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Date submitted2021-10-19
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Potential technological solution for sampling the bottom sediments of the subglacial lake Vostok: relevance and formulation of investigation goals
The subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctic is a unique natural phenomenon, its comprehensive study involves sampling of water and bottom surface rocks. For further study of the lake, it is necessary to drill a new access well and develop environmentally safe technologies for its exploration. This article discusses existing and potential technologies for sampling bottom surface rocks of subglacial lakes. All these technologies meet environmental safety requirements and are conducive for sampling. The authors have proposed an alternative technology, using a walking device, which, due to its mobility, enables selective sampling of rocks across a large area from a single access well. The principal issues, related to the implementation of the proposed technology, are investigated within this article. This report is prepared by a team of specialists with many years of experience in drilling at the Vostok Station in Antarctic and in experimental work on the design of equipment and non-standard means of mechanization for complicated mining, geological and climatic conditions.
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Date submitted2021-06-08
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Management of groundwater resources in transboundary territories (on the example of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia)
Groundwater, as a source of water supply, the most important mineral and geopolitical resource, , is often the only source of high-quality drinking water that is protected from pollution under conditions of increasing deterioration of surface water quality. Transboundary groundwaters are the focus of hydrogeological researchers for a number of reasons, including the reduction and pollution of water resources as a result of economic activities. The increased controversy between states over transboundary water issues has necessitated the development of international legal documents on issues related to water conflict prevention and the sustainable use of fresh water. As part of the analysis of the problem of legal regulation of groundwater extraction from transboundary aquifers and complexes, it is proposed to consider this aspect on the example of Russia. The problems of regulation of rational use and protection of fresh water in the bilateral treaties of the Russian Federation were revealed; a methodology for the management of groundwater extraction in the territory of the transboundary aquifer was developed, the size, parameters, and factors influencing the formation of the transboundary zone have been determined (based on research and analysis of water intake activities in the border areas of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia) were determined.
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Date submitted2021-08-05
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Morozkinskoye gold deposit (southern Yakutia): age and ore sources
The paper presents the results of the comprehensive isotope geochemical (Re-Os, Pb and δ 34 S) study of sulfide mineralization of the Morozkinskoye deposit. The ore zones of the deposit are localized in the syenite massif of Mount Rudnaya, which is located within the Central Aldan ore region (southern Yakutia). Gold mineralization is represented by vein-disseminated or vein type mineralization and is manifested in acidic low-temperature metasomatites – beresites (Qz-Ser-Ank-Py). For the first time we obtained an age estimate of the gold mineralization ~ 129 ± 3 Ma, which the synchronism of the hydrothermal ore process in the beresites, which formed the Morozkinskoye deposit, and magmatic crystallization of the syenites of Mount Rudnaya (~130 Ma). The osmium initial isotopic composition of the studied sulfides indicates a mixed mantle-crustal source of sulfide mineralization. New lead isotopic data of syenites indicate the predominance of mantle lead and an insignificant role of the lower – crust lead, while the isotopic composition of pyrite denotes the presence of the upper crustal material in the ore genesis. The sulfide δ 34 S values vary from –2.3 to +0.6 ‰ and indicate a predominantly magmatic source of sulfur in the ores.
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Date submitted2020-08-20
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Indicator role of rare and rare-earth elements of the Northwest manganese ore occurrence (South Africa) in the genetic model of supergene manganese deposits
- Authors:
- Aleksandr N. Evdokimov
- Benedict L. Pharoe
The authors analyzed the content of a number of rare and rare-earth elements in the rocks of the Northwest manganese ore occurrence, confined to the Neoarchean dolomites of the Malmani series of the Transvaal Basin. 30 samples of manganese ores and host rocks were analyzed by ICP-MS and XRF methods. Average values of Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) were used as the geochemical standard for data calculation and normalization. The concentrations of elements normalized on PAAS reveal the LREE anomaly in manganese ores. Positive Ce and negative Y–anomalies indicate the hydro-genetical type of sedimentation of ore minerals from manganese-bearing aqueous solutions. This is consistent with the ratios of the elements: Ce and Y SN /Ho SN , Ce and Nd, Fe – Mn – (Co + Ni + Cu) × 10. A clear correlation between the contents of rare-earth elements in manganese nodules and the underlying Malmani dolomites indicates their close genetic relationship. Negative Ce and positive Y–anomalies in manganese wad minerals indicate differences in the conditions of their formation. The manganese wad formed earlier than the rest of the ore with the active participation of microorganisms.
