ALBERT

Description: A geochemical survey of thermal waters collected from submarine vents at Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, southern Italy) was carried out from December 2002 to March 2007, in order to investigate i) the geochemical processes controlling the chemical composition of the hydrothermal fluids and ii) the possible relations between the chemical features of the hydrothermal reservoir and the activity of the magmatic system. Compositional data of the thermal water samples were integrated in a hydrological conceptual model, which describes the formation of the vent fluid by mixing of seawater, seawater concentrated by boiling, and a deep, highly-saline end-member, whose composition is regulated by water-rock interactions at relatively high temperature and shows clear clues of magmatic-related inputs. The chemical composition of concentrated seawater was assumed to be represented by that of the water sample having the highest Mg content. The composition of the deep end-member was instead calculated by extrapolation assuming a zero-Mg end-member. The Na–K–Ca geothermometer, when applied to the thermal end-member composition, indicated an equilibrium temperature of approximately 300 °C, a temperature in agreement with the results obtained by gas-geothermometry.

Description: Published

Description: 246-254

Description: 3V. Proprietà chimico-fisiche dei magmi e dei prodotti vulcanici

Description: JCR Journal

Description: reserved

Description: The Hellenic subduction region displays the same precursory swarm phenomenon as has been found in comparable regions of New Zealand and Japan. In the earthquake catalogue of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 10 past sequences of precursory swarms and related major mainshock events have been identified. These correlate, in respect of location, magnitude and time, with the 9 sequences previously identified in New Zealand, and 9 in Japan, bringing the total of sequences to 28, and the totals of related events (allowing for clustering) to 56 precursory swarms and 42 mainshock events. The results add strength to the hypothesis that swarms are long-range predictors of mainshock events. A close similarity between the swarm and aftershock magnitudes in a given sequence is also confirmed in Greece, supporting the proposal that swarms are an integral part of the seismogenic process in subduction regions. Further, the modelling of swarms as part of an overall increase in seismicity, the onset of which marks the onset of seismogenesis, is well illustrated from past sequences in Greece. Formal tests are being carried out in Greece, in parallel with New Zealand and Japan, to ascertain the performance of the hypothesis as a basis for long-range synoptic forecasting.

