A Method to Increase the Leaching Progress of Salt Caverns with the Use of the Hydro-Jet Technique

For the storage of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, or other products, underground caverns left over from the exploitation of salt deposits, or made specifically for this purpose, are successfully used. This article analyses the effectiveness of currently used well-leaching technologies in terms of the possibility of increasing the speed of obtaining industrial brine, better control of the shape of the created cavern, and, as a result, a shorter production time. An innovative solution was proposed, which consisted of creating appropriate niches in the walls of the leach well using the high-pressure hydrojet technique, just before the start of the sump leaching. A series of numerical simulations of the technologies were performed for various combinations of niche locations along the well, determining the successive phases of the formation of the cavern space at individual stages and the brine concentration increments for the two assumed technology scenarios. As a result of the modified technology, the possibility of creating a sump with a volume greater than 17%, compared to the classical method carried out at the same time, was indicated. The resulting sump also had a better shape to partially eliminate the reduction in leaching efficiency due to the accumulation of insoluble matter at the bottom. In addition, the brine obtained according to the modified technology had a 15% higher concentration than in the classical method.

Supplemental Material: Active faulting controls bedform development on a deep-water fan

Additional information about the numerical modeling, bathymetric profiles, cross sections along type 1 and type 2 bedforms, a 3-D view of the study area, seafloor bathymetry and thickness map of post-salt deposits, and morphology of sediment waves seaward of the fan.<br>

Supplemental Material: Active faulting controls bedform development on a deep-water fan

Additional information about the numerical modeling, bathymetric profiles, cross sections along type 1 and type 2 bedforms, a 3-D view of the study area, seafloor bathymetry and thickness map of post-salt deposits, and morphology of sediment waves seaward of the fan.<br>

Interaction Between Mafic Dike Rocks and Salt Deposits in the Rhine Graben, Southwest Germany

ABSTRACT Dikes of primitive olivine melilitites and monchiquites intruded into an Oligocene (Rupelian) potash salt deposit near Buggingen (SW Germany). Ocelli and amygdules reveal distinct mineral assemblages depending on whether the dike rocks are in direct contact with the potash layer or with bituminous shales (Fish Shale). Samples in contact with the potash salt layer show roundish textures that contain smectite ± talc ± chlorite, calcite, and in cases anhydrite and halite, while those close to the bituminous shale mainly comprise smectite, calcite, zeolite group minerals, and analcime. No textural or mineralogical evidence for high-temperature (magmatic) interaction between the dike rocks and the evaporites was observed. This is presumably related to (1) a very low magmatic water activity in the magma, which prevented exsolution of aqueous fluids and appreciable dissolution of the salt, and (2) fast cooling of the magmas, inhibiting melting of the salt deposits and potential liquid mingling and/or assimilation processes. Halite formation in the dike rocks is, rather, related to later, post-magmatic hydrothermal fluids that previously interacted with the salt-rich host rocks. Alteration of the initially glassy groundmass to smectites and zeolites caused an enrichment of Na in the residual fluid, but halite saturation was not attained, as indicated by the absence of groundmass halite. Only fluid–rock interaction in millimeter-sized vugs caused halite precipitation via desiccation by swelling of previously formed clay minerals. Locally, the boron silicate datolite formed in pseudomorphs after olivine. Its precipitation was controlled by the Si and B supply provided by the breakdown of serpentine and smectite.

An Overview of Pakistan Rock Salt Resources and Their Chemical Characterization

Rock salt is of importance for both humans and industries. In this study, we discussed the main salt deposits in Pakistan by evaluating the total reserves as well as the rock salt annual production and by characterizing their chemical composition (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, B+, K+, Li+, Cl-, SO42-, Br- and NO3-). Our objectives were to document their impurity, water-insoluble matter and moisture contents to ultimately discuss whether the halite in Pakistan, in its natural form, is safe for human consumption. Pakistan rock salt deposits are located in two distinct regions: the Salt Range area in the Potwar sub-basin with huge Precambrian salt deposits and the Eocene Bahadurkhel/Kohat salts in the Kohat sub-basin. Total reserves are estimated over tens of billion tons with an annual production of about 3,534,075 metric tons in 2017-Results show that the halite of the salt range area is purer than the Bahadurkhel/Kohat salts with purity levels (expressed as NaCl) of 99 and 95 wt. %, respectively. Gypsum represents one of the main impurities in halite for both regions, while potash salts (>9 wt. %) are observed in the Salt Range area, K contents are very low in the Kohat salts. Although the halite moisture content is similar for both regions, impurities contents are higher (>5%) for the Kohat salts, arising the need for their purification prior to eventual human consumption.

