• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.573-583
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• 2010

A paleobotanical study of the fossil woods has been carried out from the Tertiary Janggi Group, Pohang Basin. Three species belonging to three genera of Ulmus sp., Prunus sp., and Acer sp. were identified from the Lower Coalbearing Formation, and two species of two genera of Taxodioxylon sp. and Fagus hondoensis (Watari) from the Upper Coal-bearing Formation. As our specimens are mostly poorly preserved, it is difficult to give clear specific names, but mostly are all characteristic constitutional elements of the Miocene fossil woods in Korea. The values of mean sensitivity measured from the fossil woods of Lower and Upper Coal-bearing Formations are 0.367 and 0.370 respectively, but they are more than 0.30. Based on the present two data mentioned above, it stands to reason that there were many changes in the water supply to the roots of the woods or having influence to some degree each year because of the seasonal changes in rainfall.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.881-896
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• 2015

In this study, a method for fatigue performance estimation of deepwater steel catenary riser (SCR) under short-term vortex-induced vibration was investigated for selected S-N curves. General tendency between S-N curve capacity and fatigue performance was analysed. SCRs are generally used to transport produced oil and gas or to export separated oil and gas, and are exposed to various environmental loads in terms of current, wave, wind and others. Current is closely related with VIV and it affects fatigue life of riser structures significantly. In this regards, the process of appropriate S-N curve selection was performed in the initial design stage based on the scale of fabrication-related initial imperfections such as welding, hot spot, crack, stress concentration factor, and others. To draw the general tendency, the effects of stress concentration factor (SCF), S-N curve type, current profile, and three different sizes of SCRs were considered, and the relationship between S-N curve capacity and short-term VIV fatigue performance of SCR was derived. In case of S-N curve selection, DNV (2012) guideline was adopted and four different current profiles of the Gulf of Mexico (normal condition and Hurricane condition) and Brazil (Amazon basin and Campos basin) were considered. The obtained results will be useful to select the S-N curve for deepwater SCRs and also to understand the relationship between S-N curve capacity and short-term VIV fatigue performance of deepwater SCRs.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 2013

Various experiences on enhanced geothermal system (EGS) has been accumulated from the Soultz project through various scientific experiments and research activities for more than 20 years since it started in the year of 1984 until the 1.5 MW Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) binary power plant has been built up in Soultz-sous-$\hat{e}$ area, France. They have been applied to Cooper basin in Australia, Landau and Insheim in Germany and so forth. This report summaries the experiences from Soultz in the aspect of artificial reservoir creation, expecting to be helpful for reducing any trial and errors or unnecessary expenses in ongoing Korean EGS project in Pohang area, where the geological features are similar to Soultz area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.369-380
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• 1996

In order to determine the emplacement time and stratigraphic position of basaltic rocks in the central part of Pohang basin, palaeomagnetic investigations were conducted on 111 samples collected from 6 sites. Formation mean built from site-mean ChRM directions is $d=340.7^{\circ}$, $i=52.2^{\circ}$ (${\alpha}_{95}=6.0^{\circ}$, k=91) in the geographic coordinates. If "tilt" correction is applied regarding the plane perpendicular to the side walls of columnar joint as palaeohorizon, the formation mean becomes $d=328.7^{\circ}$, $i=43.8^{\circ}$ (${\alpha}_{95}=17.1^{\circ}$, k=13). It is to be noticed that the formation mean is deflected significantly (about $20{\sim}30^{\circ}$) counterclockwise from the Tertiary reference geomagnetic field of Eurasia, independent of "tilt" correction. This situation is very different from that of clockwise rotation of ChRM directions which has been ubiquitously observed in other Tertiary basins of south Korea, and indicates sinistral regional simple-shearing during the emplacement times of the basaltic rocks. Considering previous palaeomagnetic and AMS (anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility) data from other Tertiary regions of south Korea, the time of this sinistral shearing should be 15 Ma or directly thereafter, and this time point represents inversion from extensional to compressional tectonic regime. Magnetic foliation data obtained in this study indicate WNW-ESN compression during or directly after emplacement of the basaltic rocks, while it has known from regional tectonic study that the time of the WNW-ESN compression is about 15 Ma, when SW Honshu was rotated and the Korean strait was narrowed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.507-518
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• 1993

