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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Mitigating Injection‐Induced Seismicity Along Basement Faults by Extraction: Application to 2016–2018 Pohang Earthquakes

Abstract The risk of induced earthquake is considered as the major obstacle for sustainable subsurface energy activities. As a mitigation approach, mechanistic risk assessment can be essential to minimize the potential of seismic hazard. Coupled hydro‐mechanical modeling approach is integrated with geomechanical analysis to better assess the occurrence of seismicity induced by injection and/or extraction, which will provide a basis to update operational conditions (e.g., number and location of mitigating wells, rate and duration of operations) for mitigating earthquake nucleation. The Coulomb stability analysis and seismicity rate estimates from this generic study indicate that simultaneous extraction can relieve injection‐induced pore‐pressure buildup, but also transfer and accumulate elastic energy along the faults. Field‐scale simulation with variation in well design for the Pohang EGS site, South Korea, show that multiple wells aligned across a preexisting fault form gradients of pressure and stress fields normal to the fault, which can enhance the direct impact of diffusion process and poroelastic stressing on the fault stability perturbation. Our mechanistic study suggests multiphysics‐oriented mitigation strategies that consider (1) possible mechanical deformation, caused by hydro‐mechanical coupling effects, and (2) proper configuration of well operations based on site‐specific geological characteristics.

Chang, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Structural features in the Colorado Plateau margin near Flagstaff, Arizona

The author has identified the following significant results. On ERTS-1 frame 1014-17375, a set of northwest-trending lineaments has been discovered which converge on the north-trending lineament of the Oak Creek Fault near Flagstaff, Arizona. The lineaments are most easily seen in band 7. The region of convergence may mark an area structurally favorable for the location of water in Paleozoic sediments that underlie the basalt cap.

Goetz, A. F. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Evaluation of ERTS imagery for spectral geological mapping in diverse terranes of New York State

Linear anomalies dominate the new geological information derived from ERTS-1 imagery, total lengths now exceeding 6000 km. Experimentation with a variety of viewing techniques suggests that conventional photogeologic analyses of band 7 results in the location of more than 97 percent of all linears found. The maxima on rose diagrams for ERTS-1 anomalies correspond well with those for mapped faults and topographic lineaments, despite a difference in relative magnitudes of maxima thought due to solar illumination direction. A multiscale analysis of linears showed that single topographic linears at 1:2,500,000 became segmented at 1:1,000,000, aligned zones of shorter parallel, en echelon, or conjugate linears at 1:500,000, and still shorter linears lacking obvious alignment at 1:250,000. Visible glacial features include individual drumlins, best seen in winter imagery, drumlinoids, eskers, ice-marginal drainage channels, glacial lake shorelines and sand plains, and end moraines.

Isachsen, Y. W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

A Fault-Tolerant Clock Synchronization and Geometry Determination Protocol

A fault-tolerant distributed protocol (algorithm) is presented that achieves optimum timing precision (clock synchronization) among the nodes and, simultaneously, determines the network's geometry (shape) - locations and distances of the nodes relative to each other - in a wireless distributed system. This protocol is based on the assumption of initial coarse synchrony of nodes' local clocks. The proposed solution assumes no prior knowledge of the nodes' locations, the distances between the nodes, or network's geometry, but assumes an ordered geometry where nodes have unique identifiers. This protocol accommodates large variations in the communication latencies among the nodes; thus, it applies equally to both wireless and wired networks.

Malekpour, Mahyar R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization with dense array data of seismic sources in the shallow part of the San Jacinto fault zone

SUMMARY We analyse dominant sources identified in a catalogue of more than 156 000 localizations performed using a 26-d data set recorded by a dense array set on the San Jacinto fault near Anza, in California. Events were localized using an array processing technique called Match Field Processing. As for all array processing techniques, the quality of the event position decrease when the events are outside of the array. We thus separate localizations in and outside the array using simple geometrical conditions. We compare the time distribution of the localization to additional data such as meteorological data, day of human activity as well as existing catalogues to determine the nature of the dominant events located using our method. We find that most of the events located outside of the array could be attributed to a surface structure excited by wind. On the other hand, part of the localizations under the array occur during regional earthquakes and could correspond to diffraction on the fault's heterogeneities. The rest of the localizations inside the array could be generated by the fault itself.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
NASA NTRS2016

