Hydrogeochemistry of formation water in relation to overpressures and fluid flow in the Qikou Depression of the Bohai bay basin, China

The Qikou Depression is the largest hydrocarbon bearing depression in the western part of the Bohai bay basin, dominated by fan delta and lacustrine strata with volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. In this study, the formation pressures and hydrochemistry of the formation water in the Qikou depression are investigated. It is found that a significant overpressure occurs in the Dongying (Ed) Formation and the first member (Est), the second member (Es2), the third member (Es3) of the Shahejie Formation. The pressure coefficients commonly range from 1.2 to 1.6 with the highest pressure coefficient being 1.7. The analysis of hydrochemistry data shows that the whole depression is dominated by NaHCO3 water type. The concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS) ranges from 2.13 to 53.16 g/L and shows a distinct vertical variation of salinity and ion ratios. High salinity water (TDS> 10 g/L) occurs below a depth of 2500 m, which coincides with the presence of the overpressured system. However, the increasing trend of TDS is diminished below 3500 m because the generation of organic acids in Qikou Depression is inhibited in the presence of overpressure. The analysis of the relationship among different ions indicates that the present-day characteristics of the formation water result from the albitization of feldspar and the dissolution of sodium-rich silicate minerals and halite in the different hydrochemical and pressure systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

胜坨油田注聚后油藏动态模型及剩余油分布

The topic of Dynamic reservoir model and the distribution of remaining oil after polymer injection of Shengtuo oilfield is a front problem of "the 11th Five-Year Plan" scientific and technological disciplines of Sinopec Corporation. Reservoirs in study area is distributary channel sandstone. After 34 years of water-injection exploitation and 7 years of polymer injection pilot experiments, a highly complex heterogeneous dynamic evolution has been occurred in macro and micro parameters of reservoir model, together with its flow field. Therefore, it’s essential to construct completed reservoir dynamic model for a successfully prediction of the distribution of remaining oil. With a comprehensive application of multidisciplinary theory and technique, using a variety of data and information to maximize the use of computer technology, combining a static and dynamic, macro and micro and 1~4D integration, the research reveals main features, evolution and mechanism, types of geological disasters and their destructivity of reservoir flow field, the macro field, the micro field, the flow field and reservoir development hydrodynamic geological function in different development periods after a long term of polymer injection in Es2 in Shengtuo oilfield. The principle innovation achievements obtained are: 1. Established A, B, C, D four flow units in target formations, revealed the various features and distribution of flow units. 2. Stated environmental pollution and geological disasters induced during oilfield exploitation in study area, and also explained their formation mechanism, controlling factors, destructivity and approaches to disaster reduction. 3. Established dynamic evolution of the macro parameter model, micro-matrix field, pore network field, clay minerals field, seepage dynamic evolution model of six different exploitation stages in study area, also revealed reservoir flow evolution, the law of evolution mechanism after polymer injection. 4. Established macro and micro distribution model of remaining oil after three mining polymer injection during different water cut periods in study area, revealed the formation mechanism and distribution of remaining oil. 5. Established remaining oilforecasting model in study area, and forecasted the formation and distribution of remaining oil in the following six years. 6. It is proposed that reservoir fluid dynamic geological processes are major driving forces for the evolution of different water cut periods, reservoir macro field after the polymer injection and micro seepage field. 7. Established a dynamic reservoir model, proposed matching theory, methods and technology for the description of the remaining oil characterization and prediction, which can deepen the theory and techniques of continental rift basin development geology. Key words: Polymer reservoir; Geological disasters; Dynamic model; Residual oil forecast

胜坨油田沙二段油藏流场剩余油形成机理和分布模式

By applying multi-discipline theory and methods comprehensively and with full use of computer, the paper deeps into studying changing rule and control factor of fluid field of ES2 Shengtuo oil field during waterflood development, physical and chemical function, and stress. Matrix field, network field, fluid field, stress field and physical chemistry field and fluid model for dynamic function were established. Macroscopic and microscopic genesis mechanics, distribution rule and control factor of remaining oil were revealed. Remaining oil and emulate model were established. Macroscopic and microscopic distribution rule of mover remaining oil were predicted, several results were achieved as following: The distribution of remaining oil was controlled by micro-structure. At the same development stage, remaining oil saturation of the wells located in higher position of micro-structure is higher than the average saturation in the same layer. The water content ratio has same law. It is the enrichment district that the high position of micro-structure controlled by seal faults. The remaining oil distribution was affected by sedimentary micro-facies, micro-structure, fault sealing, reservoir heterogeneity and affusion-oil extraction. On the plane, the zone owning higher saturation of remaining oil is the area that at the edge miacro-facies and sand-body distribution discontinuously; on the section, the content of waterflood of the upper or middle-upper oil layer of positive rhythm and positive comprehensive rhythm is lower, middle and weak waterflood is main, remaining oil is in enrichment relatively. The remaining oil is relative enrichment at the zones of well network of affusion and oil extraction not affected. 4D dynamic model of reservoir of Es2in Shengtuo oil field was established. Macroscopic and microscopic forming mechanics, distribution rule and control factor were revealed. The emulate model of dynamic function of Shengtuo oil field was established, the space distribution of remaining oil were predicted. Reservoir flow field, matrix field, network field, seep field, physical and chemical field, stress field and fluid field models were established. Reservoir flow field character and distribution were revealed. An improvement of the development geology theory in continental fault depression continental basin was brought on.

