Py Field Research Articles

E&P Notes (December 2020)

E&P Notes (December 2020)

Impact of grassland burning on soil organic matter as revealed by a synchrotron- and pyrolysis–mass spectrometry-based multi-methodological approach

Although the continuum of pyrolysed OM is an important part of soil OM (SOM) and therefore involved in global cycles, its formation and structural composition are not sufficiently known. Gaps in knowledge originate from methodological difficulties in detecting compounds formed via heating during vegetation burning. We therefore investigated soil samples (0–4cm depth) from 33yr treatments of periodic vegetation burning, mulching and natural succession at two grassland sites in Germany. Samples were investigated by way of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) K-edges, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py–GC–MS), Py–single photon ionisation-MS (Py–SPI-MS) and Py–field ionisation MS (Py–FIMS). The XANES spectra differentiated the sites and indicated a relative enrichment in unsaturated C for the burned treatment at one site and substituted aromatic C and non-peptide N (nitriles and/or N in aromatic systems) at both sites. All three Py–MS methods distinguished the sampling sites via variation in content of polysaccharides, N-containing compounds and lignin derived substances. Vegetation burning depleted low molecular weight compounds (Py–SPI-MS and Py–FIMS) and formed high molecular substances (Py–SPI-MS and Py–FIMS) and some N-heterocyclic aromatic products (Py–GC–MS), which were only found in the burned samples. Furthermore, Py–FIMS revealed reaction products from m/z 614 to m/z 619 for both burned treatments. In general, all methods indicated the formation of N-heterocyclics and/or more recalcitrant SOM at almost equal total organic C and N content from periodic vegetation burning.

Abstract: Pre-Development Reservoir Characterisation of the Ha’py Field, Nile Delta, Egypt 

Abstract: Pre-Development Reservoir Characterisation of the Ha’py Field, Nile Delta, Egypt 

Ha’py Field: A Pliocene bright spot example from the Nile Delta, Egypt

Amoco has been exploring for gas in the Nile Delta Basin of Egypt since 1993. The Pliocene section of the offshore Nile Delta has long been recognized as a potential exploration target, however, only recently has an exploration effort focused on this promising trend. Since mid 1995, several important discoveries have been made in the offshore Ras El Barr and adjacent Temsah Concessions by a partnership of Amoco and IEOC (Agip). The Pliocene Trend has yielded an exploration success rate of nearly 100%. Ha’py Field is the largest of these Pliocene discoveries and is a classic example of the fields within this “bright spot” trend. The field name comes from the ancient Egyptian god of floods and the Nile, pictured above.

Monica MoGoidrick: On the Significance of Cultural Factors and Gender in Family Therapy

Monica McGoldrick is a leading figure in the family thera py field. She has been at the forefront of illuminating the importance of ethnicity, race, gender, and class in under standing families. In this interview she talks about her background and the significance of culturalfactors for the profession.

Differentiation of spruce needles by integrated mass spectra and principal component analysis

Spruce needles differing in age and from different trees were analysed by temperature-programmed pyrolysis (Py) field ionization (FI) mass spectrometry. The integrated Py–FI mass spectra are highly reproducible and characteristic. Their information can be used to distinguish the needle samples. The chemical differences between the samples are explained by interpreting the most relevant principal components of the mass spectral data set. The results suggest that Py–FI mass spectra can be used to detect slight changes in plant materials which are due to natural ageing and chemical effects of environmental pollution such as acid rain. It is shown that Py–FI mass spectrometry in combination with pattern recognition techniques is well suited for environmental monitoring.