• Title/Summary/Keyword: geothermal study

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Geological Characteristics of Extra Heavy Oil Reservoirs in Venezuela (베네주엘라 초중질유 저류층 지질 특성)

  • Kim, Dae-Suk;Kwon, Yi-Kyun;Chang, Chan-Dong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.83-94
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    • 2011
  • Extra heavy oil reservoirs are distributed over the world but most of them is deposited in the northern part of the Orinoco River in Venezuela, in the area of 5,500 $km^2$, This region, which has been commonly called "the Orinoco Oil Belt", contains estimated 1.3 trillion barrels of original oil-in-place and 250 billion barrels of established reserves. The Venezuela extra heavy oil has an API gravity of less than 10 degree and in situ viscosity of 5,000 cP at reservoir condition. Although the presence of extra heavy oil in the Orinoco Oil Belt has been initially reported in the 1930's, the commercial development using in situ cold production started in the 1990's. The Orinoco heavy oil deposits are clustered into 4 development areas, Boyaco, Junin, Ayachoco, and Carabobo respectively, and they are subdivided into totally 31 production blocks. Nowadays, PDVSA (Petr$\'{o}$leos de Venzuela, S.A.) makes a development of each production block with the international oil companies from more than 20 countries forming a international joint-venture company. The Eastern Venezuela Basin, the Orinoco Oil Belt is included in, is one of the major oil-bearing sedimentary basins in Venezuela and is first formed as a passive margin basin by the Jurassic tectonic plate motion. The major source rock of heavy oil is the late Cretaceous calcareous shale in the central Eastern Venezuela Basin. Hydrocarbon materials migrated an average of 150 km up dip to the southern margin of the basin. During the migration, lighter fractions in the hydrocarbon were removed by biodegradation and the oil changed into heavy and/or extra heavy oil. Miocene Oficina Formation, the main extra heavy oil reservoir, is the unconsolidated sand and shale alternation formed in fluvial-estuarine environment and also has irregularly a large number of the Cenozoic faults induced by basin subsidence and tectonics. Because Oficina Formation has not only complex lithology distribution but also irregular geology structure, geological evolution and characteristics of the reservoirs have to be determined for economical production well design and effective oil recovery. This study introduces geological formation and evolution of the Venezuela extra heavy oil reservoirs and suggest their significant geological characteristics which are (1) thickness and geometry of reservoir pay sands, (2) continuity and thickness of mud beds, (3) geometry of faults, (4) depth and geothermal character of reservoir, (5) in-situ stress field of reservoir, and (6) chemical composition of extra heavy oil. Newly developed exploration techniques, such as 3-D seismic survey and LWD (logging while drilling), can be expected as powerful methods to recognize the geological reservoir characteristics in the Orinoco Oil Belt.

Removal of As(III) in Contaminated Groundwater Using Iron and Manganese Oxide-Coated Materials (철/망간 산화물 피복제를 이용한 오염지하수에서의 As(III)제거)

  • Kim Ju-Yong;Choi Yoon-Hyeong;Kim Kyoung-Woong;Ahn Joo Sung;Kim Dong Wook
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.38 no.5 s.174
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    • pp.571-577
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    • 2005
  • Permeable reactive barrier using iron oxide coated sand is one of effective technologies for As(V) contaminated groundwater. However, this method is restricted to As(III), because As(III) species tends to be more weakly bound to adsorbent. In order to overcome the limitation of iron oxide coated sand application to As(III) contaminated groundwater, manganese oxide materials as promoter of As(III) removal were combined to the conventional technology in this study. For combined use of iron oxide coated sand and manganese oxide coated sand, two kinds of removal methods, sequential removal method and simultaneous removal method, were introduced. Both methods showed similar removal efficiency over $85\%$ for 6 hrs. However, the sequential method converted the As contaminated water to acid state (pH 4.5), on the contrary, the simultaneous method maintained neutral state (pH 6.0). Therefore, simultaneous As removal method was ascertained as a suitable treatment technology of As contaminated water. Moreover, for more effective As(III) remediation technique, polypropylene textile which has the characteristics of high surface area, low specific gravity and flexibility was applied as alternative material of sand. The combined use of coated polypropylenes by simultaneous method showed much more prominent and rapid remediation efficiency over $99\%$ after 6 hrs; besides, it has practical advantages in replacement or disposal of adsorbent for simple conventional removal device.

