including partners in the Persian Gulf,the Eastern Mediterranean Sea,the Red Sea and the Maghreb region.Based on their level of importance to China,these countries can be roughly divided into four categories,namely"pivot states,""node states,""key states"and"stronghold states,"which constitute the portfolio of China’s partnership diplomacy in the region.In prospect,China’s partnership diplomacy will be evolving from bilateral cooperation to multilateral consultation,from partnership with sovereign states to that with international organizations,and from state-based partnership to issue-oriented partnership.

The Disintegration of the Middle East Retreating to the ＂Weak Sovereignty Era＂

The Arab Spring in the spring of 2011 soon brought the Middle East into an abyss of chaos, instability, terrorism and civil war. Over the past six years, the Syria conflict in some areas tended to cool down. President Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Putin on building a new ＂conflict relegation zone＂ on July 7, 2017. After three years of hard fighting, Iraq liberated Mosul on July 9, 2017. Full restoration of territorial integrity is just around the comer. ISIS lost Mosul, and was trapped in Racca. Further loss of land and territory is just a matter of time.

The Middle East and North Africa （MENA） Oil Exporters After the Global Crisis

Our research topic is about the economic situation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA） oil exporters after the global crisis in 2008. The authors tried to find the answers to the questions such as ＂How bad or good is the situation there？＂ and ＂what is the expectation about the future of the region？＂ Like other countries around the world, the MENA oil exporters, comprised of Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen were adversely affected by the global crisis. The MENA oil exporters are recently recovering from their recession in 2009 when the global crisis was felt intensively there. GDP in the region has grown by 3.5 percent in 2010 after a low growth of 0.7 percent in 2009. The average real GDP growth excluding Libya is projected to reach 4.9 percent in 2011. Two developments mark the outlook： the unrest in the region and the surge in global fuel and food prices. For most oil exporters, the expected increase in oil prices and production volumes will lead to higher growth in 2011 and stronger fiscal and external balances, notwithstanding recent increases in government spending. The oil exporters＇ combined external current account surplus is estimated to increase. The effects of the political events in Tunisia and Egypt have spread in varying degrees to the MENA oil exporters in the region, and many of these countries are responding with public spending and job-creation measures to alleviate social tensions. The social unrest also highlights the need to pursue fundamental economic reforms--social policy, fiscal management, governance, business environment, labor markets, and financial sector access to facilitate more inclusive economic growth. While the MENA countries are generally divided into two sub-regions such as ＂oil exporters＂ and ＂oil importers＂ in the economic literature, the authors will deal with only the MENA oil exporters in this work. The negative effects of the global crisis in these countries on growth, inflation, current account balance, budget balance, and finally financial sector will be reviewed in this work and the expectations and the developments which occurred after the crisis in these countries will be dealt with especially in the context of the IMF reports.

Turkish Diplomacy： Becoming a Model for the Middle East

Arabs are rising up against the old totalitarian regimes throughout the whole region, from Tunisia to Bahrain and North Africa, covering the Persian Gulf axes. The demonstrations were triggered by the social discontent over the lack of democracy and political freedom, not to mention the corruption, the high unemployment rate among the young population, and poor living conditions for the general public. 1 fear that the Arab revolutions could turn into uncontrollable clashes, leading to further chaos and Islamic radicalization. Turkey has been emerging as an important diplomatic actor in the Arab Street. My argument is based upon the question Can Turkey be a model for the Middle East, following a century-long bumpy-ride on the road to a full democracy. Under the neo-realistic view Turkey is a secular democratic state, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization （NATO） member and also candidate for the EU. In this paper we try, briefly, to understand the possible role of Turkish diplomacy with the Middle East and the Great Powers within international political dimensions.

Four Characteristics of Current Political Situation in the Middle East

In the second decade of the 21st century,turmoil in the Middle East is doomed to be one of the chief events of international politics.The basic characteristics of the Middle East politics has changed,due to complicated reasons related to political turbulence,the change of energy structure,the adjustments in the policies of the leading world powers,and other factors.These changes could well be a beginning of the long-term trend,and eventually change the history of the Middle East politics.

China’s Solutions to Security Governance in the Middle East:An Assessment

Over several decades,many intricate security issues in the Middle East,such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,the Iranian nuclear crisis,the Syrian conflict and terrorism,etc.,have greatly influenced regional and global security and stability.The international community has taken many measures to solve these problems,but they did not achieve the expected results.With the rise of China,the international community’s expectation for China to participate in global governance has also increased.Therefore,in recent years,China has taken an increasingly proactive stance on the Middle East security governance,transforming from a detached bystander into an active participant and initiator.To realize and maintain security and stability in the Middle East,China has put forward its own solutions to the security issues based on the principles of respecting sovereignty,non-interference of the internal affairs of other countries,objectivity and impartiality,comprehensive and fundamental governance,peaceful resolution,and multilateral participation.Although China’s solutions are not perfect yet and are faced with many criticisms,their prospects are optimistic.They have provided new ideas for the Middle East security governance.

