Basin Depth Research Articles

Analytical Study Examines Production of Multistage Horizontal Wells in the Bakken

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 191455-18IHFT-MS, “Twelve Years and 12,000 Multistage Horizontal Wells in the Bakken: How Is Industry Continuing To Increase the Cumulative Production per Well?” by C. Mark Pearson, SPE, Larry G. Griffin, SPE, Stacy L. Strickland, SPE, and Paul M. Weddle, SPE, Liberty Resources, prepared for the 2018 SPE International Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition, Muscat, Oman, 16–18•October. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Multistage horizontal well designs were first implemented in the Bakken in 2007. Since then, more than 12,000 wells have been completed in either the Middle Bakken or Three Forks zones. Early-time production rates, as measured by 180-day state-reported cumulative production, have increased fourfold during this period, during which industry has pursued a program of innovation and continuous improvement in completions technology, with production per well increasing in 10 of 12 years. Through a big data analytical study comparing geological data, completions parameters, and state-reported production results, the authors have evaluated the fundamental changes that have guided industry to these production rates during the period discussed. Geology The Bakken Formation is Mississippian and Devonian in age and consists of Upper, Middle, and Lower members. The focus of this paper is to review work in both the Middle Bakken member and the lower Three Forks intervals contained within the Bakken Petroleum System. The Upper and Lower Bakken shales are the prolific source rocks for the petroleum system. The Middle member consists of distinct lithofacies that range from silty sandstone on the east flank of the basin to silty dolomite on the west flank. Porosities in the Middle member range from 4–10% and permeabilities are generally less than 0.1 md. Fig. 1 shows the basin depth structure map with a color fill of the thermal maturity of the Upper Bakken shale. The onset of oil generation occurred at a pyrolysis temperature (Tmax) of greater than 430°F as indicated in the figure by shades of green and warmer colors. Oil generation in this thermally mature window created overpressure and resulted in oil mobilization into less- mature and immature regions toward the extremities of the basin. The Bakken is a basin-centered system and thus the increased pore pressure that occurred with the process of kerogen conversion and the generation of oil has resulted in pore pressure gradients as high as 0.9•psi/ft in the deepest part of the basin. Unsurprisingly, in the deepest part of the basin, water cut is the lowest, with increasing water cut with distance from the areas of greatest thermal•maturity.• The complete paper provides a detailed description of the Bakken development history, which the authors divide into seven periods beginning with first production in 1953 to the present. Production Bakken production has grown historically, but as recently as early 2004 it yielded only approximately 25,000 BOPD. The increase in drilling activity then drove production growth, with an initial peak in December 2014 of 1.22 million BOPD. The rapid decline in industry activity then resulted in a significant production drop. However, the decline reversed, and new production records of 1.23 and 1.24 million BOPD were set in June and July of 2018. The return to peak production levels has been driven by companies using more-effective•completions.

3D seismic wave amplification in the Indo-Gangetic basin from spectral element simulations

This study investigates seismic wave amplification effects in the Indo-Gangetic (IG) basin for possible large earthquakes in the region using spectral-element simulations. The Indo-Gangetic basin is a large and deep sedimentary basin that covers the northern part of India, in which several mega-cities are located, including the capital city of New Delhi. The seismicity in the region due to presence of many active tectonic faults is an important matter of concern for engineers. The damage caused in a future large earthquake could affect a huge population and hinder the development of numerous large-scale industrial establishments. Due to local soil conditions and the structural complexity of the sedimentary basin, seismic wave amplification is expected. However, the absence of seismic data for large earthquakes and limited knowledge of the structure of the basin poses challenge in estimating shaking amplifications. Therefore, we model the 3D structure of the basin using Spectral Finite Element method (Specfem3D) including the topography of the Himalayan mountains, and compute synthetic seismograms for a suite of simulated rupture scenarios. First, we use two past earthquakes in the basin to calibrate our 3D model by comparing the simulated ground motions with the recorded data. Later, we consider realizations of potential future large earthquake (Mw 7.1), by generating different kinematic rupture models. We simulate earthquake scenarios for different source parameters to quantify the statistics of expected ground shaking levels. We then infer seismic wave amplification as a function of both frequency and basin depth for complex seismic sources. Our results indicate a maximum amplification of 16 in Peak Ground Velocity (PGV) and 19–35 in Spectral Accelerations (Sa) at long periods. The results presented in this study may be useful for engineers to predict ground motions for future large earthquakes in absence of any available seismicity data.