纯梁东部地区沙二段沉积体系及成藏规律研究

纯梁东部地区是胜利油田勘探开发较早的老油区之一，其主力生产层段是下第三系沙三段和沙四段，主力产层现已进入高含水期或特高含水期。该区沙二段曾有零星井产油；近年来，通过利用三维地震进行滚动勘探，发现了多个沙二段的富集高产小断块油藏，部分井初产日油20-50吨，表明沙二段具有较大的滚动勘探潜力。因此，对沙二段进行沉积体系研究，搞清砂体的分布规律，分析其成藏规律和控油因素，对保持该区稳产具有极其重要的现实意义。 利用岩芯和测井等资料，依据高分辨率层序地层学原理，在精细地层划分和对比的基础上，建立了研究区层序地层格架。利用岩芯、测井、地震等资料对研究区沙二段进行沉积体系分析，划分了沉积相、亚相类型及其三维空间分布，明确了砂体展布规律；利用三维地震与钻井等资料，对沙二段构造进行了精细描述，分析了构造特征；结合沉积体系的研究结果，应用含油气系统理论，分析研究了该区油气的成藏机理，在此基础上，分析了沙二段的油气分布规律，预测了有利的滚动勘探目标。 本次研究以新理论为指导，应用地震、地质、测井等多种资料，通过综合分析研究，取得了以下的成果和认识： 1、对研究区130多口井进行了层序地层的细分，并做了8条剖面对比，系统地分析了研究区沙二段的层序地层特征，将沙二段划分为2个三级层序，并细分为10个四级层序。 2、以四级层序为做图单元，做出了10个四级层序的地层等厚图、砂岩等厚图、砂岩百分含量图、砂泥比图，结合单井沉积相分析，做出了各个层序的沉积相分布图。 3、通过目的层沉积演化分析研究表明，沙二段为发育两期不同规模、不同沉积特点的三角洲；其中，沙二下主要发育三角洲前缘亚相和前三角洲亚相，沙二上主要发育三角洲平原亚相和三角洲前缘亚相。 4、研究区内发育一系列近东西走向的断层，地层北低南高，成台阶状，构造线与断层线近于一致，难以形成较大规模的有效圈闭，这是该区沙二段油气不富集的主要原因。 5、沙二段油气藏大都是通过断层由下覆的沙三段油气藏中运移到浅层而形成的，以小断鼻为主要类型，油藏的充满度高，具“小而肥”的特征，有较大的勘探潜力。 6、断层是控制该区沙二段油气成藏的最主要因素，一方面早期开启的断层是沟通下覆油层的通道，另一方面研究区内的主要圈闭是以断层遮挡为主，断层的封闭与否直接决定能否形成有效的圈闭。 通过应用以上研究成果，对东营凹陷纯梁东部地区沙二段油藏勘探潜力进行了整体评价，获得了多个有利的滚动勘探目标，尤其是构造-岩性及岩性油藏是该区进一步滚动勘探的重要方向；目前已提出了可供钻探的勘探目标1个，有利的隐蔽油气藏勘探地区1个。

ADEPT: A Heuristic Program for Proving Theorems of Group Theory

A computer program, named ADEPT (A Distinctly Empirical Prover of Theorems), has been written which proves theorems taken from the abstract theory of groups. Its operation is basically heuristic, incorporating many of the techniques of the human mathematician in a "natural" way. This program has proved almost 100 theorems, as well as serving as a vehicle for testing and evaluating special-purpose heuristics. A detailed description of the program is supplemented by accounts of its performance on a number of theorems, thus providing many insights into the particular problems inherent in the design of a procedure capable of proving a variety of theorems from this domain. Suggestions have been formulated for further efforts along these lines, and comparisons with related work previously reported in the literature have been made.

