scholarly journals Redox controls on methane formation, migration and fate in shallow aquifers

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2759-2777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Humez ◽  
Bernhard Mayer ◽  
Michael Nightingale ◽  
Veith Becker ◽  
Andrew Kingston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Shallow Aquifers ◽  
Biogenic Origin ◽  
Biogenic Methane ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thermogenic Methane

Abstract. Development of unconventional energy resources such as shale gas and coalbed methane has generated some public concern with regard to the protection of groundwater and surface water resources from leakage of stray gas from the deep subsurface. In terms of environmental impact to and risk assessment of shallow groundwater resources, the ultimate challenge is to distinguish (a) natural in situ production of biogenic methane, (b) biogenic or thermogenic methane migration into shallow aquifers due to natural causes, and (c) thermogenic methane migration from deep sources due to human activities associated with the exploitation of conventional or unconventional oil and gas resources. This study combines aqueous and gas (dissolved and free) geochemical and isotope data from 372 groundwater samples obtained from 186 monitoring wells of the provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network (GOWN) in Alberta (Canada), a province with a long record of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. We investigated whether methane occurring in shallow groundwater formed in situ, or whether it migrated into the shallow aquifers from elsewhere in the stratigraphic column. It was found that methane is ubiquitous in groundwater in Alberta and is predominantly of biogenic origin. The highest concentrations of biogenic methane (>  0.01 mM or  >  0.2 mgL−1), characterized by δ13CCH4 values  <  −55 ‰, occurred in anoxic Na-Cl, Na-HCO3, and Na-HCO3-Cl type groundwaters with negligible concentrations of nitrate and sulfate suggesting that methane was formed in situ under methanogenic conditions for 39.1 % of the samples. In only a few cases (3.7 %) was methane of biogenic origin found in more oxidizing shallow aquifer portions suggesting limited upward migration from deeper methanogenic aquifers. Of the samples, 14.1 % contained methane with δ13CCH4 values  >  −54 ‰, potentially suggesting a thermogenic origin, but aqueous and isotope geochemistry data revealed that the elevated δ13CCH4 values were caused by microbial oxidation of biogenic methane or post-sampling degradation of low CH4 content samples rather than migration of deep thermogenic gas. A significant number of samples (39.2 %) contained methane with predominantly biogenic C isotope ratios (δ13CCH4 <  −55 ‰) accompanied by elevated concentrations of ethane and sometimes trace concentrations of propane. These gases, observed in 28.1 % of the samples, bearing both biogenic (δ13C) and thermogenic (presence of C3) characteristics, are most likely derived from shallow coal seams that are prevalent in the Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon and neighboring formations in which some of the groundwater wells are completed. The remaining 3.7 % of samples were not assigned because of conflicting parameters in the data sets or between replicates samples. Hence, despite quite variable gas concentrations and a wide range of δ13CCH4 values in baseline groundwater samples, we found no conclusive evidence for deep thermogenic gas migration into shallow aquifers either naturally or via anthropogenically induced pathways in this baseline groundwater survey. This study shows that the combined interpretation of aqueous geochemistry data in concert with chemical and isotopic compositions of dissolved and/or free gas can yield unprecedented insights into formation and potential migration of methane in shallow groundwater. This enables the assessment of cross-formational methane migration and provides an understanding of alkane gas sources and pathways necessary for a stringent baseline definition in the context of current and future unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation.

scholarly journals Redox controls on methane formation, migration and fate in shallow aquifers

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Humez ◽  
Bernhard Mayer ◽  
Michael Nightingale ◽  
Veith Becker ◽  
Andrew Kingston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Shallow Aquifers ◽  
Biogenic Origin ◽  
Biogenic Methane ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thermogenic Methane

