Amount Of Clay Minerals Research Articles

Geological Conditions of Shale Gas Accumulation in Coal Measures

The shale of different potential layers is studied by using rock pyrolysis analysis, total organic carbon determination (TOC), kerogen microscopic component identification, mineral X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments. The results are as follows: (1) Shishui Formation of the Lower Carboniferous and Longtan Formation of the Upper Permian are the two most important shale gas reservoirs in the Chenlei Depression. The sedimentary environment of the target shale is a marine land interaction facies coastal bay lagoon swamp sedimentary system. Two sedimentary facies of tidal flat facies, subtidal zone, and lagoon swamp facies are developed. (2) The organic matter types of shale are Type III and II2, with TOC content greater than 1%. The maturity of shale samples is relatively higher (Ro,max is above 2%), which means they have entered the stage of large-scale gas generation. The overall brittle mineral content of the target shale sample is relatively higher (above 40%), which is conducive to artificial fracturing and fracture formation in the later stage, while an appropriate amount of clay minerals (generally stable at 40%) is conducive to gas adsorption. (3) The overall pore structure of the water measurement group and Longtan group is good, with a higher specific surface area and total pore volume (average specific surface area is 12.21 and 8.36 m2/g, respectively), which is conducive to the occurrence of shale gas and has good adsorption and storage potential. The gas content of the water measurement group and the Longtan Formation varies from 0.42 to 5 cm3/g, with an average of 2.1 cm3/g. It indicates that the water measurement group and the Longtan Formation shale gas in the study area have good resource potential.

EFFECT OF BENTONITE AND DOLOMITE ADDITIVES ON RIGID POLYURETHANE

In this study, clay minerals such as bentonite and dolomite were included to increase the compressive tensile strength and decrease the thermal conductivity of rigid polyurethane foam. The effect of different combinations and amounts of clay minerals on the test parameters of the foam was investigated. The surface morphology of the doped foams was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Polyurethane foams were subjected to compressive-tensile strength and thermal conductivity tests. Improvement was observed in the thermal conductivity of polyurethane foams containing 1% bentonite and in the compressive and tensile strengths of polyurethane foams containing 2% dolomite. When clay minerals were added to polyurethane foam in combination, both thermal conductivity and compressive and tensile strengths were improved.

Effects of the Types and Amounts of Clay Minerals on Durability of Lime-Stabilized Clay Soils

Although the interaction between clay minerals and lime is the most effective factor in lime stabilization techniques, it has not been deeply evaluated. This research study investigated the microstructural characteristics of lime-stabilized Bentonite and Kaolin soils using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. To consider the variation in clay mineralogy, these soils were mixed at varied ratios, stabilized, and then subjected to a durability process. The microstructural findings showed that the pozzolanic reactions with lime did not occur or occurred at a low level for Bentonite soil. However, they occurred at a very high level for Kaolin soil. The durability test confirmed the microstructural results and showed that the samples in which Bentonite soil had a share of 40 to 100% by dry weight of the soil did not last with any percent of lime. When the Kaolin soil content reached 100% by dry weight of the soil, the specimens lasted in the best possible way, even with 4% of the lime. This study concluded that the determination of optimum lime content based on the amounts and types of soil clay minerals is an important innovation for geotechnical projects and may be very cost-effective.

Influence of Water on the Methane Adsorption Capacity of Organic-Rich Shales and Its Controlling Factors: A Review