Description: JCR Journal

Description: open

Description: EnCana’s CO2 injection EOR project at Weyburn (Saskatchewan, Canada) is the focal point of a multi-faceted research program, sponsored by IEA GHG R&D and numerous international industrial and government partners including the European Community (BGS, BRGM, INGV and GEUS research providers), to find co-optimization of “CO2-EOR Production” and “CO2 -Geological Storage”, addressed to environmental purposes, in the frame of the Kyoto Agreement Policies. The Weyburn oil-pull is recovered from Midale Beds (at the depth of 1300-1500 m). This formation consists of Mississipian shallow marine carbonate-evaporites that can be subdivided into two units: i) the dolomitic “Marly” and ii) the underlying calcitic “Vuggy”, sealed by an anhydrite cap. Presently, around 3 billions mc of supercritical CO2 have been injected into the “Phase A1”injection area that includes around 90 oil producers, 30 water injectors and 30 CO2 injection wells, build up since September 2000. INGV has carried out a geochemical monitoring programme -approximately thrice yearly from pre-injection (“Baseline” trip, August 2000) to September 2004- performing trace element and dissolved gas analysis along with fluids sampling surveys, the latter being performed by the Canadian partners. The experimental data are the base of a geochemical modelling, i.e. the main goal of the present study. In the past, assumptions and gap-acceptance have been made in the literature in the frame of the geochemical modelling of CO2 geological storage, in order to reconstruct the reservoir conditions (pressure, pH and boundary conditions). As these parameters of deep fluids cannot be measured in-situ, all this information must be computed by a a posteriori procedure involving the analytical data. In this work we proposed an approach to geochemical modeling in order to:: i) reconstruct the in-situ reservoir chemical composition (including pH) and ii) evaluate the boundary conditions (e.g. pCO2, pH2S), necessary to implement the reaction path modelling. This is the starting point to assess the geochemical impact of CO2 into the oil reservoir and, as main target, to quantify water-gas-rock reactions. Our geochemical modelling procedure is based on the available data such as: a) bulk mineralogy of the Marly and Vuggy zones; b) average gas-cap composition and c) pre-and post-CO2 injection selected water samples from Midale Beds. The PRHEEQC (V2.11) Software Package was used to reconstruct the in-situ reservoir composition by calculating the chemical equilibrium among the various phases at reservoir temperature (60°C) and pressure (150 bars) conditions by suitable thermodynamic corrections to code database. Then, we identified possible compositions of the initially reservoir liquid phases, always taking into account the case histories of the Marly and Vuggy units. The inverse modelling simulation (IMS) was then performed in order to calculate the amounts of mass transfer of liquid, gas and solid phases that accounted for changes in the water chemistry between the 2000 and 2003 data-sets. IMS calculations suggest that the reservoir underwent mineralogical changes, such as precipitation of chalcedony, gypsum and kaolinite and dissolution of anhydrite and k-feldspar. Calcite dissolution is predicted, but the precipitation of others carbonates (dolomite, dawsonite and siderite) can also occur. Finally, we modelled the geochemical impact of CO2 injection on Weyburn reservoir subjected to both local equilibrium and kinetically controlled reactions. All experimental data and thermo-kinetic modeling of the evolution of the CO2-rich Weyburn brine interacting with host rock minerals performed over 100 years after injection confirm that “solubility trapping” is prevailing in this early stage of CO2 injection. Further and detailed studies on the evolution of the CO2-rich Weyburn brine is one of main aims of this study in the framework of a PhD programme between the INGV of Rome and the Department of Earth Sciences of Florence.

Description: Published

Description: Berkeley, California

Description: 2.4. TTC - Laboratori di geochimica dei fluidi

Description: open

Description: Turrialba Volcano, located in Central-Southern Costa Rica, has been characterized, since the last period of eruptive activity in 1884-1886, by a weak and discontinuous fumarolic activity in the western area of its summit. During the 1998-2002 period, fumaroles discharging from central and West craters were collected for chemical analyses of major and trace gas compounds, 13C/12C in CO2 and 18O/16O and D/H (in one fumarolic condensate), isotopic ratios. Geophysical measurements (seismic activity and ground deformation), monitored in the same period, were compared to geochemical data to define the status of the volcanic system. Chemical and isotopic characteristics of fumaroles of Turrialba Volcano seem to be related to interaction processes between a magmatic source and a shallower hydrothermal aquifer. Since February 1997, seismicity at Turrialba Volcano gradually increased, while since August 2001 new fumaroles start to discharge from a new fracture system located in the area between central and West craters. Since September 2001, strong compositional changes of gas discharges have been recorded at central crater. These occurrences are possibly due to variations in the permeability of the conduit system feeding the fumaroles. Heat pulse episodes from a magmatic source have possibly caused the increase of vapour pressure at depth and, consequently, favoured the uprising of the magmatic fluids toward the surface. The observed evolution of chemical and physical parameters suggests that to forecast a possible renewal of the volcanic activity in the near future a full program of both geochemical and geophysical surveillance must be provided at Turrialba Volcano.

Description: Published

Description: JCR Journal

Description: open

Description: Two ideal lithologic sections representing a tidal bar system and a fluvial complex were drawn in order to run seismic modeling programs developed by OGS on behalf of the European Community. The simulations allowed an accurate analysis of the seismic expressions of the two sections. The tidal bar system is formed by a number of sandstone lenses interlayered with siltstone and mudstone deposits. These lenses meet together on an erosion surface, while they thin and vanish in the other direction. The fluvial complex is fonned by a limestone basement overlain by coarse alluvial plain sediments which in turn are transgressed by finer flood plain sediments, including sandstone lenses stacking towards the top in a meandering belt. These lithofacies associations represent potential multi-pool reservoirs in which the mudstone layers constitute the plugs. As a function of the granulometric and depositional features of each lithological unit, together with fluid content, wave velocities and densities were evaluated. A 2D modeling for elastic plane wave propagation in these hypothesized geologic sections was run on a Cray supercomputer. The numerical scheme is based on solving the full wave equation by pseudospectral methods.

