Integração de dados geofísicos de poços e geoquímicos na avaliação do potencial gerador dos folhelhos betuminosos da Formação Tremembé, Bacia de Taubaté

Nos depósitos cenozóicos da Bacia de Taubaté são encontrados depósitos de folhelhos betuminosos (oleígenos) pertencentes à Formação Tremembé, de idade oligocênica, que durante alguns anos na década de 50 foram investigados com relação ao seu aproveitamento econômico através da extração industrial do óleo nele contido. Entretanto, em face de aspectos tecnológicos e conjunturais da época, esse aproveitamento industrial foi considerado inviável do ponto de vista econômico. Nesta dissertação é proposta uma aplicação da perfilagem geofísica para a caracterização da faciologia dos folhelhos betuminosos da Formação Tremembé, tendo como objetivo principal a identificação das eletrofácies nos perfis elétricos, através de uma metodologia robusta e consistente. A identificação de eletrofácies é importante para ajudar na determinação da caracterização de uma reserva não convencional e na análise da viabilidade econômica. Neste estudo foram utilizados os perfis convencionais de poço: Raio gama, resitividade, potencial espontâneo e sônico. Os dados de perfis de poços foram integrados com os testemunhos e dados geoquímicos, mais precisamente os dados de COT, S, IH, S2 para uma caracterização realística das eletrofácies. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de três sondagens rotativas realizadas na Bacia de Taubaté, resultantes de testemunhagem contínua e perfilagem a cabo ao longo do intervalo de folhelhos da Formação Tremembé. A partir disto, obtém-se como resposta um modelo específico para cada litologia, onde cada pico corresponde a uma eletrofácies, permitindo o estabelecimento de alguns padrões ou assinaturas geofísicas para as principais fácies ocorrentes. Como resultado deste trabalho, foi possível correlacionar as eletrofácies entre os poços numa seção modelo, a partir de similaridade lateral das eletrofácies entre os marcos estratigráficos representado, foi possível observar a continuidade de duas sequências de folhelhos betuminoso com alto teores de COT, S, IH, S2, considerados os mais importantes do ponto de vista econômico e gerado um modelo faciológico 2D e 3D dessas camadas. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho são bastante promissores, apontando para a possibilidade de aplicação desta técnica a outros poços da Bacia de Taubaté, fornecendo subsídios relevantes à determinação da evolução sedimentar.

Modelling of settlement induced building damage

This thesis focuses on the modelling of settlement induced damage to masonry buildings. In densely populated areas, the need for new space is nowadays producing a rapid increment of underground excavations. Due to the construction of new metro lines, tunnelling activity in urban areas is growing. One of the consequences is a greater attention to the risk of damage on existing structures. Thus, the assessment of potential damage of surface buildings has become an essential stage in the excavation projects in urban areas (Chapter 1). The current damage risk assessment procedure is based on strong simplifications, which not always lead to conservative results. Object of this thesis is the development of an improved damage classification system, which takes into account the parameters influencing the structural response to settlement, like the non-linear behaviour of masonry and the soil-structure interaction. The methodology used in this research is based on experimental and numerical modelling. The design and execution of an experimental benchmark test representative of the problem allows to identify the principal factors and mechanisms involved. The numerical simulations enable to generalize the results to a broader range of physical scenarios. The methodological choice is based on a critical review of the currently available procedures for the assessment of settlement-induced building damage (Chapter 2). A new experimental test on a 1/10th masonry façade with a rubber base interface is specifically designed to investigate the effect of soil-structure interaction on the tunnelling-induced damage (Chapter 3). The experimental results are used to validate a 2D semi-coupled finite element model for the simulation of the structural response (Chapter 4). The numerical approach, which includes a continuum cracking model for the masonry and a non-linear interface to simulate the soil-structure interaction, is then used to perform a sensitivity study on the effect of openings, material properties, initial damage, initial conditions, normal and shear behaviour of the base interface and applied settlement profile (Chapter 5). The results assess quantitatively the major role played by the normal stiffness of the soil-structure interaction and by the material parameters defining the quasi-brittle masonry behaviour. The limitation of the 2D modelling approach in simulating the progressive 3D displacement field induced by the excavation and the consequent torsional response of the building are overcome by the development of a 3D coupled model of building, foundation, soil and tunnel (Chapter 6). Following the same method applied to the 2D semi-coupled approach, the 3D model is validated through comparison with the monitoring data of a literature case study. The model is then used to carry out a series of parametric analyses on geometrical factors: the aspect ratio of horizontal building dimensions with respect to the tunnel axis direction, the presence of adjacent structures and the position and alignment of the building with respect to the excavation (Chapter 7). The results show the governing effect of the 3D building response, proving the relevance of 3D modelling. Finally, the results from the 2D and 3D parametric analyses are used to set the framework of an overall damage model which correlates the analysed structural features with the risk for the building of being damaged by a certain settlement (Chapter 8). This research therefore provides an increased experimental and numerical understanding of the building response to excavation-induced settlements, and sets the basis for an operational tool for the risk assessment of structural damage (Chapter 9).