The Transformation of the International System and China’s Positive Diplomacy in the Middle East

The international system is at a historical moment of renewal.As the unipolar order declines,various forces are rising,among which China has already become an important force in constructing a new world order.Quiet but revolutionary changes have occurred in China's diplomatic philosophy and practices as the country becomes more deeply ingrained into the international system.Under the background of great changes,the political situation in the Middle East has also quietly changed..With the weakening of the impact of external forces,many new energies in this region are coming to life.The future development of relations between European and United States powers,and their policy changes will bring a far-reaching impact on the political situation in the Middle East.China's diplomacy in the Middle East will become more active and aggressive.Meanwhile,China will concentrate more on the multi-lateral cooperation and its co-ordination with Europe and United States.

China and the Middle East Economic Governance in New Era

The Middle East Region has been suffering serious economic difficulties and the governance deficit for a long time,which demands a global response.In this new era,China has become an important actor in the progression of the Middle East economic governance;the contents of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance include energy,trade,investment,finance and developmental governance.Participation of China to the Middle East economic governance has improved economic climate and the terms of trade for the Middle Eastern countries,and enhanced their sustainable development ability,and also responded to the criticism from the Western countries accusing China of being a free rider with real actions.Compared to the Western countries,China’s participation to the Middle East economic governance exhibits its own characteristics in governance goals,ability,path,regime,contents and governance styles.“The Belt and Road”Initiative marks China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance enters new level.The depth and result of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance are affected by various factors.

Wading in Troubled Waters： China＇s Middle East Diplomacy in the New Era

The current Middle East situation is characterized by accelerating multi-polarity, the intertwining sectarian politics and geopolitics, the impending crisis of US alliance system, the escalation of arms race, and the deterioration of terrorism and separatism. Syria, Iran, Yemen and Palestine-Israel peace process will remain the flashpoints. Within such a changed situation, China＇s Middle East policy is evolving from passiveness to aggressiveness. First, participation in the Middle East governance and protection of its practical interests are the two major pillars of China＇s diplomacy in the Middle East; second, bilateral and multilateral mechanisms are the major platforms; third, partnership instead of alliance is the unique China-styled coalition policy, and finally the ＂Belt and Road Initiative＂ is an important tool of Chinese Middle East diplomacy.

The Relations between Nationalism and Islam in the Middle East

This paper argues that the conflicts between modernity and tradition in the process of modernization in the Middle East are rooted in the complicated relations between the two different ideologies,i.e.,nationalism and Islam.The author probes the complicated relations between nationalism and Islam from three aspects:the impact of the Middle Eastern nationalism on Islam,the responses of Islamic fundamentalism to nationalism and the influence and prospects of the conflicts between Islam and nationalism in the political development in the Middle East.

Sino-American Relations in the Middle East: Towards A Complementary Partnership?

China pursues geo-economic interests of trade,investment and energy,while the US explores geo-political interests of maintaining regional leadership,launching anti-terrorism campaigns,and defending allies in the Middle East.Notwithstanding all this,the two sides share compatible and complementary interests in the Middle East security governance and conflict de-escalation,which forges structural dynamics for Beijing and Washington to seek common ground while shelving differences.By drawing on detailed analysis of China and the US’s interaction in three cases,including coping with the ISIS threat,addressing the Iran nuclear crisis and mediating the Israel-Palestine conflict,this article argues that driven by pragmatism,it is possible for China and the US to build a complementary partnership in the Middle East,especially in dealing with security challenges in conflict zones,to maximise their respective interests and to alleviate the impact of Sino-US geopolitical rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.The compatible policy orientations,the intensifying Middle East Cold War in the aftermath of the Arab Spring,and the interdependent nature of Sino-US interests in the Middle East make it vital for China and the US to build a complementary partnership,although they may face various hurdles in its implementation.

Comment on the Solutions to the Middle East Security Issues and China’s Governance Style

The Middle East is the most turbulent region in the world.There have been incessant conflicts in this region over several decades,the most representative of which include the IsraeliPalestinian conflicts,the Iranian nuclear crisis,the Syrian issue and terrorism,etc.In order to solve these security issues,the international community has implemented various solutions,most of which did not result in the expected results.Therefore,new solutions to the Middle East security issues are needed.With the rise of China,China has put forward a solution with Chinese characteristics.China’s new framework for security governance in the Middle East has distinct Chinese characteristics:solving security problems from the perspective of economic problems,the principle of gradualism in the Middle East security governance scheme,Coordination mechanism between great powers,and respecting the recommendations of major countries and state parties in the Middle East.The China’s Solutions will provide new ideas for the Middle East security governance.

Five Keys to the Middle East Issue:A Review of Middle East Politics and Society

After World War II,the Middle East,due to its irreplaceable geographic value and oil resources,has been an arena for international politics and a barometer of international relations.Its long and sophisticated history and unique religions,nationalities,sects and tribes also add to its mystery.However,introductory books or articles on the Middle East often turn out to be disappointing in the eyes of the readers.Many experts and scholars then try to sort out the nature of the Middle East issues by highlighting its vital points as Dr.Lian Wang does in his new book Middle East Politics and Society.This article reviews the basic structure and characteristics of the book and strives to interpret the five key concepts of contemporary Middle East studies summarized by the author in the hope of furthering the research in this respect.

