河流-三角洲储层剩余油分布模式及预测

Aim at the variousness and complexity of the spatial distribution of Remaining Oil in the fluvial and delta facies reservoir in paper. For example, in the La-Sa-Xing oilfield of Daqing, based on the research of the control factor and formation mechanization of block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism, synthesizing the theories and methods of geology, well logging, reservoir engineering, artificial intelligence, physical simulation test , and computer multidisciplinary; Fully utilizing the material of geology, well logging, core well, dynamic monitor of oil and water well, and experimental analysis, from macro to micro, from quality to quantity, from indoor to workplace, we predicted the potentiality and distribution according to the four levels of Block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism, and comprehensively summarized the different distribution pattern of remaining oil in the fluvial and delta facies reservoir This paper puts forward an efficient method to predict the remaining recoverable reserves by using the water flooding characteristic curve differential method and neutral network; for the first time utilizes multilevel fuzzy comprehensive judgment method and expert neutral network technology to predict the remaining oil distribution in the single layer? comprehensively takes advantage of reservoir flowing unit, indoor physical simulation test, inspection well core analysis and well-logging watered-out layer interpretation to efficiently predict the distribution of remaining oil; makes use of core analysis of different periods and indoor water driving oil test to study the micro distribution of remaining oil and the parameters varying law of reservoir substance properties, rock properties, wetting properties. Based on above, the remaining oil distribution predicting software is developed, which contains four levels of block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism. This achievement has been used inLa-Sa-Xing oil field of Daqing and good results have been received.

龙滩工程左岸边坡监测资料分析与稳定性评价研究

On the basis of the geological analysis and rock mass toppling deformation and failure mechanism analysis of Longtan engineering left bank slope, the synthetic space-time analysis and influence factors analysis on the surface monitoring data and deep rock mass monitoring data of B-zone of left bank slope are carried on. At the same time, based on the monitoring data analysis in conjunction with the predecessor's mechanics analysis results, the deformation state of B-zone of the left bank slope is discussed and its stability is synthetically evaluated. The detailed research contents and results are as following: According to the monitoring drill histogram analysis of Longtan engineering left bank slope, numerical simulation analysis and model experimentation analysis of bedded counter-inclined steep slope, a new type of toppling deformation and failure mode is proposed, that is "up-slope warping". Then the deformation and failure mode of bedded counter-inclined steep slope is summarized as "down-slope toppling" type, "up-slope warping" type and "complex fold" type. On the basis of synthetic space-time analysis to surface monitoring data and deep rock mass deformation monitoring data of B-zone of Longtan left bank slope;, we can get the conclusion that there exists potential instability rock mass over 520m altitude, especially over 560m altitude of slope B, and the rock mass of around strong-weathering line or creep rock mass breaking band controls the deformation of the whole slope. 1. According to the synthetic space-time analysis and influence factors analysis to the surface monitoring data of B-zone of Longtan left bank slope, a dynamical index, accumulative total acceleration index, which is used to analyze the influence factors of slope surface deformation, is raised. The principle and method of accumulative acceleration index are explained, and the index can be used for the influence factors analysis of the similar slope. 2. Summarize the results of geologic analysis, monitoring analysis and mechanics analysis, the following conclusion can be gotten: the stability of B-zone of the slope is basically good. However, on the condition of drainage and slope toe loading engineering, there is still some creep deformation in the rock mass over 520m altitude, especially over 560m altitude. So, better measures of the monitoring and timely maintenance of the drainage system are suggested in the paper.