Observation and theoretical analysis for the sand-waves migration in the North Gulf of South China Sea

According to the environmental characteristic of the north gulf of South China Sea, a quasi-3D mechanics model has been built for simulating the small scale sand-waves migration in the seas of southwest of Hainan Island. Based on the submarine micro-geomorphic data induced by multi-beam system and hydrographic survey record, the migrations of the sand-waves in the study area are predicted. The results show that calculation is consistent with the observation data in the groove of sand ridge, but not well in the crest of sand ridge. It is indicated that the mechanics model should be used to predict the migration of the small scale sand-waves which are dominated by bed load in the seas. This paper is very meaningful to project the route of submarine pipeline.

整合多尺度地球物理数据建立高分辨率储层模型的方法及应用

Most of the fields in China are in the middle-late development phase or are mature fields. It becomes more and more difficult to develop the remaining oil/gas. Therefore, it is import to enhance oil/gas recovery in order to maintain the production. Fine scale modeling is a key to improve the recovery. Incorporation of geological, seismic and well log data to 3D earth modeling is essential to build such models. In Ken71 field, well log, cross-well seismic and 3D seismic data are available. A key issue is to build 3D earth model with these multi-scales data for oil field development.In this dissertation, studies on sequential Gaussian-Bayesian simulation have been conducted. Its comparison with cokriging and sequential Gaussian simulation has been performed. The realizations generated by sequential Gaussian-Bayesian simulation have higher vertical resolution than those generated by other methods. Less differences between these realization and true case are observed. With field data, it is proved that incorporating well log, cross-well seismic and 3D seismic into 3D fine scale model is reliable. In addition, the advantages of sequential Gaussian-Bayesian simulation and conditions for input data are demonstrated. In Ken71 field, the impedance difference between sandstone and shale is small. It would be difficult to identify sandstone in the reservoir with traditional impedance inversion. After comparisons of different inversion techniques, stochastic hillclimbing inversion was applied. With this method, shale content inversion is performed using 3D seismic data. Then, the inverted results of shale content and well log data are incorporated into 3D models. This demonstrates a procedure to build fine scale models using multi scale seismic data, especially 3D seismic amplitude volume.The models generated through sequential Gaussian-Bayesian simulation have several advantages including: (1) higher vertical resolution compared with 3D inverted acoustic impedance (AI); (2) consistency of lateral variation as 3D inverted AI; (3) more reliability due to integration cross-well seismic data. It is observed that the precision of the model depends on the 3D inversion.