The Economic Effects of the New and Renewable Energies Sector (신재생에너지 부문의 경제적 파급효과 분석)

  • Lim, Seul-Ye;Park, So-Yeon;Yoo, Seung-Hoon
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.31-40
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    • 2014
  • The Korean government made the 2nd Energy Basic Plan to achieve 11% of new and renewable energies distribution rate until 2035 as a response to cope with international discussion about greenhouse gas emission reduction. Renewable energies include solar thermal, photovoltaic, bioenergy, wind power, small hydropower, geothermal energy, ocean energy, and waste energy. New energies contain fuel cells, coal gasification and liquefaction, and hydrogen. As public and private investment to enhance the distribution of new and renewable energies, it is necessary to clarify the economic effects of the new and renewable energies sector. To the end, this study attempts to apply an input-output analysis and analyze the economic effects of new and renewable energies sector using 2012 input-output table. Three topics are dealt with. First, production-inducing effect, value-added creation effect, and employment-inducing effect are quantified based on demand-driven model. Second, supply shortage effects are analyzed employing supply-driven model. Lastly, price pervasive effects are investigated applying Leontief price model. The results of this analysis are as follows. First, one won of production or investment in new and renewable energies sector induces 2.1776 won of production and 0.7080 won of value-added. Moreover, the employment-inducing effect of one billion won of production or investment in new and renewable energies sector is estimated to be 9.0337 persons. Second, production shortage cost from one won of supply failure in new and renewable energies sector is calculated to be 1.6314 won, which is not small. Third, the impact of the 10% increase in new and renewable energies rate on the general price level is computed to be 0.0123%, which is small. This information can be utilized in forecasting the economic effects of new and renewable energies sector.

Compositional Variation of Arsenopyrites in Arsenic and Polymetallic Ores from the Ulsan Mine, Republic of Korea, and their Application to a Geothermometer (울산광산산(蔚山鑛山産) 유비철석(硫砒鐵石)의 조성변화(組成變化) 및 지질온도계(地質溫度計)에 대(對)한 적용(適用))

  • Choi, Seon-Gyu;Chung, Jae-Ill;Imai, Naoya
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.199-218
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    • 1986
  • Arsenopyrite in arsenic and polymetallic ores from calcic Fe-W skarn deposit of the Ulsan mine, Republic of Korea, has been investigated by means of electron microprobe analysis and X-ray diffractometry. As a result, it is revealed that the Ulsan arsenopyrite may be classified into the following three species with different generation on the basis of its mode of occurrence, chronological order during polymetallic mineralization and chemical composition; arsenopyrites I, II and III. 1) Arsenopyrite I-(Ni, Co)-bearing species belonging to the oldest generation, which has crystallized together with (Ni, Co)-arsenides and -sulpharsenides in the early stage of polymetallic mineralization. In rare cases, it contains a negligible amount of antimony. It occurs usually as discrete grains with irregular outline, showing rarely subhedral form, and is diffused in skarn zone. The maximum contents of nickel and cobalt are 10.04 Ni and 2.45 Co (in weight percent). Occasionally, it shows compositional zoning with narrow rim of lower (Ni+Co) content. 2) Arsenopyrite II-arsenian species, in which (Ni+Co) content is almost negligible, may occur widely in arsenic ores, and its crystallization has followed that of arsenopyrite I. It usually shows subhedral to euhedral form and is closely associated with $l{\ddot{o}}llingite$, bismuth, bismuthinite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bismuthian tennantite, etc. It is worthy of note that arsenopyrite II occasionally contains particles consisting of both bismuth and bismuthinite. 3) Arsenopyrite III-(Ni, Co)-free, S-excess and As-deficient species is close to the stoichiometric composition, FeAsS. It occurs in late hydrothermal veins, which cut clearly the Fe-W ore pipe and the surrounding skarn zone. It shows euhedral to subhedral form, being extremely coarse-grained, and is closely associated with pyrite, "primary" monoclinic pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite, etc. Among three species of the Ulsan arsenopyrite, arsenopyrite I does not serve as a geothermometer, because (Ni+Co) content always exceeds 1 weight percent. In spite of the absence of Fe-S minerals as sulphur-buffer assemblage, the presence of $Bi(l)-Bi_2S_3$ sulphur-buffer enables arsenopyrite II to apply successfully to the estimation of either temperature and sulphur fugacity, the results are, $T=460{\sim}470^{\circ}C$, and log $f(S_2)=-7.4{\sim}7.0$. With reference to arsenopyrite III, only arsenopyrite coexisting with pyrite and "primary" monoclinic pyrrhotite may serve to restrict the range of both temperature and sulphur fugacity, $T=320{\sim}440^{\circ}C$, log $f(S_2)=-9.0{\sim}7.0$. These temperature data are consistent with those obtained by fluid inclusion geothermometry on late grandite garnet somewhat earlier than arsenopyrite II. At the beginning of this paper, the geological environments of the ore formation at Ulsan are considered from regional and local geologic settings, and physicochemical conditions are suspected, in particular the formation pressure (lithostatic pressure) is assumed to be 0.5kb (50MPa). The present study on arsenopyrite geothermometry, however, does not bring about any contradictions against the above premises. Thus, the following genetical view on the Ulsan ore deposit previously advocated by two of the present authors (Choi and Imai) becomes more evident; the ore deposit was formed at shallow depth and relatively high-temperature with steep geothermal gradient-xenothermal conditions.

