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Reservoir-modelling and parametrization of a potential reservoir structure (Pilot area A) in the German North Sea

As part of the CDRmare joint project GEOSTOR (https://geostor.cdrmare.de/), the BGR created detailed static geological 3D models for two potential CO2 storage structures in the Middle Buntsandstein in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the German North Sea and supplemented them with petrophysical parameters (e.g. porosities, permeabilities). The 3D geological model (Pilot area A; ~1300 km2) is located on the West Schleswig Block in the area of the Henni salt pillow (pilot region A). It is based on 2D seismic data from various surveys and geophysical/geological information from four exploration wells. The model comprises 14 generalized faults and the following 14 horizon surfaces: 1) Sea Floor, 2) Mid Miocene Unconformity, 3) Base Rupelian, 4) Base Tertiary, 5) Base Upper Cretaceous, 6) Base Lower Cretaceous, 7) Base Muschelkalk, 8) Base Röt (Pelite), 9) Base Röt (Salinar), 10) Base Solling Formation, 11) Base Detfurth Formation, 12) Base Volpriehausen Formation, 13) Base Triassic, 14) Base Zechstein. The selected potential reservoir structure in the Middle Buntsandstein is formed by an anticline created by the uplift of the underlying Henni salt pillow. The primary reservoir unit is the 40-50 m thick Lower Volpriehausen Sandstone, the main sealing units are the Röt and the Lower Cretaceous. Petrophysical analyses of all considered well data were conducted and reservoir properties (including porosity and permeability) were calculated to determine the static reservoir capacity for these potential CO2 storage structures. Both models were parameterized and can be used for further dynamic simulations of storage capacity, geo-risk, and infrastructure analyses, in order to develop a comprehensive feasibility study for potential CO2 storage within the project framework. The 3D models were created by the BGR between 2021 and 2024. SKUA-GOCAD was used as the modeling software. We would like to thank AspenTech for providing licenses for their SSE software package as part of the Academic Program (https://www.aspentech.com/en/academic-program).

Processed seismic data of Cruise SO190 SINDBAD 2006

Within the framework of the research project SINDBAD (Seismic and Geoacoustic Investigations Along the Sunda-Banda Arc Transition) marine geophysical investigations have been carried out with RV SONNE from October 9th, 2006, to November 9th, 2006, off the eastern Sunda Arc and at the transition to the Banda Arc in Indonesia. The research cruise SO190 Leg 1 started in Jakarta, Indonesia and ended in Darwin, Australia. During this cruise, multichannel seismics (MCS), magnetics (M), and gravimetry (G) measurements have been carried out. Simultaneously, SIMRAD (multibeam echosounder) and PARASOUND (sediment echosounder) data have been collected using RV SONNEs onboard systems. During the expedition, a total of 4,933 km of profiles with MCS, M, and G have been acquired. Six of the 20 profiles are long overview profiles perpendicular to the deformation front and cover the entire forearc from the forearc basin across the outer arc high, the deformation front onto the oceanic lithosphere. Additional profiles have been acquired along strike in the Lombok forearc basin and in the Savu Basin. The main goal of the project SINDBAD is to investigate the relation between the variability of the lower plate and the tectonic evolution of the overriding plate (formation of an outer arc high, development of forearc basins, and accretion and erosion processes of the overriding plate). The "raw materials" – seafloor sediments, oceanic crust (at the Banda Arc also continental crust) and mantle lithosphere – are carried into the subduction system at the trench. The influence of these "raw materials" on the overriding plate is controlled by a number of factors: e.g. the convergence rate, the obliqueness of convergence and the physical and chemical properties of the lower plate (e.g. its age, its sediment-cover and –thickness, its fluid content and the composition of the crust). Forearc basins are today attracting increased attention because of their hydrocarbon potential. The forearc basins of the eastern Sunda Arc are still frontier areas which are almost unexplored. An additional goal of this project is therefore the assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of the Lombok Basin. In contrast to the Sumatra subduction zone, only a small amount of pelagic sediment is carried into the subduction system offshore East Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Sumba. This results e.g. in a less pronounced development of the outer arc high, which is subaerial off Sumatra, but entirely below the sea surface in the eastern Sunda Arc. The Roo Rise, which is subducting off East Java, is a morphological high that lies about 1500 m higher than the Argo Abyssal Plain which is subducting further to the east. Despite of these pronounced differences, the deformation front in both areas shows similarities. While the foot of the slope shows lower dip than the upper slope, both areas are characterized by landward dipping thrust sheets. In both areas the outer arc high is characterized by active faults (the recent activity is indicated by deformed basin sediments on the outer arc high) and therefore no indications for a static backstop have been found. The accretionary character of the deformation front is clearly indicated in both areas, while subrosion in association with the subsidence of the Lombok Basin can not be excluded based on the preliminary interpretations. The trench in both areas is devoid of sediments, which indicates erosional processes caused by currents along the trench strike. However, a depocenter for these sediments could not be localized yet. While a forearc basin is not clearly developed off East Java, the Lombok forearc basin with water depths of more than 4000 m extends from off Bali to off Sumbawa. On the southern slope of the basin prograding sedimentary sequences indicate uplift, probably caused by the subducting Roo Rise or a growth of the outer arc high. Additionally, carbonate platforms on the acoustic basement indicate phases of rapid subsidence of the basin. The sediment thickness reaches a total of about 3.5 sec TWT. A few seismic "bright spots", but no bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) have been identified in the basin. The profiles striking along the basin axis indicate paleo-depocenters in the western part of the profile, while the recent depocenter is located in the eastern part of the basin. On the northern flank of the Lombok basin, indications for submarine volcanism (recent activity is unknown) are indicated by a seamount reaching above the seafloor associated with a clear magnetic anomaly. East of the Lombok Basin the island of Sumba is located, which is regarded as a microcontinent that has been attached to the island arc during the Late Oligocene. Sumbas geographical location in front of the island arc is usually characterized by the location of a forearc basin and correlates with the seaward displacement of the deformation front (Roti Basin) at the transition from ocean/island arc subduction of the Sunda Arc to continent/island arc collision of the Banda Arc. An uplift of about 0.5 cm/a is reported for Sumba, associated with the underplating of the continental Scott Plateau. The uplift is especially evident in the MCS data. To the east of the Lombok Basin depocenter, a transition zone with deep reaching faults is observed, associated with eastward dipping sedimentary and basement structures. This transition zone is also indicated by anomalies in the magnetic and gravity data, the latter indicating isostatic undercompensation. On the western flank of Sumba, deformed sedimentary sequences indicate gravitational gliding in association with the uplift of Sumba. East of Sumba, two profiles into the Savu Basin have been acquired. Here the uplift of Sumba is indicated by the erosion of sedimentary sequences which have been deposited in the basin followed by uplift and subsequent erosion. Further indications of "inversion structures" are given by a reactivated thrust fault that in the past has served as the southern boundary of the Savu Basin und indicates recent activity by associated deformed basin sediments. The oceanic crust of the Argo Abyssal Plain and the Roo Rise is characterized by thin sediments. On a connection profile between two long profiles on the Argo Abyssal Plain a basin with about 1.4 sec TWT of sediment has been observed, that, indicated by a magnetic anomaly, can be correlated with an age jump of about 15 Ma, thereby indicating a paleo plate boundary.