Passive seismic horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) surveying to help define bedrock depth, structure and layering in shallow coal basins

SummaryTrial passive seismic HVSR survey lines were carried out in the north-western part of the Wilga sedimentary basin in Western Australia, which is a small and shallow isolated sub-basin to the Perth Basin, sitting above rifted Archaean granite-gneiss basement rocks. The HVSR survey method was trialled to determine if it could resolve subsurface basin features quickly and cheaply. This trial HVSR survey was carried out as a series of transects along open walking tracks. It was very successful for mapping the general basin architecture by resolving bedrock depth to a maximum depth of close to 200 m along the survey transects, and defining a half-graben structure that forms the faulted eastern boundary of the basin, with the basin depth gently deepening toward the west. The HVSR data are also interpreted to have detected subtle layering within the basin sedimentary sequence to possibly map Permian black shale beds, coal measures and splits sitting below an unconformity of Cretaceous sedimentary cover. The passive seismic HVSR method has potential to be a robust survey method for defining basin architecture in shallow coal basins with poorly indurated basin fill deposits, especially in remote parts of the world with difficult access and limited exploration funds to carry out active seismic surveys.

Geochemical characteristics of pore waters from sediment cores of the Wagner Basin, Gulf of California

The Wagner Basin (WB) is a shallow basin (depth < 225 m) belonging to the northernmost section of the Gulf of California rift system. Hydrothermal activity and high heat fluxes prevail in some regions of the WB. For this contribution, we report the first dataset of chemical (major and some trace elements) and isotopic compositions (δ18O, δD, 87Sr/86Sr, δ13C) from pore water sampled at the bottom of the WB, in areas affected by hydrothermal activity. The goals of the study are to determine the origin of the fluids emanating from the anomalous heat flow zones and to characterize the physical and chemical processes controlling their composition. The 18 pore water samples are classified into two groups: low temperature (LT) and high temperature (HT) samples, according to the sampling temperature (from 16.4 to 25.6 °C, and 32.5–99.6 °C, respectively). LT samples have chemical and isotopic (δ18O and δD) compositions similar to those of present-day seawater. On the opposite, HT cores are typically more enriched in Cl (26,100–37,074 mg L−1) and other elements (Br, Na, K, Ca, B and Sr) than those of present-day seawater (Cl = 20,284 mg L−1). HT samples are also strongly depleted in deuterium isotopes (up to −30.48‰). This characteristic could be related to the mixing between ancient evaporated seawater and Colorado river waters. Conceptually, the origin of a saline paleo-aquifer/reservoir can be related with the gradual marine flooding of shallow lagoons and depressions at the time Gulf of California was rifting (6–8 Ma) or during the Last Glacial Maximum (20–26 Ky). Additionally, it is not ruled out that some of the deuterium depletion observed in HT samples may be related to secondary processes (e.g., clays exchange, organic matter). Radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr signatures (0.70929–0.70997) of the HT samples likely reflect the leaching of radiogenic continental sediments from the Colorado River (filling the WB) and authigenic minerals (e.g., calcite or barite) precipitated from seawater. Solute geothermometry indicates that HT pore fluids underwent water-rock interactions at temperature of at least 220 °C. Finally high δ13C values (up to +10.5‰) in DIC from HT samples indicates partial equilibration of methane with DIC, or partial reduction of DIC.