珠江口盆地流花11-1油田储层非均质性及流体分布规律研究

In order to discover the distribution law of the remaining oil, the paper focuses on the quantitative characterization of the reservoir heterogeneity and the distribution law of the fluid barrier and interbed, based on fine geological study of the reservoir in Liuhuall-1 oil field. The refined quantitative reservoir geological model has been established by means of the study of core analysis, logging evaluation on vertical well and parallel well, and seismic interpretation and prediction. Utilizing a comprehensive technology combining dynamic data with static data, the distribution characteristics, formation condition and controlling factors of remaining oil in Liuhuall-1 oil field have been illustrated. The study plays an important role in the enrichment regions of the remaining oil and gives scientific direction for the next development of the remaining oil. Several achievements have been obtained as follows: l.On the basis of the study of reservoir division and correlation,eight lithohorizons (layer A, B_1, B_2, B_3, C, D, E, and F) from the top to the bottom of the reservoir are discriminated. The reef facies is subdivided into reef-core facies, fore-reef facies and backreef facies. These three subfacies are further subdivided into five microfacies: coral algal limestone, coralgal micrite, coral algal clastic limestone, bioclastic limestone and foraminiferal limestone. In order to illustrate the distribution law of remaining oil in high watercut period, the stratigraphic structure model and sedimentary model are reconstructed. 2.1n order to research intra-layer, inter-layer and plane reservoir heterogeneity, a new method to characterize reservoir heterogeneity by using IRH (Index of Reservoir Heterogeneity) is introduced. The result indicates that reservoir heterogeneity is medium in layer B_1 and B_3, hard in layer A, B_2, C, E, poor in layer D. 3.Based on the study of the distribution law of fluid barrier and interbed, the effect of fluid battier and interbed on fluid seepage is revealed. Fluid barrier and interbed is abundant in layer A, which control the distribution of crude oil in reservoir. Fluid barrier and interbed is abundant relatively in layer B_2,C and E, which control the spill movement of the bottom water. Layer B_1, B_3 and D tend to be waterflooded due to fluid barrier and interbed is poor. 4.Based on the analysis of reservoir heterogeneity, fluid barrier and interbed and the distribution of bottom water, four contributing regions are discovered. The main lies on the north of well LH11-1A. Two minors lie on the east of well LH11-1-3 and between well LH11-1-3 and well LH11-1-5. The last one lies in layer E in which the interbed is discontinuous. 5.The parameters of reservoir and fluid are obtained recurring to core analysis, logging evaluation on vertical well and parallel well, and seismic interpretation and prediction. Theses parameters provide data for the quantitative characterization of the reservoir heterogeneity and the distribution law of the fluid barrier and interbed. 6.1n the paper, an integrated method about the distribution prediction of remaining oil is put forward on basis of refined reservoir geological model and reservoir numerical simulation. The precision in history match and prediction of remaining oil is improved greatly. The integrated study embodies latest trend in this research field. 7.It is shown that the enrichment of the remaining oil with high watercut in Liuhua 11-1 oil field is influenced by reservoir heterogeneity, fluid barrier and interbed, sealing property of fault, driving manner of bottom water and exploitation manner of parallel well. 8.Using microfacies, IRH, reservoir structure, effective thickness, physical property of reservoir, distribution of fluid barrier and interbed, the analysis of oil and water movement and production data, twelve new sidetracked holes are proposed and demonstrated. The result is favorable to instruct oil field development and have gotten a good effect.