孤岛油田曲流河微相单砂体储层建筑结构及挖潜方向研究

In the intermediary and later stage of oil field development, remaining oil disperses fiercely, the contradiction in the layer has become the main problem and the distribution of remaining oil is transforming to the difference of single sand-body. So, the fine description research of reservoir is becoming a tendency and the methods of remaining oil research need new developments. In the research of “The Single-sand-body Architectural Element and Potentiality Analysis Research of Meandering River, GuDao Oil Field”, the research principle is analytical hierarchy process and schema prescription what are reservoir fine description methods under the condition of dense well pattern. The knowledge of regional sedimentary system and sedimentary facies is the foundation of this research. According to the 3D distribution model of the microfacies sand-body of fluvial facies, stratigraphic unit classification & coenocorrelation of 154 wells are completed in the research of meandering river sand-body in Ng3-4. In this research, the 3D distribution of microfacies sand-body in the main layers are settled. The architectural element model of Ng4 point bar is analysed using the drill core and FMI data. According to the overgrow model of point bar, the surfaces of lateral accretion is traced and the architectural element model of point bar is settled. In the research, the control of micro-facies sand-body of meandering river to the distribution of remaining oil is analysed and the potential area is proposed. All these will play an important role in the development of GuDao oil field. In this research, abundant of logging data, drill core data and production performance data are used to analyse the contributing factor of single sand-body in the Ng3-4 meandering river. Using the technology of geological modeling, all that are researched including the 3D distribution scales of meandering river point bar, the control affection of inner lateral accretion layer to the distribution of oil & gas and remaining. Then, the way of remaining oil development in the sand-body of meandering river is improved. The innovation of the research technology includes (1) the presentation of the conception and research methods of micro-facies sand-body (2) enriching the content of reservoir architectural element research and (3) to renew the research method of remaining oil analysis. The research has practiced with obvious effect.(1)It is deepened into understand the river facies reservoir construction of Gudao oil field, By Building the reservoir construction and studying the effect of diffent deposit or geological interface to fluid partition and to the distribution of the remaining oil, we improved the understanding to the distribution of the remaining oil；(2)By building the distribution mod of the remaining oil in the reservoir construction and making the remaining oil description detailed,the development direction of old oil field is more clear；(3)Expanded the application scales of the horizontal well and enhanced the application effects of the horizontal well technique , we designed and drilled 23 ports horizontal wells in all , the cumulative hydrocarbon production is 10.6*104 t；(4) According to the findings of the internal building structure in reservoir of the fluvial facies in the region of interest, and uniting the injection/production corresponding states、the producing history and the dynamic monitoring documents of the oil/water wells in the flooding units , we researched the residual oil distribution in the point bar , and found the distribution regular patterns of the remaining oil, and comprehended the distribution of the remaining oil . In base of that , we proceeded the optimizing designs of the oil well potentialities , and advanced the effect of the treatment potentials . It is proved that , it was very important that internal building structure research of the single sand body of reservoir for guiding the high efficiency potentialities of the remaining oil in the high water cut stage .

承德公路隧道围岩分级与塌方机理分析

During tunnel constriction the classification of rock mass is widely used in tunnel design and construction. Moreover it offers the base information about tunnel investment and security. The quick classification of rock mass is very important for not delaying tunnel construction. Nowadays the tunnel engineers usually use initial survey files which are obtained by probe drilling to design a tunnel. It brings the problem that initial surrounding rock classification is usually much different from the real condition during the tunnel construction. Because initial surrounding rock lack credibility, it need us to make real time surrounding rock classification during the tunnel construction, and feed back the result to designers and constructors. Therefore, to find a quick wall rock classification method is very important not only for the time limit for a project but also for not delaying tunnel construction. Not all but many tunnels and underground constructions do suffer form collapse during the period of construction. Although accidental collapse in a large project in civil and geotechnical engineering sometimes appears to be a local event, if it occurred, it can bring about casualties, disrupted，production, construction delay, environmental damage, capital cost etc，therefore, it has been a difficult problem ,both in theory and in practice, establishing how to prevent underground structures form collapse and how to handle such an event in case in occurs. It is important to develop effective solutions and technical measures to prevent and control the collapse. According to the tunnel collapse occurred in Cheng De this paper analyze the main collapse mechanism leading to tunnel collapse and summon up the disposal method when collapse happened. It may be useful for tunnel construction in Cheng De in future. This paper is base on tunnel surrounding rock classification and tunnel support tasks during the tunnel construction in Cheng De area. It aims at solving 4 important problems in tunnel design and construction. 1) The relationship between rock rebound strength and rock single axle compression strength. First we go to the face wall and do rebound test on the tunnel face, then we chose some pieces of rock and do point loading test. Form the tests record we try to find the relationship between rock rebound strength and rock single axle compression strength. 2) The relationship between the value [BQ] and the value Q. First in order to obtain the information of rock character, rock strength, degree of weathering, the structure of rock mass, the joint condition, underground water condition and so on, we go to the tunnel face to do field investigation. And then we use two kinds of rock classification method to make surrounding rock classification. Base on the works above, finally we analyze the relationship between the value [BQ] and the value Q. 3) Sum up the mechanism leading to tunnel collapse and it disposal method in Cheng De area According to the tunnel collapse occurred in Cheng De this paper analyze the main reasons leading to the tunnel collapse and sum up the disposal method when collapse happened. 4) Obtain the properties of steel frame grid by numerical simulation. First we establish the 3D numeral model of steel frame grid by ADINA, and then find the mechanics properties by numerical simulation in ADINA. Second Based on the rock mass geological structure model, we established steel frame grid numeral model which is installed in the tunnel by FLAC3D and simulated the progress of tunnel construction. We hope that the support effect in tunnel can be evaluated from the numerical simulation.