Inverting gravity anomalies over the Burdur sedimentary basin, SW Turkey

The study area comprises the NE–SW trending Burdur Basin situated at the tectonically active northeastern part of the Fethiye–Burdur Fault Zone (FBFZ), SW Turkey. The basin demonstrates a half graben geometry hosting lacustrine sedimentary deposits from the Late Miocene onward and is bounded by normal faults on its southern side namely the Burdur Fault Zone. In this study, gravity anomalies over the Burdur sedimentary basin were inverted for the first time in terms of mapping its basement relief. The algorithm used for inverting the gravity anomalies provides accuracy depth estimates by incorporating an exponential increase in density with depth at its inversion procedure. Thus the obtained depth configuration yields also a major improvement on the results of depth content of the sedimentary infill reported previously by other studies that used a constant density contrast in their interpretation. Along the east of Burdur Fault from south to north, the basement depth to the southern end of Burdur Basin is ca 1.8 km and gets shallower to ca 0.6 km towards the north around the Burdur city. The deepest section of the basin is ca 3.2 km to the western side of the Burdur Fault close the southern end of the Burdur Lake. Towards north, out of the depression area of the Burdur Basin, the sedimentary infill is about in range of 0.4–1.2 km. The lateral limits of the basin structure have also been outlined by a recent edge detection method based on the logistic function of the total horizontal gradient (LTHG). The LTHG map related to the Burdur Basin shows maximal amplitudes trending NE–SW as two major lines that clearly delineates the segments of the Burdur Fault Zone to the S-SE of Burdur Lake. The inverted basin depth model by a cross-section perpendicular to the regional strike of the basin represents two-step depositional area of the sedimentary fills confirming a geometry of a half graben structure.

Seismic Response of Cook Inlet Sedimentary Basin, Southern Alaska

AbstractCook Inlet fore‐arc basin in south‐central Alaska is a large, deep (7.6 km) sedimentary basin with the Anchorage metropolitan region on its margins. From 2015 to 2017, a set of 28 broadband seismic stations was deployed in the region as part of the Southern Alaska Lithosphere and Mantle Observation Network (SALMON) project. The SALMON stations, which also cover the remote western portion of Cook Inlet basin and the back‐arc region, form the basis for our observational study of the seismic response of Cook Inlet basin. We quantify the influence of Cook Inlet basin on the seismic wavefield using three data sets: (1) ambient‐noise amplitudes of 18 basin stations relative to a nonbasin reference station, (2) earthquake ground‐motion metrics for 34 crustal and intraslab earthquakes, and (3) spectral ratios (SRs) between basin stations and nonbasin stations for the same earthquakes. For all analyses, we examine how quantities vary with the frequency content of the seismic signal and with the basin depth at each station. Seismic waves from earthquakes and from ambient noise are amplified within Cook Inlet basin. At low frequencies (0.1–0.5 Hz), ambient‐noise ratios and earthquake SRs are in a general agreement with power amplification of 6–14 dB, corresponding to amplitude amplification factors of 2.0–5.0. At high frequencies (0.5–4.0 Hz), the basin amplifies the earthquake wavefield by similar factors. Our results indicate stronger amplification for the deeper basin stations such as near Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula and weaker amplification near the margins of the basin. Future work devoted to 3D wavefield simulations and treatment of source and propagation effects should improve the characterization of the frequency‐dependent response of Cook Inlet basin to recorded and scenario earthquakes in the region.

