Analysis of Low-Permability Gas Sands Suitable for Future Research Programs

Research on tight gas sands has traditionally focused on lenticular sands, but blanket-geometry sands, deposited by different processes, present distinct external and internal reservoir geometries requiring unique exploration and production techniques. To ensure the applicability of research findings across various reservoirs, a survey was conducted with a focus on elastic depositional systems and the potential transferability of results between different stratigraphic units. Based on the survey results, five stratigraphic units were selected for further study, and data collection efforts were initiated during the contract period. A comprehensive work plan was developed for the analysis of these units, which includes the preparation of geologic cross sections and maps, review of productive areas, resource analysis, and documentation of findings. The five selected units for study are the Travis Peak Formation, the Corcoran and Cozzette Sandstones, the Mancos "B" interval of the Mancos Shale, the upper Almond Formation, and the Frontier Formation. Data collection efforts have yielded a significant number of well logs from Colorado and Wyoming, with additional logs identified from Bureau files for the Travis Peak Formation. Wells suitable for cross-sectional analysis have been identified for the Travis Peak and Corcoran/Cozzette trends, and initial cross sections have been prepared for the latter trend. These efforts aim to enhance understanding and exploration potential of blanket-geometry tight gas sand reservoirs.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Influence of solvent molecular geometry on the growth of nanostructures

Solvent properties such as surface tension, dielectric constant, and viscosity have been extensively studied over more than 150 years to understand their influence on the growth kinetics of nanostructures. Interestingly, these nanoparticles-based studies have missed the influence of solvent molecular geometry. Herein, by synthesizing ZnO nanorods on a highly conductive nitrogen incorporated graphene oxide (N-GO) substrate, we present the first study showing the influence of solvent molecular geometry on the growth mechanism of nanostructures. The solvents such as water (N-GO-ZnO-W) allow a large number of functional atoms along a, b and c-axis to coordinate in all possible directions with the metal ions of wurtzite hexagonal crystal system of ZnO and thus leads to lower aspect ratio nanorods. On the contrary, the unavailability of binding sites along a-axis for solvents such as ethanol (N-GO-ZnO-E) provides a size-limiting effect and leads to preferred growth along b and c-axis, thus generating ZnO nanorods with a higher aspect ratio. The study shows that the number of interacting atoms, carbon chain length and the solvent molecular geometry influence the aspect ratio and therefore a solvent could be used to tune the nanostructures morphology and hence the performance of devices based on them

Geologic Anaylsis of Primary and Secondary Tight Gas Sand Objectives Phase A&B

Finley (1982) listed geologic and engineering characteristics of over 30 blanket-geometry tight gas sandstones in a survey of 16 sedimentary basins. Emphasis was placed on defining elastic depositional systems and on using constituent facies as a method of evaluating the common features of stratigraphic units of different ages in diverse sedimentary and structural settings. Blanket-geometry tight gas sandstones considered suitable for future research by the Gas Research Institute were found to occur primarily within deltaic and barrier-strandplain depositional systems. An assessment of expected transferability of research results (extrapolation potential) was made between stratigraphic units, and more detailed study of six formations was recommended. The Corcoran and Cozzette Sandstones of the Piceance Creek Basin and the Travis Peak Formation of the East Texas Basin and North Louisiana Salt Basin were recommended for research by the Gas Research Institute on blanket-geometry tight gas sandstones, and initial studies of depositional systems were begun. The Corcoran and Cozzette represent the barrier-strandplain system and contain barrier, offshore bar, and associated marginal-marine facies. Detailed studies of the Corcoran-Cozzette in Shire Gulch and Plateau Fields show shoreface sequences common to the lower parts of both units, and bay-lagoon and deltaic facies occur in the upper parts. The Travis Peak Formation represents a deltaic system, having a lower subdivision of progradational deltaic facies, a thick middle subdivision of braided alluvial deposits, and an upper subdivision of marginal marine deposits influenced by marine transgression. Sands greater than 50 ft thick are prominent in the middle subdivision in areas on the west flank of the Sabine Uplift. The Frontier Formation and the upper Almond Formation of the Greater Green River Basin and the Olmos Formation of the Maverick Basin are not recommended for further research, but should be considered when the need arises to test barrier, offshore bar, and possibly deltaic facies outside the two main research areas. The estimated gas resources associated with the Corcoran-Cozzette and the Travis Peak in Texas are 3.7 and 17.3 Tcf respectively. The Mancos "B" of the Piceance Creek Basin is not recommended for any additional research because its unique distribution of lithologies limits its extrapolation to a small group of shelf deposits, some of which have already been investigated. The extrapolation potential of the Travis Peak is largely to itself over a wide area of East Texas and North Louisiana. Extrapolation potential of the Corcoran and Cozzette extends to a large number of stratigraphic units, mostly within the Upper Cretaceous of the Rocky Mountain Region.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Thickness dependence of unidirectional spin-Hall magnetoresistance in metallic bilayers

A nonlinear magnetoresistance - called unidirectional spin-Hall magnetoresistance - is recently experimentally discovered in metallic bilayers consisting of a heavy metal and a ferromagnetic metal. To study the fundamental mechanism of the USMR, both ferromagnetic and heavy metallic layer thickness dependence of the USMR are presented in a Pt/Co/AlOx trilayer at room temperature. To avoid ambiguities, second harmonic Hall measurements are used for separating spin-Hall and thermal contributions to the non-linear magnetoresistance. The experimental results are fitted by using a drift-diffusion theory, with parameters extracted from an analysis of longitudinal resistivity of the Co layer within the framework of the Fuchs-Sondheimer model. A good agreement with the theory is found, demonstrating that the USMR is governed by both the spin-Hall effect in the heavy metallic layer and the metallic diffusion process in the ferromagnetic layer