A Rare Case of Calcinosis Cutis: Easily Mistaken as a Foreign Body

Calcinosis cutis is a very rare disease characterized by insoluble calcium salt deposits in the skin. There are five types of calcinosis, dystrophic type being the most common among them. Dystrophic calcinosis is generally caused by local tissue damage. We present the dystrophic calcinosis cutis case of a patient with no underlying diseases but a burn injury which occurred 10 years ago. She visited the hospital for an ulcerative wound on the same area. She also had sustained a dog bite injury on the same site 9 months ago, which was treated at an oriental clinic with no improvement. Physical examination by palpation revealed a hard mass under the skin. As the mass was of a large size, the possibility of a foreign body was considered. Surgical resection and biopsy of the mass diagnosed it as dystrophic calcinosis cutis. Although clinical features of this case were unlike previous calcinosis cutis cases, performing a biopsy proved helpful towards its diagnosis.

Development of new electrical technological systems and complex in the production of hard-to-remove oil reserves

When developing hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves, enterprises use various complexes and systems to facilitate technological processes that contribute to the lifting of heavy and viscous oils to the surface, as well as the extraction of light oils from lowpermeability reservoirs. During the operation of fields, abnormal situations also arise, caused by the appearance of asphalt-resin-paraffin deposits (ARPD) and salt deposits on the walls of tubing pipes, Christmas trees, process pipelines and equipment at the bottom. The existing methods of combating and preventing the manifestations of ARPD and salt precipitation can be conditionally divided into mechanical, chemical, thermal. To prevent and combat ARPD, as well as to reduce the viscosity of produced oils, thermal methods are most preferred, among which electrothermal methods are considered effective. In the case of salt sediments, technologies based on electrical energy are also an effective means of prevention, in particular, exposure of the well emulsion to a magnetic field. Keywords: electrical technological systems and complexes; hard-to-remove oil reserves; asphalt-resin-paraffin deposits; induction heating systems.

Alkalo-Thermophilic Microbial Diversity of the Tecozautla Geyser, México

Microbial mats have been studied in many thermal systems; the most iconic is Yellowstone. In Mexico, the information on microbial mats is scarce and therefore novel. In this research, the thermophilic microbial composition of samples from four areas of the Tecozautla geyser, Hidalgo, Mexico, was studied: sediments (GD), salt deposits (GA), and microbial mats (GB and GC). The samples were taken at the outlet of the geyser (94 °C) and in storage pools with temperatures of 61.5-65 °C. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicons was carried out, obtaining 1,425,506 readings, and was analyzed through the Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology software package version 2 (qiime2). 32 phyla were identified in the four samples being the most representative for the GA sample: Armatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, and Thermi, with abundances of 46.35, 19.18, 3.27, and 1.82 %, respectively. For the GB sample, they were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Spirochaetes, Thermi, and Firmicutes with abundances of 25.23, 22.04, 20.42, 12.31, 4.56, and 1.32 %, respectively. For the GC sample, abundances of 55.60, 9.85, 7.04, 7.01, and 6.15 % were observed for the phylum Chloroflexi, Armatimonadetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Acidobacteria, respectively. Finally, for the GD sample, the most abundant phyla were Chloroflexi (36.10 %), Cyanobacteria (17.13 %), Armatimonadetes (15.59 %), Proteobacteria (5.45 %), and Nitrospirae with (3.21 %). The metabolic functionality of the microbial communities present in the samples was inferred using the 16S rRNA amplicons. This work represents the first report of the microbial communities present in the Tecozautla geyser.

Application of information technologies in the analyses of groundwater in the Upper Kama Potash–Magnesium Salt Deposits

The article gives a review of the software techniques used in solution of actual applied problems in the mining industry. The adequate decision-making requires various software techniques. The list of the applied problems includes processing of remote sensing data, digital elevation modeling and generation of other digital models of terrain, localization of catchment basins and river networks, or morphometric analysis. Various geoinformation systems are used to this end. Another task is hydrogeological patterning of aquifers. It is required to use the methods of multivariate statistics, such as the factor analysis, for instance. The multidimensionality and complexity of natural and engineering systems also condition the use of the mathematical modeling apparatus based on the numerical solution of second-order elliptical equations in terms of partial derivatives. Natural water feature diverse physicochemical processes, which should also be calculated. The modeling outcome is used to predict different processes in the nature-and-mine system. For example, flow of pollutions in underground hydrosphere, lowering of the water level, dissolution–precipitation reactions, etc. Applied problem solving requires using wide ranges of mathematical methods and relevant software techniques.