Challenges of Forest Fires in Russia

Forest fires in Russia have increased in scale in recent years. While climatic conditions do influence the incidence of fires, their increase also reflects socioeconomic changes and policy failures associated with the forest management system in Russia, such as the overemphasis on privatized forestry and the misallocation of forest protection budgets disfavoring the sparsely populated and forest-rich eastern regions

Designing gravel pack for uranium ISL wells

The paper describes the improvement of gravel packing technique applied for the production wells. The authors have suggested new design of gravel pack for gravel packing of productive formations. The issue is currently topical because gravel packing at drillhole ISL is less time- and money-consuming. The subject of the research is gravel pack design and content. The purpose defined by the authors is to design the gravel pack and to suggest the composition of gravel cement agent. As a result of the research, the authors have described different designs of the gravel pack, its optimal shape, as well as a choice and justification of cement agents, a hold cover of the gravel pack, and suggested the methods of experimental research

Express zoning of the parent suite on density of generated oil resources (by the example of Nyurol'ka megadepression)

The relevance of the research is caused by the need to develop the criteria and to improve the technique of assessing hard-to-produced reserves of shale oil (accumulated in situ) of Bazhenov suite in West Siberian oil-and-gas province. The main aim of the research is to define the methodology, a set of initial geological and geophysical data and demonstrate the technique of zoning oil source deposits on shale oil resource density. The object of research is the Upper Jurassic Bazhenov sediments of Mesozoic and Cenozoic section penetrated by deep wells in the south-east of Western Siberia. Methodology and technology of the research. Duration and temperature of the main phase of oil generation are accepted as the key factor detailing the characteristics of the parent suite as the one supplying higher/lower located clastic reservoirs or as shale formation (N. B. Vassoevich, 1967); and the main volume of oil generated, accumulated in situ, or emigrated to the collector, are located there where the parent deposits are/were to a greater extent in the main zone of oil formation (A. E. Kontorovich et al., 1967). The zoning technique is based on the method of paleotemperature modeling which allows reconstructing thermal history of the parent deposits, allocating oil generation sources by geothermal criteria and mapping them. The generated oil resources are estimated by an integral index, depending on the time which the parent suite spent in the main zone of oil formation and on its temperatures. Research results. The paper demonstrates the zoning technique of Nurol'ka megadepression and the structures of its framing, based on the method of paleotemperature modeling that fits organically into the methodology of the theory of oil generation main phase and threshold temperatures for the parent deposits occurrence in the main zone of oil formation. The authors have determined the promising regions and areas of the slate (accumulated in situ) Bazhenov oil. The oil seeps and flows in deep wells from the intervals of the parent rocks and clastic reservoirs prove zoning substantiality

Express zoning of the parent suite on density of generated oil resources (by the example of Nyurol'ka megadepression)

