• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.165-176
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• 2005

Natural gas in deep sediment may occur in three phases based on the physical and chemical conditions. If the concentration of gas in pore water is less than the solubility, gas is dissolved. If the concentration of gas is greater than its solubility (water is saturated or supersaturated with gas), gas occurs as a fee gas below the gas hydrate stability Lone (GHSZ) and is present as solid hydrate within the GHSZ. The knowledge of gas concentration in deep sediment appears critical to determine the phase of natural gases and to understand the formation and distribution of gas hydrate. However, reliable data on gas concentration are usually available only from the upper section of marine sediment by the headspace gas technique, which is widely used for sampling of gases from the sediments. The headspace gas technique represents only a fraction of gases present in situ because sediments release most of the gases during recovery and sampling. The PCS (Pressure Core Sampler) is a downhole tool developed to recover a nominal $1{\cal}m$ long, $4.32{\cal}cm$ diameter core containing $1,465cm^3$ of sediment, pore water and gas at in situ pressure up to 68.9 MPa. During Leg 204, the PCS was deployed at 6 Sites. In situ methane gas concentration and distribution of gas hydrate was measured by using PCS tool. Characteristics of methane concentration and distribution is different from site to site. Distribution of gas hydrate in the study area is closely related to characteristics of in situ gas concentration measured by PCS.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 1998

Multiple well log analysis technique consisting of geophysical well log and geological core log has been made to analysis the discontinuities of a test borehole-PABH1 located in Pungam sedimentary basin, Sosok, Hongchon-gun, Kangwon Province. Well log methods consist of normal resistivity log, focussed log, single point resistance log, SP log, gamma log, natural gamma log as well as acoustic televiewer log and borehole television log. Core scanning technique was used as an aid for geological core log. The analysis was made by comparing firstly the televiewer and core discontinuities, and then the results from conventional geophysical log analysis were compared to those from core log and acoustic televiewer log. Fractures deduced from the acoustic televiewer log coincide well with discontinuities shown on the core and conventional geophysical logs. Particularly close coincidence could be observed between fractures derived from acoustic televiewer and conventional geophysical log analysis. It has been noted that the geophysical logs such as, caliper, resistivity, density and high resolution gamma gamma curves are effective in delineating the fractures. For example the ratio between density and resistivity (BRD/SHN) provides also an alternative indicator for discerning the fracture condition in the study area.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2016

In geological storage of $CO_2$, the behavior of $CO_2$ is influenced by pore network of rock. In this study, the drilling cores from Pohang Basin were analyzed quantitatively using three-dimensional images acquired by X-ray micro computed tomography. The porosities of sandstone specimens around 740 m-depth (T1), 780 m-depth (T2) and 810 m-depth (T3) which were target strata were 25.22%, 23.97%, 6.28%, respectively. Equivalent diameter, volume, area, local thickness of pores inside the sandstone specimens were analyzed. As a result, the microstructural properties of T1 and T2 specimens were more suitable for geological storage of $CO_2$ than those of T3 specimens. The result of the study can be used as input data of the site for decision of injection condition, flow simulation and so on.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2022

