xv, 136 p. : ill. (some col.) / The Pacific Northwest of the United States has been tectonically and magmatically active with the accretion of the Farallon oceanic terrane "Siletzia" ∼50 Ma. The accretion of Siletzia terminated the flat-slab subduction of the Farallon slab and initiated the Cascadia subduction zone. In this dissertation, I focus on both the large-scale tectonic structures preserved seismically in the crust and upper mantle, and the small-scale, short-term aseismic processes on the plate interface. I measure the shear-wave splitting trends around eastern Oregon with a dataset of ∼200 seismometers from 2006-2008 to analyze the upper-mantle anisotropy. The delay times between splitted shear-waves range from 0.8 s to 2.7 s. In the High Lava Plains, the fast polarization direction is approximately E-W with average delay time ∼1.8 s. I infer that there must be significant active flow in a roughly E-W direction in the asthenosphere beneath this area. The splitting pattern is more variable and complicated in NE Oregon, where the crust and mantle lithosphere may be a significant contribution. In terms of the imaged seismic velocity structures, I infer that the Eocene sedimentary basins in south-central Washington lie above a magmatically underplated crust of extended Siletzia lithosphere. Siletzia thrusts under the pre-accretion forearc, and its southeast termination is especially strong and sharp southeast of the Klamath-Blue Mountains gravity lineament. Magmatic intrusion has increased upper crustal velocity as in the less active Washington Cascades, but the higher temperatures beneath the magmatically active Oregon Cascades have a dominating effect. To better understand the physical mechanism of slow slip events on the plate interface, I explore the scaling relationships of various source parameters collected mainly from subduction zones worldwide and also other tectonic environments. The source parameter scaling relationships of slow slip events highlight the similarities and differences between slow slip phenomena and earthquakes. These relationships hold implications for the degree of heterogeneity and fault healing characteristics. The recurrence statistics of northern Cascadia events behave weakly time predictable and moderately anti-slip predictable, which may indicate healing between events. This dissertation includes co-authored materials both previously published and submitted for publication. / Committee in charge: Eugene Humphreys, Chairperson; David Schmidt, Member; Ray Weldon, Member; James Isenberg, Outside Member

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:11/04051-3

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este estudo teve como objetivo a determinação da concentração de entrada dos Gases de Efeito Estufa (GEE) no ar proveniente do Oceano Atlântico na região norte/nordeste da costa brasileira e o entendimento da origem destas massas de ar e o padrão circulatório e sua sazonalidade. Esta parte do litoral corresponde à área em que as massas de ar adentram no continente, antes de chegar à Bacia Amazônica. Em 2010 foram iniciados estudos em dois locais na costa, Salinópolis, no estado do Pará e Natal, no Rio Grande do Norte. Amostras de ar foram coletadas em superfície semanalmente e foram analisadas no Laboratório de Química Atmosférica do IPEN, quantificando-se os gases: dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4), óxido nitroso (N2O), hexafluoreto de enxofre (SF6) e monóxido de carbono (CO). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que Salinópolis (SAL) apresenta maior sazonalidade, entre as estações climáticas, quando comparada a Natal (NAT), sendo essa observação confirmada pelas trajetórias retrocedentes das massas de ar, para cada local de estudo. Observou-se que SAL recebe massas de ar, tanto do Oceano Atlântico Norte, como do Sul (dependendo da época do ano), e em NAT, as massas de ar são originárias apenas do Oceano Atlântico Sul. Este comportamento está relacionado com a zona de convergência intertropical. Os resultados de uma maneira geral mostram a ocorrência de um crescimento nas concentrações médias obtidas em SAL e NAT com o passar dos anos, acompanhando o crescimento mundial. A concentração média para o principal GEE, CO2, em SAL nos anos de 2010, 2011 e 2012 foi de 388,01, 390,39 e 392,14 ppm, respectivamente, e em NAT foi de 388,59, 389,65 e 392,59 ppm respectivamente. / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:11/04051-3

