The ore prospecting prediction model for the Huili copper orefield in Sichuan Province, China

The prediction theory and methodology of ore prospecting were developed from an in-depth study of 129 typical deposits in China. It has been verified to be an effective method that is particularly suitable for the initial ore prospecting. In this method, the internal and external factors of metallogenesis are combined together to construct a geological model of prospecting prediction, which consists of metallogenic geological body, metallogenic structure, metallogenic structural plane and metallogenic characteristics. The Huili area is located in the western margin of the Yangtze Plate, where the regional metallogenic geological conditions are superior, and a series of unique iron-copper deposits were formed. In recent years, great breakthroughs and progress have been made in the deep and peripheral areas of the Huili copper orefield. Herein, we take the Huili copper orefield as a typical example to illustrate the specific application of this method in deep ore prospecting of hydrothermal deposits. The metallogenic geological body is the ore-hosting volcanic rocks (albitite in the Hekou Group), and the main metallogenic structure and structural planes are interfaces between basic (intermediate) volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks and the possible volcanic vent. Combined with the summary of metallogenic characteristics, we constructed a geological model for ore prospecting in the Huili copper orefield.

Studying joint influence of a number of factors on borehole cleaning

Studying the behavior of cuttings transport under various conditions using experimental observations and computational fluid dynamics is the main method for analyzing the influence of cuttings, fluid and operating parameters on well cleaning. Despite the existing abundant models and recommendations of researchers, still there are problems with the accuracy of determining the cuttings layer height, critical velocity and other key parameters, which complicates the task of effective solution of the problem of borehole cleaning. The purpose of the study is to analyze the models obtained via the organization of a full factorial experiment and variance analysis to identify the influence of such factors as viscosity and flow rate of the drilling fluid in the annular space and the inclination angle of the well on the degree of cuttings transport. The studies of the kind are carried out using special devices called flow loops. Experimental data were taken from literature sources. To organize a full factorial experiment, the data of the dependent variable were combined into a combinational square, which simplified the coding of factor values. After setting the full factorial experiment, the models were obtained that made it possible to assess the contribution of the studied factors to the process of destruction product removal within the intervals determined while setting the research tasks. The obtained models allowed to determine the influence degree of each of the factors on the process under investigation. The results of the succeeding analysis of variance confirmed the indicated degree of influence and determined the rank of each of the factors in percentage.

Application of an improved mining complex for opencast mining of ore deposits

The purpose of the study is reducing the loss of mineral raw materials and increasing the efficiency of mining operations using a mining complex through the introduction of a new design and engineering solution that improves the equipment functionality. The study involves the analysis of known designs of mining equipment capable of providing the transformation of cyclic scooping of rock mass into its continuous loading, as well as screening of fine fractions from the ore mass. High productivity mining complexes are referred to a promising direction of mining equipment development. The article proposes an improved design of the mining complex, which allows to combine the extraction and loading process and ore mass grading. The improved mining complex is equipped with an annular conveyor with vibrating grids through which fines are screened into the accumulation hopper. From the accumulation hopper the small fractions are sent by means of a pneumatic conveying system to the bunker sections of a special-purpose hauler while the oversize product is loaded into a dump truck by a dump conveyor. The fine fractions of substandard ore collected in the bunker sections are sent for heap leaching. The fine fractions of conditioned ore are sent to the concentration plant to be processed. The proposed design and engineering solution employing an improved mining complex will reduce the cost of works and increase the recovery factor of mineral raw materials in the development of complex-structured deposits of ores characterized by natural concentration of small classes. Removal of fine ore fractions directly during the excavation and loading process can significantly reduce the dusting and decrease the loss of mineral raw materials from blowing and spilling of fine fractions.