Актуальность исследований обусловлена необходимостью разработки критериев и совершенствования технологий оценки трудноизвлекаемых запасов сланцевой нефти (аккумулированной in situ) баженовской свиты Западно-Сибирской нефтегазоносной провинции. Цель исследований: определить методологию, комплекс исходных геолого-геофизических данных и продемонстрировать технологию зонального районирования нефтематеринских отложений по плотности ресурсов сланцевой нефти. Объект исследований: верхнеюрские баженовские нефтематеринские отложения мезозойско-кайнозойского разреза, вскрытого глубокими скважинами на юго-востоке Западной Сибири. Методология и технология исследований. Принято, что ключевым фактором, детализирующим характеристику материнской свиты как питающей выше/ниже лежащие терригенные резервуары, или как сланцевую формацию, являются время действия и температурный режим главной фазы нефтеобразования (Н. Б. Вассоевич, 1967), а основные объемы нефти, генерированной, аккумулированной in situ или эмигрированной в коллектор, локализуются там, где материнские отложения в большей степени находятся/находились в главной зоне нефтеобразования (А. Э. Конторович и др., 1967). Технология зонального районирования базируется на методе палеотемпературного моделирования, позволяющего реконструировать термическую историю материнских отложений, выделить по геотемпературному критерию и закартировать очаги генерации нефтей. Оценка ресурсов генерированных нефтей определяется интегральным показателем, напрямую зависящим от времени нахождения материнской свиты в главной зоне нефтеобразования и от ее геотемператур. Результаты исследований. Продемонстрирована технология зонального районирования Нюрольской мегавпадины и структур ее обрамления, базирующаяся на методе палеотемпературного моделирования, который органически вписывается в методологию учения о главной фазе нефтеобразования и пороговых температурах вхождения материнских отложений в главную зону нефтеобразования. Определены перспективные зоны и участки на сланцевую (аккумулированную in situ) баженовскую нефть. Состоятельность районирования уверенно аргументируется нефтепроявлениями и притоками нефти в глубоких скважинах из интервалов материнских пород.The relevance of the research is caused by the need to develop the criteria and to improve the technique of assessing hard-to-produced reserves of shale oil (accumulated in situ) of Bazhenov suite in West Siberian oil-and-gas province. The main aim of the research is to define the methodology, a set of initial geological and geophysical data and demonstrate the technique of zoning oil source deposits on shale oil resource density. The object of research is the Upper Jurassic Bazhenov sediments of Mesozoic and Cenozoic section penetrated by deep wells in the south-east of Western Siberia. Methodology and technology of the research. Duration and temperature of the main phase of oil generation are accepted as the key factor detailing the characteristics of the parent suite as the one supplying higher/lower located clastic reservoirs or as shale formation (N. B. Vassoevich, 1967); and the main volume of oil generated, accumulated in situ, or emigrated to the collector, are located there where the parent deposits are/were to a greater extent in the main zone of oil formation (A. E. Kontorovich et al., 1967). The zoning technique is based on the method of paleotemperature modeling which allows reconstructing thermal history of the parent deposits, allocating oil generation sources by geothermal criteria and mapping them. The generated oil resources are estimated by an integral index, depending on the time which the parent suite spent in the main zone of oil formation and on its temperatures. Research results. The paper demonstrates the zoning technique of Nurol'ka megadepression and the structures of its framing, based on the method of paleotemperature modeling that fits organically into the methodology of the theory of oil generation main phase and threshold temperatures for the parent deposits occurrence in the main zone of oil formation. The authors have determined the promising regions and areas of the slate (accumulated in situ) Bazhenov oil. The oil seeps and flows in deep wells from the intervals of the parent rocks and clastic reservoirs prove zoning substantiality

Biological Earth observation with animal sensors

Space-based tracking technology using low-cost miniature tags is now delivering data on fine-scale animal movement at near-global scale. Linked with remotely sensed environmental data, this offers a biological lens on habitat integrity and connectivity for conservation and human health; a global network of animal sentinels of environmen-tal change

Russian Agriculture and Climate Change

The topic of this issue is Russian Agriculture and Climate Change. Firstly, Marianna Poberezhskaya debates whether recent Russian measures in the area of climate policy will translate into intentional Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions; secondly, Daiju Narita, Tuyara Gavrilyeva, and Aleksandr Isaev discuss the challenges of forest fires in Russia; thirdly, Florian Schierhorn asks whether Russian agriculture and agricultural exports will profit from climate change; fourthly, Taras Gagalyuk and Anna Hajdu present the results of an analysis of the institutional, organizational and individual (personal) drivers of socially responsible activities of Russian agricultural enterprises.Das Thema dieser Ausgabe sind die russische Landwirtschaft und der Klimawandel. Erstens diskutiert Marianna Poberezhskaya, ob die jüngsten russischen klimapolitischen Maßnahmen zu einer beabsichtigten Reduzierung von Treibhausgasemissionen führen werden; zweitens diskutieren Daiju Narita, Tuyara Gavrilyeva und Aleksandr Isaev die Herausforderungen von Waldbränden in Russland; drittens fragt Florian Schierhorn, ob die russische Landwirtschaft und der Agrarexport vom Klimawandel profitieren werden; viertens präsentieren Taras Gagalyuk und Anna Hajdu die Ergebnisse einer Analyse der institutionellen, organisatorischen und individuellen (persönlichen) Triebkräfte sozial verantwortlichen Handelns russischer Agrarunternehmen.ISSN:1863-042

The Altai Cossacks family in the 19th - early 20th centuries: sociocultural and historical Aspects

The article is devoted to a brief history of Siberian Cossacks in Altai. The exploration of Altai by the Siberian Cossacks was conditioned by the political and economic interests of the Russian state. It needed to protect the southern borders of Siberia from aggressive attacks of the Dzungarian Khanate and to develop the natural resources of the Altai, primarily the ore deposits. During the development of this territory, the Cossack family was the basis of Cossack’s life, a kind of financial, spiritual, and cultural center. When we considered transforming the Cossack family, we took into account the historical and sociocultural context. Various aspects describing the Cossack family are supported by statistical research data, in particular the 1917 agricultural census, a unique document that presents questionnaires of 95% of the Cossack households. An important place is given to the description of the rites and wedding customs of the Altai Cossacks, in which the traditions of Russian national culture are manifested