The research examines the sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation of the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This Formation occurs in the southeastern part of the Karoo Basin. It consists of sedimentary rocks, which are an alternating siltstone, shale and mudstone succession with subordinate interbedded sandstone and subsequently intruded by Karoo dolerite in the form of sills and dykes. ithostratigraphically, the Balfour Formation is subdivided into five units namely, from the base to the top, the Oudeberg, Daggaboersnek, Barberskrans, Elandsberg and Palingkloof Members. The Balfour Formation is overlain by the Katberg Formation. This study involved field investigations in the vicinity of the towns of Bedford and Adelaide with integrated stratigraphical, sedimentological and petrological studies. A geological map was constructed after field investigations. Lithofacies of the Balfour Formation that were studied are characterised by sandstone facies (Sh, Sm, St, Sr, Sp) and fine-grained sediments (Fl or Fsm) which reflect point-bar, cut-bank, channel and floodplain deposits. Lithologically, the Oudeberg Member consists of sandstone of which some units are internally massive alternating with thin laminated siltstone and mudstone. The Daggaboersnek Member is characterised by regular, generally non-lenticular, overall stratification, in the Barberkrans Member consists of sandstone lithosomes, while the Elandsberg Member is an argillaceous unit, similar to the Daggaboersnek Member. The Palingkloof Member is composed predominantly of red mudstone that can be used to distinguish the Balfour Formation from the overlying Katberg Formation, which consists predominantly of sandstone. The stratigraphic sequence displays two fining upward megacycles of sedimentary deposits with change in the sediment supply pattern from low-sinuosity to high-sinuosity river systems which reflect both braid and meandering deposits, respectively. Sedimentary structures in the sandstone units and the provenance of the Balfour Formation indicate that these deposits were produced by rivers flowing from the southeast with minor drift towards the northwest. According to the composition of the sediments and their sequence of deposition the Formation represents a fluvial environment. Mineralogical and grain size data from the sandstones of the various members of the Balfour Formation indicate the same source area of granitic, metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks and show no significant petrographic differences. The petrographic and geochemical investigations confirmed the sandstone to be feldspathic litharenite and ultralithofeldspathic sandstone. The palaeocurrent investigation indicates the main provenance to have been situated to the southeast of the Karoo basin. Heavy-mineral concentrations within the sandstones also give an indication that the source had a transitional arc plate tectonic setting.

Afin de cibler une meilleure rentabilité des gisements d'hydrocarbures, la simulation numérique présente un intérêt grandissant dans le secteur pétrolier. Dans ce contexte, deux principaux types d'applications sont distingués : l'ingénierie du réservoir, où les modèles géologiques sont définis comme statiques et l'exploration des gisements par la simulation de la formation des hydrocarbures. Cette dernière application nécessite des modèles de bassins dynamiques. Pour ce type de simulation, la modélisation mathématique et numérique a connu une avancée importante durant les dernières années. En revanche, la construction de maillages indispensables pour les simulations reste une tâche lourde dans le cas de géométries complexes et dynamiques. La difficulté se traduit par la particularité du domaine à mailler, qui est dictée par la mécanique des milieux granulaires, c'est-à-dire des milieux quasi-incompressibles et hétérogènes. De plus, les données sismiques sont des surfaces non-implicites modélisant des blocs volumiques. Dans ce cadre, nous nous intéressons à la génération de maillages lagrangiens hexa-dominants des bassins à géométrie complexe. Le maillage souhaité doit contenir une couche de mailles principalement hexaédriques entre deux horizons et respecter les surfaces failles traversant ces horizons. Une méthodologie originale basée sur la construction d’un espace déplié est proposée. Le maillage souhaité est alors traduit par une grille 3D contrainte dans cet espace. Plusieurs techniques d’optimisation de maillages sont aussi proposées / To target more profitable oil and gas deposits, the numerical simulation is of growing interest in the oil sector. In this context, two main types of applications are distinguished: reservoir engineering where geological models are defined as static and exploration for the simulation of hydrocarbons formation. The latter application requires dynamic basins models. For this type of simulation, mathematical and numerical modeling has been an important advance in recent years. However, the construction of meshes needed for the simulations is a difficult task in the case of complex and dynamic geometries. The difficulty is reflected by the characteristic of the domain to mesh, which is defined from the mechanics of granular media which are almost incompressible and heterogeneous environments. In addition, the seismic data represent non-implicit surfaces modeling volume blocks. In this context, we focus on Lagrangian hex-dominant mesh generation of basins with complex geometry. The desired mesh must contain a layer of almost hexahedral meshes between two horizons and conform to fault surfaces through these horizons. A novel methodology based on the construction of an unfolded space is introduced. The desired mesh is then seen as a constrained 3D grid in this novel space. Several mesh optimization techniques are also proposed

