Geoscience Australia’s Post

This report is a major step forward in understanding and utilizing critical minerals within U.S. waters. Here's why this report is exciting: • Focuses on location and characterization of critical minerals • Examines technologies for mining, transport, and refining of critical minerals • Supports national resilience as critical minerals are essential components in a wide range of technologies and products vital to modern society We're proud to have co-authored this important report for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management alongside APTIM, CRU, CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., and Geomarine Resources (Dan McConnell). Final report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gEMqUN3U

Imbalance of sediment transport in a meso-tidal bay: effect of tidal pumping and residual circulation - Frontiers in Marine Science: In-situ mooring systems with acoustic Doppler current profilers were installed in the western (TM01) and eastern (TM02) parts of Yeosu Bay from September 3 to October 2, 2021, to understand the controlling mechanisms of suspended sediment transport. In the bay, freshwater from the Seomjin River freely exchanges with seawater from the open sea. Over the mooring period, current flows were mainly dominated by ebb tides. Power spectral density analysis of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) exhibited a quarter-diurnal (6.21 h) frequency at TM01 and a semi-diurnal (12.42 h) frequency at TM02. The results suggested that SSC variations in the western part were driven primarily by local sediment resuspension, while they were influenced predominantly by horizontal advection in the eastern part. Differences in SSC variation at the two stations could be due to the physical properties of the bed sediments (TM01: sandy mud containing shell fragments, TM02: mud). Such current flows and SSC variations over the tidal cycles caused an imbalance of sediment transport. At TM01, the sediment fluxes were dominantly seaward due to tidal pumping (88% of the total) and the discharge of suspended sediments in the surface layer by residual circulation. At TM02, landward sediment fluxes were driven primarily by the residual current (73% of the total). Although the suspended sediment fluxes tended to be compensated and balanced mutually by circulation over the entire period, the suspended sediment fluxes at TM02 were approximately twice higher than those at TM01. This was caused by the difference in SSC asymmetry between flood and ebb at the two stations. The mechanisms controlling the transport of suspended sediment could vary spatially, and the relative contribution of tidal pumping and residual circulation could result in an imbalance of sediment transport.

Are we doing enough to ensure the seismic safety of critical energy infrastructure? Past earthquakes have triggered catastrophic Natural-Technological (NaTech) events that led to environmental pollution, operational disruption, downtime, monetary losses, injuries, and fatalities. National Technical University of Athens’s The lambda lab works hard on advancing the seismic resilience of crude oil refineries. Together with Nikolaos Karaferis, Konstantinos Bakalis, Athanasia Kazantzi, and Dimitrios Vamvatsikos, we just published a study on the “Hazard, exposure, fragility, and damage state homogenization of a virtual oil refinery testbed for seismic risk assessment” in Earthquake Spectra, the official journal of Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The development of an oil refinery testbed for seismic risk assessment studies is presented in this paper. The open-source testbed resembles a realistic mid-size refinery in high-seismicity regions, comprising a full exposure model, site seismic hazard, and fragility assessment of the critical assets. The location and function of critical assets are provided, offering engineers invaluable insight into the facility’s operation and how the operational asset interdependencies affect the risk estimation process. To find out more about the refinery testbed, please visit https://lnkd.in/dRuUiu_e. Special thanks go to PLOTO project and EURATOM METIS for supporting this research financially. #refinery #earthquake #hazard #fragility #resilience #uncertainty #critical #infrastructure