电阻率测井反演方法应用研究

Formation resistivity is one of the most important parameters to be evaluated in the evaluation of reservoir. In order to acquire the true value of virginal formation, various types of resistivity logging tools have been developed. However, with the increment of the proved reserves, the thickness of interest pay zone is becoming thinner and thinner, especially in the terrestrial deposit oilfield, so that electrical logging tools, limited by the contradictory requirements of resolution and investigation depth of this kinds of tools, can not provide the true value of the formation resistivity. Therefore, resitivity inversion techniques have been popular in the determination of true formation resistivity based on the improving logging data from new tools. In geophysical inverse problems, non-unique solution is inevitable due to the noisy data and deficient measurement information. I address this problem in my dissertation from three aspects, data acquisition, data processing/inversion and applications of the results/ uncertainty evaluation of the non-unique solution. Some other problems in the traditional inversion methods such as slowness speed of the convergence and the initial-correlation results. Firstly, I deal with the uncertainties in the data to be processed. The combination of micro-spherically focused log (MSFL) and dual laterolog(DLL) is the standard program to determine formation resistivity. During the inversion, the readings of MSFL are regarded as the resistivity of invasion zone of the formation after being corrected. However, the errors can be as large as 30 percent due to mud cake influence even if the rugose borehole effects on the readings of MSFL can be ignored. Furthermore, there still are argues about whether the two logs can be quantitatively used to determine formation resisitivities due to the different measurement principles. Thus, anew type of laterolog tool is designed theoretically. The new tool can provide three curves with different investigation depths and the nearly same resolution. The resolution is about 0.4meter. Secondly, because the popular iterative inversion method based on the least-square estimation can not solve problems more than two parameters simultaneously and the new laterolog logging tool is not applied to practice, my work is focused on two parameters inversion (radius of the invasion and the resistivty of virgin information ) of traditional dual laterolog logging data. An unequal weighted damp factors- revised method is developed to instead of the parameter-revised techniques used in the traditional inversion method. In this new method, the parameter is revised not only dependency on the damp its self but also dependency on the difference between the measurement data and the fitting data in different layers. At least 2 iterative numbers are reduced than the older method, the computation cost of inversion is reduced. The damp least-squares inversion method is the realization of Tikhonov's tradeoff theory on the smooth solution and stability of inversion process. This method is realized through linearity of non-linear inversion problem which must lead to the dependency of solution on the initial value of parameters. Thus, severe debates on efficiency of this kinds of methods are getting popular with the developments of non-linear processing methods. The artificial neural net method is proposed in this dissertation. The database of tool's response to formation parameters is built through the modeling of the laterolog tool and then is used to training the neural nets. A unit model is put forward to simplify the dada space and an additional physical limitation is applied to optimize the net after the cross-validation method is done. Results show that the neural net inversion method could replace the traditional inversion method in a single formation and can be used a method to determine the initial value of the traditional method. No matter what method is developed, the non-uniqueness and uncertainties of the solution could be inevitable. Thus, it is wise to evaluate the non-uniqueness and uncertainties of the solution in the application of inversion results. Bayes theorem provides a way to solve such problems. This method is illustrately discussed in a single formation and achieve plausible results. In the end, the traditional least squares inversion method is used to process raw logging data, the calculated oil saturation increased 20 percent than that not be proceed compared to core analysis.

Investigating Hydraulically Active Fractures in A Shallow Meta-Sedimentary Bedrock Aquifer Using Single Well Tracer Testing, Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland

Knowledge of groundwater flow/mass transport, in poorly productive aquifers which underlie over 65% of the island of Ireland, is necessary for effective management of catchment water quality and aquatic ecology. This research focuses on a fractured low-grade Ordovician/Silurian greywacke sequence which underlies approximately 25% of the northern half of Ireland. Knowledge of the unit’s hydrogeological properties remain largely restricted to localised single well open hole “transmissivity” values. Current hydrogeological conceptual models of the Greywacke view the bulk of groundwater flowing through fractures in an otherwise impermeable bedrock mass.
Core analysis permits fracture characterisation, although not all identified fractures may be involved in groundwater flow. Traditional in-situ hydraulic characterisation relies on cumbersome techniques such as packer testing or geophysical borehole logging (e.g. flowmeters). Queen’s University Belfast is currently carrying out hydraulic characterization of 16 boreholes at its Greywacke Hydrogeological Research Site at Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland.
Development of dye dilution methods, using a recently-developed downhole fluorometer, provided a portable, user-friendly, and inexpensive means of detecting hydraulically active intervals in open boreholes. Measurements in a 55m deep hole, three days following fluorescent dye injection, demonstrated the ability of the technique to detect two discrete hydraulically active intervals corresponding to zones identified by caliper and heat-pulse flowmeter logs. High resolution acoustic televiewer logs revealed the zones to correspond to two steeply dipping fractured intervals. Results suggest the rock can have effective porosities of the order of 0.1%.
Study findings demonstrate dye dilution’s utility in characterizing groundwater flow in fractured aquifers. Tests on remaining holes will be completed at different times following injection to identify less permeable fractures and develop an improved understanding of the structural controls on groundwater flow in the uppermost metres of competent bedrock.