A typical feature of shale gas reservoirs is that they contain a significant amount of adsorbed gas. The evaluation and prediction of adsorbed gas play important roles in shale gas exploration and development. However, the presence of water in shale reservoirs makes this work more difficult. In recent years, research related to the occurrence and distribution of water in shales and its effect on methane adsorption have become a prominent issue. In this paper, the factors controlling water in shale nanopores and its influence on methane adsorption were systematically reviewed. It is revealed that the connate water content in shales and their water absorption capacity vary widely, and both are mainly related to the organic matter contents and properties and mineral compositions. The water absorption capacity of organic matter in shales is mainly affected by its nanopore content, structure and surface chemical properties (such as the type and amount of oxygen-containing functional groups), which are jointly constrained by its kerogen type and maturity. Even under moist conditions, the organic matter in shales still shows a strong methane adsorption capacity, although the water decreases the adsorption capacity to some extent. The hydrophilicity of different minerals in shales varies greatly, but the type and amount of clay minerals are the main factors affecting the adsorbed water content or water adsorption capacity of shales. The nanopore structure and characteristics of shales, such as the pore type, specific surface area, pore size distribution and heterogeneity, directly impact the occurrence and distribution of water. The competition for adsorption between water and methane at some adsorption sites is the main mechanism for the reduction in the methane adsorption capacity of moist shales. In addition, external environmental factors, such as pressure and temperature, can change the distribution and occurrence of water in shales and, thus, the influence of water on the methane adsorption capacity to a certain extent. This paper also discusses some current issues regarding the effect of water on methane adsorption capacity and highlights future research directions in this field.

Mineralogy of Particulate Suspended Matter of the Severnaya Dvina River (White Sea, Russia)

This paper seeks to generalize the data obtained over 4 years of investigation of the suspended sediment mineral composition in Severnaya Dvina River. The sampling of the river water to isolate suspended particulate matter (SPM) using the method of sedimentation from large water volumes (200–800 L) was carried out at two points of the delta with different hydrological regimes every month for four years. SPM samples weighing 1 g and more allowed us to obtain and preserve for different analytical procedures the grain size fractions from 1.0–0.5 to <0.001 mm (from sands to pelit). The analyses of fractions revealed a sharp prevalence of pelitic fractions (<0.01 mm) (near 90% on average), while the share of silt was 4%–5%. Coarse fractions were found in the SPM of the main stream of the river but were absent in the samples taken at the point near the river–sea boundary. The determinations of clastic, clay, and some other minerals using the method of X-ray diffraction analysis have shown that in the group of clastic minerals, quartz and plagioclase prevail. Among the clay minerals, smectite and illite were present in high quantities, and chlorite and kaolinite were in lower quantitative. The distribution of minerals in the grain size fractions showed that the sum of clastic minerals reached its highest content of up to 84% in silt fractions (0.05–0.01 mm), while the sum of clay minerals in this fraction was minimal (about 15%). Investigations of seasonal variations of clastic and clay minerals during the whole period showed that the contents of minerals in the SPM of the Severnaya Dvina did not change much over the year. As a result of this work, the following trend was established on the behavior of all kinds of minerals: during the periods of high water in spring and autumn, a slightly increased quantity of clastic minerals was detected in comparison to winter and summer, while the variations in the quantities of clay minerals were insignificant.

Micro- and Nanoscale Pore Structure Characterization and Mineral Composition Analysis of Clayey-Silt Hydrate Reservoir in South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate is a kind of environmentally friendly unconventional energy with large reserves, which attract increasing attention in recent years. The microscopic pore structure and mineral composition of natural gas hydrate reservoir have a great influence on its seepage characteristics during exploitation. In this study, computed tomography and scanning electron microscope are used to obtain digital images of three clayey-silt natural gas hydrate reservoir samples in the Shenhu area of South China Sea, and then, the pore structure and the mineral composition of the samples are obtained after image processing. The result indicates that the clayey-silt samples show strong hydrophilic characteristics, small particles, good sorting properties, variable pore distribution, small average pore and throat radius, large porosity, and a large content of submicron pores. The mineral composition of the reservoir is mainly quartz and contains a certain amount of clay minerals, mainly illite, while the mineral composition of reservoir rich in microbial fossils is mainly carbonate. The results indicate that the pore structure and mineral composition of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in Shenhu area lay a foundation for the efficient development of the clayey-silt reservoir.

