Chapter 7 • Integrated seismic study - Focus on “Cigéo”, the French geological repository project

In the geophysics of oil exploration and reservoir studies, the surface seismic method is the most commonly used method to obtain a subsurface model in 2 or 3 dimensions. This method plays an increasingly important role in soil investigations for geotechnical, hydrogeological and site characterization studies regarding seismic hazard issues. The goal of this book is to provide a practical guide, using examples from the field, to the application of seismic methods to surface imaging. After reviewing the current state of knowledge in seismic wave propagation, refraction and reflection seismic methods, the book aims to describe how seismic tomography and fullwave form inversion methods can be used to obtain seismic images of the subsurface. Through various synthetic and field examples, the book highlights the benefit of combining different sets of data: refracted waves with reflected waves, and body waves with surface waves. With field data targeting shallow structures, it shows how more accurate geophysical models can be obtained by using the proposed hybrid methods. Finally, it shows how the integration of seismic data (3D survey and VSP), logging data (acoustic logging) and core measurements, combined with a succession of specific and advanced processing techniques, enables the development of a 3D high resolution geological model in depth. In addition to these examples, the authors provide readers with guidelines to carry out these operations, in terms of acquisition, as well as processing and interpretation. In each chapter, the reader will find theoretical concepts, practical rules and, above all, actual application examples. For this reason, the book can be used as a text to accompany course lectures or continuing education seminars. This book aims to promote the exchange of information among geologists, geophysicists, and engineers in geotechnical fields

Acoustic and reservoir properties of microporous carbonate rocks: Implication of micrite particle size and morphology

International audienceThis integrated study provides significant insight into parameters controlling the acoustic and reservoir properties of microporous limestones, improving the knowledge of the relationships among petrophysic and microstructural content. Petrophysical properties measured from laboratory and logging tools (porosity, permeability, electrical conductivity, and acoustic properties) have been coupled with thin section and scanning electron microscope observations on the EST205 borehole from the Oxfordian limestone aquifer of the eastern part of the Paris Basin. A major achievement is the establishment of the link between micrite microtexture types (particle morphology and nature of intercrystal contacts) and the physical response, introducing a new effective and interesting rock-typing approach for microporous reservoirs. Fluid-flow properties are enhanced by the progressive augmentation of intercrystalline microporosity and associated pore throat diameter, as the coalescence of micrite particles decreases. Concerning acoustic properties, the slow increase of P wave velocity can be seen as a reflection of crystal size and growing contact cementation leading to a more cohesive and stiffer micrite microtexture. By applying poroelasticity theory on our samples, we show that velocity dispersion can be a very useful tool for data discrimination in carbonates. This dispersion analysis highlights the presence of microcracks in the rocks, and their overall effect on acoustic and transport properties. The presence of microcracks is also confirmed with observations and permeability measurements under high confining pressure. Finally, a possible origin of high porous levels in neritic limestones is a mineralogical transformation of carbonates through freshwater-related diagenesis during subaerial exposure time. Finally, by applying poroelasticity theory on our samples, we show that velocity dispersion can be a very useful tool for data discrimination in carbonates

Growth and demise of the Jurassic carbonate platform in the intracratonic Paris Basin (France) : interplay of climate change, eustasy and tectonics

International audienceIt is usually very difficult to identify and quantify the relative influence of tectonics, eustasy and climateon carbonate system evolution from sedimentary records. In order to improve our understanding of these mechanisms, we have traced for the first time, the evolution of the eastern Paris Basin platform throughout the entire Jurassic period. This carbonate platform underwent eight successive growth and demise phases, with different depositional profiles ranging from ramps to flat-topped geometries. The eight carbonate growth periods are compared with the standard sea-level curves, local tectonic regimes and recently published oxygen-isotope and/or clay mineralogy databases. Prograding heterozoan facies along ramp profiles mark periods dominated by second-order eustatic sea-level rise, relatively cool sea surface temperatures, and mesotrophic and humid conditions (Hettangian, Pliensbachian, late Oxfordian, Tithonian). During these periods, variable detrital contents in the sedimentary succession hampered the efficiency of shallow-marine carbonate factories. Higher sea surface temperatures, oligotrophic and humid conditions associated with either eustatic sea-level rise or very high local subsidence occurred during the early Bajocian and the mid-Oxfordian. These seawater properties seem to have favoured the aggradation of scleractinian corals forming dome-shaped bioherm buildups. An oolitic and lime-mud carbonate system, deposited during the Bathonian second-order eustatic sea-level fall, is characterised by miliolid-rich micritic facies on a rimmed-ramp under stable, cooler and drier conditions. The secondorder maximum flooding associated with a sea surface temperature decline and/or a seawater eutrophication caused at least five carbonate demise periods (i.e. Toarcian, earliest late Bajocian, Callovian/ Oxfordian transition, earliest late Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian)