Energy-resolved Photoconductivity Mapping in a Monolayer-bilayer WSe2 Lateral Heterostructure

Vertical and lateral heterostructures of van der Waals materials provide tremendous flexibility for band structure engineering. Since electronic bands are sensitively affected by defects, strain, and interlayer coupling, the edge and heterojunction of these two-dimensional (2D) systems may exhibit novel physical properties, which can be fully revealed only by spatially resolved probes. Here, we report the spatial mapping of photoconductivity in a monolayer-bilayer WSe2 lateral heterostructure under multiple excitation lasers. As the photon energy increases, the light-induced conductivity detected by microwave impedance microscopy first appears along the hetero-interface and bilayer edge, then along the monolayer edge, inside the bilayer area, and finally in the interior of the monolayer region. The sequential emergence of mobile carriers in different sections of the sample is consistent with the theoretical calculation of local energy gaps. Quantitative analysis of the microscopy and transport data also reveals the linear dependence of photoconductivity on the laser intensity and the influence of interlayer coupling on carrier recombination. Combining theoretical modeling, atomic scale imaging, mesoscale impedance microscopy, and device-level characterization, our work suggests an exciting perspective to control the intrinsic band-gap variation in 2D heterostructures down to the few-nanometer regime.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures; Nano Lett., Just Accepted Manuscrip

Forecasting Crude Oil Prices with Major S&P 500 Stock Prices: Deep Learning, Gaussian Process, and Vine Copula

This paper introduces methodologies in forecasting oil prices (Brent and WTI) with multivariate time series of major S&P 500 stock prices using Gaussian process modeling, deep learning, and vine copula regression. We also apply Bayesian variable selection and nonlinear principal component analysis (NLPCA) for data dimension reduction. With a reduced number of important covariates, we also forecast oil prices (Brent and WTI) with multivariate time series of major S&P 500 stock prices using Gaussian process modeling, deep learning, and vine copula regression. To apply real data to the proposed methods, we select monthly log returns of 2 oil prices and 74 large-cap, major S&P 500 stock prices across the period of February 2001-October 2019. We conclude that vine copula regression with NLPCA is superior overall to other proposed methods in terms of the measures of prediction errors

On the Dirac Structure of the Nucleon Selfenergy in Nuclear Matter

The relativistic structure of the self-energy of a nucleon in nuclear matter is investigated including the imaginary and real components which arise from the terms of first and second order in the NN interaction. A parameterized form of Brueckner $G$ matrix is used for the NN interaction. The effects of the terms beyond the DBHF approximation on quasiparticle energies and the optical potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering are discussed.Comment: 18 pages, Latex including 10 figures using psfi

City branding in China's Northeastern region

The past decade has seen a surge in the use of city branding, which is used to attract specific target groups of investors, high-tech green firms and talented workforce and reflects a desired shift from old, polluting manufacturing industries to new, clean service industries. Previous studies in the Chinese mega-city regions Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta a

Treatment of breast cancer with different antiprogestins: Preclinical and clinical studies

Abstract Treatment with antiprogestins in a new treatment modality for breast cancer. Previously, in rats with DMBA-induced mammary tumors we observed significant growth inhibitory effects of chronic treatment with the antiprogestin mifepristone (RU486). In addition, in 11 postmenopausal breast cancer patients, we observed one objective response, six instances of short-term stable disease, and four instances of progressive disease. Side-effects appeared mainly due to antiglucocorticoid properties of the drug. Increased plasma estradiol levels were observed which probably resulted from ovarian (rat) and adrenal (patients) steroidogenesis. Combined treatment with an antiestrogen in the rat model caused additive growth inhibitory effects. Tumor inhibition after single treatment with mifepristone or tamoxifen was 90 and 75%, respectively. In contrast, when combined, tumor remission similar to that caused by LHRH-agonist treatment (50%) was observed. Even higher tumor remission was found after combined treatment with mifepristone plus LHRH-agonist (75%). In first studies in the rat model we observed significant tumor growth inhibitory effects with two new antiprogestins of seemingly greater potency which cause less unfavorable endocrine side-effects. In conclusion: combined treatment (antiprogestin plus antiestrogen or LHRH-agonist) may be of value in endocrine therapy of breast cancer

Membrane-Bound Methyltransferase Complex VapA-VipC-VapB Guides Epigenetic Control of Fungal Development

Epigenetic and transcriptional control of gene expression must be coordinated in response to external signals to promote alternative multicellular developmental programs. The membrane-associated trimeric complex VapA-VipC-VapB controls a signal transduction pathway for fungal differentiation. The VipC-VapB methyltransferases are tethered to the membrane by the FYVE-like zinc finger protein VapA, allowing the nuclear VelB-VeA-LaeA complex to activate transcription for sexual development. Once the release from VapA is triggered, VipCVapB is transported into the nucleus. VipC-VapB physically interacts with VeA and reduces its nuclear import and protein stability, thereby reducing the nuclear VelB-VeA-LaeA complex. Nuclear VapB methyltransferase diminishes the establishment of facultative heterochromatin by decreasing histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3). This favors activation of the regulatory genes brlA and abaA, which promote the asexual program. The VapA-VipCVapB methyltransferase pathway combines control of nuclear import and stability of transcription factors with histone modification to foster appropriate differentiation responses