Africa's Megafans and Their Tectonic Setting

Megafans are a really extensive continental sediment bodies, fluvially derived, and fan-shaped in planform. Only those >80 km long were included in this study. Africa's megafans were mapped for purposes of both comprehensive geomorphic description and as a method of mapping by remote sensing large probable fluvial sediment bodies (we exclude sediment bodies deposited in well defined, modern floodplains and coastal deltas). Our criteria included a length dimension of >80 km and maximum width >40 km, partial cone morphology, and a radial drainage pattern. Visible and especially IR imagery were used to identify the features, combined with topographic SRTM data. We identified 99 megafans most of which are unstudied thus far. Their feeder rivers responsible for depositing megafan sediments rise on, and are consequent drainages oriented down the slopes of the swells that have dominated African landscapes since approximately 34 Ma (the high points in Africa's so-called basin-and-swell topography [1]). Most megafans (66%) have developed along these consequent rivers relatively near the swell cores, oriented radially away from the swells. The vast basins between the swells provide accommodation for megafan sediment wedges. Although clearly visible remotely, most megafans are inactive as a result of incision by the feeder river (which then no longer operates on the fan surface). Two tectonic settings control the location of Africa's megafans, 66% on swell flanks, and 33% related to rifts. (i) Swell flanks Most megafans are apexed relatively near the core of the parent swell, and are often clustered in groups: e.g., six on the west and north flanks of the Hoggar Swell (Algeria), seven on the north and south flanks of the Tibesti Swell (Libya-Chad borderlands), twelve on the west flank of the Ethiopian Swell, four on the east flank of the East African Swell (Kenya), Africa's largest, and eight around Angola's Bié Swell (western Zambia, northern Namibia). A cluster of possible fans lies on the western margin of the Congo Basin (Mayombe Swell), and on the coastal slopes of the Namibia Swell. Sheer size may have militated aginst the recognition of many megafans: the largest in the Sahara are the Teghahart (378 km, Hoggar Swell, Algeria), and the Wadi Albalata (340 km, Uweinat Swell, Egypt). In southern Africa the largest are the Cubango (320 km, Bié Swell, Angola/ Namibia), and the Limpopo (230 km, Mozambique). (ii) Rift zones (a) Steer's horns basins-wide depressions centered on rifts. The largest contiguous group (n=14) developed in a steer's-horns basin occupies the wide Muglad depression (200-350 km, South Sudan). Four rift-related megafans lie SE of Lake Chad (Chad). Nine megafans occupy the complex Anza Rift in Kenya/South Somalia. The Salamat megafan (Chad), is unusual because it oriented parallel with the linked Salamat, Doseo and Doba rift axes, and is consequently one of the longest in Africa (465 km). (b) Rift depressions sensu stricto. Most rifts are too narrow to provide a transverse dimension large enough to accommodate megafans. Although well-known, the Okavango Rift (NW Botswana, NE Namibia) is unique in Africa in hosting three megafans within identifiable faulted margins. The Nile megafan is Africa's largest (476 km) and comprises the vast Sudd wetland (South Sudan). An explanation for its remarkable size may be its location in a depression at the junction of two conducive tectonic zones, the East African Swell margin and the Muglad steer's-horns depression. Discharge of the River Nile, the largest in the region, has allowed the Nile megafan to outcompete neighboring megafans for space.

Wilkinson, M. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimizing Facility Operations by Applying Machine Learning to the Army Reserve Enterprise Building Control System (Final Report)

Thousands of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) buildings have building automation systems (BASs) and/or advanced meters. Although these systems have a wealth of data, performance optimization requires time and expertise to review and act on that information. Machine learning (ML) can provide automated and actionable insights to controls operators. This demonstration implemented proven ML methods on the Army Reserve Enterprise Building Control System. ML refers to algorithms that “learn” from data and improve their performance on a given task over time. In the buildings domain these tasks range from predicting future energy consumption, to identifying operational issues before faults occur, to optimizing control decisions. To learn, ML requires input data, which – for buildings – typically consists of instrument data such as energy consumption data and subsystem controls information such as set-point temperatures, and context data consisting of information such as the physical location of the building, the area of the building, and the weather. ML models use the relationships learned from the input data to make predictions with new, previously unseen, data. The team was able to investigate and successfully implement the following ML use cases: labeling consumption data as anomalous or non-anomalous; baseline whole-building load prediction (unknown fault status); fault detection (validation not possible); and site prioritization for energy-related projects. Due to the constraints of the project, interventions were not able to be implemented during the demonstration; therefore, assessments of operational cost savings and maintenance avoided could not be performed. The project has been presented at two leading national building conferences and two additional publications to peer-reviewed journals are currently in preparation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1971