An interesting paper about sealing faults and induced seismicity in British Columbia, Canada. Does anyone know if these features exist in the #Permian? Is production-induced seismicity a common phenomena? Ted Stieglitz Dr. Katie Smye Laura Capper Jerri Pohl New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium Steve Coffee Ben Samuels Ivan Morales, MBA Morris Hoagland Jonna D Smoot Michael Grossman Rajendra Ghimire Lisa Henthorne Rick McCurdy Brian Bohm Michael Dyson Whitney Dobson Ashley Kegley-Whitehead Jordan Kramer Mitch Elkins Mark Zouzalik Clif Webb Sy Salerian Nansen G. Saleri Jim Sizer Jay Mouton Carrie Caylor Amadita A. Christian Padilla QRI Infinity Water Solutions #water #energy #environment #seismicity #faults "Sealing faults are nearly impermeable barriers that can form boundaries between subsurface pore-pressure domains. In hydrocarbon systems, sealing faults commonly form part of a structural trap; they are thus important elements for future storage of CO2 and other gases in depleted reservoirs. The Triassic Montney Formation in western Canada hosts low-permeability gas reservoirs containing sealing faults that have previously been assumed to compartmentalize pressure domains. In this study, we show that the distribution of induced seismicity associated with hydraulic fracturing (HF) exhibits a statistically significant spatial correlation with zones of high lateral gradient in pore pressure. These high-gradient zones are interpreted as sealing fault systems. The largest induced seismicity sequence, including a 4.5 ML mainshock on 30 November 2018, occurred during HF treatments in two horizontal wells, between which there is an exceptionally large contrast (~10 MPa) in measured pore pressure." https://lnkd.in/g6y-xPip

"Rates of seismicity in the Delaware Basin of Texas and New Mexico increased from 10 earthquakes per year of local magnitude (ML) 3.0 and above in 2017 to more than 185 in 2022, coincident with increasing oil and gas production and wastewater re-injection into strata shallow or deeper than producing intervals. Events of large magnitude—up to ML 5.4 to-date—occur on faults extending into formations above the basement that have received more than four billion barrels of injection. Here, we demonstrate the link between injection geology, pore pressure evolution, fault stability, and induced seismicity in this region." We're extremely fortunate to have knowledgable folks like Laura Capper freely sharing play-by-play information on the induced seismicity issues in the #Permian. Drs. Katie Smye and Peter Hennings of the Bureau of Economic Geology's TEXNET Program are also churning out exceptionally insightful #science on the matter. Their latest work offers the following key takeaways: 1)Injection of oil field wastewater into deep strata in the Delaware Basin causes pore pressure changes of up to 5 MPa 2)Earthquakes occurring in crystalline basement are likely induced by pore pressure diffusion associated with regional deep injection 3)Many basement-rooted faults hosting earthquakes are optimally oriented, sensitive, and slip with small pore pressure perturbations https://lnkd.in/gKXw5565 #water #energy #environment #induced #seismicity Produced Water Society New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium Texas Produced Water Consortium Infinity Water Solutions

Geological Considerations for Pumped Storage Project: 💧 Pumped storage projects rely heavily on geological considerations for their success and safety. Here are some key points to keep in mind: 1️⃣ Reservoir Site Geology: Understanding the rock types, structure, and stability of the reservoir site is crucial to ensure it can hold water securely. 2️⃣ Seismic Hazards: Assessing seismic risks in the area is vital to gauge the potential impact of earthquakes on the project's integrity. 3️⃣ Groundwater Conditions: Analyzing groundwater flow and aquifer characteristics helps prevent water seepage, maintaining the reservoir's efficiency. 4️⃣ Geological Stability: Evaluating the stability of surrounding formations, like slopes and faults, ensures the project's safety during extreme events. 5️⃣ Construction Materials: Choosing durable materials resistant to erosion and weathering is key for long-term infrastructure resilience. 6️⃣ Environmental Impact: Understanding the project's impact on local ecosystems, water quality, and habitats is essential for regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship. Thorough geological assessments are fundamental to the successful planning, design, and execution of pumped storage projects. #Geology #RenewableEnergy #InfrastructureDevelopment #hydropower #hydro 🌍💡

A new study I participated in utilized Sentinel-2/MSI satellite images to monitor sediment transport in a run-of-river hydropower dam (Jirau/Brazil), developing a method to assess sediment discharge fate and map eroding and silting stream cross sections. Analysis revealed significant sedimentation processes throughout the hydrological cycle, with the development of a deviation index highlighting local anomalies in sediment transport patterns. The paper, entitled "Sentinel-2 MSI image time series reveal hydrological and geomorphological control of the sedimentation processes in an Amazonian hydropower dam" is available in the following link: https://lnkd.in/dX3zZg4D