Snow-Cover Area and Runoff Variation under Climate Change in the West Kunlun Mountains

In recent years, the climate in the arid region of Northwest China has become warmer and wetter; however, glaciers in the north slope of the West Kunlun Mountains (NSWKM) show no obvious recession, and river flow is decreasing or stable. This contrasts with the prevalent response of glaciers to climate change, which is recession and initial increase in glacier discharge followed by decline as retreat continues. We comparatively analyzed multi-timescale variation in temperature–precipitation–snow cover-runoff in the Yarkant River Basin (YRK), Karakax River Basin (KRK), Yurungkax River Basin (YUK), and Keriya River Basin (KRY) in the NSWKM. The Mann–Kendall trend and the mutation–detection method were applied to data obtained from an observation station over the last 60 years (1957–2017) and MODIS snow data (2001–2016). NSWKM temperature and precipitation have continued to increase for nearly 60 years at a mean rate of 0.26 °C/decade and 5.50 mm/decade, respectively, with the most obvious trend (R2 &gt; 0.82) attributed to the KRK and YUK. Regarding changes in the average snow-cover fraction (SCF): YUK (SCF = 44.14%) &gt; YRK (SCF = 38.73%) &gt; KRY (SCF = 33.42%) &gt; KRK (SCF = 33.40%). Between them, the YRK and YUK had decreasing SCA values (slope &lt; −15.39), while the KRK and KRY had increasing SCA values (slope &gt; 1.87). In seasonal variation, the SCF of the three of the basins reaches the maximum value in spring, with the most significant performance in YUK (SCF = 26.4%), except for YRK where SCF in spring was lower than that in winter (−2.6%). The runoff depth of all river basins presented an increasing trend, with the greatest value appearing in the YRK (5.78 mm/decade), and the least value in the YUK (1.58 mm/decade). With the runoff response to climate change, temperature was the main influencing factor of annual and monthly (summer) runoff variations in the YRK, which is consistent with the runoff-generation rule of rivers in arid areas, which mainly rely on ice and snow melt for water supply. However, this rule was not consistent for the YUK and KRK, as it was disturbed by other factors (e.g., slope and slope direction) during runoff generation, resulting in disruptions of their relationship with runoff. This research promotes the study of the response of cold and arid alpine regions to global change and thus better serve regional water resources management.

Calculation of salt basin depth using fluid inclusions in halite from the Ordovician Ordos Basin in China

During the Middle Ordovician, the salt deposits of the Majiagou Formation of the Ordos Basin in North China formed, the halite including various genetic types of fluid inclusion. In this study, fit-testing of primary inclusions was performed to reconstruct the physical and chemical conditions during original halite sedimentation. During the post-sedimentation stage, salt was subjected to elevated temperatures (62–70°C) and pressures of tens of megapascals. From these measurements and mathematical calculations, the gas pressure was identified in the primary fluid inclusions, which allowed us to estimate that the brine column thickness in the salt basin was approximately 40 m

Seismic imaging of the Olduvai Basin, Tanzania

A 5.6-km-long line of refraction and reflection seismic data spanning the Pliocene-Pleistocene fill of the Olduvai Basin, Tanzania is presented. The line is oriented along a northwest-southeast profile through the position of Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) Borehole 2A. Our aims are to (1) delineate the geometry of the basin floor by tracing bedrock topography of the metaquartzitic and gneissic basement, (2) map synsedimentary normal faults and trace individual strata at depth, and (3) provide context for the sequence observed in OGCP cores. Results with refraction tomography and poststack migration show that the maximum basin depth is around 405 m (±25 m) in the deepest portion, which quadruples the thickness of the basin-fill previously known from outcrops. Variations in seismic velocities show the positions of lower density lake claystones and higher density well-cemented sedimentary sequences. The Bed I Basalt lava is a prominent marker in the refraction seismic results. Bottom-most sediments are dated to >2.2 Ma near where Borehole 2A bottoms out at the depth of 245 m. However, the seismic line shows that the basin-fill reaches a maximum stratigraphic thickness of around 380 m deep at Borehole 2A, in the western basin where the subsidence was greatest. This further suggests that potential hominin palaeoenvironments were available and preserved within the basin-fill possibly as far back as around 4 Ma, applying a temporal extrapolation using the average sediment accretion rate.