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Date submitted2021-03-18
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Deformations assessment during subway escalator tunnels construction by the method of artificial freezing of soil for the stage of ice wall formation
- Authors:
- Evgenii M. Volokhov
- Diana Z. Mukminova
The work is devoted to the study of the processes of displacement and deformation of the surface during the escalator tunnels construction of the subway by the method of artificial freezing of soils. The features of the construction and freezing technology, the rocks characteristics in which the escalator tunnels made are considered. The data of specially organized, full-scale surveying observations of deformations on the earth surface are presented. The main factors influencing deformation processes in the frozen strata of a layered inhomogeneous rock mass with inclined tunneling are determined, the complexity of the predictive task and the need to simplify the design scheme are shown. The work is focused on the assessment of the least studied geomechanical processes of soil heaving-uplifts and deformations during the periods of active and passive freezing stages. When studying the displacements processes of the earth surface and rock mass, the finite element method and analysis of the obtained data using field observations of displacements were used. A simplified calculation scheme is proposed for modeling, which allows taking into account the uneven influence of frozen rocks of an inhomogeneous layered rock mass with a large inclined tunneling. The satisfactory convergence of the data of field surveying observations on the earth surface and the results of modeling geomechanical processes for the period of active and passive freezing stages is shown. The proposed calculation scheme is recommended for the prediction of deformation at the stages of underground construction, characterized by the development of the most dangerous tensile deformations of buildings and structures on the surface.
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Date submitted2021-11-30
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Innovative ways to control dust and explosion safety of mine workings
Ensuring dust and explosion safety during underground coal mining is one of the most important tasks of industrial safety and labor protection departments. The main method of preventing explosions of coal dust settled in mine workings is to process them with stone dust (rock dusting). The traditional methods of quality control of rock dusting include radioisotope, optical and chemical methods. To implement them, the devices are equipped with environmentally harmful radioactive elements, expensive optical sensors, desiccants and replaceable flasks with chemical reagents, which increases the cost of analysis and its duration. The measurement error of these devices is 10 % or more. The main purpose of the study is to develop and substantiate a new method for monitoring the dust and explosion safety of mine workings, which will be devoid of the disadvantages of the methods mentioned above. It is proposed to evaluate the quality of rock-dust distribution by a fundamentally new way – thermogravimetric. The method was tested on the dust of coal mines in Kuzbass and the Vorkuta basin, including dust samples taken in mines with actual explosions. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the processes of thermal destruction of coal and stone dust mixtures. The non-overlapping intervals of the thermogravimetric reaction are identified: moisture yield (35-132 °С); volatile matter yield from coal (380-580 °С); thermal degradation of limestone with carbon dioxide yield (650-850 °С). Methods and mathematical dependencies for processing significant and qualitative identification characteristics of thermogravimetric curves in determining the content of non-combustible components in a sample of mine dust are considered.