In southeastern Florida, the majority of drinking water comes from the Biscayne aquifer. This aquifer is comprised of heterogeneous limestones, sandstones, sand, shell and clayey sand with zones of very high permeability. Visualizing the spatial variations in lithology, porosity and permeability of heterogeneous aquifers, like the Biscayne, can be difficult using traditional methods of investigation. Using the Roxar IRAP RMS software multi-layered 3D conceptual geomodels of the lithology, cyclostratigraphy and porosity were created in a portion of the Biscayne aquifer. The models were built using published data from borehole geophysical measurements, core samples, and thin sections. Spatial relations between lithology, cyclostratigraphy, porosity, and preferential flow zones were compared and contrasted to better understand how these geologic features were inter-related. The models show local areas of differing porosity within and cross-cutting different cycles and lithologies. Porosity in the Biscayne aquifer study area follows a hierarchy attributed to lithofacies with a pattern of increasing porosity for the high frequency cycles. This modeling improves understanding of the distribution and interconnectedness of preferential flow zones, and is thus an invaluable tool for future studies of groundwater flow and groundwater contamination in the Biscayne aquifer. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Une étude de caractérisation intégrée de pétrographie et géochimie organique a été réalisée dans les bassins de Sabinas et Chihuahua au Nord-Est du Mexique. Ces informations ont permis une modélisation numérique de la formation du gaz en considérant la subsidence thermique des charbons et des shales à gaz. Les objectifs de cette thèse sont les suivants: mise en place d'une méthodologie de caractérisation des roches étudiées ; estimation du potentiel générateur de gaz et sa distribution régionale ; estimation des ressources en gaz méthane. Les analyses effectuées sur l'ensemble des échantillons ont permis de caractériser la roche, les kérogènes, les huiles et les gaz. La méthodologie utilisée permet de croiser les informations pétrographiques et géochimiques pour pouvoir analyser le système pétrolier par modélisation numérique. Les analyses réalisées sont: réflectance% Ro, analyse élémentaire et immédiate, Rock Eval6 ® (Bulk Rock), [delta]13C, [delta]D, (gaz de charbon), microscopie électronique à balayage, analyse d'images, analyse des macéraux et inclusions fluides. Un programme informatique a été construit afin de croiser l'information des analyses des échantillons avec celle des expériences de maturation artificielle en laboratoire. Cette démarche nous à permis d'estimer les ressources en gaz méthane à la fois généré par les charbons et les shales gaz. La méthodologie utilisée pour l'étude des kérogènes et des gaz dans les deux bassins est à notre avis la plus appropriée pour répondre aux objectifs proposés dans ce travail de thèse. Celle-ci permet de caractériser l'évolution thermique des charbons, shales gas (gaz de schiste), et roches mères pétrolières / This comprehensive characterization study was performed using organic petrology and geochemistry conducted in the Sabinas basin and Chihuahua in northern Mexico. This information allowed a numerical modeling of gas formation, considering the thermal subsidence of coal and carbonaceous shales.The objectives of this thesis are: establish a characterization methodology for the studied rocks ; estimate potential gas generator and its regional distribution ; estimate the methane gas resources. For the development of this project, we conducted an intensive campaign representative sampling of coal, carbonaceous shales and coal gas "in situ". For the Sabinas basin were studied 97 samples and 114 samples in the basin of Chihuahua. The analyses carried out that were used on the samples analyzed allowed to characterize the kerogen and gas. The methodology used to cross petrographic and geochemical information to analyze the petroleum system by numerical modeling. Analyses were: Petrographic, reflectance %Ro, elemental analysis and immediate, Rock Eval6 ® (Bulk