A composite pollen-based stratotype for inter-regional evaluation of climatic events in New Zealand over the past 30,000 years (NZ-INTIMATE project)

Our review of paleoclimate information for New Zealand pertaining to the past 30,000 years has identified a general sequence of climatic events, spanning the onset of cold conditions marking the final phase of the Last Glaciation, through to the emergence to full interglacial conditions in the early Holocene. In order to facilitate more detailed assessments of climate variability and any leads or lags in the timing of climate changes across the region, a composite stratotype is proposed for New Zealand. The stratotype is based on terrestrial stratigraphic records and is intended to provide a standard reference for the intercomparison and evaluation of climate proxy records. We nominate a specific stratigraphic type record for each climatic event, using either natural exposure or drill core stratigraphic sections. Type records were selected on thebasis of having very good numerical age control and a clear proxy record. In all cases the main proxy of the type record is subfossil pollen. The type record for the period from ca 30 to ca 18 calendar kiloyears BP (cal. ka BP) is designated in lake-bed sediments from a small morainic kettle lake (Galway tarn) in western South Island. The Galway tarn type record spans a period of full glacial conditions (Last Glacial Coldest Period, LGCP) within the Otira Glaciation, and includes three cold stadials separated by two cool interstadials. The type record for the emergence from glacial conditions following the termination of the Last Glaciation (post-Termination amelioration) is in a core of lake sediments from a maar (Pukaki volcanic crater) in Auckland, northern North Island, and spans from ca 18 to 15.64±0.41 cal. ka BP. The type record for the Lateglacial period is an exposure of interbedded peat and mud at montane Kaipo bog, eastern North Island. In this high-resolution type record, an initial mild period was succeeded at 13.74±0.13 cal. ka BP by a cooler period, which after 12.55±0.14 cal. ka BP gave way to a progressive ascent to full interglacial conditions that were achieved by 11.88±0.18 cal. ka BP. Although a type section is not formally designated for the Holocene Interglacial (11.88±0.18 cal. ka BP to the present day), the sedimentary record of Lake Maratoto on the Waikato lowlands, northwestern North Island, is identified as a prospective type section pending the integration and updating of existing stratigraphic and proxy datasets, and age models. The type records are interconnected by one or more dated tephra layers, the ages of which are derived from Bayesian depositional modelling and OxCal-based calibrations using the IntCal09 dataset. Along with the type sections and the Lake Maratoto record, important, well-dated terrestrial reference records are provided for each climate event. Climate proxies from these reference records include pollen flora, stable isotopes from speleothems, beetle and chironomid fauna, and glacier moraines. The regional composite stratotype provides a benchmark against which to compare other records and proxies. Based on the composite stratotype, we provide an updated climate event stratigraphic classification for the New Zealand region. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Burial history and porosity evolution of Brazilian upper Jurassic to tertiary sandstone reservoirs