Erich Lessing: Arresting Time. Reportage Photography 1948-1973

Crawford, Alistair, Erich Lessing: Arresting Time. Reportage Photography 1948-1973 (New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2005) RAE2008

Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Nanowires: Design, Fabrication and Application in Sensing.

This study involves two aspects of our investigations of plasmonics-active systems: (i) theoretical and simulation studies and (ii) experimental fabrication of plasmonics-active nanostructures. Two types of nanostructures are selected as the model systems for their unique plasmonics properties: (1) nanoparticles and (2) nanowires on substrate. Special focus is devoted to regions where the electromagnetic field is strongly concentrated by the metallic nanostructures or between nanostructures. The theoretical investigations deal with dimers of nanoparticles and nanoshells using a semi-analytical method based on a multipole expansion (ME) and the finite-element method (FEM) in order to determine the electromagnetic enhancement, especially at the interface areas of two adjacent nanoparticles. The experimental study involves the design of plasmonics-active nanowire arrays on substrates that can provide efficient electromagnetic enhancement in regions around and between the nanostructures. Fabrication of these nanowire structures over large chip-scale areas (from a few millimeters to a few centimeters) as well as FDTD simulations to estimate the EM fields between the nanowires are described. The application of these nanowire chips using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for detection of chemicals and labeled DNA molecules is described to illustrate the potential of the plasmonics chips for sensing.

Interaction of Cryptococcus neoformans Rim101 and protein kinase A regulates capsule.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a prevalent human fungal pathogen that must survive within various tissues in order to establish a human infection. We have identified the C. neoformans Rim101 transcription factor, a highly conserved pH-response regulator in many fungal species. The rim101 multiply sign in circle mutant strain displays growth defects similar to other fungal species in the presence of alkaline pH, increased salt concentrations, and iron limitation. However, the rim101 multiply sign in circle strain is also characterized by a striking defect in capsule, an important virulence-associated phenotype. This capsular defect is likely due to alterations in polysaccharide attachment to the cell surface, not in polysaccharide biosynthesis. In contrast to many other C. neoformans capsule-defective strains, the rim101 multiply sign in circle mutant is hypervirulent in animal models of cryptococcosis. Whereas Rim101 activation in other fungal species occurs through the conserved Rim pathway, we demonstrate that C. neoformans Rim101 is also activated by the cAMP/PKA pathway. We report here that C. neoformans uses PKA and the Rim pathway to regulate the localization, activation, and processing of the Rim101 transcription factor. We also demonstrate specific host-relevant activating conditions for Rim101 cleavage, showing that C. neoformans has co-opted conserved signaling pathways to respond to the specific niche within the infected host. These results establish a novel mechanism for Rim101 activation and the integration of two conserved signaling cascades in response to host environmental conditions.

How actions create--not just reveal--preferences.

The neo-classical economics view that behavior is driven by - and reflective of - hedonic utility is challenged by psychologists' demonstrations of cases in which actions do not merely reveal preferences but rather create them. In this view, preferences are frequently constructed in the moment and are susceptible to fleeting situational factors; problematically, individuals are insensitive to the impact of such factors on their behavior, misattributing utility caused by these irrelevant factors to stable underlying preferences. Consequently, subsequent behavior might reflect not hedonic utility but rather this erroneously imputed utility that lingers in memory. Here we review the roles of these streams of utility in shaping preferences, and discuss how neuroimaging offers unique possibilities for disentangling their independent contributions to behavior.

Where are cultural and social in ecosystem services? A framework for constructive engagement

A focus on ecosystem services (ES) is seen as a means for improving decisionmaking. In the research to date, the valuation of the material contributions of ecosystems to human well-being has been emphasized, with less attention to important cultural ES and nonmaterial values. This gap persists because there is no commonly accepted framework for eliciting less tangible values, characterizing their changes, and including them alongside other services in decisionmaking. Here, we develop such a framework for ES research and practice, addressing three challenges: (1) Nonmaterial values are ill suited to characterization using monetary methods; (2) it is difficult to unequivocally link particular changes in socioecological systems to particular changes in cultural benefits; and (3) cultural benefits are associated with many services, not just cultural ES. There is no magic bullet, but our framework may facilitate fuller and more socially acceptable integrations of ES information into planning and management. © 2012 by American Institute of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved.