rock), isotopic analysis, [delta]13C, [delta]D, (coal gas), scanning electron microscopy, image analysis and analysis of macerals fluid inclusions. The analyzes that were used on the samples allowed to characterize the sample, the kerogen and gas. The methodology used to cross petrographic and geochemical information for analyze the oil system by numerical modeling. Analyses were: Petrographic, reflectance% Ro, elemental analysis and immediate, Rock Eval6 ® (Bulk rock), isotopic analysis, d13C, dD, (coal gas), scanning electron microscopy, image analysis and analysis of macerals fluid inclusions. A computer program was constructed to cross the information with the analysis of samples of artificial maturation experiments in the laboratory. This approach allowed estimation of methane gas resources generated by coal and carbonaceous shales. [...] In conclusion, between the two basins studied, the Sabinas basin, generates more gas for industrial exploitation. However, the rocks of the basin of Chihuahua unconventional types (shale gas) show good potential for hydrocarbon generation. The methodology used for the study of kerogen and gas in the two basins is in our opinion the most appropriate to meet the objectives proposed in this thesis. This allows to characterize the thermal evolution of coal, carbonaceous shale (shale gas), coal gas and hydrocarbon source rocks

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-13T17:08:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MirnisAN.pdf: 1569710 bytes, checksum: 487f964bb8878c4a16f155c95c8e1a7f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-02-16 / The Portalegre shear zone (ZCPa), which is located in the Rio Grande do Norte and Para?ba states (Northeastern Brazil), is na important right-lateral, northeast-trending lineament formed during the Brazilian Orogenic Cicle). The ZCPa experienced na important brittle reactivation from the Mesozoic until the present. This reactivation led to the formation of the Gangorra, Pau dos Ferros, Coronel Jo?o Pessoa, Icozinho and Rio do Peixe basins. The reactivation northern parto f the ZCPa that marks the boundary of the Potiguar Basin is denominated Carnaubais Fault. Several fracture patterns were mapped along the ZCPa. Samples were collected in Neoproterozoic granite outcrops, along the ZCPa. These samples yielded AFT ages from 86?13 to 376?57 Ma, and the mean track length from 10.9?0.8 to 12.9?1.5 mm. Samples from the East block yielded mean ages of 103 Ma, mean track lengtn 12,1mm, and mean altitude 250m, whereas samples from West block yielded mean ages of 150 Ma, which reach 345 Ma and 220 Ma in the Pau dos Ferros and Coronel Jo?o Pessoa basins, respectively. Thermal history models were sorted out for each crustal block. Samples from West block recorded a thermal history from Carboniferous Period until the Permiano, when the block experienced gradual uplift until the Cretaceous, when it underwent downfaulting and heating until the Tertiary, and it eventually experienced a rapid uplift movement until recent times. Samples from the East block presented the same cooling and heating events, but at they occurred different times. The East block thermal record started ~140 Ma, when this block experienced cooling until ~75 Ma. Both blocks show a denundacion/erosional history more similar in the Tertiary. The AFT data indicate an important tectonic event ~140 Ma, when the West block experienced downfaulting and the East block experienced uplift. This tectonic process led to the generation of several sedimentary basins in the region, including the Potiguar basin. This tectonic event is also interpreted as a rift process caused by an E-W-trending extension. It the Tertiary, some heating events can be tentatively attributed to the macau volcanic event / A Zona de Cisalhamento Portalegre (ZCPa) representa um importante lineamento de dire??o NNE, transcorrente dextral instalado durante o Ciclo Brasiliano, foi submetida a uma importante hist?ria tect?nica r?ptil durante o Mesoz?ico e o Cenoz?ico, propiciando a forma??o das bacias sedimentares interiores de Gangorra, Pau dos Ferros, Coronel Jo?o Pessoa, Icozinho e Rio do Peixe. A ZCPa esteve atuante na abertura do Gr?ben Potiguar que culminou na instala??o da Bacia Potiguar. Observa-se ao longo da ZCPa, o desenvolvimento de diferentes padr?es de fraturas. As amostras foram coletadas acompanhando o tra?o estrutural da zona de cisalhamento e as idades de AFT obtidas ficaram em um intervalo entre 86?13 e 376?57 Ma, e intervalo de tamanho m?dio de comprimento do tra?o de 10.9?0.8 e 12.9?1.5 mm. Para amostras da por??o Leste, tem-se a concentra??o de idades de 103 Ma, comprimento m?dio de tra?os de 12,1mm, e altitudes m?dias de 250m. Para as amostras da por??o Oeste, tem-se as idades em 150 Ma, localmente com idades mais antigas de 345 Ma na regi?o