The parameter time-depth index (TDI) is applied in this study to quantify empirically the influence of burial history on sandstone porosity evolution. The TDI, expressed in kilometers per million years of age, is defined as the area in the burial history diagram enclosed by the burial curve of the reservoir and the axes of the diagram. In practice, reservoir depths during burial history are integrated at regular time intervals of 1 m.y. The calculations exclude present-day bathymetry or paleobathymetry. Sandstone reservoirs from several sedimentary basins along the Brazilian continental margin (Santos, Campos, Espírito Santo, Cumuruxatiba, Recôncavo, Sergipe, Alagoas, and Potiguar) were analyzed to investigate the evolution of porosity against TDI. These Upper Jurassic to Tertiary sandstones lie in depths of 700 to 4900 m, and are hydrocarbon charged (oil or gas). Average porosities of most of these reservoirs were obtained from core analysis, and a few porosity data were taken from well log interpretations. Detrital constituents of the sandstones are mainly quartz, feldspar, and granitic/gneissic rock fragments. Sandstones were grouped into three main reservoir types, based on composition (detrital quartz content) and grain sorting: Type I (average quartz content <50%) are very coarse grained to conglomeratic, poorly to very poorly sorted lithic arkoses. Rock fragments are mainly granitic/gneissic and coarse grained. Type II (average quartz content ranging from 50% to 70%) are fine- to coarse-grained (pebbles absent or occurring in small percentages), moderately sorted arkoses. Type III (average quartz content >80%) are fine to coarse, moderately to poorly sorted quartz arenites or subarkoses. Plots of average porosity against depth show great dispersion in porosity values; such dispersion is mostly due to differences in the reservoir burial histories. However, plotting porosity values against the TDI for individual reservoir types produces well-defined trends. The decrease in porosity is less marked in Type III reservoirs, intermediate in Type II, and faster in Type I. Such plots suggest that it is possible to make relatively accurate porosity predictions based on reservoir TDI, texture, and composition,: within the constraints of reservoir depth/age and basin tectonics analyzed in this study.

Condutividade elétrica complexa de rochas

Foram realizadas medidas em laboratório da condutividade elétrica complexa de 28 amostras de testemunhos de sondagem de três furos da área MM1-Alvo 1, Distrito dos Carajás, com o objetivo de auxiliar na interpretação de dados geofísicos de campo, obtidos com os métodos polarização induzida/resistividade e eletromagnético/AFMAG, aplicados na área. As medidas foram tomadas no intervalo de frequências de 10^-3Hz a 10⁴Hz, medindo-se a amplitude e a fase da condutância. O método empregado foi o de medida direta de impedância, utilizando-se um osciloscópio com memória, um gerador de sinais e dois pré-amplificadores diferenciais com alta impedância de entrada. O sistema de eletrodos escolhido para realizar as medidas foi o de 2 eletrodos de platina-platinizada em virtude de sua resposta de frequência ser plana no intervalo utilizado. Todas as medidas foram realizadas à temperatura constante de 24°C ± 1°C. Para interpretar as medidas de condutividade foi realizado estudo petrográfico das amostras, utilizando-se lâminas delgadas, seções polidas e difração de Raios-X. Foi determinado o teor de cobre, sob a forma de sulfeto, nas amostras utilizando-se o método de absorção atômica. Os resultados petrográficos permitiram classificar as amostras em cinco grupos distintos: granito, biotita-xisto, anfibolito, anfibólio-xisto e quartzito ferruginoso-formação ferrífera. O teor de cobre foi variável nos cinco grupos, havendo teores desde 50ppm até 6000ppm. Nas medidas de condutividade observou-se que, dentre os cinco grupos, as amostras da formação ferrífera apresentaram as maiores variações com a frequência. As amostras de granito tiveram espectro mais plano que as dos xistos e anfibolito. A conclusão a que se chegou é que as anomalias eletromagnéticas e de polarização induzida/resistividade observadas no campo próximo aos três furos (F₁, F₂, F₃) são devidas principalmgnte a formação ferrífera magnetitica, a secundariamente à mineralização de baixo teor de calcopirita associada.