Description: JCR Journal

Description: open

Description: Geological storage is one of the most promising technologies for reducing anthropogenic atmospheric emissions of CO2. Among the several CO2 storage techniques, sequestration in deep-seated saline aquifers implies four processes: a) supercritical fluid into geologic structure (physical trapping), b) dissolved CO2(aq) due to very long flow path (hydrodynamic trapping), c) dissolved CO2(aq) (solubility trapping), and d) secondary carbonates (mineral trapping). The appealing concept that CO2 can permanently be retained underground has prompted several experimental studies in Europe and North America sponsored by IEA GHG R&D, EU and numerous international industrials and governments, the most important project being the International Energy Agency Weyburn CO2 Monitoring & Storage, an EnCana’s CO2 injection EOR project at Weyburn (Saskatchewan, Canada). Owing to the possible risks associated to this technique, numerical modelling procedures of geochemical processes are necessary to investigate the short- to long-term consequences of CO2 storage. Assumptions and gap-acceptance are made to reconstruct the reservoir conditions (pressure, pH, chemistry, and mineral assemblage), although most strategic geochemical parameters of deep fluids are computed by a posteriori procedure due to the sampling collection at the wellhead, i.e. using depressurised aliquots. In this work a new approach to geochemical model capable of to reconstruct the reservoir chemical composition (T, P, boundary conditions and pH) is proposed using surface analytical data to simulate the short-medium term reservoir evolution during and after the CO2 injection. The PRHEEQC (V2.11) Software Package via thermodynamic corrections to the code default database has been used to obtain a more realistic modelling. The main modifications brought about the Software Package are: i) addition of new solid phases, ii) use of P〉0.1 Mpa, iii) variation of the CO2 supercritical fugacity and solubility under reservoir conditions, iv) addition of kinetic rate equations of several minerals and v) calculation of reaction surface area. The Weyburn Project was selected as case study to test our model. The Weyburn oil-pull is recovered from the Midale Beds (1300-1500 m deep) that consist of two units of Mississippian shallow marine carbonate-evaporites: i) the dolomitic “Marly” and ii) the underlying calcitic “Vuggy”, sealed by an anhydrite cap-rock. About 3 billions mc of supercritical CO2 have been injected into the “Phase A1” injection area. The INGV and the University of Calgary (Canada), have carried out a geochemical monitoring program (ca. thrice yearly- from pre-injection trip: “Baseline” trip, August 2000, to September 2004). The merged experimental data are the base of the present geochemical modeling. On the basis of the available data, i.e. a) bulk mineralogy of the Marly and Vuggy reservoirs; b) mean gas-cap composition at the wellheads and c) selected pre- and post-CO2 injection water samples, the in-situ (62 °C and 0.1 MPa) reservoir chemical composition (including pH and the boundary conditions as PCO2, PH2S) has been re-built by the chemical equilibrium among the various phases, minimizing the effects of the past 30-years of water flooding in the oil field. The kinetic evolution of the CO2-rich Weyburn brines interacting with the host-rock minerals performed over 100 years after injection have also been computed. The reaction path modeling suggests that CO2 can mainly be neutralized by solubility and mineral trapping via Dawsonite precipitation. To validate our model the geochemical impact of three years of CO2 injection (September 2000-2003) has been simulated by kinetically controlled reactions. The calculated chemical composition after the CO2 injection is consistent with the analytical data of samples collected in 2003 with a 〈5 % error for most analytical species, with the exception of Ca and Mg (error 〉90%), likely due to the complexation effect of carboxilic acid.