da bacia de Pau dos Ferros e 220 Ma na Bacia de Coronel Jo?o Pessoa. Os modelos de hist?ria t?rmica separados para os dois grupos de amostras. As amostras do bloco Oeste registram uma hist?ria t?rmica que se inicia no per?odo Carbon?fero ao Permiano, apontando para um soerguimento gradual com baixa taxa de resfriamento at? o in?cio do Cret?ceo quando h? consistentes registros de um colapso do bloco sugerindo subsid?ncia. No final do Terci?rio, at? a ?poca recente, foi registrado um soerguimento r?pido com eros?o acentuada, possivelmente em resposta a processos tect?nicos e denudacionais. As amostras do bloco Leste, embora apresentem algumas similaridades de processos de resfriamento/aquecimento do bloco Oeste, mostram registros que come?am no Cret?ceo, com processo de resfriamento no final do Mesoz?ico. Ambos os blocos mostram uma hist?ria evolutiva similar no Terci?rio, com soerguimento e eros?o, embora a taxa de denuda??o/resfriamento no bloco Leste seja mais acentuada, justificada como resposta ao ajustamento da tect?nica destes blocos. Estes dados indicam que um importante evento tect?nico, em 140 Ma, ocorria na regi?o, gerando compartimenta??o dos blocos, gerando um ambiente prop?cio para forma??o de calhas estruturais que evoluiriam para as ent?o bacias interiores a sul, e instala??o do Grab?n Potiguar, na por??o norte. Este evento, interpretado com um processo de rifteamento resulta da atua??o de esfor?os distensionais E-W. J? no Terci?rio, tem-se registro de aquecimento comum nos blocos, que pode ser atribu?do aos efeitos de al?amento das isotermas, provocados pelo Vulcanismo Macau na regi?o

Le soufre est présent dans les systèmes pétroliers à la fois sous forme organique et minérale. Il est impliqué dans de nombreuses réactions d'oxydoréduction qui affectent la qualité des huiles (par des réactions de sulfuration ou de désulfuration) et du gaz naturel (par la génération de H2S en contexte de réduction thermochimique des sulfates), ainsi que la porosité des roches réservoirs (par la dissolution de l'anhydrite ou la précipitation de soufre élémentaire ou de pyrobitume). Ces réactions sont gouvernées par la température (et dans une moindre mesure la pression), les conditions d'oxydoréduction et la composition chimique globale du système. La thèse comporte trois parties : (1) une étude thermodynamique des réactions chimiques impliquant le soufre dans les bassins sédimentaires ; (2) une étude expérimentale des réactions de sulfuration et de désulfuration des composés organiques ainsi que de la réduction thermochimique des sulfates; (3) une étude pétrographique et d'inclusions fluides sur des échantillons d'un réservoir carbonaté du bassin Pré-Caspien / Sulfur occurs in petroleum systems as both organic compounds and minerals as well as under different oxidation states. It is involved in a number of redox reactions which may impact the quality of crude oils (through sulfurization or desulfurization reactions) and natural gas (through the generation of H2S during thermochemical sulfate reduction), as well as the petrophysical properties of reservoir rocks (through the dissolution of anhydrite and the precipitation of elemental sulfur and pyrobitumen). These reactions are controlled by temperature (and to a lesser extent pressure), the redox conditions, and the overall chemical composition of the system representing the petroleum reservoir. The thesis consists of three parts: (1) a thermodynamic study of chemical reactions involving sulfur which occur in sedimentary basins; (2) an experimental simulation of sulfurization and desulfurization reactions of organic compounds, as well as of thermochemical sulfate reduction; and (3) a petrographic and fluid inclusion study of carbonate rock samples from a sulfur-rich hydrocarbon reservoir of the northern Caspian Sea

The Pantano Formation comprises 1,250 m of alluvial, fluvial, lacustrine, and volcanic rocks deposited in a basin formed in response to regional extension during mid- Tertiary time in southeastern Arizona. During deposition, the locations and composition of sediment source areas varied as contemporaneous uplift occurred adjacent to the basin. The lower half of the formation was deposited as alluvial fans that prograded northward, westward, and southward; the upper half was deposited during southwestward retreat of alluvial fan deposition and the onset of lacustrine deposition. An andesite flow separates the two depositional regimes. Radiometric dates of 24.4 ± 2.6 m.y. B.P. for the andesite and 36.7 ± 1.1 m.y. B.P. for a rhyolitic tuff disconformably underlying the formation indicate that deposition occurred during Oligocene to early Miocene time. Proper stratigraphic sequencing and description, paleocurrent analysis, and gravel provenance study aided in understanding the depositional history of the formation.