Expedition 357 Preliminary Report: Atlantis Massif Serpentinization and Life

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 357 successfully cored an east–west transect across the southern wall of Atlantis Massif on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to study the links between serpentinization processes and microbial activity in the shallow subsurface of highly altered ultramafic and mafic sequences that have been uplifted to the seafloor along a major detachment fault zone. The primary goals of this expedition were to (1) examine the role of serpentinization in driving hydrothermal systems, sustaining microbial communities, and sequestering carbon; (2) characterize the tectonomagmatic processes that lead to lithospheric heterogeneities and detachment faulting; and (3) assess how abiotic and biotic processes change with variations in rock type and progressive exposure on the seafloor. To accomplish these objectives, we developed a coring and sampling strategy based around the use of seabed rock drills—the first time that such systems have been used in the scientific ocean drilling programs. This technology was chosen in hopes of achieving high recovery of the carbonate cap sequences and intact contact and deformation relationships. The expedition plans also included several engineering developments to assess geochemical parameters during drilling; sample bottom water before and after drilling; supply synthetic tracers during drilling for contamination assessment; gather downhole electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility logs for assessing fractures, fluid flow, and extent of serpentinization; and seal boreholes to provide opportunities for future experiments. Seventeen holes were drilled at nine sites across Atlantis Massif, with two sites on the eastern end of the southern wall (Sites M0068 and M0075), three sites in the central section of the southern wall north of the Lost City hydrothermal field (Sites M0069, M0072, and M0076), two sites on the western end (Sites M0071 and M0073), and two sites north of the southern wall in the direction of the central dome of the massif and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site U1309 (Sites M0070 and M0074). Use of seabed rock drills enabled collection of more than 57 m of core, with borehole penetration ranging from 1.3 to 16.44 meters below seafloor and core recoveries as high as 75% of total penetration. This high level of recovery of shallow mantle sequences is unprecedented in the history of ocean drilling. The cores recovered along the southern wall of Atlantis Massif have highly heterogeneous lithologies, types of alteration, and degrees of deformation. The ultramafic rocks are dominated by harzburgites with intervals of dunite and minor pyroxenite veins, as well as gabbroic rocks occurring as melt impregnations and veins, all of which provide information about early magmatic processes and the magmatic evolution in the southernmost portion of Atlantis Massif. Dolerite dikes and basaltic rocks represent the latest stage of magmatic activity. Overall, the ultramafic rocks recovered during Expedition 357 revealed a high degree of serpentinization, as well as metasomatic talc-amphibole-chlorite overprinting and local rodingitization. Metasomatism postdates an early phase of serpentinization but predates late-stage intrusion and alteration of dolerite dikes and the extrusion of basalt. The intensity of alteration is generally lower in the gabbroic and doleritic rocks. Chilled margins in dolerite intruded into talc-amphibole-chlorite schists are observed at the most eastern Site M0075. Deformation in Expedition 357 cores is variable and dominated by brecciation and formation of localized shear zones; the degree of carbonate veining was lower than anticipated. All types of variably altered and deformed ultramafic and mafic rocks occur as components in sedimentary breccias and as fault scarp rubble. The sedimentary cap rocks include basaltic breccias with a carbonate sand matrix and/or fossiliferous carbonate. Fresh glass on basaltic components was observed in some of the breccias. The expedition also successfully applied new technologies, namely (1) extensively using an in situ sensor package and water sampling system on the seabed drills for evaluating real-time dissolved oxygen and methane, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, temperature, and conductivity during drilling; (2) deploying a borehole plug system for sealing seabed drill boreholes at four sites to allow access for future sampling; and (3) proving that tracers can be delivered into drilling fluids when using seabed drills. The rock drill sensor packages and water sampling enabled detection of elevated dissolved methane and hydrogen concentrations during and/or after drilling, with “hot spots” of hydrogen observed over Sites M0068–M0072 and methane over Sites M0070–M0072. Shipboard determination of contamination tracer delivery confirmed appropriate sample handling procedures for microbiological and geochemical analyses, which will aid all subsequent microbiological investigations that are part of the science party sampling plans, as well as verify this new tracer delivery technology for seabed drill rigs. Shipboard investigation of biomass density in select samples revealed relatively low and variable cell densities, and enrichment experiments set up shipboard reveal growth. Thus, we anticipate achieving many of the deep biosphere–related objectives of the expedition through continued scientific investigation in the coming years. Finally, although not an objective of the expedition, we were serendipitously able to generate a high-resolution (20 m per pixel) multibeam bathymetry map across the entire Atlantis Massif and the nearby fracture zone, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and eastern conjugate, taking advantage of weather and operational downtime. This will assist science party members in evaluating and interpreting tectonic and mass-wasting processes at Atlantis Massif