Morphometric analysis for flood flow formation feature identification (on example of Ulaanbaatar agglomeration)

Water flows with significant flow rate feature a high destructive force and can lead to catastrophic consequences. Fluvial processes caused by uneven distribution of rain precipitation over the area pose risks to the developed inland foothill territories. The purpose of this study is to carry out a quantitative morphometric analysis of the territory in order to identify the formation features of flood flows. The analysis and ranking of catchment basins are performed using a basin approach. On the basis of SRTM images and the use of stock cartographic material in the GIS program the authors have built specialized electronic maps that allow to obtain quantitative parameters reflecting the morphometry of the basins under analysis including basin geometry, drainage network and terrain relief. On example of the Ulaanbaatar agglomeration territory it is shown how initial morphometric parameters of basins and watercourses (length, width, area, perimeter, erosion dissection, drainage network density, terrain relief coefficient, Melton coefficient, etc.) form the features of flood flow. For developed territories, the initial data on the catchment basin morphometry constitute the basis for compilation of specialized maps to be used in planning and construction. The combination of morphometric indicators on the territory of the Ulaanbaatar agglomeration indicates that there is possibility of large flood formation and development of dangerous mudstone flows in some catchment basins.

Challenges and environmental issues in developing hydrocarbon resources in the World ocean

The oil and gas industry has been evolving for 150 years. Despite the predictions on the diminishing role of hydrocarbons in the second half of the 21st century, today they play a leading role in the global energy sector. In view of this there is some interest to study current development trends of the industry. This paper reviews and analyses data for the period from 2011 to 2021, which relate to the development of hydrocarbon resources in the marine and ocean environment. It was important for the authors to consider how the trends they highlighted are affecting or will affect ecosystems. The conducted research has showed that today there are three main development trends in hydrocarbon mining in the World ocean: development of the marine Arctic, continental shelf and the possibility to organize commercial production in the deep sea areas of the World ocean. For each of the directions both existing and potential ecological risks have been identified. They include loss of marine biodiversity, activation of dangerous geological processes, unpredictability of ocean environment, man-made accidents and disasters, discharges of drilling and other industrial waste, etc. The work has also identified the challenges facing the oil and gas industry. These include the search for new technologies for deep-sea production, poorly understood depth of the World ocean, need for new approaches in environmental risk management, as well as the creation of a legal framework for subsoil use regulation in new environments and areas.

Parameter substantiation of supra bit jet pump for productive formation opening

The purpose of the study is to develop a supra bit jet pump taking into account the unsteadiness of low-speed drilling for crushing the cuttings injected from the annular space under productive formation opening. The article proposes a device for drill string bottom assembly intended for the initial opening of the productive formation. The device includes a supra bit jet pump and a colmatator. The jet pump creates an additional circulation loop of the drilling fluid above the well bottom, crushes the cuttings injected from the annular space in the mixing chamber and delivers it to the colmatator. An additional circulation loop above the well bottom creates a local drawdown of the formation while maintaining the hydrostatic pressure in the well. Crushing of cuttings in the mixing chamber of the jet pump occurs due to the creation of cross flows in the jet pump. The cross flows are provided due to the angular and eccentric displacement of the working nozzle of the jet pump relative to the mixing chamber. The colmatator creates an impermeable screen on the borehole wall for temporary isolation of the productive formation under initial opening. The conducted study allowed the authors to propose head characteristics of the jet pump taking into account the angular, eccentric displacement of the working nozzle. The head characteristic of the jet pump has been developed for the unsteady operation of the jet pump in the drill string bottom assembly. The head characteristics take into account the roughness of the flow path of the jet pump. Using the head characteristics, the permissible displacements of the working nozzle of the jet pump have been determined. Recommendations for the design of jet pumps for drill string bottom assemblies are proposed.

Contamination of the Dzheltulak-1 river basin under alluvial gold mining (the Amur region)

The purpose of the introduced research is to study the environmental impact of placer gold mining. The object of the study is natural and natural-man-made geosystems of the Dzheltulak-1 river located in the Amur region. The content of the main cations and microelements in water samples was determined by atomic emission and mass spectral methods. The content of micro- and rock-forming elements in bottom sediments and soils was determined by X-ray fluorescence using XRF-1800 X-ray spectrometer (Shimadzu, Japan). The results of the conducted studies indicate that the contents of iron, manganese, copper, aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, mercury and ammonium ions exceed commercial fishery standards in a significant part of the surface water samples. It is found out that settlement ponds negatively affect the water quality in the river Dzheltulak-1 downstream due to the dam drainage. The highest concentrations of dissolved forms of mercury were noted in the water of the settlement ponds. The gross content of arsenic in the samples of bottom sediments and soils exceeds sanitary and hygienic standards by 2.7–14.5 times. The distributions of mercury as the most dangerous pollutant among the biogenic components of geochemical landscape were worked out in detail. Mercury contamination of soils was classified according to the forms of mercury occurrence: free, physically sorbed, chemisorbed, sulfide and isomorphic. It has been shown that the free form is characteristic of fresh mercury contamination due to the use of prohibited technological schemes for gold-bearing sands separation by the amalgamation method.