Coquinas eoaptianas do sudoeste da Bacia de Campos: fácies deposicionais, eventos diagenéticos e fatores controladores da qualdade do reservatório

Pós-graduação em Geologia Regional - IGCE

Magmatism and fenitization in the Cretaceous potassium-alkaline-carbonatitic complex of Ipanema So Paulo State, Brazil

The Ipanema alkaline-carbonatitic complex is part of the Meso-Cenozoic alkaline magmatism located within the southeastern part of the Brazilian Platform. Drill-core and field sampling have indicated the occurrence of glimmerites, with subordinate shonkinites (mela-syenites), clinopyroxene-bearing glimmerites, diorites and syenites. The glimmerites are cross-cut by lamprophyric dykes and calciocarbonatites. Fenitization has deeply affected the country rocks, originating dioritic and syenitic rocks. The Ipanema rocks show a distinct potassic affinity. The initial Sr-Nd- isotopic composition of the Ipanema rocks ((87)Sr/(86)Sr = 0.70661-0.70754 and (143)Nd/(144)Nd = 0.51169-0.51181) is similar to that of tholeiitic and potassium-rich-alkaline rocks of the Eastern Paraguay. Stable isotope data for the Ipanema calciocarbonatite suggest interaction with fluids at temperatures typical of hydrothermal stages, as hypothesized for other carbonatite complexes from southeastern Brazil. The chemical differences between the lamprophyre, glimmerites, carbonatites, apatitites and magnetitites, and the absence of marked REE enrichment in the evolved lithologies, all indicate that fractional crystallization and accumulus of liquidus phases in a magma reservoir, likely coupled with liquid immiscibility processes, may have played an important role in the genesis of the Ipanema rocks.

Fast and accurate numerical solutions in some problems of particle and radiation transport: synthetic acceleration for the method of short characteristics, Doppler-broadened scattering kernel, remote sensing of the cryosphere

The aim of this work is to present various aspects of numerical simulation of particle and radiation transport for industrial and environmental protection applications, to enable the analysis of complex physical processes in a fast, reliable, and efficient way. In the first part we deal with speed-up of numerical simulation of neutron transport for nuclear reactor core analysis. The convergence properties of the source iteration scheme of the Method of Characteristics applied to be heterogeneous structured geometries has been enhanced by means of Boundary Projection Acceleration, enabling the study of 2D and 3D geometries with transport theory without spatial homogenization. The computational performances have been verified with the C5G7 2D and 3D benchmarks, showing a sensible reduction of iterations and CPU time. The second part is devoted to the study of temperature-dependent elastic scattering of neutrons for heavy isotopes near to the thermal zone. A numerical computation of the Doppler convolution of the elastic scattering kernel based on the gas model is presented, for a general energy dependent cross section and scattering law in the center of mass system. The range of integration has been optimized employing a numerical cutoff, allowing a faster numerical evaluation of the convolution integral. Legendre moments of the transfer kernel are subsequently obtained by direct quadrature and a numerical analysis of the convergence is presented. In the third part we focus our attention to remote sensing applications of radiative transfer employed to investigate the Earth's cryosphere. The photon transport equation is applied to simulate reflectivity of glaciers varying the age of the layer of snow or ice, its thickness, the presence or not other underlying layers, the degree of dust included in the snow, creating a framework able to decipher spectral signals collected by orbiting detectors.

Sedimentary evolution and environmental history of Lake Van (Turkey) over the past 600,000 years