Kinematic, flexural, and thermal modelling in the Central Andes: Unravelling age and signal of deformation, exhumation, and uplift

Quantifying age, rate, and lateral variation of deformation and exhumation in convergent systems relies on integration of geologic map patterns, ag, and locations of reset thermochronometer systems, and synorogenic sediment distribution. The central Bolivian Andes provide an ideal location to examine the influence of variations in shortening and stratigraphic architecture on the structural evolution of the mountain range due to differential age and rates of shortening and distinct sedimentary basin geometries along strike. To quantify age and rate of shortening, we link thermokinematic modelling of sequentially deformed, forward-modelled, balanced cross-sections to synorogenic and thermochronologic histories. The preserved basin history in the Altiplano and Eastern Cordillera argues for an early fold-and-thrust belt located in the now-Western Cordillera, with subsequent propagation of shortening eastward around 40–50 Ma. Flexural modelling incorporating isostasy and erosion requires multiple basement thrust sheets with 35–97 km of displacement. A temporally evolving effective elastic thickness, as well as imposed subsidence in the foreland and uplift in the hinterland, is required to reproduce the surface geology, increase Subandean foreland basin depth, limit Altiplano sedimentation, and facilitate Altiplano uplift to modern elevation. Thermokinematic modelling is compatible with initiation of deformation at 50–40 Ma in a marked increase in Subandean velocities from ~5.5 to 8–10 mm/yr from ~12–10 Ma to present. Out-of-sequence thrusting at the westernmost limit of the Subandes is required to match measured young and partially reset zircon helium ages. Out-of-sequence faulting is supported by high Ksn values, indicative of active uplift, and was likely promoted by the abrupt eastern edge of the Paleozoic basin rocks, which limited forward propagation of structures, and/or increased erosion due to focused precipitation. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating detailed structural modelling in differentiating the geometry, kinematics, and timing of deformation to reproduce thermochronologic ages and basin histories.

Thermal Alteration of Organic Matter in the Contact of a Rift-Related Basaltic Dyke: An Example from the Black Limestone, Wadi Matulla, West Central Sinai, Egypt

In the Wadi Matulla area, central Sinai, Egypt, an asymmetric baked zone having an average width of 103 m was formed on both sides of a sub-aerial rift-related Oligocene basaltic dyke cross-cutting organic matter-bearing chalky limestone of the Upper Cretaceous Sudr Formation. Advection was the significant heat transfer mechanism. Very narrow metamorphic and metasomatic zones are developed in the country rock at the immediate contact with the dyke. The change in the thermal maturation of organic matter is reflected in the differences in values of the total organic carbon (TOC) within the baked zone. Such differences account for the color variation of the snow-white limestone from shades of brown, in the mature to barren samples, to black, in the totally carbonized overmature metamorphic ones. This study presents for the first time the thermal effect of mafic dykes on some exposed organic matter-bearing rocks in the Gulf of Suez (GOS) region, and turns attention to the local maturation of source rocks in contact with rift-related intrusives at a relatively greater burial depth in the rift basin.

Changing snow depth in the Great Lakes basin (USA): Implications and trends

Abstract In the Great Lakes basin of North America, snow plays a critical role in the regional hydroclimate, where snow ablation events can serve both as a resource and a hazard. The frequency and magnitude of an ablation event is governed by the availability of meteorological conditions to ablate snow, and the physical presence of snow to be ablated. While the meteorological conditions leading to ablation have been well documented, examining changes in atmospheric conditions alone have been unable to completely explain observed ablation trends. As such, this study applies a gridded snow depth dataset to evaluate snow depth variability, while speaking to the implications of such variability on ablation frequency and water resources. Snow cover is present in the basin from November – April, with the more northerly regions (Lake Superior and Lake Huron basins) exhibiting a deeper and more seasonally-persistent snowpack. Seasonal basin-wide snow depth decreased by approximately 25% from 1960 to 2009, with some of the most significant decreases occurring north of Lake Superior. Surface air temperatures are negatively associated snow depth, and warming temperatures are likely contributing to snow depth declines. These regional decreases in snow depth spatially corroborate previously observed decreases in the frequency of ablation events in the basin, and highlight the importance of examining both snow cover and meteorological conditions when seeking to explain snow ablation variability. The results from this study can be applied to inform water resource management decisions in the region.