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Innovation Technology Development & Commercialization Promotion of R&D Performance to Domestic Renewable Energy (신재생에너지 기술혁신 개발과 R&D성과 사업화 촉진 방안)

  • Lee, Yong-Seok;Rho, Do-Hwan
    • Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.788-818
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    • 2009
  • Renewable energy refers to solar energy, biomass energy, hydrogen energy, wind power, fuel cell, coal liquefaction and vaporization, marine energy, waste energy, and liquidity fuel made out of byproduct of geothermal heat, hydrogen and coal; it excludes energy based on coal, oil, nuclear energy and natural gas. Developed countries have recognized the importance of these energies and thus have set the mid to long term plans to develop and commercialize the technology and supported them with drastic political and financial measures. Considering the growing recognition to the field, it is necessary to analysis up-to-now achievement of the government's related projects, in the standards of type of renewable energy, management of sectional goals, and its commercialization. Korean government is chiefly following suit the USA and British policies of developing and distributing renewable energy. However, unlike Japan which is in the lead role in solar rays industry, it still lacks in state-directed support, participation of enterprises and social recognition. The research regarding renewable energy has mainly examinedthe state of supply of each technology and suitability of specific region for applying the technology. The evaluation shows that the research has been focused on supply and demand of renewable as well as general energy and solution for the enhancement of supply capacity in certain area. However, in-depth study for commercialization and the increase of capacity in industry followed by development of the technology is still inadequate. 'Cost-benefit model for each energy source' is used in analysis of technology development of renewable energy and quantitative and macro economical effects of its commercialization in order to foresee following expand in related industries and increase in added value. First, Investment on the renewable energy technology development is in direct proportion both to the product and growth, but product shows slightly higher index under the same amount of R&D investment than growth. It indicates that advance in technology greatly influences the final product, the energy growth. Moreover, while R&D investment on renewable energy product as well as the government funds included in the investment have proportionate influence on the renewable energy growth, private investment in the total amount invested has reciprocal influence. This statistic shows that research and development is mainly driven by government funds rather than private investment. Finally, while R&D investment on renewable energy growth affects proportionately, government funds and private investment shows no direct relations, which indicates that the effects of research and development on renewable energy do not affect government funds or private investment. All of the results signify that although it is important to have government policy in technology development and commercialization, private investment and active participation of enterprises are the key to the success in the industry.

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Effect of Cooling in a Semi-closed Greenhouse at High Temperature on the Growth and Photosynthesis Characteristics in Paprika (고온기 반밀폐형온실 냉방이 파프리카 생육과 광합성 특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Eun Ji;Park, Kyoung Sub;Goo, Hei Woong;Park, Ga Eun;Myung, Dong Ju;Jeon, Yong Hwan;Na, Haeyeong
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.335-341
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    • 2021
  • In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of high- temperature stress on paprika in a semi-closed greenhouse where cooling is available and a normal plastic greenhouse. Paprika grown in a semi-closed greenhouse in which geothermal cooling is provided showed a significantly higher speed of photosynthesis than paprika grown in a 3-layer plastic greenhouse in which there is no cooling system. It suggests that the photosynthesis speed of paprika in a plastic house decreases owing to high temperature stress. Plant height increased by 13cm more in the semi-closed greenhouse, and the size of leaf showed similar growth speed until the 2nd week after transplanting, however, after 3 weeks, the semi-closed greenhouse showed a big difference by 47% compared with the plastic greenhouse. In terms of the fruit count, the semi-closed greenhouse had 10.6 fruits/plant and the plastic greenhouse had 4.6 fruits/plant, indicating that the semi-closed greenhouse had a higher number of fruits by 130% than the plastic greenhouse. The fruit weight also presented a difference between the semi-closed greenhouse and the plastic greenhouse by 46%, which is 566.7g/plant and 387g/plant, respectively. According to the above mentioned results, it was validated that when paprika is cultivated in a semi-closed greenhouse where a cooling system is applied, photosynthesis and growth were better than in the normal plastic greenhouse. Thus, if the hot summer season is overcome by applying the elemental technologies for the cooling system to the normal plastic greenhouse, farm income may increase through improvement in the yield and quality.