准噶尔盆地南缘台13井区侏罗系油藏表征与建模

Junggar Basin has a large amount of recoverable reserves, However, due to the unfavorable factors, such as bad seismic data quality, complex structure with many faults and less wells, the exploration of oil and gas is still relatively limited, so advanced theoretical guidance and effective technical supports are desirable. Based on the theories of sedimentology, as well as comprehensive studies of outcrops, seismic data, drilling data and setting of this area, the paper establishes the isochronous correlation framework, and analyzes the sedimentary facies types and provenance direction, and obtains the profile and plain maps of the sedimentary facies combined with the logging constrained inversion. Then the paper analyzes the reservoir controlling factors, reservoir lithology attribute, 4-property relationship and sensibility based on the sedimentary facies research, and sets up a 3D geological model using facies controlled modeling. Finally, the paper optimizes some target areas with the conclusions of reservoir, structure and reservoir formation.Firstly, the paper establishs the isochronous correlation framework by the seismic data, drilling data and setting of this area. The sedimentary facies in Tai13 well block are braided river and meandering river according to the analysis of the lithology attribute, logging facies and sedimentary structure attribute of outcrop. The concept of “wetland” is put forward for the first time. The provenance direction of Badaowan and Qigu formation is obtained by the geology setting, sedimentary setting and paleocurrent direction. The paper obtains the profile and plain maps of the sedimentary facies from the sand value of the wells and the sand thickness maps from the logging constrained inversion. Then, this paper takes characteristics and control factors of the Jurassic reservoirs analysis on thin section observation, scanning transmission electron microscope observation and find out the petrology characteristics of reservoir, space types of reservoir and lithofacies division. In this area, primary pores dominate in the reservoir pores, which believed that sedimentation played the most important roles of the reservoir quality and diagenesis is the minor factor influencing secondary porosity. Using stochastic modeling technique，the paper builds quantitative 3-D reservoir Parameter. Finally, combined the study of structure and reservoir formation, the reservoir distribution regularity is concluded: (a) structures control the reservoir formation and accumulation. (b) Locating in the favorable sedimentary facies belt. And the area which meets these conditions mentioned above is a good destination for exploration.