Processed seismic data of Cruise SO81 PAKOMAR2 1992

The structure and tectonics of the Pacific margin of Costa Rica were studied by multichannel seismic measurements in parallel with gravity measurements and swathmapping from the Cocos Ridge to Nicoya Peninsula during R/V SONNE cruise SO81 legs 1 and 2 from 18th August to 15th September 1992. In addition geological sampling has been carried out. Dominant structural feature is the buried Costa Rica Terrrane (CRT), a complex and segmented, wedge-shaped unit characterized by relative high seismic velocities of 4 km/s. The thickness of this several tens of kilometres wide zone varies between 0.5 and 3 s (twt). The CRT forms the backstop against which the sediments of the subducting Cocos plate accrete resulting in accumulation of sedimentary mass beneath and in front of the CRT, as well as in simultaneous uplift and fracturing of the CRT. It appears that the distinct CRT is affected locally by raft tectonics, i.e. a form of thin-skinned extension by normal faulting from gravity sliding over a non-stretched oceanic crust. A unit is recognizable between the base of the CRT and the surface of the subducting oceanic crust on most of the seismic lines. This unit is thought to consist mostly of ductile pelagic to hemipelagic shales. Some segment boundaries of the CRT are associated with morphological furrows, 5 to 10 km wide and up to 30 km long running across the slope. We feel that the data acquired during SONNE cruise SO81, and the preliminary results at hand have already improved our knowledge on the geological processes of active continental margins. We are convinced that plausible concepts for the origin of tsunamis and asperities can be developed on the basis of the data collected during SONNE cruises SO81 and SO76. The research of both SONNE cruises are a contribution to the International Decade of Natural Desaster Reduction (IPNDR).