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Date submitted2021-06-22
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Increasing the efficiency of rare earth metal recovery from technological solutions during processing of apatite raw materials
The issues of complex processing of mineral resources are relevant due to the depletion of available raw materials. So, it is necessary to involve technological waste, generated during the processing of raw materials, to obtain valuable components. In the process flow of apatite concentrate treatment using the sulfuric acid method, a large amount of phosphogypsum is produced with an average content of light rare earth metals (REMs) reaching 0.032-0.45 %. When phosphogypsum is treated with sulfuric acid solutions, a part of REMs is transferred to the sulfate solution, from which it can be extracted by means of ion exchange method. The study focuses on sorption recovery of light REMs (praseodymium, neodymium and samarium) in the form of anionic sulfate complexes of the composition [ln(SO 4 ) 2 ] – on polystyrene anion exchanger AN-31. The experiments were performed under static conditions at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 1:1, pH value of 2, temperature of 298 K and initial REM concentration in the solutions ranging from 0.83 to 226.31 mmol/kg. Thermodynamic description of sorption isotherms was carried out by the method based on linearization of the mass action equation, modified for the ion exchange reaction. As a result of performed calculations, the authors obtained the constants of ion exchange equilibrium for Pr, Nd and Sm, as well as the values of the change in the Gibbs energy for the ion exchange of REM sulfate complexes on the AN-31 anion exchanger and the values of total capacity of the anion exchanger. Calculated separation factors indicated low selectivity of AN-31 anionite exchanger for light REMs; however, the anion exchanger is suitable for effective recovery of a sum of light REMs. Based on the average value of ion exchange equilibrium constant for light REMs, parameters of a sorption unit with a fluidized bed of anion exchanger were estimated.
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Date submitted2020-09-15
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Evaluating the effectiveness of fine gold extraction technologies on the example of titanomagnetite beach placers of the western coast of Kamchatka
- Authors:
- Valentina E. Kungurova
The material on the gold content of coastal-marine deposits of the western coast of Kamchatka is analyzed and the resource potential is briefly characterized. A review of gold technological estimates obtained from the study of gold-bearing samples taken in promising areas of the coastal-marine strip, from the Bolshaya Vorovskaya River in the north to Cape Levashova in the south, is presented. Stock materials supplemented by our studies were used. Gold-bearing deposits with very fine (0.05-0.1 mm) and fine (0.1-1.0 mm) gold amounting to 94.6 % were tested, as well as samples with gold up to 2 mm and more in addition to fine gold The content of freely recoverable gold reached 91.9 %. In the case of significant gold reserves in placers, prospects for their commercial development open up. experiments on the enrichment of gold-bearing coastal-marine deposits of Western Kamchatka indicate the possibility of extraction of free gold and other valuable components from them. Gravity technologies and modern equipment developed by ОАО Irgiredmet and JSC ITOMAK are the most effective for their extraction. enrichment of gold-bearing formations with simultaneous extraction of several useful components from them, which is possible with the use of fluoride technology, can also become economically advantageous.
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Date submitted2021-04-30
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Methodology for testing pipeline steels for resistance to grooving corrosion
- Authors:
- Viktor I. Bolobov
- Grigoriy G. Popov
The methodology for testing pipeline steels is suggested on the assumption that for the destruction of pipes in field oil pipelines by the mechanism of grooving corrosion the simultaneous fulfillment of such conditions as the occurrence of scratches on the lower generatrix of the pipe, eventually growing into a channel in the form of a groove, emulsion enrichment with oxygen, presence of pipe wall metal in a stressed state, presence of chlorine-ion in the oil-water emulsion is required. Tests are suggested to be carried out in 3 % aqueous solution of NaCl with continuous aeration by air on bent plates 150×15×3 mm, made of the analyzed steel, the middle part of which is under the action of residual stresses σ res , close to the level of maximum equivalent stresses σ eqv in the wall of the oil pipeline, with the presence of a cut on this part on the inner side of the plate as an initiator of additional mechanical stresses. Using the value of the modulus of normal elasticity of the analyzed steel, the degree of residual strain of the elastic-plastic body from this material, corresponding to the value σ res ≈ σ eqv is calculated, based on which the plates are bent to the required deflection angle, after which the cut is applied to them. After keeping the plates in the corrosive medium for each of them the increase in depth of the cut as a result of corrosion of the walls by the corrosive medium is analyzed, from which the rate of steel K by the mechanism of grooving corrosion is calculated taking into account the duration of tests. Corrosion rate values for two pipe steel grades determined by the suggested procedure are given. The comparison of K values obtained leads to the conclusion about the higher resistance to grooving corrosion of 09G2S steel.
