Sequence Stratigraphy of the Fatha Formation in Shaqlawa Area, Northern Iraq

A surface section of the Fatha Formation (Middle Miocene) was studied in the Shaqlawa area, Erbil, Northern Iraq. It consists of siliciclastic silt, evaporates, and carbonates in a mixed siliciclastic silt composition. The Fatha Formation in the study area can be divided into two members of variable thickness based on rocky differences. Depositional settings ranged from shallow open-marine and restricted-hypersaline to supratidal and continental (sabkha, fluvio-deltaic, and exposure). It is bounded below by a type one sequence boundary above the Eocene Pila Spi Formation and marked by conglomerates. The upper sequence boundary with the Injana Formation is conformable. Thirteen sedimentary facies were distinguished in the Fatha Formation within the Shaqlawa region of northern Iraq and include sandstone to mudstone, wavy bedded sandstone to mudstone, Flaser bedded sandstone to mudstone, Marl, sandstone, cross lamination sandstone, Trough cross bedded sandstone, Planar cross bedded sandstone, marly limestone lithofacies, bioclastic grainstone to packstone microfacies, bioclastic lime mudstone to wackestone microfacies, lime mudstone-wackestone microfacies, and gypsum lithofacies. The depositional environment of the formation was inferred based on the facies association concepts. The succession formation can be divided into several third-order cycles, which reflect fluctuations in the relative sea-level rise. High-frequency cycles of transgressive System Tract and Highstand System tract. Fundamental to the evolution of the sequence, in this case, is the local tectonic component.

Lithofacies Types, Assemblage Characteristics, and Sedimentary Evolution Model of Lacustrine Shale in Dongyuemiao Formation of Fuxing Area

The identification and classification of lithofacies’ types are very important activities in shale oil and gas exploration and development evaluation. There have been many studies on the classification of marine shale lithofacies, but research on lacustrine shale lithofacies is still in its infancy. Therefore, in this study, a high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework is established for the lacustrine shale of the Jurassic Dongyuemiao Formation in the Fuxing area using detailed core observations, thin section identification, XRD analysis, major and trace element analysis, wavelet transform analysis, and detailed identification and characterization of the fossil shell layers in the formation. In addition, the lithofacies’ types and assemblages are identified and characterized, and the lithofacies’ characteristics and sedimentary evolution models in different sequence units are analyzed. The significance of the lithofacies assemblages for shale oil and gas exploration is also discussed. The results show that the shale of the target interval can be divided into 8 parasequence sets; further, 9 types of lithofacies and 6 types of lithofacies assemblages are identified. The 9 lithofacies are massive bioclast-containing limestone shoal facies (LF1), thick-layered fossil shell–containing limestone facies (LF2), layered mud-bearing fossil shell–containing limestone facies (LF3), laminated fossil shell–containing argillaceous shale facies (LF4), laminated fossil shell–bearing argillaceous shale facies (LF5), argillaceous shale facies (LF6), massive storm event–related bioclast-containing facies (LF7), massive argillaceous limestone facies (LF8), and massive mudstone facies (LF9). The sedimentary evolution models of different lithofacies are established as follows: Unit 1 (LF1-LF6) of the Dong-1 Member corresponds to the early stage of a lake transgressive system tract, and Units 2–4 (LF4-LF7) correspond to the middle to late stage of the lake transgressive system tract, which was an anoxic sedimentary environment. The Dong-2 Member (LF7-LF8) and the Dong-3 Member (LF5+LF9) correspond to a lake regressive system tract, which was an oxygen-rich sedimentary environment. Based on the characteristics of the shale lithofacies, sedimentary environment, and the quality of the reservoir, the lithofacies assemblage of LF4–LF7 in Unit 4 is the most favorable type for oil and gas exploration, followed by the lithofacies assemblage in Unit 2; the lithofacies assemblage in the Dong-2 and Dong-3 Members are the worst.

