Article
Energy & Fuels
Baojian Shen, Zhiming Li, Zili Zheng, Chuxiong Li, Hua Lei, Lingling Zhang, Han Zhu, Shuanglong Lu, Mingliang Du
Summary: Understanding the status and relative content of water in shale is crucial for shale gas and oil reserve estimations. Utilizing XRD and FTIR analysis, as well as TG-MS technology, this study found that the structural water content in shale exceeds 50% of the total water, with free water being the least abundant.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tingting Huang, Rong Luo
Summary: This study evaluated the relative humidity dependency of Phase I water vapor diffusion and explored the combined effect caused by relative humidity and temperature. Advanced models were used to determine diffusivity and water vapor retention capability, and comprehensive models were established to describe the dependency of diffusivity and water vapor retention capability on relative humidity and temperature. The combined effect of relative humidity and temperature was presented in forms of multiplication.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Fan Wang, Shuquan Peng, Ling Fan, Yang Li
Summary: This study investigates the factors influencing salt swelling behavior in sulfate saline soil through multiple-humidity cycles experiments. The results show that an increase in PRH and salinity leads to an increase in salt swelling displacement and rate, while an increase in temperature reduces the extent of salt swelling. The presence of mirabilite in the soil samples confirms the close relationship between salt swelling and PRH at a microstructural level.
ALEXANDRIA ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Herve Douville, Said Qasmi, Aurelien Ribes, Olivier Bock
Summary: This study uses various data sources to constrain the changes in global mean total precipitable water and finds that most global climate models exaggerate the predicted increase in atmospheric humidity. The study also finds that global warming will lead to a substantial intensification of the global water cycle.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nikoo Fakhari, Chua Han Bing, Ziad Bennour, Raoof Gholami
Summary: In recent decades, a variety of shale inhibitors have been developed to improve drilling efficiency by reducing clay swelling. Biomolecules and biosurfactants have gained significant attention due to their high inhibition capacity, biodegradability, low toxicity, and compatibility with water-based drilling fluids. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two green surfactants, Flaxseed Protein (FP) and Flaxseed Mucilage (FM), as shale inhibitors through laboratory measurements. The results showed that both surfactants exhibited good functionality and survivability under different temperature conditions, and possessed functional groups that could reduce interfacial tension, alter surface wettability, and encapsulate clays to reduce hydration. Additionally, the compatibility of both surfactants with salt (KCl) was confirmed, and the presence of salts did not affect their functionality. The tests on bentonite dispersion and shale inhibition revealed that FM formed a thin layer around the clay due to its gelling properties, while FP with its positive surface charge adsorbed onto the clay surface, reducing the clay's affinity to interact with water.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ze Li, Gao Li, Hongtao Li, Jinyuan Liu, Fanhua (Bill) Zeng
Summary: Shale-liquid interactions can cause shale swelling and damage, affecting the properties of shale. This study investigates the relationship between shale swelling and damage using experiments, computed tomography scanning, and numerical simulation. Results show that increasing shale swelling leads to significant shale damage and fracture expansion. The simulation confirms the importance of shale swelling in shale damage. Factors such as in-situ stress, injection pressure, and fracture network complexity influence shale damage.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Haojie Lang, Yitian Peng, Kun Zou, Ruling Chen, Yao Huang
Summary: This study investigates the tribological properties of graphene oxide (GO) in high-humidity environments as a solid lubricant. Atomic force microscopy is used to explore the topography, friction, and adhesion between GO and water nanodroplets at high relative humidity. The results show that the friction of GO inside the nanodroplet is influenced by the tip radius, with sharper tips experiencing higher friction and blunter tips experiencing lower friction. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the friction behaviors of GO.
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jie Yin, Yong Tang, Weijuan Geng, Guizhong Xu
Summary: The initial water content and swelling history have influences on the compression behaviors of bentonite, affecting the compression curves and becoming less significant as consolidation pressure increases.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kuanyan Tang, Frank Yonghong Li, Saihanna Jaesong, Yang Liu, Tingyu Sun, Jiayue Liu, Xiaotian Gao, Yuqing Wang
Summary: Soil hydraulic properties play an important role in water transport and storage in soils and consequently impact ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the relationship between soil water retention parameters and plant production and soil organic matter content in grassland ecosystems in Northern China. The results showed that climate factors were the primary driver of plant production, while soil physical parameters, particularly soil water drained upper limit (DUL), were more important in regulating soil organic matter content. These findings suggest that estimating soil organic matter content based solely on climate factors and vegetation biomass may be misleading and that soil physical properties should be considered when predicting soil organic matter at a regional scale.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mobeen Murtaza, Afeez Gbadamosi, Hafiz Mudaser Ahmad, Syed Muhammad Shakil Hussain, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Mohamed Mahmoud, Shirish Patil
Summary: A novel synthesized magnetic surfactant was found to be effective in inhibiting shale swelling in drilling mud. The addition of 0.4 wt% magnetic surfactant significantly reduced linear swelling by interacting with bentonite particles and intercalating into bentonite clay layers. It also increased fluid loss and decreased rheological parameters. Thus, the magnetic surfactant shows great potential as a drilling fluid additive.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Tawfik A. Saleh
Summary: This review discusses the analysis methods used for evaluating the inhibitors and properties of drilling fluids, including various tests such as capillary suction time, bulk hardness, and linear swell meter. The review proves to be a valuable reference for researchers and the industrial sector.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qingyi Tian, Fangchen Zhao, Han Zeng, Maoyan Zhu, Baoyu Jiang
Summary: The authors of this study challenge our anatomical interpretations on the structures of cellular chambers and microfibrils in yunnanozoan branchial arches and propose alternative explanations. Zhang and Pratt argue that the microfibrils we identified in yunnanozoans are likely to be modern organic contamination. We provide additional evidence to support our interpretations and refute the alternative explanations.
Article
Agronomy
Shimaa M. Elsaeed, E. G. Zaki, Tarek M. Ibrahim, Nasser Ibrahim Talha, Hosam A. Saad, Adil A. Gobouri, Amr Elkelish, Salah Mohamed El-Kousy
Summary: This study focuses on synthesizing a superabsorbent biochar composite to enhance soil water retention capacity, demonstrating its potential in improving plant growth and reducing water consumption in agriculture.
Article
Thermodynamics
Ze Li, Gao Li, Hongtao Li, Jinyuan Liu, Zujun Jiang, Fanhua Bill Zeng
Summary: An essential characteristic of shale is its swelling caused by interactions with liquids, which can induce shale damage and affect shale mechanics. Understanding the effects of shale swelling on shale mechanics is crucial for drilling and fracturing design. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of shale swelling on shale damage and mechanics. The results showed that increasing shale swelling leads to increased shale damage and negatively affects shale mechanics, with a rapid decrease in compressive strength and controlled decrease in elastic modulus. The effects of shale swelling on elastic modulus are influenced by quartz content and confining pressure.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Feike J. Leij, Jacob H. Dane, Antonella Sciortino
Summary: The study examined the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil moisture through field experiments and neural network simulations, showing that water content can be reasonably predicted from soil properties or hydraulic parameters. However, predicting soil moisture solely based on rainfall data was found to be inaccurate.