Hydrological modeling and field validation of a bioretention basin

An emerging green infrastructure, the bioretention basin, has been deployed world-wide to reduce peak flows, encourage infiltration, and treat pollutants. However, inadequate design of a basin impairs its treatment potential and necessitates the development and validation of a suitable hydrological model for design and analysis of bioretention basins. In this study, an existing numerical model, RECHARGE, has been adopted to simulate hydrological performance of a basin in the tropical climate of Singapore over a half year that included 80 storm events. Comparison of the model predictions with field observations shows that RECHARGE successfully simulates the basin hydrology of 80 events of varying rainfall characteristics with mass balance error of 5.1 ± 7.5% per event and 0.3% overall. Using the verified model, we develop new design curves that predict bioretention basin performance as a function of three basin design parameters: detention depth; ratio of drainage basin area to bioretention area; and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the basin soil media. We evaluate basin performance in terms of the percentage of water that infiltrates and is treated in the subsurface portion of the basin and define an infiltration index to measure the change in infiltrated percentage caused by unit change in the basin design parameters. The marginal improvement in basin performance drops significantly when the basin depth (hd) is increased above 40 cm, when the ratio of drainage area to bioretention area (R) is decreased below 20, or when the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is increased above 10 cm/h.

Nonlinear Vibrations of a Floating Longitudinally Compressed Elastic Plate in the Interaction of Wave Harmonics of Finite Amplitude

The equations for three nonlinear approximations of flexural-gravity vibrations of a longitudinally compressed elastic plate which take into account the nonlinearity of acceleration of vertical plate displacements are obtained using the method of multiple scales. The ice plate unbounded in horizontal directions floats on the surface of a homogeneous ideal fluid. Asymptotic expansions up to the third order of smallness are constructed on the basis of the obtained equations for the plate-fluid surface elevation and the velocity potential of the liquid particles formed in the nonlinear interaction of two harmonics of progressive periodic surface waves. The amplitude-phase characteristics of the formed elevation of the fluid surface (bending of the plate) are analyzed as functions of the basin depth, the parameters of ice plate and interacting harmonics, and the nonlinearity of acceleration of vertical ice displacements.

Tectonostratigraphy and the petroleum systems in the Northern sector of the North Falkland Basin, South Atlantic

Abstract The North Falkland Basin represents one of the frontier areas for hydrocarbon exploration in the South Atlantic. This study presents the results of new subsurface mapping using 2D seismic data in the north of the Falkland Islands offshore area, which has delineated a series of discrete grabens northwards of the main North Falkland Basin, referred collectively to as the Northern sector of the North Falkland Basin (NNFB). Six regionally significant seismic reflectors are interpreted within this data, dividing the sedimentary fill into six tectonostratigraphic packages, including: early syn-rift; late syn-rift; transitional unit; early post-rift; middle to late post-rift; and a sag unit. Structural interpretation of the 2D seismic data has led to the definition of four north-south orientated depocentres, namely: (1) the Eastern Graben, largest of the depocentres; 20 km wide by 45 km long, reaching depths of 3 km; (2) the Eastern Graben Splay, a smaller depocentre; 10 km wide by 20 km long, reaching depths of 2–2.5 km; (3) the Western Graben Splay, the smallest depocentre; 5 km in width and 20 km long, with a basin depth of 2 km and (4) the newly defined Phyllis Graben, which is 13 km wide and 30 km long, with a basin depth of 3 km. A network of NW-SE and NE-SW trending faults controls the development of these grabens, separated by a Western, Eastern and Intra-Basin high. These grabens represent a northern continuation of the Northern Falkland Basin to the south. Hydrocarbon discoveries to the south of this study area (e.g. Sea Lion, Casper, Beverley, Zebedee, Isobel Deep, and Liz) confirm a working petroleum system adjacent to the Northern sector. This study has identified a number of seismic anomalies, including amplitude brightening events, which potentially correspond to an extension of this petroleum system, indicating active migration pathways. The main targets, in terms of hydrocarbon interest in the northern sector, are likely to be stratigraphically trapped hydrocarbon accumulations, contained within vertically-amalgamated turbidite fan sandstone reservoirs, deposited within the early post-rift. A second, yet to be tested, syn-rift play, in which the trapping geometries are structural and the reservoirs are fluvial sandstones is also identified.