The Depositional Environments in the Cilento Offshore (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) Based on Marine Geological Data

The depositional environments offshore of the Cilento Promontory have been reconstructed based on the geological studies performed in the frame of the marine geological mapping of the geological sheet n. 502 “Agropoli”. The littoral environment (toe-of-coastal cliff deposits and submerged beach deposits), the inner continental shelf environment (inner shelf deposits and bioclastic deposits), the outer continental shelf environment (outer shelf deposits and bioclastic deposits), the lowstand system tract and the Pleistocene relict marine units have been singled out. The littoral, inner shelf and outer shelf environments have been interpreted as the highstand system tract of the Late Quaternary depositional sequence. This sequence overlies the Cenozoic substratum (ssi unit), composed of Cenozoic siliciclastic rocks, genetically related with the Cilento Flysch. On the inner shelf four main seismo-stratigraphic units, overlying the undifferentiated acoustic basement have been recognized based on the geological interpretation of seismic profiles. On the outer shelf, palimpsest deposits of emerged to submerged beach and forming elongated dunes have been recognized on sub-bottom profiles and calibrated with gravity core data collected in previous papers. The sedimentological analysis of sea bottom samples has shown the occurrence of several grain sizes occurring in this portion of the Cilento offshore.

Shale Gas Exploration Potential in Southwestern Shandong Province of Eastern China

The shale layers of the Permian Shanxi Formation and Taiyuan Formation in the southwestern part of Shandong Province are marine-continental transitional sedimentary facies. When compared with the Ordos Basin, which was a typical breakthrough in marine-continental transitional shale gas exploration, the geological characteristics, exploration, and development prospects of marine-continental transitional shale gas in the southwestern section of Shandong Province are more defined. The shale gas deposits of the Shanxi and Taiyuan Formations in southwestern Shandong Province have the following geological characteristics. The sedimentary environments of Shanxi and Taiyuan Formations are considered to be stable and characterized with widely distributed organic-rich shale, which can be used as composite evaluation layers. The total thickness of the shale range is between 140 and 350 m, with an average of 230 m. The main types of organic matter in the Shanxi Formation are Type Ⅲ and Type Ⅱ2 kerogen, while the main types of organic matter in the Taiyuan Formation are rock types. The abundance and maturity of the organic matter are high, and the gas generating capacity is strong. The reservoir rock mineral composition is complex in the region. The clay mineral content is relatively high and the brittle mineral content is rich. Also, the shale fracturing ability is good. The region has the characteristics of a low porosity and low permeability reservoir, with relatively good reservoir capacity. Three primary points of interest have stably been developed within the region, which are located in the upper high water level system, near the initial flood surface, and the majority of flood surface, including a transgressive system tract and high level system tract. The total gas content is estimated to range between 0.03 and 4.47 m3/t, with an average of 0.30 m3/t. The shale gas resources are rich, including one favorable Class I location with an area of 819.06 km2 and a resource amount of 985.84 × 108 m3; four favorable Class Ⅱ locations with an area of 1,979.68 km2 and a resource amount of 2,278.14 × 108 m3; and five prospective locations with an area of 8,385.52 km2 and a resource amount of 7,299.48 × 108 m3. Therefore, the region was considered to have major exploration potential.

Characteristics and controlling factors of glutenite reservoir rock quality of retrogradational fan Delta: A case study of the Upper Wuerhe Formation of the Mahu Sag, the Junggar Basin