Study of second breakdown in power transistors using infrared techniques

Infrared thermal maps pinpoint exact location where second breakdown will occur before phenomenon happens and before physical damage develops at hot spot. Crystal structure analysis at that point determines cause of fault. Absolute power of radiation emitted from hot spot is direct indication of voltage level at which second breakdown occurs

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rock Valley Direct Comparison Relocation Working Group Location Results and Recommendations (Version 4.0)

The Source Physics Experiments (SPE) were designed to improve our physics-based understanding of explosion sources for the purposes of nuclear test monitoring. Phase I consisted of 6 chemical explosions in the Climax Stock Granite of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), while Phase II consisted of 4 explosions in a contrasting dry alluvium geology (DAG) in Yucca Flat, providing essential data in various media and emplacement conditions to further modeling efforts. For Phase III, the Rock Valley Direct Comparison (RVDC) seeks to directly compare earthquake and explosion source types. An unusually shallow series of events in 1993 along the Rock Valley Fault Zone in the southeastern portion of the NNSS has been targeted for this direct comparison. Depth ranges for the events, previously estimated to be less than 3 km, is achievable by modern drilling techniques and accessibility to the epicentral locations would require minimal improvements to the infrastructure. The events providing this unique opportunity for direct comparison are the focus of this report.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2001

Potential Evaporite Biomarkers from the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is located on the northern branch of the African-Levant Rift systems. The rift system, according to one model, was formed by a series of strike slip faults, initially forming approximately two million years ago. The Dead Sea is an evaporite basin that receives freshwater from springs and from the Jordan River. The Dead Sea is different from other evaporite basins, such as the Great Salt Lake, in that it possesses high concentrations of magnesium and has an average pH of 6.1. The dominant cation in the Great Salt Lake is sodium, and the pH is 7.7. Calcium concentrations are also higher in the Dead Sea than in the Great Salt Lake. Both basins are similar in that the dominant anion is chlorine and the salinity levels are approximately 20 %. Other common cations that have been identified from the waters of the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake include sodium and potassium. A variety of Archea, Bacteria, and a single genus of a green algal, Dunaliella, has been described from the Dead Sea. Earlier studies concentrated on microbial identification and analysis of their unique physiology that allows them to survive in this type of extreme environment. Potential microbial fossilization processes, microbial fossils, and the metallic ions associated with fossilization have not been studied thoroughly. The present study is restricted to identifying probable microbial morphologies and associated metallic ions. XRD (X Ray Diffraction) analysis indicates the presence of halite, quartz, and orthoclase feldspar. In addition to these minerals, other workers have reported potassium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium sulfate. Halite, calcium sulfate, and orthoclase were examined in this report for the presence of microbes, microbially induced deposits or microbial alteration. Neither the gypsum nor the orthoclase surfaces possesses any obvious indications of microbial life or fossilization. The sand-sized orthoclase particles are weathered with 122 extensive fan-shaped mineral deposits. The gypsum deposits are associated with halite minerals and also exhibit extensive weathering. Halite minerals represent the only substrates that have probable rod-shaped microbial structures with long, filamentous, apical extensions. EDS (energy dispersive x-ray) analysis of the putative microbes indicates elevated calcium levels that are enriched with magnesium. The rod-shaped structures exhibit possible fossilization stages. Rhombohedralshaped minerals of magnesium-enriched calcium carbonate are deposited on the microbial surfaces, and eventually coat the entire microbial surface. The sodium chloride continues to crystallize on nearby halite surface and even crystallizes on the fossilized microbial remains. The putative fossils are found exclusively on halite surfaces, and all contained elevated levels of calcium magnesium cations. Both of these metallic cations are associated with microbial activity and fossilization. Their morphological diversity is low in comparison with the reported living Dead Sea microbial population. If we examine the fossil record for multicellular organisms, fossilization rates are lower for soft-bodied organisms than for those possessing hard parts, i.e. shells, bones. For example, smaller, single celled organisms would have a smaller chance of fossilization; their fossilized shapes could be mistaken for abiotic products. Another consideration is that dead organisms in the water column are probably utilized as a food source by other microbes before fossilization processes are completed. This may be an important consideration as we attempt to model and interpret ancient microbial environments either on Earth or on Mars.