🚨 Reference paper for those working on carbonate reservoirs 🚨 📄 Interesting research paper by Fermin Fernandez-Ibañez, PhD, Gareth Jones, Jordan Mimoun, Melanie Bowen, toni simo, Virginia Marcon, and William L. Esch, which delves into excess permeability in Brazil's Pre-Salt carbonate reservoirs. 🛠️The study examines how nonmatrix features—like fractures, vugs, and caves—can influence reservoir performance, sometimes increasing permeability by up to two orders of magnitude compared to the matrix. These features can cause early water breakthrough or injectivity challenges, highlighting the critical importance of characterizing them early for more effective reservoir management. The authors present a multidisciplinary workflow that integrates core, wireline logs, well tests, and drilling losses to diagnose and quantify excess permeability. They apply this approach to data from the Brazilian Pre-Salt fields, providing valuable insights into the types and distribution of nonmatrix features and their dynamic impact. 💡 The results are vital for improving reservoir models, particularly in complex carbonate systems, and reducing uncertainties in field development strategies. This study is a game-changer for those working in carbonate reservoir characterization and development planning. 🖼️ Figure: Schematic conceptual cross section (not to scale) of the pre-Salt reservoirs illustrating main type of concepts for nonmatrix and excess permeability under present-day reservoir conditions. The inset on the figure shows an idealized stratigraphic section at the core scale. Numbers on the figure point to locations for different excess permeability concepts (cf. summary chart on Figure 17): (1) millimeter-scale touching vugs; (2) bed-bounded fractures; (3) fault zones; (4) fractures and faults because of margin instability; (5) freshwater lens and meteoric exposure-related caves; (6) slope breccias. BDF 5 boundstone-dominated fabric; GDF 5 grain stone dominated fabric; MDF 5 mudstone-dominated fabric Figure from Fernandez-Ibanez et al. (2022). © AAPG reprinted by permission of the AAPG whose permission is required for further use. #CarbonateReservoirs #ExcessPermeability #PreSalt #ReservoirEngineering #OilAndGas #Geomechanics #WellTesting #ReservoirCharacterization #BrazilOilAndGas #FieldDevelopment #SubsurfaceAlliance

Basalt: The Ideal Rock for Carbon Storage!!! Volcanic rocks, particularly basalt, which constitutes about two-thirds of the Earth's crust, exhibit a consistently stronger CO2-wetting response compared to sedimentary rocks. This strong CO2-wetting behavior is strongly correlated with the presence of metal-bearing silicate minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. Plagioclase is predominant in Western Australian Basalt (WAB) and Iceland basalt, while pyroxene is more prevalent in Deccan basalt, India. Plagioclase shows a higher contact angle of 74° in a water-air system compared to pyroxene (40-69°), quartz (10°), mica (27°), gypsum (14°), and K-feldspar (24°). The non-dispersive (polar and hydrogen-hydrogen) interactions are more dominant in quartz, mica, gypsum, and K-feldspar, making them more hydrophilic. In contrast, plagioclase exhibits significant dispersive (hydrophobic) interactions, resulting in low interfacial tension with water. This hydrophobic characteristic of basalt enhances its CO2-wet behavior under reservoir pressure and temperature, favoring carbon capture and storage (CCS) through residual and structural trapping mechanisms. Reference: https://lnkd.in/gzRNzcqm https://lnkd.in/gaRbz2TW #CCS #CCUS #ccsindia #geology #rocks #carbon #carbonmineralization #deccanbasalt #basalt #icelandbasalt #WAB #geophysics #carbonsequestration #minerals #geotech #geoenergy #energy #rockmechanics #ccsgulfcoast #earthscience #earth #environment #climatechange #climate #geologist #civilengineering #environmentalengineering #nature

Evaluation of multiple satellite precipitation products and their potential utilities in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin https://lnkd.in/gxsK8vK5