Experimental Study on Hydraulic Fracture Initiation and Propagation in Hydrated Shale

Shale reservoirs contain a certain amount of clay minerals, which can hydrate through imbibition when in contact with various water-based fluids during drilling and completion. Shale hydration can lead to structural changes in the shale such as the expansion of bedding planes and propagation of microfractures, consequently affecting the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures. However, the effect of shale hydration under confining pressure on hydraulic fracture propagation and stimulation effect is still unclear. To this end, a novel experimental method integrating shale hydration and hydraulic fracturing was proposed based on the laboratory triaxial hydraulic fracturing simulation system. This method enables a more realistic simulation of shale hydration and hydraulic fracturing process happening in downhole conditions. The experimental results show that under simulated reservoir conditions, water imbibition increases over time with the imbibition rate reaching its peak within 24 h. The breakdown pressure, number of fractures, and complexity of fractures are positively correlated with imbibition time. The increase in fracture complexity could be attributed to the increase in the number of fractures. In contrast, imbibition pressure (injection pressure for imbibition) has little influence on water imbibition. For specimens under different imbibition pressure, the breakdown pressure and the number of fractures are close, and the complexity of fractures does not change prominently; all are T-shaped fractures. It is believed that the closure of microfractures under confining pressure caused by hydration is the main reason for the increase in breakdown pressure. Higher breakdown pressure means higher net pressure in the wellbore, which facilitates fracture initiation where the breakdown pressure is higher. Therefore, shale hydration is conducive to the initiation of multiple fractures, thus increasing the number and complexity of fractures.

Study of the Influence of Clay Minerals on the Mechanical and Percolation Properties of Weakly Cemented Rocks

The weakly cemented rock layer is easily damaged under the combined effect of seepage and mining disturbance and creates massive engineering disasters. This paper uses the self-designed weakly cemented remodeling mechanism to prepare weakly cemented rock samples with clay minerals accounting for 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% of the total. The MTS816 system, in conjunction with an acoustic emission system and a high-speed camera, completed mechanical and seepage tests on the sample. The results show that when the quantity of clay minerals increases, the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and rapid crack propagation stress of the weakly cemented rock samples decrease. Initial stress of crack development increases and then decreases, as well as the sample’s failure mode changes from shear to tensile. The sample’s permeability increases with increasing osmotic and axial pressure differential but decreases with increasing confining pressure under the same amount of clay minerals. The sensitivity of permeability to changes in osmotic pressure differential, axial pressure, and confining pressure increases as the amount of clay minerals increases. The mechanical and seepage characteristics can show significant changes in clay minerals in 20% to 30%.

Key parameters of volcanic tuffs used as building stone: a statistical approach

Volcanic tuffs naturally show a strong heterogeneity in their petrography and petrophysical properties. The arrangement of the components in tuffs can create a very wide spectrum of porosities and fabrics, which in turn can lead to a highly differential weathering behavior. Considerable amounts of clay minerals and zeolites are common and can contribute to a high sensitivity to expansional processes and salt crystallization. Understanding the influence of the rock properties on material behavior and durability can help to make predictions on future material behavior and evaluate the suitability of the material for construction purposes. This study presents the petrographic and petrophysical data of 15 selected tuffs and 513 tuffs from the literature used as building stones. Regression analysis show if parameters are comparable and if key parameters can be identified. Key parameters can potentially be used for the estimation of the material behavior, without the use of expensive analytics or weathering simulations.

An experimental study to investigate the physical and dynamic elastic properties of Eagle Ford shale rock samples