Proceedings of the 11th IEA International Workshop on Beryllium Technology (BeWS-11), Barcelona, Spain, 12-13 September 2013 (KIT Scientific Reports ; 7686)

The 11th IEA Beryllium Workshop (BeWS-11) was jointly organized by the KIT, Germany and Ciemat, Spain and was held at the Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona Tech (UCP). The International Organizing Committee (IOC) and all participants expressed their appreciation to the Local Organizing Committee for the truly excellent organization of the workshop at Ciemat. About forty scientists participated, coming mainly from Europe, U.S.A., Russia, Japan, and Kazakhstan

The Mechanics Of Momentum Transfer From Explosive Charges Buried In Water, In Sand, And In Sand With Fines

Physical tests involving full-scale systems subjected to blast loads are expensive. The development of more accurate computational and analytical methods to better understand and predict the mechanics of mine blast phenomena could be used to reduce the cost of development of mine protected vehicles and protective equipment for personnel involved in demining and similar activities. Although the science associated with air blast and blast-related ground shock phenomena is very extensive, that of mine blast, involving explosives buried in soil, is less well developed. In this work, theoretical, experimental, and computational methods are synthesized to better understand some of the mechanisms that affect the way that an explosive charge, buried in a bed containing soil or water, might affect a structure located above and in proximity to the surface of the bed. For some loading regimes, the flow of soil as it is ejected from the surface of a blast crater is important. This work first examines the behavior of a bed containing sand-like particles suspended in air by virtue of the flow of the air. A computational technique, using finite differences, was developed to solve the equations of motion for the fluidized bed. The method was applied to predict Couette flow and compare the predictions with published experimental results. This technique was further applied to predict the sensitivity of the flow to the sphericity and size of the fluidized particles. Next, experiments were examined which involved momentum transfer from buried gram scale explosive charges to rigid structures initially suspended above the surface of the water or soil. Associated computations were performed using an arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) finite element method. The constitutive behavior of the several types of soil involved in the work was defined by means of characterizations using high pressure (hundreds of millions of Pascal) uniaxial and triaxial tests at various initial combinations of water content and density; the associated computations were validated using results from blast experiments. Various trends, sensitivities, and parametric relations, with significant practical importance, were analyzed and reported. Finally, there were analyses of experiments and computations involving momentum transfer to the bottoms of structures with various topologies

Phase I Report, US DOE GRED II Program

Noramex Corporation Inc, a Nevada company, owns a 100% interest in geothermal leases at the Blue Mountain Geothermal Area, Humboldt County, Nevada. The company is exploring the site for a geothermal resource suitable for development for electric power generation or In the spring of 2002, Noramex drilled the first geothermal observation hole at Blue Mountain, under a cost-share program with the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), under the DOE's Geothermal Exploration and Resource Definition (GRED) program, (Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC04-00AL66972). DEEP BLUE No.1 was drilled to a total depth of 672.1 meters (2205 feet) and recorded a maximum temperature of 144.7 C (292.5 F). Noramex Corporation will now drill a second slim geothermal observation test hole at Blue Mountain, designated DEEP BLUE No.2. The hole will be drilled under a cost-share program with the DOE, under the DOE's Geothermal Exploration and Resource Definition II (GRED II) program, (Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC04-2002AL68297). This report comprises Phase I of Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC04-2002AL68297 of the GRED II program. The report provides an update on the status of resource confirmation at the Blue Mountain Geothermal Area, incorporating the results from DEEP BLUE No.1, and provides the technical background for a second test hole. The report also outlines the proposed drilling program for slim geothermal observation test hole DEEP BLUE No.2

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types: a review.