凝析油气藏描述及开发对策研究-以莫北2油气藏为例

Gas condensate reservoir research involves not only structure sediment reservoir liquid properties characterization but also the change of the temperature field, the change of the pressure field, the change of liquid phase and the reservoir sensitivity. To develop the gas condensate reservoir effectively .we must depict the static properties of the oil and gas system ,build exact and comprehensive parameter field, predict the rule of dynamic change and do the necessary reservoir characterization development plan dynamic prediction direct production. The MoBei Oil and Gas Field is the first gas condensate reservoirs which is found by the Xinjiang Oil Field Company in ZhunGaEr basin belly.it has deserved some knowledge after prospect evaluation, the MoBei Oil and Gas Field start development ,it is one of the important development blocks of Xinjiang Oil Field Company productivity constuction. During its development , it gradually appears some problems, such as complex oil and gas phase, great change of reservoir stretch .uncertain reservoir type and scale, controling its development strategy and plan difficultly. To deserve the high efficient development and long-term stable production of the gas condensate reservoir, it is necessary to characterize it systematically and form a suit of scientific development strategy. This thesis take the MoBei zone SanGongHe sand group reservoir as research object, applied advanced log techniques ,such as the nulear magnetism log ,MDT testing .etc. After comprehensive research of loging geology information, set up a suit of methods to identify oil gas water layer .these methods can identify the gas-oil level and the oil-water level. On the basis of reasonable development object system, according fine structure interpretation and structure modeling. build any oil water column height of the reservoir accurately. Through carefully analysis of the basic theory and method of reservoir seism prediction. optimize a reservoir inversion method .technique. software fitting the research region aiming strata, set up the GR field, porosity field, Rt field, impedence field .permeability field and initial oil saturation field, generating the base of quantity reservoir characterization. Discussing the characteristic of reservoir fluid and the movement and reallocating of muti-phase fluid in reservoir. And according the material of 100 soviet gas condensate reservoir ,build the recognition method and mode of gas condensate reservoir. Building the 3D geology model ,carry on the static and production evaluation, propose the development strategy and improve plan , provide the base of increasing reserves and advancing production and enriching the prospect development theory of the gas condensate reservoi

高含水油藏复合驱剩油分布研究-以羊三木油田馆陶组油藏复合驱为例

Based on the study of the combined flooding test block of Guantao formation in Third faulted block of Yangsanmu oil field, this paper carries out the integration of reservoir precise characterization for very high water cut reservoir, establishes precise 3D geologic model for high water cut development period and states the changing law of the reservoir architecture dtiring development by combined flooding. Then, by subdivided the thick oil reservoir, the study of remaining oil saturation monitoring in fiber glass cased well and tracer monitoring is developed. According the study of multiple constrained combined flooding reservoir numerical simulation, remaining oil distribution are predicted, the methods architecture of predicting remaining oil distribution are established for fluvial facies reservoir at late development stage, develops plan is designed and adjustment associating technologies for enhancing oil recovery. On these base, related measures for tapping the potential are given, it is verified and optimized through the field former test and the good economic effect is achieved . The major achievements of this paper are as follows. The changing law of the reservoir architecture and it's property parameters is revealed, The result indicates that the temperature-pressure of the injecting material and the interaction effect of the injecting material and reservoir petrography are the main factors of the dynamic changes of the reservoir architecture. The quantitative reservoir geologic model, which is tallied with dynamic reservoir parameters of the study area, is established. Subdivided the thick oil reservoir is very important for the study of the remaining oil distribution within the thick oil reservoir. Subdivided the thick oil reservoir technology, which consists of six technologies as follow: micro-cyclic divided, flow unit method, architectural element method, high resolution log technology, high resolution-process technology for normal logging data and using the production data is presented. 3. It is established dynamic monitoring system of remaining oil saturation quantitative research which are inner and interlayer remaining oil saturation from time-lapse logging in fiber glass cased well, inter-well remaining oil saturation from the technology of isotopic tracer monitoring technology, and 4d remaining oil saturation distribution from combined flooding numerical modeling integrated by production datao The forming mechanism of remaining oil for polymer flooding and alkali/polymer combined flooding is clarified, and the plane and vertical distribution law of remaining oil after combined flooding is revealed. Predicting methods and technologies for the combined flooding reservoir of fluvial facies is developed. Combined flooding has been achieved good displacement result in the pilot of Third fault block in Yangsanmu oil field, and accumulated types of important parameters and optimum plans, this technology of combined flooding is expected to increase recovery ratio by 4.77%.