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Date submitted2021-09-22
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Possibilities for creating Russian high-tech bottomhole assembly
Development of high-tech well electronic measuring systems is aimed at creating modern equipment: telemetry, well geophysical measurement equipment, the architecture of which is divided into basic (with measurement channels for gamma logging and inductive resistance) and advanced (with radioactive, acoustic, magnetic resonance and thermobarometric measurement channels, including azimuthal methods of investigation). Over-the-bit measurement modules, rotary steerable systems are being developed and channels for transmitting data to the surface are being improved. Vice versa, specialized surface equipment with highly integrated software is being created. Different measurement modules are manufactured by different companies, which creates uncertainties in the possibility of interfacing the manufacturers' measurement modules into a single well measurement system. The article presents an analysis of the readiness of Russian oil service companies to produce well and surface equipment for drilling Russian directional oil and gas wells, meeting modern requirements for accuracy, lifetime and operating conditions. The possibility of creating a fully Russian well high-tech equipment and the required resources, risks and measures to mitigate them when creating a modern well measurement system are considered.
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Date submitted2021-02-28
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Substantiation of analytical dependences for hydraulic calculation of high-viscosity oil transportation
- Authors:
- Alexander K. Nikolaev
- Natalia А. Zaripova
One of the development priorities in oil and gas industry is to maintain gas and oil pipeline networks and develop pipeline-connected gas and oil fields of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, a promising region the resource potential of which will not only meet a significant portion of internal and external demand for various types of raw materials and primary energy carriers, but will also bring great economic benefits to subsoil users and the state. The mineral and raw material centers of the Nadym-Purskiy and Pur-Tazovskskiy oil and gas bearing areas are among the most attractive regions of the Arctic zone. It is necessary to develop a scientifically substantiated approach to improve the methods of oil transportation from the field to the existing pipelines. As it is known, the task of increasing the efficiency of pipeline transportation of high-viscosity oil is inseparably connected with solving problems in the field of thermal and hydraulic calculation of pipeline system. The article presents the substantiation of dependencies for hydraulic calculation of pipelines transporting high-viscosity oil exhibiting complex rheological properties. Based on the laws of hydraulics for non-Newtonian fluids, the formulas for calculating head losses for fluids obeying Ostwald's law are proposed, their relationship to the classical equations of hydraulics is shown. The theoretical substantiation of looping installation for increasing the efficiency of pipeline transportation of high-viscosity oil taking into account the received dependences for power fluid is considered.
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Date submitted2021-05-28
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Features of grouping low-producing oil deposits in carbonate reservoirs for the rational use of resources within the Ural-Volga region
A methodology has been developed and a procedure for selecting homogeneous groups has been implemented using a set of parameters characterizing the properties of formation fluids, layering conditions, geological and physical properties of formations at different levels of the hierarchy. An algorithm for identifying deposits for monitoring and justifying measures to improve the efficiency of development management is proposed. A justification for the selection of associative groups of long-term developed objects using the parameters of geological heterogeneity according to different tectonic-stratigraphic elements is presented. To reduce the degree of uncertainty in the evaluation of objects by the degree and nature of geological heterogeneity, the parameters reflecting the degree of uncertainty of the system using complex characteristics are proposed. For different deposit associations, a different influence of the features of the object structure on the degree of their division has been established. In the process of deposit drilling, as additional information about development objects is obtained, it is necessary to specify the nature of the distinguished groups of objects first of all based on the use of characteristics of geological heterogeneity. Comparison of various grouping options shows the need to take into account the geological heterogeneity of objects during their drilling. The identification of groups of objects using a limited number of parameters is approximate, but at the stage of drafting the first design documents, it is possible to solve certain tasks aimed at determining the strategy for the development of deposits
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Date submitted2021-08-10
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Date accepted2021-12-10
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Date published2021-12-17
Possibilities of accounting the fracturing of Kashiro-Vereyskian carbonate objects in planning of proppant hydraulic fracturing