Physiological levels of PTEN control the size of the cellular Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 pool

To understand how a signaling molecule's activities are regulated, we need insight into the processes controlling the dynamic balance between its synthesis and degradation. For the Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 signal, this information is woefully inadequate. For example, the only known cytosolic enzyme with the capacity to degrade Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 is the tumour-suppressor PTEN [J.J. Caffrey, T. Darden, M.R. Wenk, S.B. Shears, FEBS Lett. 499 (2001) 6 ], but the biological relevance has been questioned by others [E.A. Orchiston, D. Bennett, N.R. Leslie, R.G. Clarke, L. Winward, C.P. Downes, S.T. Safrany, J. Biol. Chem. 279 (2004) 1116 ]. The current study emphasizes the role of physiological levels of PTEN in Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 homeostasis. We employed two cell models. First, we used a human U87MG glioblastoma PTEN-null cell line that hosts an ecdysone-inducible PTEN expression system. Second, the human H1299 bronchial cell line, in which PTEN is hypomorphic due to promoter methylation, has been stably transfected with physiologically relevant levels of PTEN. In both models, a novel consequence of PTEN expression was to increase Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 pool size by 30-40% (p<0.01); this response was wortmannin-insensitive and, therefore, independent of the PtdIns 3-kinase pathway. In U87MG cells, induction of the G129R catalytically inactive PTEN mutant did not affect Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) levels. PTEN induction did not alter the expression of enzymes participating in Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 synthesis. Another effect of PTEN expression in U87MG cells was to decrease InsP6 levels by 13% (p<0.02). The InsP6-phosphatase, MIPP, may be responsible for the latter effect; we show that recombinant human MIPP dephosphorylates InsP6 to D/L-Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5, levels of which increased 60% (p<0.05) following PTEN expression in U87MG cells. Overall, our data add higher inositol phosphates to the list of important cellular regulators [Y. Huang, R.P. Wernyj, D.D. Norton, P. Precht, M.C. Seminario, R.L. Wange, Oncogene, 24 (2005) 3819 ] the levels of which are modulated by expression of the highly pleiotropic PTEN protein.

Monitoring SO2 emission at the Soufriere Hills Volcano: implications for changes in eruptive conditions

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Priority research questions for the UK food system

The rise of food security up international political, societal and academic agendas has led to increasing interest in novel means of improving primary food production and reducing waste. There are however, also many 'post-farm gate' activities that are critical to food security, including processing, packaging, distributing, retailing, cooking and consuming. These activities all affect a range of important food security elements, notably availability, affordability and other aspects of access, nutrition and safety. Addressing the challenge of universal food security, in the context of a number of other policy goals (e.g. social, economic and environmental sustainability), is of keen interest to a range of UK stakeholders but requires an up-to-date evidence base and continuous innovation. An exercise was therefore conducted, under the auspices of the UK Global Food Security Programme, to identify priority research questions with a focus on the UK food system (though the outcomes may be broadly applicable to other developed nations). Emphasis was placed on incorporating a wide range of perspectives ('world views') from different stakeholder groups: policy, private sector, non-governmental organisations, advocacy groups and academia. A total of 456 individuals submitted 820 questions from which 100 were selected by a process of online voting and a three-stage workshop voting exercise. These 100 final questions were sorted into 10 themes and the 'top' question for each theme identified by a further voting exercise. This step also allowed four different stakeholder groups to select the top 7-8 questions from their perspectives. Results of these voting exercises are presented. It is clear from the wide range of questions prioritised in this exercise that the different stakeholder groups identified specific research needs on a range of post-farm gate activities and food security outcomes. Evidence needs related to food affordability, nutrition and food safety (all key elements of food security) featured highly in the exercise. While there were some questions relating to climate impacts on production, other important topics for food security (e.g. trade, transport, preference and cultural needs) were not viewed as strongly by the participants.

The WASP Project and the SuperWASP Cameras

The SuperWASP cameras are wide-field imaging systems at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, and at the Sutherland Station of the South African Astronomical Observatory. Each instrument has a field of view of some 482 deg2 with an angular scale of 13.7" pixel-1, and is capable of delivering photometry with accuracy better than 1% for objects having V~7.0-11.5. Lower quality data for objects brighter than V~15.0 are stored in the project archive. The systems, while designed to monitor fields with high cadence, are capable of surveying the entire visible sky every 40 minutes. Depending on the observational strategy, the data rate can be up to 100 Gbytes per night. We have produced a robust, largely automatic reduction pipeline and advanced archive, which are used to serve the data products to the consortium members. The main science aim of these systems is to search for bright transiting exoplanet systems suitable for spectroscopic follow-up observations. The first 6 month season of SuperWASP-North observations produced light curves of ~6.7 million objects with 12.9 billion data points.