Baishui Gao is a PhD student at China University of Petroleum-Beijing. He has participated in many studies on Poyang Lake and Daihai Lake.

Four typical Crevasse Splays (CS) have developed around Fuqiancun village along Xinjiang River. CS present sedimentary thickness of 0.3-2 m and reverse graded profiles. A CS includes inner fans and outer fans. An inner fan can be divided into crevasse channels and interchannel beaches. A CS evolves in three stages: the formation stage, the extension stage and the channelized stage. In the formation stage, a single fan is formed due to burst of levee; channels on CS surface are short and shallow with instable locations; the sedimentary profile shows multiple morphologies. In the extension stage, CS progradation is formed in arborization pattern; channels are deep and long, and become the framework of a CS; the sedimentary profile shows the reverse grading structure formed by the superposition of multiple single fans. In the channelized stage, most single fans are abandoned to be flood plains, and a small number of channels continue to incise and extend headward. Natural levees are formed on both sides, and sedimentary units such as point bar appears. In the stage, crevasse deltas can be formed when the channels enter alluvial lakes. Satellite images indicate that a CS grows fast during formation stage while slowly during extension and channelized stage. Paleo-CS can be identified by sedimentary scale, sediments characteristics, amplitude change of logging curve, cycle change, sand plane form, profile morphology, the coexistence with river channels and other characteristics.

G S Kazanin is the Director of Marine Arctic Geological Expedition (MAGE), Murmansk, Russia. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals.

The geophysical (24_channel CMP records, hydromagnetic measurements, surface gravity measurements, seismo-acoustic profiling, refraction seismic exploration) and geological (bottom sediment sampling in some areas) data obtained by geologists from the Murmansk Arctic Geological Expedition served as material for this work. In total, the CMP and seismic refraction investigations were accomplished along profiles 109 (16462 km) and 8 (3440 km), respectively. The data obtained by the gravimetric and magnetometric surveys (Scale 1: 1000000) in the southern and eastern parts of the region and by complex geological–geophysical investigations (CMP method, gravity and magnetic measurements, bottom sediment sampling) carried out south of King Karls Land on the scale 1: 200 000 were also used. In total, 31 anticlinal uplifts 1472 km2 in total and traps of the nonstructural type are defined within the undeformed Cenozoic sedimentary cover. The Paleozoic–Mesozoic sedimentary complex of the Saffolk graben includes 13 local structures 147 km2 in integral size. The traps confined to the Isfjord along_slope step and West Medvezhii shelf step and traps located within the Norwegian–Spitsbergen zone of steps are most promising with respect of hydrocarbon resources. Thus, the complex geophysical investigations with subsequent processing and interpretation of materials provide grounds for the optimistic assessment of the petroleum resource potential of the Spitsbergen continental margin. Such an assessment is supported by the following facts: (1) significant thickness of the sedimentary cover; (2) high sedimentation rate; (3) the presence of structural and nonstructural hydrocarbon traps; (4) the presumable presence of reservoirs and caps in the sedimentary section; (5) occurrence of gas hydrates in the upper part of the sedimentary section; and (6) the presence of mantle diapirs, which may serve as a catalyst for hydrocarbon maturing. Consequently, the complex investigations make it possible to elucidate a wide spectrum of aspects related to the geological structure of the Spitsbergen continental margin through its entire section, carry out its tectonic zoning, to subdivide the sedimentary cover, and to define potential objects promising with respect to hydrocarbon accumulations.

Mandana Akia has completed her PhD from Iran University of Science & Technology. She has more than 12 years experience in both industrial and academia. She has published 30 papers in reputed journals and conferences. She has been working as an Assistant Professor in Petroleum Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran.

The selection of a carrier plays a key role in catalyst performance. In general, it is desirable to design the catalyst for the highest possible surface area to obtain the maximum concentration of catalytic sites. In this research a nanocrystalline gamma alumina synthesized and employed for Pt-based dehydrogenation catalysts containing tin, indium, iron and litium as promotors. Several catalysts were prepared with changes in Pt loading (0.1, 0.3, 0.5) and employed in the dehydrogenation reaction of higher normal paraffins. The samples prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption (BET), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) techniques. The catalytic testing of the prepared catalysts was carried out in a fixed bed reactor in dehydrogenation reaction of a mixture of higher normal paraffins. Catalysts containing 0.1 and 0.5 wt.% platinum showed almost the same specific activity in the dehydrogenation reaction. However, the catalyst selectivity relative to monoolefin formation was higher for sample 1 with the lowest platinum content. The obtained results revealed that it is possible to obtain a higher conversion and selectivity using less content of expensive component (platinum).

