Upscaled Unstructured Computational Grids for Efficient Simulation of Flow in Fractured Porous Media

Discrete fracture modeling (DFM) is currently the most promising approach for modeling of naturally fractured reservoirs and simulation of multiphase fluid flow therein. In contrast with the classical double-porosity/double permeability models, in the DFM approach all the interactions and fluid flow in and between the fractures and within the matrix are modeled in a unified manner, using the same computational grid. There is no need for computing the shape factors, which are crucial to the accuracy of the double-porosity models. We have exploited this concept in order to develop a new method for the generation of unstructured computational grids. In the new approach the geological model (GM) of the reservoir is first generated, using square or cubic grid blocks. The GM is then upscaled using a method based on the multiresolution wavelet transformations that we recently developed. The upscaled grid contains a distribution of the square or cubic blocks of various sizes. A map of the blocks’ centers is then used with an optimized Delauney triangulation method and the advancing-front technique, in order to generate the final unstructured triangulated grid suitable for use in any general reservoir simulator with any number of fluid phases. The new method also includes an algorithm for generating fractures that, contrary to the previous methods, does not require modifying their paths due to the complexities that may arise in spatial distribution of the grid blocks. It also includes an effective partitioning of the simulation domain that results in large savings in the computation times. The speed-up in the computations with the new upscaled unstructured grid is about three orders of magnitude over that for the initial GM. Simulation of waterflooding indicates that the agreement between the results obtained with the GM and the upscaled unstructured grid is excellent. The method is equally applicable to the simulations of multiphase flow in unfractured, but highly heterogeneous, reservoirs.     

A theoretical investigation on Pt3Sn(1 0 2) surface alloy and CO-Pt3Sn(1 0 2) system

The adsorption properties of CO on experimentally verified stepped Pt₃Sn(1 0 2) surface were investigated using quantum mechanical calculations. The two possible terminations of Pt₃Sn(1 0 2) were generated and on these terminations all types of possible adsorption sites were determined. The adsorption energies and geometries of the CO molecule for all those sites were calculated. The most favorable sites for adsorption were determined as the short bridge site on the terrace of pure-Pt row of the mixed-atom-ending termination, atop site at the step-edge of the pure row of pure-Pt-ending termination and atop site at the step-edge of the pure-Pt row of the mixed-atom-ending termination. The results were compared with those for similar sites on the flat Pt₃Sn(1 1 0) surface considering the fact that Pt₃Sn(1 0 2) has terraces with (1 1 0) orientation. The LDOS analysis of bare sites clearly shows that there are significant differences between the electronic properties of Pt atoms at stepped Pt₃Sn(1 0 2) surface and the electronic properties of Pt atoms at flat (1 1 0) surface, which leads to changes in the CO bonding energies of these Pt atoms. Adsorption on Pt₃Sn(1 0 2) surface is in general stronger compared to that on Pt₃Sn(1 1 0) surface. The difference in adsorption strength of similar sites on these two surface terminations is a result of stepped structure of Pt₃Sn(1 0 2). The local density of states (LDOS) of the adsorbent Pt and C of adsorbed CO was utilized. The LDOS of the surface metal atoms with CO-adsorbed atop and of their bare state were compared to see the effect of CO chemisorption on the electron density distribution of the corresponding Pt atom. The downward shift in energy peak in the LDOS curves as well as changes in the electron densities of the corresponding energy levels indicate the orbital mixing between CO molecular orbitals and metal d-states. The present study showed that the adsorption strength of the sites has a direct relation with their LDOS profiles.     

Selective separation of yttrium(III) through a liquid membrane system using 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone as an extractant carrier

2-Thenoyltrifluoroacetone has been offered as a mobile carrier in organic phase for the transport and selective separation of yttrium from aqueous media using a liquid membrane system. Perceivably, the use of n-propylamine (PA) in the source phase enhances the transport of yttrium ions. The extraction and stripping conditions have entirely been evaluated and explained. The suggested method has been utilized for the separation of yttrium(III) from its binary mixtures with strontium(II) and some other cations such as Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Ag⁺, Fe²⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺and Cs⁺ in aqueous solutions of pH 5.4 in the presence of PA, while 1 M nitric acid was acting as a stripping agent in the receiving division. Cyanide ion and 5-sulfosalicylic acid have been used as masking agents to minimize the interferences from different transition metal ions and Al³⁺ in the source phase, respectively. ⁹⁰Y in secular equilibrium with ⁹⁰Sr in the source phase, was transferred to receiving phase and separated completely from its long-lived parent isotope. The activity of the transported ⁹⁰Y was found to decay with a half-life 64.17 ± 0.05 h. The purity of yttrium-90 was comparable or better than the other applied liquid membrane systems for purification of yttrium-90.     

Ionized water clusters,n = 2 to 6: A high-accuracy study of structures and energetics