One of the effective methods of oil production intensification for heterogeneous Kashiro-Vereyskian clay-carbonate sediments of the Volga-Ural oil and gas bearing province is proppant hydraulic fracturing. Prospects of realization for this technology are considered in the article on the example of the Vereyskian development object of Moskud’inskoye field. Based on the analysis of rocks samples investigations of Vereyiskian sediments, lithological types of carbonate rocks differing in their structural features are distinguished. Tomographic investigations of rock samples were carried out, as a result of which the rock fracturing for some lithotypes was determined and studieds. Under natural geological conditions, depending on the degree of fracturing progression and technological conditions of development, these intervals may or may not be involved in well operation. When hydraulic fracturing is performed, potentially fractured areas that are not in operation can be successfully added to oil production. Based on analysis of hydrodynamic well investigations, the fracturing of the Vereyskian object of the Moskud’inskoye field was studied on the basis of the Warren-Ruth model. With the help of geological and technological indicators of development, prediction fracturing was obtained, which was used for the construction of the natural fracturing scheme. Areas of both pore and fractured reservoirs development were identified on the deposit area. As a result of statistical analysis, the influence of fracturing on efficiency of proppant hydraulic fracturing was determined. Based on the linear discriminant analysis, a statistical model for predicting the efficiency of proppant fracturing was developed. It was shown that in addition to natural fracturing, the results are most strongly influenced by specific proppant yield, formation pressure, permeability of the remote bottomhole zone and skin effect. Based on the developed model, prospective production wells of the Moskud’inskoye field are identified for proppant hydraulic fracturing.
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Date submitted2021-06-24
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Development of a methodology to assess the hydrocyclone process with account of the rheological properties of the mineral slurry
- Authors:
- Tatiana N. Aleksandrova
- Vadim A. Potemkin
The paper studies the possibility of assessing the separation of mineral raw materials, taking into account the rheology of the mineral slurry. The ores of the Mayskoye deposit were chosen as the object of the study, characterized by a thin impregnation of the valuable component – gold in the host minerals, which determines the use of fine and ultrafine milling. This fact is essential because the presence of a fine grade seriously affects the rheology of the mineral slurry used in subsequent mineral processing stages. This predetermines the necessity to take into account rheological parameters. The research performed provides the development of a methodology for assessing the separation of minerals in the hydrocyclone based on the interpretation of numerical and mathematical modeling data. using the object-oriented programming language Python, a program for calculating empirical coefficients of the rheological equation, theoretically describing the dynamics of internal transformations of the mineral slurry, was developed. Taking into account the process parameters of the laboratory unit with hydrocyclone and ore properties, three concentrations of solids in the mineral slurry were selected, conditionally corresponding to the minimum, average and maximum values. Rheological equations successively composed for three concentrations, i.e., 400, 500, and 700 g/l, made it possible to calculate the critical shear rates corresponding to the maximum dispersion of the mineral slurry in the hydrocyclone flow. Subsequent numerical simulation using Ansys Fluent software, as well as statistical evaluation of the shear rates at different levels of solids content showed that the shear rate profile in the cross-section of the hydrocyclone corresponding to the maximum dispersion of the mineral slurry is obtained at the content of 400 g/l.
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Date submitted2021-04-27
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-17
Regularities of electrochemical cleaning of oil-contaminated soils
Electrochemical cleaning of oil-contaminated soils is a promising area of environmental safety, as it can be easily organized even in locations remote from settlements. For this purpose, a power source and a system of electrodes are necessary as equipment. It is possible to use an electric generator if there are no power supply lines nearby. The material of electrodes affects the features of redox processes, which can affect the energy consumption and the degree of soil cleansing from oil or oil products. Therefore, the correct choice of electrode materials is one of the important tasks in the field of engineering electrochemical methods of purification. Changes in the main parameters (humidity, temperature, degree of acidity) in an oil-contaminated model soil, similar in composition to one of the oil fields, were investigated. Measurements of parameters when using graphite and metal electrodes were carried out at several fixed sections of the interelectrode space depending on the treatment time. The established patterns of parameter changes in the purification of oil-contaminated soils allow us to draw conclusions about the stages of the electrochemical process, its speed, and energy efficiency. The results obtained form a basis for designing industrial facilities for soil treatment.