The glutenite reservoir rock of the fan delta facies is associated with a complex sedimentary environment and high heterogeneity, and by far the characteristics and controlling factors of the reservoir rock quality have not been well understood. By comprehensively investigating the lithofacies, petrology, physical properties and diagenesis of the Upper Wuerhe Formation of the Mahu Sag, the Junggar Basin, it is concluded that the Upper Wuerhe Formation develops three major groups of lithofacies, totally consisting of 11 sub-types, and reservoir rock properties of different lithofacies are greatly varied. This research shows that the lithofacies attributed to the tractive current and density current have well-sorted rock particles, low mud content, well-developed secondary dissolved pores, and thus high overall reservoir rock quality. On the contrary, the lithofacies based on debris flow and sheet flow, are observed with high mud content, suppressed development of intergranular and dissolved pores, and thus poor reservoir rock quality. The system tract controls the macro variation of the reservoir rock quality. The best quality is found in the highstand system tract, followed by those of the lake transgression and at last lowstand system tracts. The micro variation of the reservoir rock quality is determined by the mud content, rock particle size and dissolution. The muddy matrix mainly damages the pore connectivity, and presents the strongest correlation with permeability. The reservoir rock with concentrated particle sizes and well-sorted particles has quality better than those of reservoir rocks composed of excessively large or small particles. Dissolution effectively improves the storage capability of the reservoir rock, resulting in an average porosity increment by 4.2%.

Sedimentary Evolution Characteristics of Fine-Grained Lithofacies under the High-Resolution Isochronous Shelf System: Insights from the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shales in the Sichuan Basin

The deposition and evolution of fine-grained sediments is a hot topic in fine-grained sedimentary rock studies and is important for accurately evaluating shale gas sweet spots. In this paper, the fine-grained deposition and evolution characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shales, major targets for Chinese shale gas exploration, were studied by using core observations, thin section analyses, scanning electron microscopy, geochemical analysis, and fossil identification. This work accurately identified six typical lithofacies; among them, the organic matter-rich siliceous shale facies (OMRSSF), the high-organic matter siliceous argillaceous shale facies (HOMSASF), and the medium-high organic matter low calcareous siliceous shale facies (M-HOMLCSASF) are favorable facies for shale gas exploration. The high-resolution isochronous unit in the shelf fine-grained sedimentary system was established, and the differential evolution of lithofacies in the system tract was discussed. The lithofacies deposition and differentiation in the transgressive system tract were controlled by the transgressive scale and tectonics under increasingly shallow water conditions. The lithofacies deposition and differentiation in the regressive system tract were controlled by tectonics and the preexisting lithofacies. The lithofacies in the regressive system tract had more frequent facies transitions and greater differentiation than those in the transgressive system tract, and they exhibited significant spatiotemporal inheritance. Sequential differential sedimentary sequences and symmetric differential sedimentary sequences were distinguished in the continental shelf sedimentary system. The lithofacies depocenters and subsidence centers were consistent in the transgressive system tract, while the tectonically active paleocontinent was important in the regression system tract. This study is of great significance for further high-resolution exploration of marine shale and improvement of the theory of shelf fine-grained sedimentary systems.

Palaeoenvironmental evolution of formation of Bayanjargalan oil shale: evidence from trace elements and biomarkers

The genetic type of the Bayanerhet Formation oil shale in the Bayanjargalan mine area is an inland lacustrine oil shale deposit. Inorganic element analysis and organic geochemical testing of oil shale samples collected in three boreholes show that the Bayanerhet Formation oil shale has relatively high organic contents, e.g., average TOC values of 6.53, 7.32 and 8.84 (corresponding to oil contents of 5.49%, 6.07% and 7.50%) in boreholes BJ3807, BJ3405 and BJ3005, respectively. Analysis of organic matter sources with biomarkers indicates that lower aquatic organisms such as algae contribute more to the organic matter than higher plants do. According to research on the values of Fe2O3/FeO, Rb/Sr and w (La) n/w (Yb)n in cores from the three boreholes, the Bayanjargalan oil shale is inferred to have formed in a humid paleoclimate with a relatively high sedimentation rate. In research on the evolution of the paleoaquifer in which the oil shale formed, the values of Fe3+/Fe2+, V/V + Ni, Ni/V, Ceanom and δCe are applied as sensitive indicators of the redox conditions in the aqueous medium. These values indicate that the Bayanjargalan oil shale formed in a water body with a weak redox environment. Moreover, the values of Ca/(Ca + Fe) and Sr/Ba and the values of gammacerane/αβC30 hopane in biomarkers show that the oil shale was formed in a saltwater environment. Analysis of Mo and U shows high endogenous lake productivity, corresponding to high TOC, which suggests that the lacustrine productivity played an important role in organic matter enrichment. The Lower Cretaceous Bayanerhet Formation (K1bt) in the Bayanjargalan mine area encompasses a complete sequence and was formed during lowstand, transgression, highstand and regression periods. The dominant oil shale deposits were formed in the transgression system tract and high stand system tract, and these oil shales have a high oil content and stable occurrence. A large set of thick, high-TOC and high-oil-content oil shales in the second member of the Bayanerhet Formation was deposited under such conditions. The abundant terrigenous supply under warm and humid conditions significantly promoted the primitive biological productivity, and the weak redox saltwater environment had relatively high productivity. All the favorable conditions promoted the formation of high-quality oil shale.