Abstract. Development of unconventional energy resources such as shale gas and coalbed methane has generated some public concern with regard to the protection of groundwater and surface water resources from leakage of stray gas from the deep subsurface. In terms of environmental impact to and risk assessment of shallow groundwater resources, the ultimate challenge is to distinguish: (a) natural in-situ production of biogenic methane, (b) biogenic or thermogenic methane migration into shallow aquifers due to natural causes, and (c) thermogenic methane migration from deep sources due to human activities associated with the exploitation of conventional or unconventional oil and gas resources. This study combines aqueous and gas (dissolved and free) geochemical and isotope data from 372 groundwater samples obtained from 186 monitoring wells of the provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network (GOWN) in Alberta (Canada), a province with a long record of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. We investigated whether methane occurring in shallow groundwater formed in-situ, or whether it migrated into the shallow aquifers from elsewhere in the stratigraphic column. It was found that methane is ubiquitous in groundwater in Alberta and is predominantly of biogenic origin. The highest concentrations of biogenic methane (> 0.01 mM or > 0.2 mg/L), characterized by δ13CCH4 values < –55 ‰, occurred in anoxic Na-Cl, Na-HCO3 and Na-HCO3-Cl type groundwaters with negligible concentrations of nitrate and sulfate suggesting that methane was formed in-situ under methanogenic conditions for 39.1 % of the samples. In only a few cases (3.7 %) was methane of biogenic origin found in more oxidizing shallow aquifer portions suggesting limited upward migration from deeper methanogenic aquifers. 14.1 % of the samples contained methane with δ13CCH4 values > –54 ‰, potentially suggesting a thermogenic origin, but aqueous and isotope geochemistry data revealed that the elevated δ13CCH4 values were caused by microbial oxidation of biogenic methane or post-sampling degradation of low CH4 content samples rather than migration of deep thermogenic gas. A significant number of samples (39.2 %) contained methane with predominantly biogenic C isotope ratios (δ13CCH4 < –55 ‰) accompanied by elevated concentrations of ethane and sometimes trace concentrations of propane. These gases observed in 28.1 % of the samples, bearing both biogenic (δ13C) and thermogenic (presence of C3) characteristics, are most likely derived from shallow coal seams that are prevalent in the Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon and neighboring formations in which some of the groundwater wells are completed. The remaining 3.7 % of samples were not assigned because of conflicting parameters in the datasets or between replicates samples. Hence, despite quite variable gas concentrations and a wide range of δ13CCH4 values in baseline groundwater samples, we found no conclusive evidence for deep thermogenic gas migration into shallow aquifers either naturally or via anthropogenically-induced pathways in this baseline groundwater survey. This study shows that the combined interpretation of aqueous geochemistry data in concert with chemical and isotopic compositions of dissolved and/or free gas can yield unprecedented insights into formation and potential migration of methane in shallow groundwater. This enables the assessment of cross-formational methane migration and provides an understanding of alkane gas sources and pathways necessary for a stringent baseline definition in the context of current and future unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation.

scholarly journals Assessment on connection between shallow and deep aquifers using isotope analysis of surface water and groundwater in Sunsari and Morang Districts

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
Sharmila Neupane ◽  
Ananta Prasad Gajurel ◽  
Nir Shakya ◽  
Maartin Lupker ◽  
Rabina Hada
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Shallow Aquifers ◽  
River Sand ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Deep Aquifers ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater ◽  
Wide Range

The Sunsari and the Morang Districts confine the eastern region of the Koshi River and are considered as a huge potential of groundwater zones. The study mainly focuses on the concept of delineation of recharge source of groundwater and connection between aquifer system through isotopic analysis. Altogether 33 samples are collected from surface and groundwater for the isotopic analysis. Majority of the samples of flowing artesian wells are encountered under the range of -7.03‰ to -6.53‰. The shallow aquifers fall under the range of -5.94‰. to -5.34‰ and deep aquifers fall over a wide range of -7.13 ‰. to -6.53‰ for δ18O. Clustering of samples from isotopic analysis gives idea of surface water and groundwater interconnection along with the recharge source identification. Isotopic variation of majority of samples ranges from -7.34‰ to -4.74‰ while depleted value for δ18O is -10.16‰ in shallow aquifer of Jamungachhi, which indicates that the recharge source is precipitation at higher elevation. The d excess (greater than 10‰) concluded that the aquifer system in the study area is complex and recharged from various sources. The range of enrichment is measured as 2.6‰< 1.96‰<1.87‰<1.55‰ for shallow aquifers, rivers, deep aquifers and flowing artesian well. The significant increase in coarse particle towards the northern part reveals the good aquifer sequence in the northern zone and proves the best recharge area. The overall aquifer system in the study area is complex and recharged from various sources. Most of the aquifers are recharged from the river sand precipitation at higher altitude.

scholarly journals A standardised method for measuring in situ denitrification in shallow aquifers: numerical validation and measurements in riparian wetlands

2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Sánchez-Pérez ◽  
C. Bouey ◽  
S. Sauvage ◽  
S. Teissier ◽  
I. Antiguedad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Method Comparison ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Tracer Test ◽  
Groundwater Modelling ◽  
Riparian Wetlands ◽  
Shallow Aquifers ◽  
Denitrification Process