On Political Unrest in the Middle East and China’s Diplomacy

From crisis management to the overall planning,China’s response to the unrest in the Middle East has achieved great success.Today China must understand the influence of the unrest in the Middle East by taking the overall international and domestic situations into consideration,namely,understanding its influence as’’tests in the external environment’’and the changes it causes to the international setting of China;China must review its experiences of coping with the unrest in the Middle East and correct any flaws in its present policies;China must work out scientific,mid-and long-term strategies for the Middle East and corresponding measures.In particular,she should better its understanding of the strategic position of the Middle East and enhance her participation in the Middle Eastern affairs while adhering to its traditional diplomatic principles.

China’s Energy Strategy and Primary Role of the Middle East in This Strategy

In face of challenges to its energy security,China has been making adjustments in its energy policy and energy development strategy since mid-1990s,and implementing a strategy for overseas energy development.Compared with Central Asia,Latin America,Southeast Asia and West Africa,the Middle East is still the major source for China’s overseas energy cooperation and development.To avoid over-dependence on the energy resources in the Middle East,China seeks more overseas energy sources and transportation channels other than those in or connected to the Middle East.However,the primary role of the Middle East in China’s overall strategy for overseas energy development is still irreplaceable by that of any other region,at least for the near future.This situation will surely produce an increasingly important impact on China’s Middle East policy,moving China to take a more active posture in the political and economic arena of the region.It can even be expected that China to maintain its stable and friendly relations with Middle East countries,will,more likely than ever,act as a diplomatic mediator in trying to resolve certain longstanding conflicts in the region.

Doing More in The Middle East

China becomes increasingly involved in Hiddle East issues

Israel and the Arab World： In the Shadow of Regional Upheaval from the ＂Arab Spring＂ to the Summer of ISIS

In the winter of 2010, the ＂Spring of the Arab Nations＂ suddenly erupted, leading to the collapse of the Arab old order and the fall of many Arab regimes that up until then were perceived as strong and solid. In many of the Arab states, the ＂Arab Spring＂, which began as a popular protest degenerated into a bloody civil war, and in the case of Syria it led in the summer of 2014 to the emergence onto the regional stage of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria （ISIS）. The earthquake in the Arab world was perceived by many Israelis as presenting a possible threat, not only to the regional stability and quiet that had reigned along lsrael＇s borders with its Arab neighbors, but also to the very existence of the peace agreements that had been a most important element in Israel＇s national security conception for four decades. In the face of this challenge, Israel chose a passive approach and to allow events to work themselves out and drag it along with them. In some of the arenas matters worked themselves out favorably, for example, in Egypt. In some of the arenas, like Syria and Lebanon, Israel remained a worried observer from the sidelines. In Syria chaos and Islamic extremism spread all over, and in Lebanon Hizballah continued to grow stronger. Meanwhile, the Palestinian arena with all its problems remained on ice, lingering in a state of waiting. Only time will tell whether Israel＇s policy was prudent or simply evasive. Was Israel behaving like the ostrich, burying its head in the sand and avoiding like fire any policy initiative？ Or was Israel＇s policy prudent, sound, and necessary given the limitations on Israel＇s power？

A Securitization-Perspective Analysis of Water Disputes in the Jordan River Basin

Severe water shortage and uneven water distribution plague countries in the Middle East, especially the Jordan River Basin. As a strategic resource with competitive political nature, water resources are closely related to national security, and become the core resource arena that countries along the river basin compete for. This study argues that under the combined effect of the natural factors of water shortage, the geographical factors of uneven distribution of rivers across boundaries, and the subjective factors of water politics (the unfair setting of rules for water allocation), water disputes in the Middle East have become obstacles to regional peace, and the serious uneven distribution of water is the root cause of regional water disputes. Neither the historical water conflicts nor the existing water cooperation framework has solved the problem of balanced water distribution, which makes the people in basin countries directly face the crisis of survival rights and national security, and lays the fuse for the outbreak of regional water disputes and even future water wars. This study proposes the concept and analytical framework of “water securitization” based on securitization theory, and applies it to the Jordan River Basin, to analyze the reasons for the uneven distribution of water resources in the Middle East. The power-dominant state with asymmetric power in the river basin obtains the status of water hegemony by securitizing water, realizing the self-interested distribution of water resources, whichleads to the uneven distribution of water resources, and ultimately leads to the outbreak of conflicts and disputes. Specifically, it mainly adopts three mechanisms of discursive securitization, operational securitization, and institutional securitization. Looking to the future, it is difficult to successfully resolve water disputes in the Middle East in the short term, and a “de-securitization” approach is particularly important in resolving water disputes and easing regional security tension. Only by adopting a multi-field joint strategy can it provide the possibility to effectively resolve water disputes in the Jordan River Basin.