Unconventional resources, such as Eagle Ford formation, are commonly classified for their ultra-low permeability, where pore sizes are in nano-scale and pore-conductivity is low, causing several challenges in evaluating unconventional-rock properties. Several experimental parameters (e.g., diffusion time of gas, gas injection pressure, method of permeability measurement, and confining pressure cycling) must be considered when evaluating the ultra-low permeability rock's physical and dynamic elastic properties measurements, where erroneous evaluations could be avoided. Characterizing ultra-low permeability samples' physical and elastic properties helps researchers obtain more reliable information leading to successful evaluations. In this study, 24 Eagle Ford core samples' physical and dynamic elastic properties were evaluated. Utilizing longer diffusion time and higher helium injection pressure, applying complex transient method, and cycling confining pressure were considered for porosity, permeability, and velocities measurements. Computerized tomography (CT) scan, porosity, permeability, and ultrasonic wave velocities were conducted on the core samples. Additionally, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was conducted to determine the mineralogical compositions. Porosity was measured at 2.07 MPa injection pressure for 24 h, and the permeability was measured using a complex transient method. P- and S-wave velocities were measured at two cycles of five confining pressures (up to 68.95 MPa). The XRD analysis results showed that the tested core samples had an average of 81.44% and 11.68% calcite and quartz, respectively, with a minor amount of clay minerals. The high content of calcite and quartz in shale yields higher velocities, higher Young's modulus, and lower Poisson's ratio, which enhances the brittleness that is an important parameter for well stimulation design (e.g., hydraulic fracturing). The results of porosity and permeability showed that porosity and permeability vary between 5.3–9.79% and 0.006–12 µD, respectively. The Permeability–porosity relation of samples shows a very weak correlation. P- and S-wave velocities results display a range of velocity up to 6206 m/s and 3285 m/s at 68.95 MPa confining pressure, respectively. Additionally, S-wave velocity is approximately 55% of P-wave velocity. A correlation between both velocities is established at each confining pressure, indicating a strong correlation. Results illustrated that applying two cycles of confining pressure impacts both velocities and dynamic elastic moduli. Ramping up the confining pressure increases both velocities owing to compaction of the samples and, in turn, increases dynamic Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio while decreasing bulk compressibility. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the above-mentioned parameters' values (after decreasing the confining pressure to 13.79 MPa) differ from the initial values due to the hysteresis loop, where the loop is slightly opened, indicating that the alteration is non-elastic. The findings of this study provide detailed information about the rock physical and dynamic elastic properties of one of the largest unconventional resources in the U.S.A, the Eagle Ford formation, where direct measurements may not be cost-effective or feasible.

Petrophysical and petrographic characteristics of Barail Sandstone of the Surma Basin, Bangladesh

The Barail sandstone in the Surma Basin is a medium- to coarse-grained pinkish-colored rock exposed near the northeastern margin of Bangladesh. In this study, we evaluated the reservoir quality of the Barail sandstone based on its petrophysical and petrographic characteristics. Petrophysical analyses of outcropped samples showed that sandstones are made up of 16.48% porosity and 132.48 mD permeability. Sandstone density ranges from 1.94 g/cm3 to 2.37 g/cm3, with a mean value of 2.12 g/cm3, shown as moderately compacted sandstone. Integrated data such as bulk density, porosity, permeability, Rock Quality Index (RQI), Normalized Porosity Index (NPI), Flow Zone Indicator (FZI), compressive strength, etc. with their relationships indicate that Barail sandstone owing characters to become a good petroleum reservoir. The rock samples consisted mainly of quartz with an insignificant amount of rock fragments and plagioclase feldspar and are categorized as sub-arkose to sub-litharenite. The rock samples also contains lithic (andesine, microcline, muscovite, biotite, etc.) of granitic and gneissic fabric and some volcanic product like aguite, albite, andesine, garnet, spinel and ulvo-spinel indicating the source of nearby orogeny. The euhedral to subhedral shape of the quartz grain in a porphyritic texture, moderately sorted with a smaller amount of clay minerals indicating the moderately mature rock type. The iron oxide border around the quartz grain also indicates that the Barail sandstone was deposited under dry climatic condition.

Application of the capillary method in micro X-ray diffractometry (µ-XRD): A useful technique for the characterization of small amounts of clay minerals

AbstractThe laboratory micro X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD) technique is a suitable method to study minerals in-situ in whole-rock specimens without any sample preparation or in polished thin sections, and even in small amounts in powdered form. The micro X-ray diffraction method uses the conventional, closed-tube X-ray generator, but modifications were needed in the diffraction column, sample holder and detector in order to achieve μ-XRD capability.In this paper, we present a case study of the capillary method used in µ-XRD on hydrothermal clay mineral assemblages that formed in the Velence Mts (Hungary). The capillary method in µ-XRD has many advantages in the investigation of small amounts of clay minerals: (1) easy and rapid preparation of randomly oriented, powdered samples; (2) rapid measurements; (3) accurate diffraction patterns. By using the capillary method, the formation of preferred orientation can be eliminated; thus the (hkl) reflection of the clay minerals can be precisely measured. Illite polytype quantification and the investigation of (060) reflection of clay minerals can be used satisfactorily in µ-XRD.Hydrothermal clay mineral assemblages are indicative of temperature and pH. Their examination can determine the physicochemical parameters of the hydrothermal fluids that interacted with the host granite in the Velence Mts. The analyzed hydrothermal clay minerals from the western part of the mountains suggest lower temperatures (150–200 °C) and intermediate pH conditions. In contrast, the clay mineral assemblages' characteristics for the eastern part of the mountains indicate more intense argillization and higher temperatures (∼220 °C) and intermediate pH conditions.

Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of peloids in Turkey.

To investigate the physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of peloids, which are being used traditionally and historically across Turkey, and evaluate their suitability and potential for use in peloidotherapy. Five peloid samples were gathered from their places of origin, namely Gölemezli, Dalyan, Köprüköy, Gökçeada, and Dikili. Mineral analysis and physical and chemical analyses including electrical conductivity, density, cations, anions, trace elements, organic matters, and water retention capacity at 105°C were performed. The peloids contained a combination of clay minerals (mainly montmorillonite, kaolinite, and muscovite) and non-clay minerals (mainly quartz, calcite, dolomite, and albite) except for Gölemezli peloid, which was dominated by calcite. The other minerals (i.e., chloride-serpentine, sphalerite, pyrite, magnesium calcite, cristobalite) were also found in some peloids. Gölemezli, Dalyan, and Köprüköy peloids had high total organic matters, mainly humic substances. The water retention capacity was high in Dalyan, Köprüköy, and Dikili peloids. All peloids had a pH value slightly greater than 7 (range 7.93-8.69). Dalyan, Köprüköy, and Dikili peloids had a high water retention capacity. Dalyan and Gökçeada peloids had a high electrical conductivity, 22.040 and 9.020μS/cm, respectively. The density of peloids was ranged between 1.240 (Gölemezli) and 1.450 (Gökçeada) g/cm3. Total mineralization of investigated peloids was greater than 1000mg/L: Köprüköy, 2754.8mg/L; Gölemezli, 3092.8mg/L; Dikili, 4044.6mg/L; Gökçeada, 6576.6mg/L; and Dalyan, 11782.9mg/L, mainly sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, and metasilicic acid. The levels of trace elements were low (≤ 2.0mg/L) in all peloids. The peloids contained various amounts of clay minerals (mainly montmorillonite, kaolinite, and muscovite), non-clay minerals (mainly quartz, calcite, dolomite, and albite), organic matters (mainly humic acid), cations (mainly sodium, magnesium, and calcium), anions (mainly chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate), and insoluble compounds (mainly metasilicic acid). The physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of peloids suggest their suitability and potential for use in peloidotherapeutic applications.

Analysis of mineral types of clay contained in residual soil Kulinjang Area, Enrekang, South Sulawesi Province

Kulinjang area is the main access road that connects Enrekang District with Tanah Toraja District. The road cuts through the hills on a steep slope at the west side, where there are several large landslides alongside the road that have been occurred for a while. Meanwhile, on the road surface, irregular cracks occur. This is due to the local deformation of the soil material or bedrock, where one of the influencing factors is the clay mineral content of the soil. However, not all clay minerals have negative impacts. The formation genesis of clay minerals as rock-forming minerals that can determine the engineering properties is very complex so that the type and amount of clay minerals that formed from weathered origin rock and the weathering factors will have a huge impact on the engineering properties. This study entitled Analysis of Mineral Types of Clay Contained in Residual Soil at Kulinjang Area aims to identify the characteristics of mineral types of clay in the residual soil layer, identify the morphology and thickness of the soil and analyze the stratigraphic distribution of the clay minerals. The methods used in this study are consist of taking surface sample data and subsurface sample data by manual drilling (hand auger), analyzing samples using petrography and analyzing the chemical content in the soil by XRD method (X-Ray Diffraction).