The lithostratigraphic framework of Lake Van, eastern Turkey, has been systematically analysed to document the sedimentary evolution and the environmental history of the lake during the past ca 600,000 years. The lithostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of a 219 m long drill core from Lake Van serves to separate global climate oscillations from local factors caused by tectonic and volcanic activity. An age model was established based on the climatostratigraphic alignment of chemical and lithological signatures, validated by 40Ar/39Ar ages. The drilled sequence consists of ca 76% lacustrine carbonaceous clayey silt, ca 2% fluvial deposits, ca 17% volcaniclastic deposits and 5% gaps. Six lacustrine lithotypes were separated from the fluvial and event deposits, such as volcaniclastics (ca 300 layers) and graded beds (ca 375 layers), and their depositional environments are documented. These lithotypes are: (i) graded beds frequently intercalated with varved clayey silts reflect rising lake-levels during the terminations; (ii) varved clayey silts reflect strong seasonality and an intralake oxic–anoxic boundary, for example, lake-level highstands during interglacials/interstadials; (iii) CaCO3-rich banded sediments are representative of a lowering of the oxic-anoxic boundary, for example, lake-level decreases during glacial inceptions; (iv) CaCO3-poor banded and mottled clayey silts reflect an oxic–anoxic boundary close to the sediment-water interface, for example, lake-level low-stands during glacials/stadials; (v) diatomaceous muds were deposited during the early beginning of the lake as a fresh water system; and (vi) fluvial sands and gravels indicate the initial flooding of the lake basin. The recurrence of lithologies (i) to (iv) follows the past five glacial/interglacial cycles. A 20 m thick disturbed unit reflects an interval of major tectonic activity in Lake Van at ca 414 ka BP.

Transport of 234U in the Opalinus Clay on centimetre to decimetre scales

The Opalinus Clay formation in North Switzerland is a potential host rock for a deep underground radioactive waste repository. The distribution of U-238, U-234 and Th-230 was studied in rock samples of the Opalinus Clay from an exploratory borehole at Benken (Canton of Zurich) using MC-ICP-MS. The aim of U-234 was to assess the in situ, long-term migration behaviour in this rock. Very low hydraulic conductivities of the Opalinus Clay, reducing potential of the pore water and its chemical equilibrium with the host rock are expected to render both U-238 and Th-230 immobile. If U is heterogeneously distributed in the Opalinus Clay, gradients in the supply of U-234 from the rock matrix to the pore water by the decay of U-238 will be established. Diffusive redistribution separates U-234 from its immobile parent U-238 resulting in bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity disequilibria. These may provide a means of estimating the mobility of U-234 in the rock if the diffusion rate of U-234 is significant compared to its decay rate. Sampling was carried out on two scales. Drilling of cm-spaced samples from the drill-core was done to study mobility over short distances and elucidate possible small-scale lithological control. Homogenized 25-cm-long portions of a 2-m-long drill-core section were prepared to provide information on transport over a longer distance. Variations in U and/or Th content on the cm-scale between clays and carbonate-sandy layers are revealed by beta-scanning, which shows that the (dominant) clay is richer in both elements. Samples were digested using aqua regia followed by total HF dissolution, yielding two fractions. in all studied samples U was found to be concentrated in the HF digestion fraction. It has a high U/Th ratio and a study by SEM-EDS points to sub-mu m up to several mu m in size zircon grains as the main U-rich phase. This fraction consistently has U-234/U-238 activity ratios below unity. The minute zircon grains constitute the major reservoir of U in the rock and act as constant rate suppliers of U-234 into the rock matrix and the pore water. The aqua regia leach fraction was found to be enriched in Th, and complementary to the HF fraction, having U-234/U-238 activity ratios above unity. It is believed that these U activity ratios reflect the surplus of having U-234 delivered from the zircon grains. Some cm-spaced samples show bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity ratios that are markedly out of equilibrium. In most of them a striking negative correlation between the total U content and the bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity ratios is observed. This is interpreted to indicate net U-234 transfer from regions of higher supply of U-234 towards those of lower supply which is, in most cases, equivalent to transfer from clayey towards carbonate/sandy portions of the rock. In contrast, the 25 cm averaged samples all have uniform bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity ratios in equilibrium, indicating U immobility in the last 1-1.5 Ma on this spatial scale. It is concluded that the small-scale lithological variations which govern U spatial distribution in the Opalinus Clay are the major factor determining U-234 in situ supply rates, regulating its diffusive fluxes and controlling the observed bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity ratios. A simple box-model is presented to simulate the measured bulk rock U-234/U-238 activity ratios and to give an additional insight into the studied system. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reconstruction of in-situ porosity and porewater compositions of low-permeability crystalline rocks: Magnitude of artefacts induced by drilling and sample recovery

