Shelf-edge stratigraphy of the central Great Barrier Reef

Michal Wenderlich investigated the shelf-edge stratigraphy of the central Great Barrier Reef. He established a regional stratigraphy and identified lowstand foundations of outer shelf reefs. Sedimentary processes here are clearly diverse. Documenting these differences will aid the interpretations of other modern mixed margins and those in the geological record

Stochastic Model Generation of Porous Rocks and Study on 2D Pore Morphology Influencing Rock Strength and Stiffness

With the increasing usage of porous rocks in engineering construction, their well-performed properties (e.g., permeability and heat insulation) have attracted increasing attention from researchers in engineering geology. In nature, the vesicles in porous rocks always exhibit irregularity in morphology. This article proposes a workflow combining photogrammetry and Fourier transform to accurately acquire, characterize, and regenerate the natural pore morphology of porous rocks, including four steps: 1) initially, several 3D digital models of volcanic porous rock surfaces are reconstructed through a photogrammetry system, and the hollow pores in the surface are split into assemblies; 2) then, the 3D pore assembly is projected to a 2D reference plane with each pore being recognized and extracted; 3) the contours of a single pore are processed based on discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and a series of Fourier descriptors (mainly consist of D2, D3, and D8) are then statistically analyzed; 4) an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) is then conducted to quantitatively reconstruct the pores. Based on the earlier processes, the pores are distributed in a numerical model (rock failure and process analysis code, RFPA2D), and uniaxial compression simulations are performed to further investigate the influences of porosity and pore morphology on rock strength and stiffness. Herein, we introduce significant Fourier descriptors (i.e., D2, D3, and D8) as representations of three levels of pore morphology. Thus, 12 groups of numerical simulations considering the impact of porosity, pore orientation, D2, D3, and D8 are conducted. Results show that the porosity exerts a first-order control on the mechanical properties of rocks, while the effect of pore orientation is related to D2. All of them closely match those typically observed in previous studies. Furthermore, these simulations also highlight the influence of detailed pore morphology, such as convex hulls and subtle zigzags characterized by D3 and D8, respectively, on the rock failure process, marking that a more complicated morphology (e.g., with more convex hulls) may result in a reduction in rock strength and Young’s modulus. The proposed study provides a novel perspective on natural pore morphology together with its influence on rock strength and stiffness

Improved carbonate reservoir characterisation : a case study from the mid-Cretaceous Mishrif reservoir in the giant West Qurna/1 oilfield, Southern Iraq

The mid-Cretaceous Mishrif carbonate reservoir in West Qurna/1 oilfield is characterized by strong heterogeneity, tidal channels, and a complicated faults system which have very strong effects on the fluid flow and can result in unrealistic forecasted behaviour of the reservoir. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that two-dimensional seismic data and well data do not delineate the reservoir channels sufficiently and their variable fairway patterns. Hence, there is a need for a high-resolution 3D seismic dataset to explore reservoir characterisation including channel geometries more accurately. This thesis focuses mainly on porosity characterisation of the Mishrif channelized reservoir. It aims to delineate the Mishrif channel fairways with their intrinsic complexity then characterize the channel fairway’s reservoir properties, such as the porosity, and lithology, especially in new areas that have no well control. The thesis project was divided into three stages. The first stage focuses on the seismic reservoir characterisation of one of the Middle East's largest complex carbonate reservoirs in the West Qurna/1 oilfield, which hosts a complex internal architecture characterized by several tidal channels whose deposits may give good reservoir properties. In the second stage, multisource data was used to establish the essential workflow elements for characterizing Mishrif tidal channel fairways. The final stage incorporates 3D seismic data as a secondary variable into the property modelling to explore a more channels distribution using a combined dataset workflow. It was concluded that the seismic inversion interpretation demonstrates promising results, with the model-based inversion performing better than the linear programming sparse spike (LPSS). We interpreted the lithological variation in the Mishrif mA zone based on the model-based inversion, including high-energy corals, mounds, and rudist shoal facies that were not observed previously. Also, we noticed that the seismically derived porosity improved our understanding by providing the realistic distribution of the Mishrif channel's porosity. A variety of approaches has been suggested to characterizing the Mishrif carbonate tidal channels. It was observed that well data analysis and thin section micrographs provided a good understanding of Mishrif channelized facies. Also, modern channels and outcrop scales were highly valuable in acquiring information for the comparison with channel fairways detected in the Mishrif reservoir. Our study found that spectral decomposition with the colour blending of three frequency intervals provides a better geo-body extraction of the Mishrif mB1 channelized zone than the other seismic attribute surfaces. We analysed the results of the probabilistic neural network PNN algorithm and found that the Mishrif mB1 zone is clustered into two different heterogeneity-quality lithofacies (channels and restricted lagoon facies). We incorporated seismic inversion into the 3D property model with a different weighting of the correlation coefficients in the mB1 channelized zone. Thus, we observed that the constrained model combining well log data and seismic data as a secondary variable yields better channel fairway delineation with a moderate correlation coefficient weighting, and high weighting impacted the channel distribution. The findings of this thesis can be applied in other scenarios, such as contaminant transport in groundwater resources, or CO2 storage

Geomorphology from space: A global overview of regional landforms

This book, Geomorphology from Space: A Global Overview of Regional Landforms, was published by NASA STIF as a successor to the two earlier works on the same subject: Mission to Earth: LANDSAT views the Earth, and ERTS-1: A New Window on Our Planet. The purpose of the book is threefold: first, to serve as a stimulant in rekindling interest in descriptive geomorphology and landforms analysis at the regional scale; second, to introduce the community of geologists, geographers, and others who analyze the Earth's surficial forms to the practical value of space-acquired remotely sensed data in carrying out their research and applications; and third, to foster more scientific collaboration between geomorphologists who are studying the Earth's landforms and astrogeologists who analyze landforms on other planets and moons in the solar system, thereby strengthening the growing field of comparative planetology