Abstract. A tracer test to examine in situ denitrification in shallow groundwater by a piezometer with a packer system used bromide as a tracer of dilution and acetylene (10%) to block the denitrification process at the nitrous oxide stage. During the test, dissolved oxygen, nitrate (NO3‾), bromide (Br‾), nitrous oxide (N2O) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured. To calibrate the experimental method, comparison with numerical simulations of the groundwater transfer were carried out, taking into account the environmental characteristics. The method was tested by measurements undertaken in different environmental conditions (geology, land use and hydrology) in two riparian wetlands. Denitrification rates measured by this method ranged from 5.7 10-6 g N-NO3‾L-1 h-1 to 1.97 10-3 g N-NO3‾L-1 h-1 The method is applicable in shallow aquifers with a permeability from 10-2 to 10-4m s-1. Keywords: denitrification, shallowaquifer, groundwater modelling, wetlands, nitrate-nitrogen, packer system

In-situ electrical-resistivity measurements in the high-voltage electron microscope

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-69
Author(s):  
W. E. King
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Resistivity Measurements ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
High Voltage Electron Microscope ◽  
High Voltage Electron ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Helium Gas

A side-entry type, helium-temperature specimen stage that has the capability of in-situ electrical-resistivity measurements has been designed and developed for use in the AEI-EM7 1200-kV electron microscope at Argonne National Laboratory. The electrical-resistivity measurements complement the high-voltage electron microscope (HVEM) to yield a unique opportunity to investigate defect production in metals by electron irradiation over a wide range of defect concentrations.A flow cryostat that uses helium gas as a coolant is employed to attain and maintain any specified temperature between 10 and 300 K. The helium gas coolant eliminates the vibrations that arise from boiling liquid helium and the temperature instabilities due to alternating heat-transfer mechanisms in the two-phase temperature regime (4.215 K). Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the liquid/gaseous helium transfer system. A liquid-gas mixture can be used for fast cooldown. The cold tip of the transfer tube is inserted coincident with the tilt axis of the specimen stage, and the end of the coolant flow tube is positioned without contact within the heat exchanger of the copper specimen block (Fig. 2).

Site specific agricultural soil management with the use of new technologies

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Interface ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Variation ◽  
Soil Information ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
Agricultural Areas

<p>The Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki produces new digitized Soil Maps that provide a useful electronic database for the spatial representation of the soil variation within a region, based on in situ soil sampling, laboratory analyses, GIS techniques and plant nutrition mathematical models, coupled with the local land cadastre. The novelty of these studies is that local agronomists have immediate access to a wide range of soil information by clicking on a field parcel shown in this digital interface and, therefore, can suggest an appropriate treatment (e.g. liming, manure incorporation, desalination, application of proper type and quantity of fertilizer) depending on the field conditions and cultivated crops. A specific case study is presented in the current work with regards to the construction of the digitized Soil Map of the regional unit of Kastoria. The potential of this map can easily be realized by the fact that the mapping of the physicochemical properties of the soils in this region provided delineation zones for differential fertilization management. An experiment was also conducted using remote sensing techniques for the enhancement of the fertilization advisory software database, which is a component of the digitized map, and the optimization of nitrogen management in agricultural areas.</p>

An Investigation of the Quantity, Quality and Sources of Groundwater Seepage into the St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sklash ◽  
Sharon Mason ◽  
Suzanne Scott ◽  
Chris Pugsley
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
River Water ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Seepage Rate ◽  
Groundwater Seepage ◽  
Seepage Meters ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Hydraulic Gradients ◽  
Unidentified Source

Abstract We used seepage meters and minipiezometers to survey a 100 m by 7 km band of streambed of the St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, to determine the quantity, quality, and sources of groundwater seepage into the river. The average observed seepage rate, 1.4 x 10−8 m3/s/m2, suggests higher than expected hydraulic conductivities and/or hydraulic gradients in the streambed. We found detectable levels of some organic contaminants in streambed groundwater samples from 1.0 and 1.5 m depths, however , concentrations did not exceed drinking water guidelines. Our isotopic and electrical conductivity data indicate that: (l) the streambed groundwater is not just river water, (2) groundwater from the “freshwater aquifer” at the base of the overburden Is not a significant component of the streambed groundwater, (3) some of the streambed groundwater is partially derived from a shallow groundwater flow system, and (4) an unidentified source of water with low tritium, river water-like δ18O, and very high electrical conductivity, contributes to the streambed groundwater.