Ionized water clusters, , have been of remarkable interest owing to their crucial roles in many chemical and biological processes. Small cationic water clusters , n = 2 to 6 serve as reasonable models for understanding the nature of the ionized water. In this study, employing high-level ab initio quantum chemical methods, such as the density-fitted orbital-optimized linearized coupled-cluster doubles (DF-OLCCD), coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD), and coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)], a high-accuracy study of structures and energetics for cationic water clusters [, n = 2-6] is presented. In this study, 2 dimer, 8 trimer, 18 tetramer, 23 pentamer, and 25 hexamer clusters are reported. Most of the structures considered are reported for the first time. Relative, binding, and vertical attachment energies (VAEs), for the first time, are presented at the complete basis set (CBS) limit, extrapolating energies of the aug-cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVQZ basis sets, to provide the most accurate energetics to date. Our results demonstrate that as cluster size increases, the VAE value decreases, which indicates that large-size clusters better compensate for the electron deficiency compared with small-size clusters. The VAE values for pentamer and hexamer clusters are 118.5 to 165.5 and 121.9 to 153.7 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. Further, our binding energy results, at the CCSD(T)/CBS level, indicate strong bindings in cationic clusters due to hydrogen bond interactions. The average binding energy per water molecule varies from −16.6 to −21.8 kcal mol⁻¹ for the clusters considered. Hence, we present the most extensive and accurate study on ionized water clusters to date. Further, our results indicate that the DF-OLCCD method is very promising for ionic molecular clusters, and its accuracy approaches the CCSD(T) quality. The inexpensive analytic gradients of DF-OLCCD, compared with CCSD(T), make it very helpful for high-accuracy studies of molecular geometries.     

Coupling of cyclopropylcarbene-chromium complex with ferrocenyl alkynes: synthesis of 5-ferrocenyl-5-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones and 4-ferrocenyl-4-cyclopentene-1,3-diones

The coupling of ferrocenyl alkynes with cyclopropylcarbene-chromium complex leads to ferrocenyl-substituted 2-cyclopentenones with or without a hydroxy substituent, namely 4-cyclopentene-1,3-diones, 2-cyclobutenones, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in varying amounts. The reaction initially produces a cyclopentadienone intermediate, then to the double bond of which, bearing a ferrocenyl group, addition of water occurs to afford hydroxy-substituted 2-cyclopentenones. In all the products, the hydroxy group ends up α to the ferrocenyl moiety. In contrast, where no addition of water occurs, the alkenic bond is reduced to give 2-cyclopentenones. A secondary reaction product, namely 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione, is formed by hydrolysis of the cyclopentadienone intermediates.     

Solving bilinear tensor least squares problems and application to Hammerstein identification

Bilinear tensor least squares problems occur in applications such as Hammerstein system identification and social network analysis. A linearly constrained problem of medium size is considered, and nonlinear least squares solvers of Gauss–Newton‐type are applied to numerically solve it. The problem is separable, and the variable projection method can be used. Perturbation theory is presented and used to motivate the choice of constraint. Numerical experiments with Hammerstein models and random tensors are performed, comparing the different methods and showing that a variable projection method performs best.     

Synthesis of pH‐responsive magnetic yolk–shell nanoparticles: A comparison between conventional etching and new deswelling approaches

Iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) magnetic nanoparticles as movable cores were used to synthesize yolk–shell nanoparticles with pH‐responsive shell composed of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)‐crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) via two different routes. In the first more common route, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were coated with silica layer via the Stöber process to yield Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles, subsequently used as seeds in the distillation precipitation copolymerization of AA and EGDMA to yield Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@P(AA‐EGDMA). The silica layer was selectively removed through alkali etching to yield Fe₃O₄@air@P(AA‐EGDMA). In the second route, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles without any stabilization were used as seeds in the distillation precipitation copolymerization of AA and EGDMA to yield Fe₃O₄@P(AA‐EGDMA) core–shell nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were subsequently dispersed in acidic medium of pH = 2. Yolk–shell Fe₃O₄@air@P(AA‐EGDMA) nanoparticles were formed through deswelling of crosslinked PAA because of protonation of carboxyl groups at low pH values. Various techniques were utilized to investigate the characteristics of the synthesized core–shell nanoparticles. Formation of yolk–shell nanostructure was observed for both synthesis routes, namely etching of silica layer and deswelling approaches, from vibrating sample magnetometry and transmission electron microscopy results. Both types of nanoparticles showed pH‐responsive behaviour, i.e. decrease in absorption with increase in pH, as examined using UV–visible spectroscopy.     

Supramolecular Fe3O4@PEG/−diaza crown ether@Ni: a novel magnetically reusable nano catalyst for the clean synthesis of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones

Ni@diaza crown ether complex supported on magnetic nanoparticle was provided by grafting technique. The catalytic activity of Fe₃O₄@diaza crown ether@Ni was explored through one‐pot synthesis of 2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones and it was used as an efficient and recoverably constant nanocatalyst. FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, ICP, EDS, and TGA techniques were employed to specify the nanocatalyst. This heterogeneous catalyst demonstrated acceptable recyclability and could be used again several times with no considerable loss of its catalytic activity.     

Gold nanoparticle included graphene oxide modified electrode: Picomole detection of metal ions in seawater by stripping voltammetry

We obtained a gold nanomaterial/graphene oxide-modified glassy carbon electrode and characterized it using transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. A response of the electrode using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry for Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ was found linear in the range from 1 × 10^–7 to 1 × 10^–11 M. The detection limits of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ were 0.14, 0.5 and 1.2 pM, respectively. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ in seawater samples from a coastal region of Anatolia, and the results corresponded well with the values obtained by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy.     

Novel bioactive vic-dioxime ligand containing piperazine moiety: Synthesis,X-ray crystallographic studies, 2D NMR applications and complexation with Ni(II)

A new vic-dioxime ligand bearing an important pharmacophore substituent, anti-1-(4-benzylpiperazine-1-yl) phenylglyoxime (LH₂) (Scheme 1), has been synthesized and its nickel(II) complex was obtained by the reaction of NiCl₂·6H₂O and the ligand. The characterization of the newly formed compounds was performed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT), 2D NMR (HMBC), ESI mass-spectrometry, TG/DTA, X-ray crystallography. The antibacterial activity was also studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Lactobacillus acidophilus RSHM 06029, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 35218, Pseudomonasaeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild antibacterial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species.