Six gas samples were collected from coal and coaly shale from core AA-1, which was acquired from the Asem-Asem Basin, southeast Kalimantan, Indonesia. These coalbed gas samples were analyzed for the molecular composition, carbon isotope (δ¹³C_CH4, δ¹³C_C2, and δ¹³C_CO2), hydrogen isotope (δD_CH4), hydrocarbon index (C_HC), and carbon dioxide-methane index (CDMI) to document their origin and methanogenic pathways. Core AA-1 successively consists of lower clastic sedimentary rocks (Sedimentary Unit-1, SU-1) containing coal and coaly shale, and upper limestone (Sedimentary Unit-2, SU-2), unconformably underlain by serpentinized basement interpreted as part of the Cretaceous Meratus subduction complex (MSC). The coal and coaly shale (SU-1) were deposited in a marshes nearby a small-scale river. Compositions of coalbed gases show that methane ranges from 87.35 to 95.29% and ethane ranges from 3.65 to 9.97%. Carbon isotope of coalbed methane (δ¹³C_CH4) ranges from -60.3 to -58.8‰, while hydrogen isotope (δD_CH4) ranges from -252.9 to -252.1‰. Carbon isotope of coalbed ethane (δ¹³C_C2) ranges from -32.8 to -31.2‰, carbon isotope of coalbed carbon dioxide (δ¹³C_CO2) ranges from -8.6 to -6.2‰. The coalbed CO₂ is interpreted to be an abiogenic origin based on a combination of δ¹³C_CO2 and CDMI and could have been transported from underlying CO₂ bearing MSC through faults. The methanogenic pathways of coalbed gases are interpreted to have originated from primary methyl-type fermentation and mixed with CO₂ reduction, affecting thermogenic non-marine coal-type gases based on analyses of isotopic ratios and various indexes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.479-490
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• 2016

Seabed drilling system has recently been used to drill seafloor mineral resources. This case report highlights the procedure and result of sea-trial of seabed drilling system at off-shore of Japan on March, 2016 as well as briefs an international-technical trend of seabed drilling system. In case of having less than 100 m drill depth, seabed drilling system is favorable for seafloor mineral deposits which are mostly distributed within a narrow district and situated between 1000~3000 m water depth, compared with vessel-mounted drilling system. The system is featured by the remotely-operated drill gear, which has top drives, drill strings and mud system on it. The core samples are generally recovered to ship with seabed driller after a dive. In this sea-trail, recovery rate of core samples averagely shows about 55% and the recovered rocks mostly correspond to fresh and/or weak-altered basalt. In case of drilling hydrothermal ore deposit, the recovery rate would be lower than 55% because of the fragile nature of ores. Alternatively it is used to collect cutting chips through riser or bins in order to increase the recovery rates. Recently a reverse circulation method is taken considered to acquire the better cutting-chips. Three-leg type outrigger system and four-leg type leveling system are the competing landing-instruments of seabed drill system. However the landing efficiency using these gears has to be further monitored due to lack of case reports.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.171-180
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• 2015

Electrical resistivity of 23 core samples from Ulleung Island at dry or saturated condition has been measured along with dry density and effective porosity, and the relations between the properties has also been discussed. Upper and lower bounds of electrical resistivity at room temperature can be provided by the dry- and saturated-resistivity, respectively. Injecting nitrogen gas to the pore space at the very end of drying process can prevent humid air from getting into the pore space, so that measurement of dry-resistivity can be less affected by humidity in the air. Dry density and porosity have very close correlation; the ratio between increase of porosity and the decrease of density showed distinct relation to the rock types, such that basaltic rocks showed higher ratio while trachytic rocks showed lower. Saturated resistivity showed close correlation to density and effective porosity of the rock sample, while dry resistivity didn't.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-48
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• 2019

The year 2018 is the $50^{th}$ anniversary of scientific ocean drilling. Nevertheless, we know more about the surface of the moon than the Earth's ocean floor. In other words, there are still no much informations about the Earth interior. Much of what we do know has come from the scientific ocean drilling, providing the systematic collection of core samples from the deep seabed. This revolutionary process began 50 years ago, when the drilling vessel Glomar Challenger sailed into the Gulf of Mexico on August 11, 1968 on the first expedition of the federally funded Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP). DSDP followed successively by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (old IODP), and International Ocean Discovery Program (new IODP). Concerning on the results of scientific ocean drilling, there are two technological innovations and various scientific research results. The one is a dynamic positioning system, enables the drilling vessel to stay fixed in place while drilling and recovering cores in the deep water. Another is the finding of re-entry cone to replace drill bit during the drilling. In addition to technological innovation, there are important scientific results such as confirmation of plate tectonics, reconstruction of earth's history, and finding of life within sediments. New IODP has begun in October, 2013 and will continue till 2023. IODP member countries are preparing for the IODP science plan beyond 2023 and future 50 years of scientific ocean drilling. We as IODP member also need to participate in keeping with the international trend.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-186
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• 2013