Indium Bromide-catalyzed Unprecedented Hydrogenolysis: A Novel One-Pot Synthesis of Per-O-Acetylated β-carboxymethyl O and S-glycosides

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 900-908
Author(s):  
Ram Naresh Yadav ◽  
Amrendra K Singh ◽  
Bimal Banik
Keyword(s):  
Asymmetric Synthesis ◽  
Chiral Auxiliary ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Enantiomerically Pure ◽  
Stereoselective Glycosylation ◽  
One Pot Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range

Numerous O (oxa)- and S (thia)-glycosyl esters and their analogous glycosyl acids have been accomplished through stereoselective glycosylation of various peracetylated bromo sugar with benzyl glycolate using InBr3 as a glycosyl promotor followed by in situ hydrogenolysis of resulting glycosyl ester. A tandem glycosylating and hydrogenolytic activity of InBr3 has been successfully investigated in a one-pot procedure. The resulting synthetically valuable and virtually unexplored class of β-CMGL (glycosyl acids) could serve as an excellent potential chiral auxiliary in the asymmetric synthesis of a wide range of enantiomerically pure medicinally prevalent β-lactams and other bioactive molecules of diverse medicinal interest.

Evolution of groundwater chemistry on shallow aquifer of Yogyakarta City urban area

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doni Prakasa Eka Putra
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Unconfined Aquifer ◽  
Groundwater Chemistry ◽  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
New Business ◽  
Urban Settlements ◽  
A Minor ◽  
New Settlements ◽  
Yogyakarta City

Since 1980s, accelerated by urbanization, Yogyakarta City was shifting to many directions defined by main road networks and service centres. Urbanization has transformed rural dwellings to become urban settlements and generated urban agglomeration area. Until now, new business centres, education centres and tourism centres are growing hand in hand with new settlements (formal or informal) without proper provision of water supply and sanitation system. This condition increase the possibility of groundwater contamination from urban wastewater and a change of major chemistry of groundwater as shallow unconfined aquifer is lying under Yogyakarta City. To prove the evolution of groundwater chemistry, old data taken on 1980s were comparing with the recent groundwater chemistry data. The evaluation shows that nitrate content of groundwater in 1980s was a minor anion, but nowadays become a major anion, especially in the shallow groundwater in the centre of Yogyakarta City. This evidence shows that there is an evolution of groundwater chemistry in shallow groundwater below Yogyakarta City due to contamination from un-proper on-site sanitation system. Keywords: Urbanization, Yogyakarta city, rural dwellings, settlements, agglomeration, contamination, groundwater

scholarly journals A Generalization Performance Study Using Deep Learning Networks in Embedded Systems

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Joseba Gorospe ◽  
Rubén Mulero ◽  
Olatz Arbelaitz ◽  
Javier Muguerza ◽  
Miguel Ángel Antón
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Embedded Systems ◽  
Embedded System ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Learning Architectures

Deep learning techniques are being increasingly used in the scientific community as a consequence of the high computational capacity of current systems and the increase in the amount of data available as a result of the digitalisation of society in general and the industrial world in particular. In addition, the immersion of the field of edge computing, which focuses on integrating artificial intelligence as close as possible to the client, makes it possible to implement systems that act in real time without the need to transfer all of the data to centralised servers. The combination of these two concepts can lead to systems with the capacity to make correct decisions and act based on them immediately and in situ. Despite this, the low capacity of embedded systems greatly hinders this integration, so the possibility of being able to integrate them into a wide range of micro-controllers can be a great advantage. This paper contributes with the generation of an environment based on Mbed OS and TensorFlow Lite to be embedded in any general purpose embedded system, allowing the introduction of deep learning architectures. The experiments herein prove that the proposed system is competitive if compared to other commercial systems.

scholarly journals Global soil moisture data derived through machine learning trained with in-situ measurements

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungmin O. ◽  
Rene Orth
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Soil Moisture Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Soil

AbstractWhile soil moisture information is essential for a wide range of hydrologic and climate applications, spatially-continuous soil moisture data is only available from satellite observations or model simulations. Here we present a global, long-term dataset of soil moisture derived through machine learning trained with in-situ measurements, SoMo.ml. We train a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model to extrapolate daily soil moisture dynamics in space and in time, based on in-situ data collected from more than 1,000 stations across the globe. SoMo.ml provides multi-layer soil moisture data (0–10 cm, 10–30 cm, and 30–50 cm) at 0.25° spatial and daily temporal resolution over the period 2000–2019. The performance of the resulting dataset is evaluated through cross validation and inter-comparison with existing soil moisture datasets. SoMo.ml performs especially well in terms of temporal dynamics, making it particularly useful for applications requiring time-varying soil moisture, such as anomaly detection and memory analyses. SoMo.ml complements the existing suite of modelled and satellite-based datasets given its distinct derivation, to support large-scale hydrological, meteorological, and ecological analyses.

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