ALBERT

Description: A computational flow analysis was carried out to identify the retention time and flow distribution characteristics depending on the shape and depth of an oxidation pond. To evaluate the flow characteristics and efficiency of the oxidation pond with various shapes, the shape of the oxidation pond was defined by its horizontal and vertical deformation. The flow characteristics of the oxidation pond were found to be independent of the direction of the horizontal deformation angle, but dependent on the magnitude of the vertical deformation angle. The larger the vertical deformation angle, the stronger the short circulation of the mine drainage and the lower the inflow exchange efficiency in the oxidation pond. Moreover, the efficiency of the oxidation pond was increased when the dip angle direction of the pond was the same as that of the flow and the dip angle of the pond was similar to the velocity contour.

Description: The goal of the current study is to better understand the role of storm dynamics on stream water chemical variability in a highly polluted urban-fringe watershed. The study was conducted in the upper reach of the Arroyo Seco watershed located on the eastern edge of the densely urbanized Los Angeles basin in California. During the 2008–2009 study period, high-frequency stream water observations of chloride, fluoride, sulfate, and nitrate were monitored through a series of storm events and were compared to pre- and post-winter storm season geochemical soil profiles. Of the four solutes measured, nitrate demonstrated hydrologically enhanced behavior. Chloride, fluoride, and sulfate exhibited enhanced behavior initially (first flush), but transitioned to dilution behavior as the season progressed. Soil chemistry analyses in the riparian zone confirmed the abundance of nitrate on the soil surface, serving as a source for stream water nitrate. Observations and analyses collectively suggest that the chemical variability observed during the storms is dependent not only on discharge, but also on the magnitude and intensity of rainfall, the length of the antecedent dry period, and riparian soil composition. A further understanding of these factors will ultimately improve geochemical models for prediction of downstream chemical loads from regional urban-fringe watersheds.

Description: In this paper, a bivariate-heuristic model (modified Stevenson’s method) and two multivariate statistical procedures (discriminant analysis and logistic regression) were used in order to assess and map landslide susceptibility in the north-western side of Daunia region (Apulia, Southern Italy). The whole Daunia region is characterized by complex and composite landslides, which are located on clayey slopes, near urban centers, affecting structures and infrastructures. The high predisposition to landsliding of the Daunia hillslopes is related to the very poor strength properties of clayey formations. The comparative analysis of landslide susceptibility using different methods, on the same test site and with the same inventory map allowed understanding the dependence of the results from the dataset and the capability of models under different levels of use, from expert to simple operator. By comparing the performance of the three models through the success rate curves, it emerges that the simple modified Stevenson’s method produces reliable outcomes, comparable with those deriving from more complex multivariate statistical models. This result is related to the characteristics of clayey slopes, in which the landslide occurrence is so much controlled by the poor strength properties of the clayey formations that the multivariate analysis of a large set of morphometric, geological and land-use variables results to be somehow superfluous. This suggests that, for clayey slopes, a simple, easy-to-manage bivariate-heuristic model based on expert opinion can be used with reliable results.

Description: Chah Nimeh reservoirs have served as a water storage facility, especially during droughts over the last three decades. It is also an important wintering site for migratory birds. In this study, thematic mapper time-series data were derived from Landsat images for prolonged droughts that occurred in two satellite images (2002 and 2011). The data derived from these images were used for the detection of changes in land cover and water storage in the reservoirs. First, a vegetation cover map was produced using soil-adjusted vegetation index and field sampling. Subsequently, land use/cover maps were generated using supervised and hybrid image classification method. Using the spatial change detector (SCD v1.0) software extension, the layers were combined and the change map was generated. The overall accuracy of the produced thematic images was assessed in regards to quantity and allocation disagreements. A total of five classes were defined in this investigation: deep water, shallow water, vegetation, salt land and bare land. The results showed that during the period of study, water volume reduced and vegetation cover increased, especially around the reservoirs that are important as shelter for wintering migratory birds. Comparison of land use/cover maps showed the increase in total available surface of shallow water, which indicated an increase in the habitats for surface feeding and diving birds.