A drilling project was undertaken to characterize the geochemical relationship and the occurrence of radioactive materials at a test site among public-use groundwaters previously known to have high occurrence of uranium and radon-222 in the Daejeon area. A borehole (121 m deep) was drilled and core rocks mainly consist of two-mica granite, and associated with pegmatite and dykes of intermediate composition. The groundwater samples collected at six different depths in the borehole by a double-packed system showed the pH values ranging from neutral to alkaline (7.10-9.3), and electrical conductivity ranging from 263 to 443 ${\mu}S/cm$. The chemical composition of the borehole groundwaters was of the $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4+Cl)$ type. The uranium and Rn-222 contents in the groundwater were 109-1,020 ppb and 9,190-32,800 pCi/L, respectively. These levels exceed the regulation guidelines of US EPA. The zone of the highest groundwater uranium content occurred at depths of 45 to 55m. The groundwater chemistry in this zone (alkaline, oxidated, and high in bicarbonate) is favorable for the dissolution of uranium into groundwater. The dominant uranium complex in groundwater is likely to be $(UO_2CO_3)^0$ or $(UO_2HCO_3)^+$. Radon-222 content in groundwater shows an increasing trend with depth. The uranium and thorium contents in the core were 0.372-47.42 ppm and 0.388-11.22 ppm, respectively. These levels are higher values than those previously been reported in Korea. Microscopic observations and electron microprobe analysis(EPMA) revealed that the minerals containing U and Th are monazite, apatite, epidote, and feldspar. U and Th in these minerals are likely to substitute for major elements in crystal lattice.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.163-178
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• 2011

A test borehole was drilled in the Cheongwon area to investigate the relationship between geochemical environment and the natural occurrence of radioactive materials (uranium and Rn-222) in borehole groundwater. The borehole encountered mainly biotite schist and biotite granite, with minor porphyritic granite and basic dykes. Six groundwater samples were collected at different depths in the borehole using the double-packed system. The groundwater pH ranges from 5.66 to 8.34, and the chemical type of the groundwater is Ca-$HCO_3$. The contents of uranium and Rn-222 in the groundwater are 0.03-683 ppb and 1,290-7,600 pCi/L, respectively. The contents of uranium and thorium in the rocks within the borehole are 0.51-23.4 ppm and 0.89-62.6 ppm, respectively. Microscope observations of the rock core and analyses by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) show that most of the radioactive elements occur in the biotite schist, within accessory minerals such as monazite and limenite in biotite, and in feldspar and quartz. The high uranium content of groundwater at depths of -50 to -70 m is due to groundwater chemistry (weakly alkaline pH, an oxidizing environment, and high concentrations of bicarbonate). The origin of Rn-222 could be determined by analyzing noble gas isotopes (e.g., $^3He/^4He$ and $^4He/^{20}Ne$).

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.249-256
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• 2001

Optical Color Corescanner firstly developed by DMT-GeoTec, Germany and further upgraded through the Korea-Germany joint project is capable of duplicating the core surfaces. The tool uses a digital CCD line camera. As the core is rotated by an electric motor, the camera scans the uppermost line, everytime with a circumferential increment of up to 0.05mm(20pixels/mm) and hence a complete 360$^{\circ}$ unwrapped image(core image) is produced. This paper illustrated diverse research benefits of such core images from several test sites in our country. All scanned images could be stored as a data-base one and easily used with software facilities \circled1 to evaluate a percental distribution of mineral components or grain size etc. not only for the rock classification but also for e.g. the assessment of building stones, \circled2 to study potential reservoirs as a hydrocarbon indicator using ultraviolet fluorescence reflection from cores, \circled3 to facilitate the qualitative and quantitative analysis of fractures, \circled4 to evaluate the fractures and thin bedded reservoirs using spectral color responses. Based on abundant scanning experiments, it would seem that this imaging work should lead to reflecting the future trend in underground survey toward a more comprehensive understanding of the properties and behaviors of in situ rocks.