Integrated petrophysical study to validate water saturation from well logs in Bahariya Shaley Sand Reservoirs, case study from Abu Gharadig Basin, Egypt

Water saturation is a key parameter in evaluating oil and gas reservoirs and calculating OIIP and GIIP for petroleum fields. The late Cretaceous Bahariya reservoir contains variable amounts of clay minerals. Bore hole logs are affected with those clay minerals particularly the density and resistivity logs. Several methods are acknowledged to determine the true water saturation from well logs in shaley sand reservoirs. Each method assumes a sort of corrections to amount of shale distributed in the reservoir. The scope of this petrophysical study is to integrate core analysis and bore hole logs to investigate the characteristics of water saturation in the Bahariya reservoirs. Comparison between most of the significant shaley sand methods is presented in this research. Reservoir lithology and mineralogy are explained by Elan-model while bore hole images are used for fine-tuning the electrofacies. Siltstone, shaley sand and clean sandstones are the main electrofacies that is characterizing the Bahariya reservoir rocks. For accurate saturation results, some core samples have been used for validating the log-derived water saturation. Dean stark and cation exchange capacity experiments are integrated with bore hole logs to calculate the error in water saturation for each method for best calibration. The successful integration between logs and core measurements led to convenient log evaluation and accurate understanding for the Bahariya reservoir in the prospective part of Abu Gharadig basin.

Impacts of Competitive Water Adsorption of Kerogen and Clay Minerals on Wettability of Organic-Rich Mudrocks

Summary Quantifying wettability of organic-rich mudrocks is important for reliable formation evaluation, optimizing production, predicting water/hydrocarbon production, and selection of appropriate fracture fluids. Recent publications suggest that kerogen wettability can vary as a function of thermal maturity, ranging from water- to hydrocarbon-wet at low to high thermal maturities, respectively. However, clay minerals tend to preferentially be water-wet. It is therefore important to determine which of these constituents have a dominant contribution to overall wettability of the rock. To answer this question, we introduce methods to quantify the relative water-adsorption capacities of clay minerals, kerogen, and organic-rich mudrocks at different thermal-maturity levels. We started with isolating kerogen from organic-rich mudrock samples using chemical and physical separation methods and synthetically matured them to different thermal-maturity levels. We then prepared synthetic organic-rich mudrock samples by mixing known quantities of clay minerals, nonclay inorganic minerals, and kerogen. We then performed water-vapor adsorption measurements on pure clay minerals, pure kerogen samples, and synthetic organic-rich mudrock samples under controlled humidity conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements were then used to quantify the volume of water adsorbed on clay minerals and organic-rich mudrock samples. We used the flotation test to qualitatively assess the wettability of the synthetic organic-rich mudrocks. Water-vapor adsorption experiments showed that the volume of water adsorbed on the surface of nonheated kerogen samples at low thermal maturities is 5.31 mL/100 g, which decreases significantly to 0.09 mL/100 g when the kerogen sample is heat-treated to 450°C. The results can be attributed to strong attraction between the oxygen content in kerogen and water at low thermal maturities. We quantified the water-adsorption capacity of kerogen samples heat-treated at 450°C and found that volume of water adsorbed decreases with an increase in thermal maturity both in the presence and absence of bitumen. In the case of synthetic organic-rich mudrock samples, we found that the volume of water adsorbed in samples at higher thermal maturity decreases by 16% compared with organic-rich mudrocks at low thermal maturity at the same concentration of nonswelling clay minerals. Results from the flotation test showed that the oil-wettability of the synthetic organic-rich mudrock samples increases as its thermal maturity decreases, with a hydrogen index (HI) of 328 to 54 mg hydrocarbon/g organic carbon (mg-HC/g-OC). Results confirmed that kerogen and its geochemistry can have a significant influence on the overall wettability of organic-rich mudrocks even at low concentrations of 4 wt%. The outcomes of this paper can contribute to a better understanding of the parameters affecting wettability of organic-rich mudrocks and are promising for in-situ assessment of their wettability. This can potentially contribute to improved understanding of flow mechanisms in organic-rich mudrocks, which control hydrocarbon/water production.