Paleomagnetic investigations have been carried out on the Tertiary sedimentary formations (Yeonil Group) in Pohang basin, southeastern Korea. A total of 215 samples were collected from 26 sites. Progressive thermal demagnetization indicates that many samples have unstable magnetization and do not reveal a characteristic direction. However, some samples from the lower and upper Duho Formation show a characteristic direction $D/I=7.8^{\circ}/48.3^{\circ}$ (${\alpha}_{95}=3.7^{\circ}$, k=174.1). Stepwise thermal demagnetization data show that some samples from the Hagjeon and middle Duho Formations reveal great-circle distributions moving from the present to a reversed direction of geomagnetic field. The mean of intersection points of the great-circles is nearly antipodal to the characteristic normal direction of the lower and upper Duho Formation. We infer that the Hagjeon Formation was formed during the reversed polarity chron C5B (16.2~14.7 Ma) and the Duho Formation 14.7~11.6 Ma based on our results and previous paleontologic and age dating data. Paleomagnetic direction for the Middle Miocene of Korea, analysed from the combined results of stable endpoints and great circles, is $D/I=8.7^{\circ}/53.9^{\circ}$ (${\alpha}_{95}=4.2^{\circ}$, k=74.8), and the corresponding paleopole is Lat./Long.=$82.7^{\circ}/230.2^{\circ}$ (${\delta}p=2.8^{\circ}$, ${\delta}m=5.9^{\circ}$). On the basis of this, we interpret that the opening of the East sea (Japan sea) or the synchronous clockwise rotation of the Southwest Japan exerted no structural influence on the Yeonil Group in the Middle Miocene.

• 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.25 no.2
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• pp.167-177
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• 1992

The gravity measurement has been conducted at 53 and 34 stations with an interval of 1~1.5 km along the national roads of about 47 km and 34 km running from Duksungri to Yangpori and from Angangri to Byungpori, Kyungsangbookdo, respectively. The subsurface geology and geologic structure of Tertiary Pohang and Janggi basins along two survey lines are interpreted quantitatively by applying Fourier series and Talwani methods for Bouguer gravity anomaly. The depths of Conrad discontinuity vary from 11.8 to 12.5 km and 11.5 to 13.2 km along the survey lines between Duksungri and Yangpori, and Angangri and Byungpori, respectively. The depths of pre-Cambrian Gneiss complex underneath Kyungsang Supergroup vary from 3.8 to 4.2 km and 3.8 to 4.6 km along the survey lines between Duksungri and Yangpori, and Angangri and Byungpori, respectively. Massive granite bodies which are not exposed along the survey line between Duksungri and Yangpori are distributed on a large scale at the subsurface between Duksungri and Ochun, and Daegokri and Yangpori. Along the survey line between Angangri and Byungpori, it is exposed at Angangri, and extends underneath Chungrimdong, Pohang city. Andesite is distributed on a small scale underneath Pohang city and Ochun. The thicknesses of Tertiary Yonil and Janggi Groups are 0.2~0.9 km and 0.1~0.5 km, respectively. The Tuffaceous rocks which are the lowest formation of Tertiary sedimentary rocks are distributed with the thickness of 0.2 km at the surface and between Kyungsang Supergroup and Yonil or Janggi Groups. The Yonil and Janggi Groups are in fault contact by a fault running through Ochun and Chungrimdong, Pohang city. Two other faults are newly found near Heunghae-eup and Hyungsan river.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2020