2013 GREAT Day Program

SUNY Geneseo’s Seventh Annual GREAT Day.https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/program-2007/1007/thumbnail.jp

Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar to Structural Analysis of Carbonate Terraces on the Island of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

This thesis utilized the method of ground penetrating radar to investigate the structural geology of carbonate units in relation to the evolution of the island of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. Two surveys were completed on the island for this purpose: a long continuous cross-island transect, as well as a smaller set of lines that facilitated three-dimensional interpretation at an outcrop known as Seru Grandi. In the detailed processing workflow implemented for the collected datasets, steps were taken to remove unwanted signal noise, and advanced imaging techniques where then applied to generate interpretable subsurface cross-sections. A novel numerical interpretation tool was developed for use on the cross-island transect, which adapted a traditional k-means clustering algorithm for use with structure-parallel vectors derived from structure tensors. The results of this method were utilized in defining a set of radar facies for the cross-island transect. Mapping of these radar facies identified subsurface features related to subtidal-to-foreshore depositional sequences in the southern part of the transect, a potential lagoon system in the south-central portion, eolianites within the center of the transect, and clinoforms related to platform slope deposits in the northeast portions of the survey. Using the small-scale dataset at the Seru Grandi outcrop, subsurface geometries of a previously identified geologic unconformity were described. This unconformity was identified here to be the remnants of a wave cut-platform occurring at the site. The specific geometry of this feature was related to external controls on wave cut-platform development. In addition, the data collected at Seru Grandi identified a set of clinoform surfaces in the subsurface below the mapped unconformity. These observations were compared to previously identified clinoforms observed on the face of the outcrop. Observations and interpretations from both surveys in this study were used to provide additional information relating to the geologic evolution of Bonaire

Earth resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes (issue 60)

This bibliography lists 485 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between October 1 and December 31, 1988. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing and geophysical instrumentation in spacecraft and aircraft to survey and inventory natural resources and urban areas. Subject matter is grouped according to agriculture and forestry, environmental changes and cultural resources, geodesy and cartography, geology and mineral resources, oceanography and marine resources, hydrology and water management, data processing and distribution systems, and instrumentation and sensors

YOUMARES 9 - The Oceans: Our Research, Our Future

This open access book summarizes peer-reviewed articles and the abstracts of oral and poster presentations given during the YOUMARES 9 conference which took place in Oldenburg, Germany, in September 2018. The aims of this book are to summarize state-of-the-art knowledge in marine sciences and to inspire scientists of all career stages in the development of further research. These conferences are organized by and for young marine researchers. Qualified early-career researchers, who moderated topical sessions during the conference, contributed literature reviews on specific topics within their research field

YOUMARES 9 - The Oceans: Our Research, Our Future

This open access book summarizes peer-reviewed articles and the abstracts of oral and poster presentations given during the YOUMARES 9 conference which took place in Oldenburg, Germany, in September 2018. The aims of this book are to summarize state-of-the-art knowledge in marine sciences and to inspire scientists of all career stages in the development of further research. These conferences are organized by and for young marine researchers. Qualified early-career researchers, who moderated topical sessions during the conference, contributed literature reviews on specific topics within their research field

Pennsylvanian carbonate mud mounds from the sub-aerial to sub-marine transition along a tilted foreland basin, Cantabrian Mountains, Spain.

Carbonate mud mounds from the Pennsylvanian aged San Emiliano Formation (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain) are commonly well exposed. The mounds range from 2 to 50 m in height and were observed to be primary geological features. Microfacies, ultrafacies, palaeontological and geochemical studies have revealed the composition of the mounds and surrounding carbonates.The factors and controls of mound nucleation, growth and demise have been established. The mounds are skeletal-microbial/pack-wackestones. Peloidal, homogenous and clotted micrites are the main sedimentological constituents of the mounds. Microfossils are dominant with Donezella, Claracrusta, Rothpletzella and Girvanella being common. Small foraminifera, bryozoans, corals and algae are all present within the mounds, but are more common within off-mound carbonates. The mounds show evidence of deposition within shallow water environments. The formation of the mounds was controlled by a dynamic relationship between Donezellacean algae, and microscopic encrusters. Fluctuating environmental conditions lead to the alternate dominance between the two groups, resulting in accretion and stabilisation of carbonate muds. Off-mound carbonate sediments generally show more evidence for deeper, and in some cases, higher energy environment of deposition. These carbonates are generally packstones, and two distinct types occur: a Donezella dominated carbonate with oncoids, and a cyclical micrite-marl sequence which is dominated by ‘phylloid’ algae, bryozoans and corals. Comparable mounds from the Lois-Cigüera Formation, of the local Bernesga Valley, were deposited in a deeper environment. A relationship between Donezella, Claracrusta, Rothpletzella and Girvanella was not observed within the mounds of the Lois-Cigüera Formation. These mounds are compositionally different to their San Emiliano counter-parts. The San Emiliano Fm. was deposited on the sub-aerial to submarine transition on a tilted foreland basin. Carbonate and mound deposition took place within a basin during periods of heightened tectonic activity. Carbonates of the San Emiliano Fm. were originally aragonitic. Three new fossil morphotypes are presented