Rajendranath Sunkara compled his bachelors in mechanical engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru technology of university Kakinada, India.

The scarce and rapid depleting conventional petroleum resources have promoted research for alternative fuels in internal combustion engines. Among various possible options, fuels derived from triglycerides (vegetable oils or animal fats) are present promising “greener” substitutes for fossil fuels. However, several operational and durability problems of using straight vegetable oils in diesel engines reported in the literature, which are because of their higher viscosity and low volatility compared to mineral diesel fuel. In the present work, experiments were designed to reduce rice bran oil viscosity by using transesterification process and thereby eliminating its effect on combustion. The fuel properties of biodiesel such as kinematic viscosity, flash point, carbon residue, density and specific gravity were found. Experiments were also conducted using various blends of the obtained biodiesel with mineral diesel to study the performance of diesel engine. A single cylinder, four stroke, water cooled direct injection diesel engine was used for the experiments. Tests were done at constant speed of 1500RPM at the varying power out puts. The acquired data was analyzed for various parameters such as break specific fuel consumption; break thermal efficiency and exhaust gas temperature were reduced due to decrease in viscosity of vegetable oil. While operating the engine on rice bran biodiesel (and the blends with diesel), performance parameters were found to be very close to mineral diesel for lower blend concentrations.

Xiangfang Li completed his Phd and working as a professor in College of Petroleum Engineering from China University of Petroleum, China.

When natural gas reservoir is broached, gas hydrate is easy to assemble on throttle fill up line, marine riser, blow-out preventer and well head in sea floor etc., which bring great affection to petroleum exploration drilling in deep water. For this reason, study on the blocking mechanism of hydrate in annular of deep water drilling pit shaft, and advisable prevention bring important and profound sense to deep-water exploration drilling in future. When gas influx happens during deep-water drilling, most researchers thought the hydrate could be formed due to the high pressure, low temperature and predicted the formation area. However, it is wrong during the deep-water drilling according to the real gas kick conditions. The kinetics of gas hydrate should also be considered, such as the hydrate formation time. In generation, when the pressure and temperature of hydrate formation is reached, the generation speed is slow. There will be nucleation and growth. During this process, the fluid which may form the hydrate has flowed out of the well-bore and the blocking will not happen. Based on the gas liquid two phase flow in wellbore annuli, the gas hydrate formation and blocking mechanism are studied. The hydrate formation models are established based on the PVT equation, the flash theory, multiphase flow theory and kinetic theory. The effects of flow pattern, fluid velocity, the gas fraction are considered. Then the gas hydrate formation and blocking area are predicted.

Yergaziyeva G E is a student from Institute for Problem of Combustion, Kazakhstan.

As we know, the most of chemical products produced by industry are manufactured by catalytic methods in presence of catalysts. A wide variety of applicable catalysts have a special role to be used as oxide catalysts. In this report examined low-percentage catalysts on based of transition metal oxides for processes – Dry Reforming (DRM) and Partial Oxidation of Methane (POM) to synthesis gas, the conversion of bioethanol to ethylene and air purification from impurities o-xylene. The investigation of DRM on NiCuNdMo/Al2O3HZSM-5 catalyst is shown at the optimal process condition: СО2/СН4-1, Т-850 °С, W-3600 h-1, concentration of hydrogen-48.9 vol.%, carbon monoxide 50.9 vol.% in the reaction products, conversion of methane-92.6% and carbon dioxide-93.2%. In the process of POM on 5% NiLa/ γ-Al2O3 catalysts at 750 0C obtained synthesis gas with selectivity of H2=43 and CO=73% were used. The catalysts 6% CеLa/γ-Al2O3 was developed for conversion of bioethanol. At 400оС and W=6000 h-1, the concentration of ethylene in the products increase to 98 vol.%, conversion of ethanol 100%. The 7% CuMnCe/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was developed for purification of the waste gas from O-xylene. At 300 °C, concentration of O-xylene=0.6 g/m3 and W=3000 h-1, conversion of O-xylene increased to100%. The investigation of catalysts by physical-chemical methods are shown that the modified of oxide catalyst of rare earth elements come to increasing dispersity and formation of nanosize active phase (2-5 nm), which increase its activity, also stability of catalysts to coke formation.