Stratigraphic architecture and depositional environment of the Paleocene-Lower Eocene aquifers system (Douala onshore basin, SW Cameroon)

The Paleocene-Lower Eocene N'kapa Formation has long been considered as an important groundwater and hydrocarbon resource in the eastern edge of the Douala Basin. The present study’s aim is to establish a possible link between the geological nature of this formation and the quality of potential aquifers using Gamma Ray well log, cuttings and outcrops through sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy studies. The results obtained from this study show that: lithofacies are dominated by clays, silts and sands/sandstones; gamma ray electrofacies are funnel-shaped to cylindrical-shaped with some bell-shaped; depositional environments are continental to shallow marine dominated by fluvial and sometimes tidal processes; fluvial channel-fill, tidal channel-fill and delta front bars sands are potential aquifers; sequence stratigraphy analysis reveals two transgressive–regressive cycles of second order (Danian to Selandian and Thanetian to Ypresian), two Highstand System Tracts, one Transgressive System Tract and one Lowstand System Tract; the high-resolution geometry of these sandy/sandstone sedimentary bodies shows that their distribution is linked to the hydrodynamic factors and the topography of the depositional environment. A total of two types of lithological facies of the reservoir levels were defined according to the volume of clay: clean sandstone (0–15%) and low clayey sandstone (15–30%). The gamma ray well log correlation shows that the thickness of the reservoir levels is variable and that the clay content (Vsh%) increases from the NE to the SW. As a result, the best potential aquifers appear to correspond to the fluvial channel-fill sands deposited during the base-level fall of Upper Paleocene age (Lower Thanetian).

Seismic prediction of lithofacies heterogeneity in paleogene hetaoyuan shale play, Biyang depression, China

Shale lithofacies identification and prediction are of great importance for the successful shale gas and oil exploration. Based on the well and seismic fine calibration, extraction, and optimization of seismic attributes, root mean square (RMS) amplitude analysis is used to predict the spatial–temporal distribution of various lithofacies in the fifth organic-matter-rich interval, and the prediction results are confirmed by the logging data and geological background. The results indicate that in the early expansion system tract, dolomitic shale and calcareous shale were widely developed and argillaceous shale, silty shale, and argillaceous siltstone only developed in the periphery of deep depression. With the lake level rising, argillaceous shale and calcareous shale were well-developed, and argillaceous shale interbedded with silty shale or argillaceous siltstone developed in deep or semi-deep lake. In the late expansion system tract, argillaceous shale was widely deposited in the deepest sag; calcareous shale presented in eastern sag with belt distribution.

The most significant reasons for the failure of treatment of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and possible solutions

ABSTRACT. The paper summarizes the results of studies regarding the most significant causes of ineffective treatment of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. It is proven that the effectiveness of treatment depends from the maximum concentration of antituberculosis drugs in blood serum, tissues and foci of affected lungs, depending on the method of administration of drugs and the presence of concomitant pathology from hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal system tract. Recommendations are given regarding the prevention of ineffective treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis by improving diagnosis and developing new treatment regimens.