Morris, Penny A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Locating Anomalies in Complex Data Sets Using Visualization and Simulation

The research goals are to create a simulation framework that can accept any combination of models written at the gate or behavioral level. The framework provides the ability to fault simulate and create scenarios of experiments using concurrent simulation. In order to meet these goals we have had to fulfill the following requirements. The ability to accept models written in VHDL, Verilog or the C languages. The ability to propagate faults through any model type. The ability to create experiment scenarios efficiently without generating every possible combination of variables. The ability to accept adversity of fault models beyond the single stuck-at model. Major development has been done to develop a parser that can accept models written in various languages. This work has generated considerable attention from other universities and industry for its flexibility and usefulness. The parser uses LEXX and YACC to parse Verilog and C. We have also utilized our industrial partnership with Alternative System's Inc. to import vhdl into our simulator. For multilevel simulation, we needed to modify the simulator architecture to accept models that contained multiple outputs. This enabled us to accept behavioral components. The next major accomplishment was the addition of "functional fault models". Functional fault models change the behavior of a gate or model. For example, a bridging fault can make an OR gate behave like an AND gate. This has applications beyond fault simulation. This modeling flexibility will make the simulator more useful for doing verification and model comparison. For instance, two or more versions of an ALU can be comparatively simulated in a single execution. The results will show where and how the models differed so that the performance and correctness of the models may be evaluated. A considerable amount of time has been dedicated to validating the simulator performance on larger models provided by industry and other universities.

Panetta, Karen↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radio System for Locating Emergency Workers

A system based on low-power radio transponders and associated analog and digital electronic circuitry has been developed for locating firefighters and other emergency workers deployed in a building or other structure. The system has obvious potential for saving lives and reducing the risk of injuries. The system includes (1) a central station equipped with a computer and a transceiver; (2) active radio-frequency (RF) identification tags, each placed in a different room or region of the structure; and (3) transponder units worn by the emergency workers. The RF identification tags can be installed in a new building as built-in components of standard fire-detection devices or ground-fault electrical outlets or can be attached to such devices in a previously constructed building, without need for rewiring the building. Each RF identification tag contains information that uniquely identifies it. When each tag is installed, information on its location and identity are reported to, and stored at, the central station. In an emergency, if a building has not been prewired with RF identification tags, leading emergency workers could drop sequentially numbered portable tags in the rooms of the building, reporting the tag numbers and locations by radio to the central station as they proceed.

Larson, William↗
DOE OSTI2020

Joint Focal Mechanism Inversion Using Downhole and Surface Monitoring at the Decatur, Illinois, CO2 Injection Site

ABSTRACT The three-year CO2 injection period at the Illinois Basin - Decatur Project site (Decatur, Illinois, United States) produced a number of microseismic events distributed in very distinct spatiotemporal clusters with different orientations. Further characterization of the microseismicity encompasses the determination of the event source mechanisms. Initially, the microseismic monitoring network consisted solely of borehole sensors, but has been extended with surface sensors, thereby significantly improving the data coverage over the focal sphere. This article focuses on 23 events from the northernmost microseismic cluster (about 2 km from the injection point) and takes advantage of both, surface and downhole, recordings. The resulting strike-slip east–west-oriented focal planes are all consistent with the east–west orientation of the cluster in map view. The injection-related increase of pore pressure is far below the formation fracture pressure; however, small stress-field changes associated with the pore-pressure increase may reach as far as to the investigated cluster location. Monte Carlo modeling of the slip reactivation potential within this cluster showed that the observed maximum stress-field orientation of N068° is the optimum orientation for fault reactivation of the east–west-oriented cluster. Our results suggest that the east–west orientation of the investigated cluster is the main reason for its activation, even though the cluster is about 2 km away from the low-pressure injection point.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
NASA NTRS2008