Geological CO₂ sequestration is a global warming response technology to limit atmospheric emissions by injecting CO₂ captured on a large scale into deep geological formations. The presented results concern mineralogical and hydrogeological investigations (FE-SEM, XRD, XRF, and MICP) of mudstone samples from drilling cores of the Pohang basin, which is the research area for the first demonstration-scale CO₂ storage project in Korea. They aim to identify the mineral properties of the mudstone constituting the caprock and to quantitatively evaluate the hydrogeologic sealing capacity that directly affects the stability and reliability of geological CO₂ storage. Mineralogical analysis showed that the mudstone samples are mainly composed of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and a small amount of pyrite, calcite, clay minerals, etc. Mercury intrusion capillary pressure analysis also showed that the samples generally had uniform particle configurations and pore distribution and there was no distinct correlation between the estimated porosity and air permeability. The allowable CO₂ column heights based on the estimated pore-entry pressures and breakthrough pressures were found to be significantly higher than the thickness of the targeting CO₂ injection layer. These results showed that the mudstone layers in the Yeongil group, Pohang basin, Korea have sufficient sealing capacity to suppress the leakage of CO₂ injected during the demonstration-scale CO₂ storage project. It should be noticed, however, that the applicability of results and analyses in this study is limited by the lack of available samples. For rigorous assessment of the sealing efficiency for geological CO₂ storage operations, significant efforts on collection and multi-aspect evaluation for core samples over entire caprock formations should be accompanied.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2020

The 2017 Pohang Earthquakes occurred near a drill site in the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System. Water injected for well stimulation was believed to have reactivated the buried near-critically stressed Miocene faults by the accumulation of the Quaternary tectonic strain. However, surface expressions of the Quaternary tectonic activity had not been reported near the epicenter of the earthquakes before the site construction. Unusual, large-scale water-escaped structures were identified 4 km away from the epicenter during a post-seismic investigation. The water-escaped structures comprise Miocene mudstones injected into overlying Pleistocene coastal sediments that formed during Marine Isotope Stage 5. This indicates the vulnerable state of the mudstones long after deposition, resulted from the combined effects of rapid tectonic uplift (before significant diagenesis) and the development of an aquifer at their unconformable interface of the mudstone. Based on the detailed field analysis and consideration of all possible endogenic triggers, we interpreted the structures to have been formed by elevated pore pressures in the mudstones (thixotropy), triggered by cyclic ground motion during the earthquakes. This interpretation is strengthened by the presence of faults 400 m from the study area, which cut unconsolidated coastal sediment deposited after Marine Isotope Stage 5. Geological context, including high rates of tectonic uplift in SE Korea, paleo-seismological research on Quaternary faults near the study area, and historical records of paleoearthquakes in SE Korea, also support the interpretation. Thus, epicenter and surrounding areas of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake are considered as a paleoseismologically active area, and the causative fault of the 2017 Pohang Earthquakes was expected to be nearly critical state.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.5 no.1_2 s.6
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• pp.48-58
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• 1997

Core samples from the B, E, F, H wells in the Tertiary Pohang Basin were analysed for total organic carbon (TOC) content and subject to Rock-Eval pyrolysis in order to assess petroleum geochemical characteristics of organic matter. Following geochemical screening, we selected samples from each well for the study of bitumen and kerogens such as optical observation, infra-red spectroscopy and biomarker analyses. Sediments of the Tertiary Yonil Group contain total organic carbon ranging from $0.55{\%} to 3.74{\%}$ with S1+S2 values higher than 2mgHC/g Rock in B, E and F wells, which indicates fair hydrocarbon generation potential. Most organic matter in the B, E, F wells is compared to type II based on the Rock-Eval pyrolysis, infra-red spectroscopy and optical observation. However, organic matter in the H well is compared to type III because the well is located at the margin of the basin where the preservation of terrestrial material is dominant. Geochemical analyses show that organic matter in the Yonil Group is thermally immature although thermal maturity slightly increases with depth. Maturity levels of the extracted kerogens are similar to those of bulk samples ($Tmax<435^{\circ}C$. Petroleum geochemical charateristics of the sediments in the Tertairy Yonil Group is fair in terms of the organic richness and hydrocarbon genetic potential, but organic matter is thermally immature due to the shallow burial depth. Optical observation of the kerogens and biomarker analysis show that organic matter in the Yonil Group is both marine and terrestrial origin, although it was deposited in marine environment. Pristane/phytane ratio suggests rather anoxic depositional environment. Transitional characteristics of organic matter indicate that the marine Yonil Group was deposited near the terrestrial environments. Input of terrestrial organic matter is more prevalent in the samples recovered from the lowermost horizon in the wells due to the terrestrial environment at the time of basin formation.