Processed seismic data of Cruise VA79 1979

In the period from September 25th to October 19th 1979 5,260 km of magnetic, gravity and bathymetric lines and 3,567 km of reflection seismic lines were recovered on the first leg of the VALDIVIA Westafrica-cruise 1979 with the research objective to study similarities and differences in the geological development of physiographically different Northwest African continental margin segments. Test measurements have been carried out during this cruise with an “implosive" seismic sound source. The software for acquisition, calculation and presentation of gravity, magnetic and bathymetric data has been developed so that onboard presentation of free-air anomalies, Bouguer anomalies, anomalies of the earth's magnetic field and of the bathymetry could be achieved. Differences within the regional geological development of the Northwest African continental margin has been confirmed. Parts of the Moroccan continental margin are modified by a Cretaceous epirogenic uplift associated with block—faulting and halokinesis. Tertiary folding of the Western High Atlas extends into the shelf of the Tafelney Plateau segment.

Processed seismic data of Cruise SO122 1997

The Sonne Cruise SO122 was carried out by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR, Hannover) from 3rd August to 9th September 1997, in cooperation with GEOMAR (Kiel), the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO, Karachi) and the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP). During the joint project with R/V SONNE the Makran accretionary wedge off Pakistan should have been investigated in detail with multi-channel reflection seismics, magnetics and gravimetry. Intense fishery offshore Pakistan forced a change of the area of investigation to the south with the following objectives: investigation of the crustal structure and occurrence of the bottom simulating reflector (BSR) in the Makran accretionary wedge; investigation of the structure of the Murray Ridge System in order to reconstruct the geodynamic evolution of the eastern Indian Plate margin; determination of the origin of the crust underlying the Indus Fan and reconnaissance of the sedimentary history of the Indus Fan in order to reveal the uplift and erosion history of the Himalayas.

Reservoir-modelling and parametrization of a potential reservoir structure (Pilot area A) in the German North Sea

As part of the CDRmare joint project GEOSTOR (https://geostor.cdrmare.de/), the BGR created detailed static geological 3D models for two potential CO2 storage structures in the Middle Buntsandstein in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the German North Sea and supplemented them with petrophysical parameters (e.g. porosities, permeabilities). The 3D geological model (Pilot area A; ~1300 km2) is located on the West Schleswig Block in the area of the Henni salt pillow (pilot region A). It is based on 2D seismic data from various surveys and geophysical/geological information from four exploration wells. The model comprises 14 generalized faults and the following 14 horizon surfaces: 1) Sea Floor, 2) Mid Miocene Unconformity, 3) Base Rupelian, 4) Base Tertiary, 5) Base Upper Cretaceous, 6) Base Lower Cretaceous, 7) Base Muschelkalk, 8) Base Röt (Pelite), 9) Base Röt (Salinar), 10) Base Solling Formation, 11) Base Detfurth Formation, 12) Base Volpriehausen Formation, 13) Base Triassic, 14) Base Zechstein. The selected potential reservoir structure in the Middle Buntsandstein is formed by an anticline created by the uplift of the underlying Henni salt pillow. The primary reservoir unit is the 40-50 m thick Lower Volpriehausen Sandstone, the main sealing units are the Röt and the Lower Cretaceous. Petrophysical analyses of all considered well data were conducted and reservoir properties (including porosity and permeability) were calculated to determine the static reservoir capacity for these potential CO2 storage structures. Both models were parameterized and can be used for further dynamic simulations of storage capacity, geo-risk, and infrastructure analyses, in order to develop a comprehensive feasibility study for potential CO2 storage within the project framework. The 3D models were created by the BGR between 2021 and 2024. SKUA-GOCAD was used as the modeling software. We would like to thank AspenTech for providing licenses for their SSE software package as part of the Academic Program (https://www.aspentech.com/en/academic-program).

Helicopter-borne Magnetics CASE12

As part of the CASE 12 expedition, geological fieldwork and an aeromagnetic survey were conducted on Ellesmere Island (Canadian Arctic) in the summer of 2011. The helicopter-borne magnetic survey covered the ice-free areas between Vendom Fiord and Strathcona Fiord in the west and the ice-covered mountain ranges of the Inglefield Uplift in the east. With a total flight time of approx. 35 hours, 4200 line kilometres were flown covering a total area of 6000 km². The distance between the individual lines was 2 km, and control profiles perpendicular to the individual lines were flown every 10 km. The aeromagnetic data were recorded by a magnetometer, which was towed approx. 30 m beneath the helicopter.