Irkutsk school of mining engineers is celebrating 90th anniversary

It is in 1930 that the training of mining engineers began in Eastern Siberia on the basis of the Siberian Mining Institute (now Irkutsk National Research Technical University). In 1931 the Department of Mining Arts was organized, which later was named the Department of Mineral Deposits Development. Over the years, the Department has trained more than 7000 graduates – mining engineers, who made a huge contribution in the development of the mining industry in the Irkutsk region and neighboring territories including Mongolia. The Department has trained more than a hundred mining engineers and Masters of science for Mongolia; assisted the lecturers and professors of the Mongolian Polytechnic University (now Mongolian University of Science and Technology) in organizing the educational process for training specialists for the country's mining industry. At its different formation stages the Department of Mineral Deposits Development was headed by well-known scientists – mining engineers, who created three scientific schools for the development of coal, placer and gold deposits; the obtained scientific results were marked with two State awards of the Russian Federation, dozens of doctoral and candidate dissertations were defended and about 100 patents were received. Today, the Department super- vises the training of mining engineers in open-pit and underground mining of mineral deposits, carries out a large amount of research and design work on the orders from mining enterprises, trains academic staff, develops new technologies and technical solutions in order to improve mining operations. The Department is deeply involved in the cooperation with mining enterprises, research and design organizations, as well as with universities that train mining engineers.

Development of a new empirical correlation for predicting formation volume factor of reservoir oil using artificial intelligence

It is known that oil in reservoir conditions is characterized by the content of a certain amount of dissolved gas. As reservoir pressure decreases this gas is released from oil significantly changing its physical properties, primarily its density and viscosity. In addition, the oil volume also reduces, sometimes by 50–60 %. In this regard, when calculating reserves, it is necessary to justify the reduction amount of the reservoir oil volume when oil is extracted to the surface. For this purpose, the concept of formation volume factor of reservoir oil has been introduced. The formation volume factor of oil is considered one of the main characterizing parameters of crude oil. It is also required for modeling and predicting the characteristics of an oil reservoir. The purpose of the present work is to develop a new empirical correlation for predicting the formation volume factor of reservoir oil using artificial intelligence methods based on MATLAB software, such as: an artificial neural network, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, and a support vector machine. The article presents a new empirical correlation extracted from the artificial neural network based on 503 experimental data points for oils from the Eastern Siberia field, which was able to predict the formation volume factor of oil with the correlation coefficient of 0.969 and average absolute error of less than 1 %. The conducted study shows that the prediction accuracy of the desired parameter in the developed artificial intelligence model exceeds the accuracy of study results obtained by conventional statistical methods. Moreover, the model can be useful in the prospect of process optimization in field planning and development.

Geologic and geophysical exploration of the Russian Arctic in search for new oil and gas regions

Many specialists who studied Russian Arctic and subarctic regions consider that the latter should be rich in various minerals, for example, gold, tin, coal, kimberlites and, especially in oil and gas. The purpose of the article is to show the potential of regional geological and geophysical (remote sensing) methods for the study of tectonic and morphological features of the structure of the Arctic region subsoil allowing to conduct a regional study of potential resources of oil and gas in the Arctic shelf areas as well as in the mountainous or swampy Subarctic regions of Eastern Siberia inaccessible for other exploration methods (for example, seismic surveying). This article presents the results of the conducted scientific work, which together with other geological and geophysical methods will make it possible to carry out better aerospace studies of the tectonic structure of the Arctic region. In particular, the article introduces a block diagram of a computer software package for mathematical processing and the geological and geophysical interpretation of remote sensing data obtained as a result of measurements over the Arctic and Subarctic regions. The findings obtained on morphological (concentric) structures of the central type formed as a result of the occurrence of paleo-mantle plumes are compared with independent data on geological and geophysical sections of the earth's crust constructed in the zones where these structures are located. The obtained data on the oil and gas potential of some regions of the Arctic and Subarctic are compared with the results of forecasts made by other researchers and organizations.