Composition of clay minerals and their pedogenetic and taxonomic implications for Stagnic Anthrosols derived from different parent materials in Hunan Province, China

The aims of this study were to investigate the composition of clay minerals in soils derived from different parent materials and to elucidate how parent materials and pedogenic environment affect the distribution of clay minerals and reveal the implications for pedogenetics and taxonomy in Stagnic Anthrosols. Clay mineralogy and physicochemical properties of the Hydragric horizon of Stagnic Anthrosols derived from granite (GR), plate shale (PS), quaternary red clays (QRC), limestone (LS), purple sandy shale (PSS) and fluvial-lacustrine deposit (FLD) located in Hunan Province of China were analysed to explore the relationships between the conditions influencing the formation of the soil and the composition of clay minerals. Results indicated that the composition of clay minerals is closely related to both parent material and type of Stagnic Anthrosols: the soils derived from GR, PS and QRC, which are mostly classified as Fe-accumulic-Stagnic Anthrosols, are dominantly 1:1 type kaolinite and vermiculite and illite/vermiculite mixed layer minerals of widespread distribution. However, soils derived from LS, PSS and FLD were mainly classified as Hapli-Stagnic Anthrosols and are mainly composed of 2:1 type illite/smectite mixed layer minerals, where chlorite is commonly found. Illite is widely distributed and its content varies the least among different parent materials. An extremely significant relationship between pH and kaolinite, chlorite and mixed layer minerals was noted, and the two kinds of mixed layer minerals showed highly significant negative correlation. This study revealed that the types and quantities of clay minerals in the soil are closely related to the types of parent material. This reflected better direction and degree of development in Stagnic Anthrosols, which is related to the physicochemical properties of parent material and can be used as one of the bases for the classification of soil groups and subgroups within the soil family for Stagnic Anthrosols in Chinese Soil Taxonomy.

Study on Reservoir Geological Characteristics and Potential Damage Mechanism of FIOC Oilfield in Sargiz

With the in-depth development of the Sargiz oilfield in Kazakhstan, oil layer protection plays an extremely important role in the development process. The petrological characteristics and pore types of the reservoir were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The average face ratio of the reservoir was 19.30%. The main pore type was intergranular pore and the face rate was 17.52%. The total amount of clay minerals in the reservoir core is 7% - 10%, and the clay minerals are mainly illite, Yimeng, kaolinite and chlorite; the shale content of the main oil-bearing layer is about 3% - 10%. Refer to relevant industry standards for speed, water, stress, acid, and alkali sensitivity experiments to study the potential damage mechanism of the reservoir. According to the above experiments, the oilfield reservoirs have no speed-sensitive damage and are weakly water-sensitive reservoirs; the reservoirs are highly stress-sensitive and easy to produce sand when the stress changes; they have moderately weak acid sensitivity and weak-medium weak alkaline.

Surface plasmon resonance study of adhesion kinetics of smectites on the Au/water interface: Clay and organo-clay film formation

Surface plasmon resonance was employed for the in-situ investigation of film formation from aqueous dispersions of clay minerals on gold/water interface. High charge (SAz-1) and intermediate charge smectite (STx-1b) were studied for their ability to form stable clay films on gold surfaces and their adhesion kinetics at different concentrations was investigated. Layer charge and charge distribution seems to affect not only the kinetics of film formation but also the overall amount of clay mineral on the gold substrate. Subsequently to stable clay mineral film formation, the in-situ preparation of hybrid organo-clay films with the introduction of alkylammonium chains and their adsorption kinetics was examined. Alkylammonium adsorption via ion exchange in the interlayer of the clay minerals is controlled by the density of the clay mineral film in full accordance with layer charge and charge localization. Hence, a simple self-assembly procedure for the in-situ preparation of hybrid organo-clay films for novel applications is proposed.

Integration and Visualization of Mineralogical and Topographical Information Derived from ASTER and DEM Data

This paper proposes a method of combining and visualizing multiple lithological indices derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data and topographical information derived from digital elevation model (DEM) data in a single color image that can be easily interpreted from a geological point of view. For the purposes of mapping silicate rocks, carbonate rocks, and clay minerals in hydrothermal alteration zones, two new indices derived from ASTER thermal infrared emissivity data were developed to identify silicate rocks, and existing indices were adopted to indicate the distribution of carbonate rocks and the species and amounts of clay mineral. In addition, another new method was developed to visualize the topography from DEM data. The lithological indices and topographical information were integrated using the hue–saturation–value (HSV) color model. The resultant integrated image was evaluated by field survey and through comparison with the results of previous studies in the Cuprite and Goldfield areas, Nevada, USA. It was confirmed that the proposed method can be used to visualize geological information and that the resulting images can easily be interpreted from a geological point of view.