Twenty years of elemental analysis of marine biota within the German Specimen Bank - a thorough look at the data

Rüdel, Heinz; Fliedner, Annette; Kösters, Jan; Schröter-Kermani, Christa Environ Sci Pollut Res 17 (2010), 5, 1025-1034 As one component of the German ecological environment observation, the Environmental Specimen Bank program was initiated in the mid-1980s. Under the program, representative specimens of marine, fresh water, and terrestrial ecosystems are sampled regularly and archived under chemically stable conditions. An initial characterization of the samples provides data regarding the status quo of the respective ecosystems. The aim of the present publication is to give insight into these real-time monitoring data, which have been generated for the last 10 to 20 years. This is done exemplarily for the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in marine specimens of the Baltic and the North Sea. Bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), and eggs of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) were sampled at one location in the Baltic Sea and at two sites in the North Sea (Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea and Lower Saxony Wadden Sea). Annual samples were pooled, homogenized, and analyzed for a set of elements. Cd and Pb were quantified after freeze-drying and microwave digestion using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Total Hg in freeze-dried samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using a direct mercury analyzer. Time series data covering up to two decades revealed comparable cadmium levels at all three locations. Concentrations in bladder wrack ranged between 0.10 and 0.37 µg/g on a wet weight basis (ww). Respective values for blue mussel and eelpout liver were 0.07–0.29 and 0.01–0.10 µg/g ww. Herring gull eggs were not included in cadmium analyses. Declining trends were observed in North Sea bladder wrack and mussels, eelpout from the Lower Saxony site, and mussels from the Baltic Sea. Upward trends were apparent in eelpout from the Schleswig-Holstein location. Mercury concentrations in Baltic Sea specimens ranged from 1.1–2.7 ng/g ww in bladder wrack to 2.6–5.1, 26–52, and 86–226 ng/g ww in blue mussel, eelpout muscle, and herring gull eggs, respectively. No temporal trends were observed. North Sea bladder wrack had accumulated 5.4–24 ng/g ww Hg. The respective Hg values for blue mussel and eelpout muscle were 19–64 and 73–187 ng/g ww. Highest Hg contents were detected in herring gull eggs (90–1,100 ng/g ww). Declining trends of Hg were observed in herring gull eggs at both North Sea locations and in blue mussels at the Lower Saxony site. Lead concentrations in Baltic Sea specimens were 48–222 ng/g ww in bladder wrack, 85–189 ng/g ww in blue mussel, 2.0–9.5 and 10–42 ng/g ww in eelpout muscle and liver, and 2.7–26 ng/g ww in herring gull eggs. In the North Sea, Pb concentrations were as follows: 68–397 ng/g ww in bladder wrack, 101–507 ng/g ww in blue mussels, 2.6–35 and 5.9–158 ng/g ww in eelpout muscle and liver, and 3.5–55 ng/g ww in herring gull eggs. Highest Pb-levels were found at the Lower Saxony site. Declining Pb-trends were observed in bladder wrack from the Baltic Sea; in bladder wrack and mussel at the Schleswig-Holstein location; and in bladder wrack, mussels, eelpout liver, and herring gull eggs at the Lower Saxony site. During the 10 to 20 years of monitoring, reliable data were obtained which allow a good insight into metal contamination of marine biota. Assessment of the data according to OSPAR criteria (OSPAR 2005) revealed cadmium levels above the derived background concentrations in mussels of all three sites. Mercury levels above background concentrations were found at both North Sea locations, whereas only mussels at the Lower Saxony site had Pb concentrations above the reference value. Archived specimens are available for further analyses and questions which may arise in the future (speciation of elements, metallomics). Electronic supplementary material: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-009-0280-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Zur Veröffentlichung | doi:10.1007/s11356-009-0280-8

Südafrikanisches Verfassungsgericht erlaubt den Handel mit Nashorn-Horn

Am 5. April 2017 kippte das südafrikanische Verfassungsgericht das Moratorium des nationalen Handels mit Nashorn-Horn aus formalen Gründen. Der Handel mit Rhinozeros-Hörnern ist künftig wieder zulässig. Das internationale Handelsverbot ist von der Entscheidung in Südafrika zunächst nicht betroffen. Tierschützer befürchten, dass selbst der begrenzte Handel in Südafrika die Nachfrage anheizen und damit der Wilderei neuen Auftrieb geben könnte.

Sub project: Geochemistry of gases in spring waters along the Alpine Fault, South Island of New Zealand

Das Projekt "Sub project: Geochemistry of gases in spring waters along the Alpine Fault, South Island of New Zealand" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum durchgeführt. The Alpine Fault on the South Island of New Zealand is a major feature, showing a NE movement of 27 mm/yr and rapid uplift although no major earthquakes have occurred in historic time. In the context of the ICDP project for scientific drilling into the Alpine Fault, we propose a regional investigation of the composition of gases emanating from spring waters on both sides of the fault. The study aims at characterizing the gas sources in both the mantle and the crust and at revealing the processes that may have modified the gas compositions. In particular, we plan to explore whether there are any systematic compositional differences on the northwest and southeast sides of the Alpine Fault, respectively. To do this, we will determine the abundances of major and trace gas components (CO2, N2, CH4, Ar, He etc.) and the elemental and isotopic compositions of the noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) in free or dissolved spring gases. Our data will serve as a basis of comparison for results obtained during drilling.

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