Upscaling the porosity of the Callovo-Oxfordian mudstone from the pore scale to the formation scale; insights from the 3H-PMMA autoradiography technique and SEM BSE imaging

International audienceThe Callovo-Oxfordian mudstone (Meuse/Haute-Marne, France) is currently considered as the host rock barrier for a deep geological repository. The intimate relationships between the porosity and mineralogy of this host rock were investigated at the small scale (mu m-mm) and large scale (m-hm). At the small scale, we have adapted the H-3-PMMA autoradiographic method to inap the porosity of the Callovo-Oxfordian mudstone. The H-3-PMMA autoradiographic method was improved in terms of its spatial resolution. H-3-PMMA porosity maps were then compared to-homologous mineral maps (clay minerals, carbonates and tectosilicates) built from scanning electron microscopy images (using back-scattered electron imaging). Based on an inversion procedure, the specific porosity of each mineral group was estimated from the mineral and porosity maps. We found that the spatial distribution of porosity at the small scale is mainly controlled by the spatial distribution of the clay matrix (the average porosity of the clay matrix is 40-45%), whereas quartz and carbonate mineral grains have low porosities (0-4%). At the geological formation scale, the porosity and mineralogy distributions were determined by logging tool techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance and spectral gamma-ray). The coupled evolution of clay content and porosity with depth was analyzed according to the porosity/mineralogy relationship defined at the small scale. Finally, we modeled the evolution of the porosity of the Callovo-Oxfordian mudstone with depth by considering the clay content and the effect of physical compaction during burial

Effect of claystone small-scale characteristics on the variability of micromechanical response and on microcracking modelling

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Time of administration of rabies immunoglobulins and adequacy of antibody response upon post-exposure prophylaxis: a descriptive retrospective study in Belgium.

: Data on rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and the use of human rabies immunoglobulins (HRIG) in Belgium are scarce. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the timely administration of HRIG after rabies exposure. The secondary objective was to evaluate the adequate antibody response following PEP.&nbsp;: We reviewed all medical records from July 2017 to June 2018 of patients seeking care at, or referred to, the Institute of Tropical Medicine and the University Hospital, Antwerp for the administration of human rabies immunoglobulins following potential rabies exposure abroad or in Belgium. A timely response was defined as starting HRIG with a delay of ≤48 h and rabies vaccination in the first 7 days after exposure. Adequate antibody response was defined as a titer of &gt;5.0 IU/mL in case of bat-related exposure and &gt;3.0 IU/mL in case of exposure to other animals. Titers were measured 10 days after the last PEP vaccine dose, using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).&nbsp;: Of the 92 cases treated with HRIG, 75 were evaluated. The majority of injuries were acquired in Asia (n = 26,34%) and in Western Europe (n = 18, 24%), of which 17 in Belgium. The five most frequently recorded countries overseas were Indonesia (n = 13), Thailand (n = 7), Morocco (n = 4), Peru (n = 3) and Costa Rica (n = 3). Administration of immunoglobulins was related to injuries by dogs (36%), monkeys (25%) or bats (22%). A timely response was observed in 16 (21,33%) and in 55 (73,33%) of subjects receiving HRIG (≤48 h) or rabies vaccine (&lt;7days) respectively. The mean time between exposure and the first administered dose of rabies vaccine and HRIG was 7.7 and 8.7 days, respectively. The mean delay for HRIG administration was 9.6 days and 6 days for abroad and inland risks, respectively. In 15 of 16 (94%) bat-related cases the antibody titer after full PEP was &gt;5.0 IU/ml. In 38 of 47 (81%) cases related to other animals the RFFIT titer was &gt;3.0 IU/ml. All low-responders received additional rabies injections.&nbsp;: This study showed a substantial time delay between the animal-related risk and the administration of HRIG, in particular when the injury occurred abroad. More targeted communication about the risks of rabies and preventable measures may reduce this delay. Furthermore, the antibody response was inadequate in some cases following full PEP administration according to the Belgian&nbsp;recommendation.</p