Applied Technologies and Effects for the Carbon Zero Office Building (업무용 탄소제로건물의 적용기술 및 효과)

  • Lee, Jae-Bum;Hong, Sung-Chul;Beak, Name-Choon;Choi, Jin-Young;Hong, You-Deog;Lee, Suk-Jo;Lee, Dong-won
    • Journal of Climate Change Research
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.283-295
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    • 2011
  • Many actions against climate change have been taken to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions at home and abroad. As of 2007, the GHGs emitted from buildings accounted for about 23 % of Korea's total GHGs emission, which is the second largest GHG reduction potential following industry. In this study, we introduced Carbon Zero Building (CZB), which was constructed by the National Institute of Environmental Research to cut down GHGs from buildings in Korea, and evaluated the main applied technologies, the amount of energy load and reduced energy, and economic values for CZB to provide data that could be a basis in the future construction of this kind of carbon-neutral buildings. A total of 66 technologies were applied for this building in order to achieve carbon zero emissions. Applied technologies include 30 energy consumption reduction technologies, 18 energy efficiency technologies, and 5 eco-friendly technologies. Out of total annual energy load ($123.8kWh/m^2$), about 40% of energy load ($49kWh/m^2$) was reduced by using passive technologies such as super insulation and use of high efficiency equipments and the other 60% ($74.8kWh/m^2$) was reduced by using active technologies such as solar voltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal energy. The construction cost of CZB was 1.4 times higher than ordinary buildings. However, if active technologies are excluded, the construction cost is similar to that of ordinary buildings. It was estimated that we could save annually about 102 million won directly from energy saving and about 2.2 million won indirectly from additional saving by the reduction in GHGs and atmospheric pollutants. In terms of carbon, we could reduce 100 ton of $CO_2$ emissions per year. In our Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis, the Break Even Point (BEP) for the additional construction cost was estimated to be around 20.6 years.

Analysis of long-term water level change of Dongrae hot spring using time series methods (시계열 방법을 이용한 동래온천 수위의 장기적인 변화 분석)

  • Jeon, Hang-Tak;Hamm, Se-Yeong;Cheong, Jae-Yeol;Lee, Cheol-Woo;Lee, Jong-Tae;Lim, Woo-Ri
    • Journal of the Geological Society of Korea
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    • v.54 no.5
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    • pp.529-544
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    • 2018
  • Dongrae hot spring belongs to the residual magma type and has a long history of bathing since the Silla dynasty in Korea. Due to long development of hot spring water, it is expected that the amount of hot spring water in Dongrae hot spring has been changed. In this study, long-trem water level data of Dongrae hot spring were examined for recognizing the change of the hot spring. By the fluctuation analysis of the hot spring water level from January 1992 to July 2018, the maximum and minimum annual drawdowns of no. 27 well were 137.70 and 71.60 meters, respectively, with an average drawdown of 103.39 m. On the other hand, the maximum and minimum annual drawdowns of no. 29 well were 137.80 and 71.70 meters, with an average drawdown of 103.49 m. Besides, drawdown rate became bigger in recent years. As a result of analyzing autocorrelation of the two wells, the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.919 to 0.991, showing seasonal groundwater level fluctuation. The cross correlation analysis between water level and precipitation as well as water level and hot spring discharge resulted in the correlation coefficients of -0.280 ~ 0.256 and 0.428 ~ 0.553, respectively. Therefore, using Dongnae hot-spring water level data from 1992 to 2018, the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's test showed that the continuous decline of water level was mainly caused by the pumping of the hot spring water among various reasons.

Geophysical Evidence Indicating the Presence of Gas Hydrates in a Mud Volcano(MV420) in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (캐나다 보퍼트해 진흙화산(MV420) 내 가스하이드레이트 부존을 지시하는 지구물리학적 증거)

  • Yeonjin Choi;Young-Gyun Kim;Seung-Goo Kang;Young Keun Jin;Jong Kuk Hong;Wookeen Chung;Sung-Ryul Shin
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.18-30
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    • 2023
  • Submarine mud volcanos are topographic features that resemble volcanoes, and are formed due to eruptions of fluidized or gasified sediment material. They have gained attention as a source of subsurface heat, sediment, or hydrocarbons supplied to the surface. In the continental slope of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, mud volcano exists at various water depths. The MV420, is an active mud volcano erupting at a water depth of 420 meters, and it has been the subject of extensive study. The Korea Polar Research Institute(KOPRI) collected high-resolution seismic data and heat flow data around the caldera of the mud volcano. By analyzing the multi-channel seismic data, we confirmed the reverse-polarity reflector assumed by a gas hydrate-related bottom simulating reflector(BSR). To further elucidate the relationship between the BSR and gas hydrates, as well as the thermal structure of the mud volcano, a numerical geothermal model was developed based on the steady-state heat equation. Using this model, we estimated the base of the gas hydrate stability zone and found that the BSR depth estimated by multi-channel seismic data and the bottom of the gas hydrate stability zone were in good agreement., This suggests the presence of gas hydrates, and it was determined that the depth of the gas hydrate was likely up to 50 m, depending on the distance from the mud conduit. Thus, this depth estimate slightly differs from previous studies.