Description: Published

Description: Rimini, Italy

Description: 2.4. TTC - Laboratori di geochimica dei fluidi

Description: open

Description: On the Forecasting Horizon of Seismicity Models

Description: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Rome, Italy Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM), Tokyo, Japan Swiss Seismological Service, Institute of Geophysics (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland

Description: Unpublished

Description: Erice, Italy

Description: open

Description: A three-stage faulting model explains the observed quantitative relations between long-term precursory seismicity, mainshocks and aftershocks. Seismogenesis starts with the formation of a major crack, culminates in the corresponding major fracture and earthquake, and ends with healing. Crack formation is a self-organised critical phenomenon, and shear fracture is a delayed sequel to crack formation. It is postulated that the major crack generates a set of minor cracks, just as, later, the major fracture generates a set of minor fractures. Fracturing of the minor cracks raises the average seismicity level. By Mogi’s uniformity criterion, the major earthquake is delayed until the minor fractures have healed and the stress-field has regained relative uniformity. In accord with the scaling principle, the model applies at all magnitude levels. The size of any given initial crack determines the scale of the ensuing seismogenic process. A graphical technique of cumulative magnitude analysis gives a quantitative representation of the seismicity aspects of the model. Examples are given for large earthquakes in a region of continental collision and a subduction region. The principle of hierarchy is exemplified by the seismogenesis of a M 5.9 mainshock occurring entirely within the precursory stage of a M 7.0 mainshock. The model is capable of accommodating a variety of proposed shorter-term precursory phenomena.

Description: JCR Journal

Description: open

Description: A sudden increase in the scale of seismicity has occurred as a long-term precursor to twelve major earthquakes in California and Northern Mexico. These include all earthquakes along the San Andreas system during 1960-2000 with magnitude M 6.4. The full list is as follows: Colorado Delta, 1966, M 6.3; Borrego Mt., 1968, M 6.5; San Fernando, 1971, M 6.6; Brawley, 1979, M 6.4; Mexicali, 1980, M 6.1; Coalinga, 1983, M 6.7; Superstition Hills, 1987, M 6.6; Loma Prieta, 1989, M 7.0; Joshua Tree, 1992, M 6.1; Landers, 1992, M 7.3; Northridge, 1994, M 6.6; Hector Mine, 1999, M 7.1. Such a Precursory Scale Increase () was inferred from the modelling of long-term seismogenesis as a three-stage faulting process against a background of self-organised criticality. The location, onset-time and level of are predictive of the location, time and magnitude of the future earthquake. Precursory swarms, which occur widely in subduction regions, are a special form of ; the more general form is here shownto occur frequently in a region of continental transform. Other seismicity precursors, including quiescence and foreshocks, contribute to or modulate the increased seismicity that characterises . The area occupied by is small compared with those occupied by the seismicity precursors known as AMR, M8 and LURR. Further work is needed to formulate as a testable hypothesis, and to carry out the appropriate forecasting tests.

Description: Published

Description: JCR Journal

Description: open

Description: The study of the Calabrian Arc in the Ionian Sea is key to understanding of the geological processes in the Mediterranean Sea. We present the technical details and results of cruise CALAMARE08 with N/O Urania during spring 2008. We acquired a large set of geological and geophysical data, among them Multichannels Seismic and SBP, magnetometry, gravimetry, swath bathymetry and coring of sea bottom.

Description: 1. CNR, Istituto Di Scienze Marine, Bologna, Italy 2. Dipartimento Sc.della Terra, Universita- di Parma 3. Universita’ di Bologna 4. Universita’ di Roma-3 5. Universite’ Brest 6. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma-2, Roma, Italy 7. Istituto Idrografico della Marina, Genova

Description: Published

Description: 3.2. Tettonica attiva

Description: open