Description: The storage potential of subsurface geological systems makes them viable candidates for long-term disposal of significant quantities of CO 2 . The geo-mechanical responses of these systems as a result of injection processes as well as the protracted storage of CO 2 are aspects that require sufficient understanding. A hypothetical model has been developed that conceptualises a typical well-reservoir system comprising an injection well where the fluid (CO 2 ) is introduced and a production/abandoned well sited at a distant location. This was accomplished by adopting a numerical methodology (discrete element method), specifically designed to investigate the geo-mechanical phenomena whereby the various processes are monitored at the inter-particle scale. Fracturing events were simulated. In addition, the influence of certain operating variables such as injection flow rate and fluid pressure was studied with particular interest in the nature of occurring fractures and trend of propagation, the pattern and magnitude of pressure build-up at the well vicinity, pressure distribution between well regions and pore velocity distribution between well regions. Modelling results generally show an initiation of fracturing caused by tensile failure of the rock material at the region of fluid injection; however, fracturing caused by shear failure becomes more dominant at the later stage of injection. Furthermore, isolated fracturing events were observed to occur at the production/abandoned wells that were not propagated from the injection point. This highlights the potential of CO 2 introduced through an injection well, which could be used to enhance oil/gas recovery at a distant production well. The rate and magnitude of fracture development are directly influenced by the fluid injection rate. Likewise, the magnitude of pressure build-up is greatly affected by the fluid injection rate and the distance from the point of injection. The DEM modelling technique illustrated provides an effective procedure that allows for more specific investigations of geo-mechanical mechanisms occurring at subsurface systems. The application of this methodology to the injection and storage of CO 2 facilitates the understanding of the fracturing phenomenon as well as the various factors governing the process.

Description: The Kangan Permo-Triassic brine aquifer and the overlying gas reservoir in the southern Iran are located in Kangan and Dalan Formations, consisting dominantly of limestone, dolomite, and to a lesser extent, shale and anhydrite. The gasfield, 2,900 m in depth and is exploited by 36 wells, some of which produce high salinity water. The produced water gradually changed from fresh to saline, causing severe corrosion in the pipelines and well head facilities. The present research aims to identify the origin of this saline water (brine), as a vital step to manage saline water issues. The major and minor ions, as well as δ 2 H, δ 18 O and δ 37 Cl isotopes were measured in the Kangan aquifer water and/or the saline produced waters. The potential processes causing salinity can be halite dissolution, membrane filtration, and evaporation of water. The potential sources of water may be meteoric, present or paleo-seawater. The Na/Cl and I/Cl ratios versus Cl − concentration preclude halite dissolution. Concentrations of Cl, Na, and total dissolved solid were compared with Br concentration, indicating that the evaporated ancient seawater trapped in the structure is the cause of salinization. δ 18 O isotope enrichment in the Kangan aquifer water is due to both seawater evaporation and interaction with carbonate rocks. The δ 37 Cl isotope content also supports the idea of evaporated ancient seawater as the origin of salinity. Membrane filtration is rejected as a possible source of salinity based on the hydrochemistry data, the δ 18 O value, and incapability of this process to dramatically enhance salinity up to the observed value of 330,000 mg/L. The overlaying impermeable formations, high pressure in the gas reservoir, and the presence of a cap rock above the Kangan gasfield, all prevent the downward flow of meteoric and Persian Gulf waters into the Kangan aquifer. The evaporated ancient seawater is autochthonous, because the Kangan brine aquifer was formed by entrapment of brine seawater during the deposition of carbonates, gypsum, and minor clastic rocks in a lagoon and sabkha environment. The reliability of determining the source of salinity in a deep complicated inaccessible high-pressure aquifer can be improved by combining various methods of hydrochemistry, isotope, hydrodynamics, hydrogeology and geological settings.