工程地质三维可视化技术及其工程应用研究

Study of 3D visualization technology of engineering geology and its application to engineering is a cross subject which includes geosciences, computer, software and information technology. Being an important part of the secondary theme of National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) whose name is Study of Multi-Scale Structure and Occurrence Environment of Complicated Geological Engineering Mass(No.2002CB412701), the dissertation involves the studies of key problems of 3D geological modeling, integrated applications of multi-format geological data, effective modeling methods of complex approximately layered geological mass as well as applications of 3D virtual reality information management technology.The main research findings are listed below:Integrated application method of multi-format geological data is proposed,which has solved the integrated application of drill holes, engineering geology plandrawings, sectional drawings and cutting drawings as well as exploratory trenchsketch. Its application can provide as more as possible fundamental data for 3Dgeological modeling.A 3D surface construction method combined Laplace interpolation points withoriginal points is proposed, so the deformation of 3D model and the crossing error ofupper and lower surface of model resulted from lack of data when constructing alaminated stratum can be eliminated.3D modeling method of approximately layered geological mass is proposed,which has solved the problems of general modeling method based on the sections or points and faces when constructing terrain and concordant strata.The 3D geological model of VII dam site of Xiangjiaba hydropower stationhas been constructed. The applications of 3D geological model to the auto-plotting ofsectional drawing and the converting of numerical analysis model are also discussed.3D virtual reality information integrated platform is developed, whose mostimportant character is that it is a software platform having the functions of 3D virtualreality flying and multi-format data management simultaneously. Therefore, theplatform can load different 3D model so as to satisfy the different engineeringdemands.The relics of Aigong Cave of Longyou Stone Caves are recovered. Thereinforcement plans of 1# and 2# cave in phoenix hill also be expressed. The intuitiveexpression provided decision makers and designers a very good environment.The basic framework and specific functions of 3D geological informationsystem are proposed.The main research findings in the dissertation have been successfully applied to some important engineering such as Xiangjiaba hydropower station, a military airport and Longyou Stone Caves etc.

Light Field Morphable Models

Statistical shape and texture appearance models are powerful image representations, but previously had been restricted to 2D or simple 3D shapes. In this paper we present a novel 3D morphable model based on image-based rendering techniques, which can represent complex lighting conditions, structures, and surfaces. We describe how to construct a manifold of the multi-view appearance of an object class using light fields and show how to match a 2D image of an object to a point on this manifold. In turn we use the reconstructed light field to render novel views of the object. Our technique overcomes the limitations of polygon based appearance models and uses light fields that are acquired in real-time.

Head Tracking via Robust Registration in Texture Map Images

A novel method for 3D head tracking in the presence of large head rotations and facial expression changes is described. Tracking is formulated in terms of color image registration in the texture map of a 3D surface model. Model appearance is recursively updated via image mosaicking in the texture map as the head orientation varies. The resulting dynamic texture map provides a stabilized view of the face that can be used as input to many existing 2D techniques for face recognition, facial expressions analysis, lip reading, and eye tracking. Parameters are estimated via a robust minimization procedure; this provides robustness to occlusions, wrinkles, shadows, and specular highlights. The system was tested on a variety of sequences taken with low quality, uncalibrated video cameras. Experimental results are reported.

Laminar Cortical Dynamics of Visual Form and Motion Interactions During Coherent Object Motion Perception

How do visual form and motion processes cooperate to compute object motion when each process separately is insufficient? A 3D FORMOTION model specifies how 3D boundary representations, which separate figures from backgrounds within cortical area V2, capture motion signals at the appropriate depths in MT; how motion signals in MT disambiguate boundaries in V2 via MT-to-Vl-to-V2 feedback; how sparse feature tracking signals are amplified; and how a spatially anisotropic motion grouping process propagates across perceptual space via MT-MST feedback to integrate feature-tracking and ambiguous motion signals to determine a global object motion percept. Simulated data include: the degree of motion coherence of rotating shapes observed through apertures, the coherent vs. element motion percepts separated in depth during the chopsticks illusion, and the rigid vs. non-rigid appearance of rotating ellipses.