Tectonic-sedimentation interpretation of the geothermics data when identifying and assessing the late eocene erosion on the arctic hydrocarbon fields (Yamal peninsula)

Relevance. The scheme and criteria of use of the measured and modelled geo-temperatures is developed for studying of teсtonic-sedimentation history of settling ponds of the Arctic region of Western Siberia - priority subject of the new strategy of development for asource of raw materials of hydrocarbons of the Russian Federation. The aim of the research is to develop and approve a technique of assessment of the Late Eocene time erosion of the Arctic districts of the West Siberian oil-and-gas province on the basis of model operation of the geothermic mode of the Bazhenov petromaternal deposits, on the example of the Arctic, Sredne-Yamalsky and Rostovtsevsky fields. Object of researches: tectonic-sedimentation history of a Cenozoic and Mesozoic section, the paleo thermic mode of the Bazhenov deposits opened with deep wells on the Arctic, Sredne-Yamalsky and Rostovtsevsky squares (Yamal Peninsula).A special method of the research is based on: 1) the paleo-temperature modeling considering the parameters of tectonic-sedimenta-tion history, measured rock temperatures and paleo-temperatures determined by the reflection power of vitrinite; 2) diversity of paleo-tectonic and the paleo-temperature reconstruction and on the analysis of variability of results; 3) assessment of results compliance withthe optimality criteria of the geophysics inverse problem solution; 4) coherence of the designed values of heat flux density with the experimental data; 5) coherence of the calculated centers of hydrocarbon oscillation with the oil-and-gas content of a subsoil establishedby geological exploration. Research results. The implemented variety of scenarios for tectono-sedimentary history and reconstructions of geothermal regime of the Bazhenov formation has revealed and given the quantification of breaks in sedimentation and denudate in еру Late Eocene time on hydrocarbon deposits of Yamal. It was ascertained that engaging the data of vitrinite reflectance justify the existence of denudations and defines the possibility of assessing the scales of denudations. The scenario of geological development history considering the erosive processes gives the «richest» thermal history of maternal deposits, provides the greatest calculated density of resources of the generated oil. Application of the developed scheme and criteria of identifying the breaks of sedimentation and denudation by a geothermal method, in complex with geological methods and seismic exploration, significantly increases reliability of knowledge of the history of geological development of regions in Western Siberia

Phage T3 overcomes the BREX defense through SAM cleavage and inhibition of SAM synthesis by SAM lyase

Bacteriophage T3 encodes a SAMase that, through cleavage of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), circumvents the SAM-dependent type I restriction-modification (R-M) defense. We show that SAMase also allows T3 to evade the BREX defense. Although SAM depletion weakly affects BREX methylation, it completely inhibits the defensive function of BREX, suggesting that SAM could be a co-factor for BREX-mediated exclusion of phage DNA, similar to its anti-defense role in type I R-M. The anti-BREX activity of T3 SAMase is mediated not just by enzymatic degradation of SAM but also by direct inhibition of MetK, the host SAM synthase. We present a 2.8 A cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the eight-subunit T3 SAMase-MetK complex. Structure-guided mutagenesis reveals that this interaction stabilizes T3 SAMase in vivo, further stimulating its anti-BREX activity. This work provides insights in the versatility of bacteriophage counterdefense mech-anisms and highlights the role of SAM as a co-factor of diverse bacterial immunity systems

Phage T3 overcomes the BREX defense through SAM cleavage and inhibition of SAM synthesis by SAM lyase

Bacteriophage T3 encodes a SAMase that, through cleavage of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), circumvents the SAM-dependent type I restriction-modification (R-M) defense. We show that SAMase also allows T3 to evade the BREX defense. Although SAM depletion weakly affects BREX methylation, it completely inhibits the defensive function of BREX, suggesting that SAM could be a co-factor for BREX-mediated exclusion of phage DNA, similar to its anti-defense role in type I R-M. The anti-BREX activity of T3 SAMase is mediated not just by enzymatic degradation of SAM but also by direct inhibition of MetK, the host SAM synthase. We present a 2.8 A cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the eight-subunit T3 SAMase-MetK complex. Structure-guided mutagenesis reveals that this interaction stabilizes T3 SAMase in vivo, further stimulating its anti-BREX activity. This work provides insights in the versatility of bacteriophage counterdefense mech-anisms and highlights the role of SAM as a co-factor of diverse bacterial immunity systems