Water resistance forecasting of the icebreaking aircushion platform

The forecasting resistance method of the icebreaking platform, based on dummy tests in NSTU experimental model ice basin is proposed in the article. Experimental research data of ice breaking air cushion platforms resistance in calm water are presented. The dummy tests main results taking into account the key parameters influencing the platform resistance are given. The effect analysis of aircushion pressure, airflow, icebreaking platform velocity, aircushion size ratio in plan and the variable basin depth on wave resistance is made. The formula of water resistance calculation is proposed.

Structural interpretation of Mae Suai Basin, Chiang Rai Province, based on gravity data analysis and modelling

The Mae Suai Basin, an intermountain basin in northern Thailand, became an area of interest in 2014 following the M6.1 earthquake that reactivated the ENE-WSW trending Mae Loa Fault. This fault is associated with the Cenozoic rifting. Terrestrial gravity modelling is a suitable method to visualize subsurface geometry and understand its structural control related to the recent earthquakes. Six hundred twenty-seven terrestrial gravity stations with a spacing of ∼500 m were collected; standard gravity correction methods were applied with a density reduction of 2.67 g/cm3 to produce the residual Complete Bouguer anomaly (CBA). The residual CBA map reveals a NNE-SSW striking basin, showing gravity lows are located within the basin. The gravity highs cover regions of Triassic granite intrusions to the west and Silurian-Devonian metasedimentary and Carboniferous sedimentary basements to the east. Structural edge detections and basin depth estimates indicate the main fault lineaments lie ENE-SWS and NNE-SSW striking along the eastern and northern margins respectively. These faults may act as splay faults of the active sinistral Mae Loa fault. The gravity models suggest that the Mae Suai Basin is an asymmetrical half-graben with a maximum depth of ∼770 m and a range of basin sediments from 1.9 to 2.3 g/cm3. The depocentre is located near the eastern boundary faults. The structural patterns present the rifting has formed within an extensional transfer zone that relates to a releasing bend fault in NNE-SSW trend, linked by the sinistral Mae Loa Fault in NE-SW trend. The E-W maximum of extension in the transfer zone is formed under the activation of the major Cenozoic strike-slip faults in Northern Thailand.

Razmjena guste vode između otvorenog Sjevernog Jadrana i hrvatskog obalnog mora

t has been known for a while that there are two sites of wintertime dense water formation in the North Adriatic - one in the open sea and the other in the Croatian coastal sea. Recently, it has been established that dense water is transported between the two basins, with both directions of the transport being possible. Here, a simple two-box model is developed in order to interpret the finding. The model allows for surface heat loss from the two basins and for an advective exchange of heat between the basins. Explicit solution is obtained, not only for the original, nonlinear problem but also for a simplified, linearized problem, when the initial temperature difference between the two basins vanishes. Moreover, the effect of the initial temperature difference is explored with the linearized model. The solutions point to a continuous temperature decrease in the two basins, with the temperature differences tending to limiting values. The temporal variability is controlled by the initial temperature differences, surface heat fluxes and basin dimensions and it suggests that the sum of surface heat loss and advective heat gain in one basin tends to become equal to the sum of surface and advective heat losses in the other basin. The solutions also indicate that the sign of the temperature difference between the two basins could be positive or negative, implying that the cold, dense water could be transported either way. Finally, an index, incorporating the initial temperatures, the surface heat fluxes and the basin depths, is proposed with the aim of quantifying relative importance of the two North Adriatic sites of dense water formation for each particular winter.