This paper focus on factors attributing to casing failure, their failure mechanism and the resulting failure mode. The casing is a critical component in a well and the main mechanical structural barrier element that provide conduits and avenue for oil and gas production over the well lifecycle and beyond. The casings are normally subjected to material degradation, varying local loads, induced stresses during stimulation, natural fractures, slip and shear during their installation and operation leading to different kinds of casing failure modes. The review paper also covers recent developments in casing integrity assessment techniques and their respective limitations. The taxonomy of the major causes and cases of casing failure in different well types is covered. In addition, an overview of casing trend utilisation and failure mix by grades is provided. The trend of casing utilisation in different wells examined show deep-water and shale gas horizontal wells employing higher tensile grades (P110 & Q125) due to their characteristics. Additionally, this review presents casing failure mixed by grades, with P110 recording the highest failure cases owing to its stiffness, high application in injection wells, shale gas, deep-water and high temperature and high temperature (HPHT) wells with high failure probability. A summary of existing tools used for the assessment of well integrity issues and their respective limitations is provided and conclusions drawn

Rotating convection : 1995 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

The 1995 program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics addressed "Rotating Convection," with particular emphasis on high-Rayleigh-number convection and on convection in the ocean.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE-8901012

Using the FRDPARRC design methodology to drive innovation in the HETDEX PFIP support adjustable strut assembly

textThis thesis provides background information on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), HET Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX), Gough-Stewart platforms (GSP), the Prime Focus Instrument Package (PFIP) support structure, and the design methodology used to design said support structure. Each component is analyzed from the point of view of Professor Alex Slocum’s FRDPARRC design methodology. Each aspect of the design is shown to have been derived by following the steps of Slocum’s design method. Material selection, manufacturing techniques, and integration of off-the-shelf components into the support system are also discussed in reference to FRDPARRC. The assembly procedure for the PFIP structure is outlined. Finally, using specific examples from the detailed design, the FRDPARRC method itself is analyzed and its ability to drive innovation in design is evaluated.Mechanical Engineerin

Investigations of ultra shallow junction ion implanted biaxial tensile strained silicon by means of X-Ray, Raman and photoacoustic techniques

The application of strain to the active channel region of the metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) has become a necessary practice in integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. The introduction of strain allows increased carrier mobilities, and concomitant device performance enhancements, which are independent of MOSFET scaling. Biaxial tensile strained silicon ("-Si), resulting from epitaxial growth of silicon on a Si1!xGex virtual substrate gives rise to enhanced electron mobilities and, for certain dopants, increased electrical activation. For these reasons it is the material of interest in this thesis. The prospects for industrial implementations of "-Si are heavily dependent on the effects of device processing steps, and the controllability of defect and dopant profiles. Of special interest to the current work is the suitability of "-Si subjected to low energy antimony implants and low thermal budget rapid thermal anneal (RTA), for the production of ultrashallow, abrupt junctions, appropriate for future generation source-drain extensions (SDE). Examined in the wider project are the effects of strain on dopant activation and diffusion through Differential Hall and SIMS measurements carried out by project partners. These measurements provide context for the work herein and demonstrate the desirability of "-Si as a n-MOSFET channel material. For our part, the effects of implant and anneal processes are investigated through both high resolution x-ray diffraction and micro-Raman (µ-Raman) spectroscopy. Synchrotron x-ray topography is used to identify the strain relaxation processes in both the "-Si epilayer and the Si1!xGex virtual substrate. Data obtained during the project called into question the validity of traditional µ-Raman interpretations in the context of degenerately doped silicon, under these conditions additional theoretical considerations are necessary. The µ-Raman data presented herein demonstrates sensitivities to both implant damage and to dopant activation and these dependencies are theoretically accouncted for. Finally, Photoacoustic Spectroscopy is shown to be a technique capable of non-destructive detection of ion implant damage within the top ⇠10 nm of the silicon. These uniquely sensitive measurements araise due to the particular experimental set up used which invoke a strong dependence on the thermal interface resistance within the sample