Geological site characterisation programmes typically rely on drill cores for direct information on subsurface rocks. However, porosity, transport properties and porewater composition measured on drill cores can deviate from in-situ values due to two main artefacts caused by drilling and sample recovery: (1) mechanical disruption that increases porosity and (2) contamination of the porewater by drilling fluid. We investigated the effect and magnitude of these perturbations on large drill core samples (12–20 cm long, 5 cmdiameter) of high-grade, granitic gneisses obtained from 350 to 600 m depth in a borehole on Olkiluoto Island (SW Finland). The drilling fluid was traced with sodium–iodide. By combining out-diffusion experiments, gravimetry, UV-microscopy and iodide mass balance calculations, we successfully quantified the magnitudes of the artefacts: 2–6% increase in porosity relative to the bulk connected porosity and 0.9 to 8.9 vol.% contamination by drilling fluid. The spatial distribution of the drilling-induced perturbations was revealed by numerical simulations of 2D diffusion matched to the experimental data. This showed that the rims of the samples have a mechanically disrupted zone 0.04 to 0.22 cm wide, characterised by faster transport properties compared to the undisturbed centre (1.8 to 7.7 times higher pore diffusion coefficient). Chemical contamination was shown to affect an even wider zone in all samples, ranging from 0.15 to 0.60 cm, inwhich iodide enrichmentwas up to 180 mg/kgwater, compared to 0.5 mg/kgwater in the uncontaminated centre. For all samples in the present case study, it turned out that the magnitude of the artefacts caused by drilling and sample recovery is so small that no correction is required for their effects. Therefore, the standard laboratory measurements of porosity, transport properties and porewater composition can be taken as valid in-situ estimates. However, it is clear that the magnitudes strongly depend on site- and drilling-specific factors and therefore our results cannot be transferred simply to other locations. We recommend the approach presented in this study as a route to obtain reliable values in future drilling campaigns aimed at characterising in-situ bedrock properties.

Geochemistry and Nd-Pb isotope ratios of sediments from the Lesser Antilles arc

The Lesser Antilles arc is a particularly interesting island arc because it is presently very active, it is located perpendicular to the South American continent and its chemical and isotopic compositions display a strong north-south gradient. While the presence in the south of a thick pile of sedimentary material coming from the old South American continent has long been suspected to explain the geochemical gradient, previous studies failed to demonstrate unambiguously a direct link between the arc lava compositions and the subducted sediment compositions. Here, we present new Nd, Sm, Th, U and Pb concentrations and Nd-Pb isotopic data for over 60 sediments from three sites located in the fore arc region of the Lesser Antilles arc. New data for DSDP Site 543 drill core located east of Dominica Island complement the data published by White et al. (1985, doi:10.1016/0016-7037(85)90082-1) and confirm their relatively uniform isotopic compositions (i.e., 206Pb/204Pb between 19.13 and 19.53). In contrast, data obtained on DSDP Site 144 located further south, on the edge of the South American Rise and on sediments from Barbados Island are much more variable (206Pb/204Pb ranges from 18.81 to 27.69). The very radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions are found in a 60 m thick black shale unit, which has no age equivalent in the Site 543 drill core. We interpret the peculiar composition of the southern sediments as being due to two factors, (a) the proximity of the South American craton, which contributes coarse grain old detrital material that does not travel far from the continental shelf, and (b) the presence of older sediments including the thick black shale unit formed during Oceanic Anoxic events 2 and 3. The north-south isotopic change known along the Lesser Antilles arc can be explained by the observed geographical changes in the composition of the subducted sediments. About 1% contamination of the mantle wedge by Site 543 sediments explains the composition of the northern islands while up to 10% sediments like those of Site 144 is required in the source of the southern island lavas. The presence of black shales in the subducted pile provides a satisfactory explanation for the very low Delta8/4 values that characterize the Lesser Antilles arc.