Electromagnetic tracking and steering for catheter navigation

This thesis explores the use of electromagnetics for both steering and tracking of medical instruments in minimally invasive surgeries. The end application is virtual navigation of the lung for biopsy of early stage cancer nodules. Navigation to the peripheral regions of the lung is difficult due to physical dimensions of the bronchi and current methods have low successes rates for accurate diagnosis. Firstly, the potential use of DC magnetic fields for the actuation of catheter devices with permanently magnetised distal attachments is investigated. Catheter models formed from various materials and magnetic tip formations are used to examine the usefulness of relatively low power and compact electromagnets. The force and torque that can be exerted on a small permanent magnet is shown to be extremely limited. Hence, after this initial investigation we turn our attention to electromagnetic tracking, in the development of a novel, low-cost implementation of a GPS-like system for navigating within a patient. A planar magnetic transmitter, formed on a printed circuit board for a low-profile and low cost manufacture, is used to generate a low frequency magnetic field distribution which is detected by a small induction coil sensor. The field transmitter is controlled by a novel closed-loop system that ensures a highly stable magnetic field with reduced interference from one transmitter coil to another. Efficient demodulation schemes are presented which utilise synchronous detection of each magnetic field component experienced by the sensor. The overall tracking accuracy of the system is shown to be less than 2 mm with an orientation error less than 1°. A novel demodulation implementation using a unique undersampling approach allows the use of reduced sample rates to sample the signals of interest without loss of tracking accuracy. This is advantageous for embedded microcontroller implementations of EM tracking systems. The EM tracking system is demonstrated in the pre-clinical environment of a breathing lung phantom. The airways of the phantom are successfully navigated using the system in combination with a 3D computer model rendered from CT data. Registration is achieved using both a landmark rigid registration method and a hybrid fiducial-free approach. The design of a planar magnetic shield structure for blocking the effects of metallic distortion from below the transmitter is presented which successfully blocks the impact of large ferromagnetic objects such as operating tables. A variety of shielding material are analysed with MuMetal and ferrite both providing excellent shieling performance and an increased signal to noise ratio. Finally, the effect of conductive materials and human tissue on magnetic field measurements is presented. Error due to induced eddy currents and capacitive coupling is shown to severely affect EM tracking accuracy at higher frequencies.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac progenitors differentiate to cardiomyocytes and form biosynthetic tissues.

The mammalian heart has little capacity to regenerate, and following injury the myocardium is replaced by non-contractile scar tissue. Consequently, increased wall stress and workload on the remaining myocardium leads to chamber dilation, dysfunction, and heart failure. Cell-based therapy with an autologous, epigenetically reprogrammed, and cardiac-committed progenitor cell source could potentially reverse this process by replacing the damaged myocardium with functional tissue. However, it is unclear whether cardiac progenitor cell-derived cardiomyocytes are capable of attaining levels of structural and functional maturity comparable to that of terminally-fated cardiomyocytes. Here, we first describe the derivation of mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which once differentiated allow for the enrichment of Nkx2-5(+) cardiac progenitors, and the cardiomyocyte-specific expression of the red fluorescent protein. We show that the cardiac progenitors are multipotent and capable of differentiating into endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. Moreover, cardiac progenitor selection corresponds to cKit(+) cell enrichment, while cardiomyocyte cell-lineage commitment is concomitant with dual expression of either cKit/Flk1 or cKit/Sca-1. We proceed to show that the cardiac progenitor-derived cardiomyocytes are capable of forming electrically and mechanically coupled large-scale 2D cell cultures with mature electrophysiological properties. Finally, we examine the cell progenitors' ability to form electromechanically coherent macroscopic tissues, using a physiologically relevant 3D culture model and demonstrate that following long-term culture the cardiomyocytes align, and form robust electromechanical connections throughout the volume of the biosynthetic tissue construct. We conclude that the iPS cell-derived cardiac progenitors are a robust cell source for tissue engineering applications and a 3D culture platform for pharmacological screening and drug development studies.