Natural factors forming the quality of carbonate raw materials

The article is devoted to the study of natural factors that influence the regularities in the distribution of the quality of carbonate raw materials in the deposits of the Articulation Zone of the Donbass Basin with the Priazovskiy block of the Ukrainian Shield. Paleogeographic conditions of sedimentation and the processes of secondary quality change were established by comparing the lithologic-stratigraphic sections of deposits in different parts of the Articulation Zone: from the west (Novotroitskoe deposit) through the center (Elenovskoe deposit) and to the east (Karakubskoe deposit). The variability in the quality of carbonate raw materials was estimated from the results of statistical processing of the chemical analysis of exploratory samples. Geochemical associations were established for carbonate rocks within the stratigraphic horizons of each deposit. The best in quality of all deposits of the Donbass Articulation Zone are the carbonate rocks of the Cl t c horizon. The conditions for their formation were the most stable. They are characterized by a negative connection of the main quality component (CaO) with all other quality indicators. At the same time, the association of indicators associated with a significant positive connection is retained: SiO2, R2O3, S.The process of forming carbonate strata are accompanied by intense silicification processes that relate to climatic changes in temperature, salinity and depth of the sea basin. This is confirmed statistically, because the significant negative correlation between the main component of quality and silica is established on the horizons of carbonate rocks with an increased silica content. The process of dolomitization of the carbonate stratum took place in two stages. At the beginning of the accumulation of the carbonate layer, the sea basin was characterized by lower temperatures and higher magnesium contents than in the subsequent period. Therefore, the lower stratum of the Novotroitskoe and Elenovskoe deposits include sedimentary dolomites. Later, the conditions changed, so there are no dolomites in the Karakubskoe deposit. The second stage of dolomitization is associated with the post-carbon andesite-trachyandesite magmatic complex. The rocks of this complex are found in the carbonate stratum in the form of interplastic intrusions, dikes and stock-like bodies. This contributed to the appearance of sulphide mineralization, zones of silicification and recrystallization of carbonate minerals in spot-dolomitized limestones. The structural-tectonic factor, which is manifested by intensive leaching processes, exerts the greatest influence on the degradation of the quality of carbonate raw materials. In zones of tectonic disturbances, they have maximum extension areas. The structural transformationsthat began in the Donbas after the early Carboniferous disrupted the primary stratified occurrence and quality of the carbonate thickness. The upper Visean horizons are subject to intensively leached, similar to tectonic,melange.The contribution made by these studies to scientific knowledge lies in the identification of the natural factors that determined not only the quality of carbonate rocks, but also indicators of the development stages of the Donbass Articulation Zone of two major tectonic structures - Donbass and the Ukrainian Shield. The practical significance of the results of the work is connected with the fixed possibility of conducting geological and technological mapping and further construction of varietal maps of the deposits of carbonate raw materials.

Experimental performance evaluation of single basin dual slope solar still with circular and square cross-sectional hollow fins

The paper encompasses the experimental performance evaluation of double slope single basin solar still with circular and square cross-sectional hollow fins. Mild steel circular hollow fins (25 mm diameter, 20 mm height and 2 mm thick) and mild steel square hollow fins (25 mm side length, 20 mm height and 2 mm thick) were welded upon two different mild steel absorber plates, having a dimension of 300 mm × 600 mm × 2 mm. The performance of the double slope single basin solar still was carried out at the location 20.61°N, 72.91°E. The productivity was evaluated for the variation of water depth (10 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm) in basin for the square fin and circular fin solar stills. The results depict that 10 mm water depth is more productive basin water depth for the both solar stills among the different variants. The maximum distilled water output of 1.4917 kg/m2-day was obtained from the circular finned solar still for the 10 mm basin water depth, whereas the square finned solar still was achieved the maximum distilled water output of 0.9672 kg/m2-day.