Efficient Probabilistic Diagnostics for Electrical Power Systems

We consider in this work the probabilistic approach to model-based diagnosis when applied to electrical power systems (EPSs). Our probabilistic approach is formally well-founded, as it based on Bayesian networks and arithmetic circuits. We investigate the diagnostic task known as fault isolation, and pay special attention to meeting two of the main challenges . model development and real-time reasoning . often associated with real-world application of model-based diagnosis technologies. To address the challenge of model development, we develop a systematic approach to representing electrical power systems as Bayesian networks, supported by an easy-to-use speci.cation language. To address the real-time reasoning challenge, we compile Bayesian networks into arithmetic circuits. Arithmetic circuit evaluation supports real-time diagnosis by being predictable and fast. In essence, we introduce a high-level EPS speci.cation language from which Bayesian networks that can diagnose multiple simultaneous failures are auto-generated, and we illustrate the feasibility of using arithmetic circuits, compiled from Bayesian networks, for real-time diagnosis on real-world EPSs of interest to NASA. The experimental system is a real-world EPS, namely the Advanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Testbed (ADAPT) located at the NASA Ames Research Center. In experiments with the ADAPT Bayesian network, which currently contains 503 discrete nodes and 579 edges, we .nd high diagnostic accuracy in scenarios where one to three faults, both in components and sensors, were inserted. The time taken to compute the most probable explanation using arithmetic circuits has a small mean of 0.2625 milliseconds and standard deviation of 0.2028 milliseconds. In experiments with data from ADAPT we also show that arithmetic circuit evaluation substantially outperforms joint tree propagation and variable elimination, two alternative algorithms for diagnosis using Bayesian network inference.

Mengshoel, Ole J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

ERSAP: Toward Better NP Data-Stream Analytics With Flow-Based Programming

This paper presents an reactive, actor-model and FBP paradigm based framework that we develop to design data-stream processing applications for HEP and NP. This framework encourages a functional decomposition of the overall data processing application into small mono-functional artifacts. Artifacts that are easy to understand, develop, deploy and debug. The fact that these artifacts (actors) are programmatically independent they can be scaled and optimized independently, which is impossible to do for components of the monolithic application. One of the important advantages of this approach is fault tolerance where independent actors can come and go on the data-stream without forcing the entire application to crash. Furthermore, it also makes it is easy to locate the faulty actor in the data pipeline. Due the fact that the actors are loosely coupled, and that the data (inevitably) carries the context, they can run on heterogeneous environments, utilizing different accelerators. This paper describes the main design concepts of the framework and presents a ?proof of concept? application design and deployment results obtain processing on-beam calorimeter streaming data.

Gyurjyan, V.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Use of Very High-Resolution Optical Data for Landslide Mapping and Susceptibility Analysis Along the Karnali Highway, Nepal

The Karnali highway is a vital transport link and the only primary roadway that connects the remote Karnali region to the lowlands in Mid-Western Nepal. Every year there are reports of landslides blocking the road, making this area largely inaccessible. However, little effort has focused on systematically identifying landslides and landslide-prone areas along this highway. In this study, landslides were mapped with an object-based approach from very high-resolution optical satellite imagery obtained by the DigitalGlobe constellation in 2012 and PlanetScope in 2018. Landslides ranging from 10 to 30,496 sq.m were detected within a 3 km buffer along the highway. Most of the landslides were located at lower elevations (between 500–1500 m) and on steep south-facing slopes. Landslides tended to cluster closer to the highway, near drainage channels and away from faults. Landslides were also most prevalent within the Kuncha Formation geologic class, and the forested and agricultural land cover classes. A susceptibility map was then created using a logistic regression methodology to highlight patterns in landslide activity. The landslide susceptibility map showed a good prediction rate with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90. A total of 33% of the study arealies in high/very high susceptibility zones. The map highlighted the lower elevated areas between Bangesimal and Manma towns with the Kuncha Formation geologic class as being the most hazardous. The banks of the Karnali River, its tributaries and areas near the highway were also highly susceptible to landslides. The results highlight the potential of very high-resolution optical imagery for documenting detailed spatial information on landslide occurrence, which enables susceptibility assessment in remote and data scarce regions such as the Karnali highway.

Pukar Amatya↗
NASA NTRS1989

Transient fault behavior in a microprocessor: A case study

An experimental analysis is described which studies the susceptibility of a microprocessor based jet engine controller to upsets caused by current and voltage transients. A design automation environment which allows the run time injection of transients and the tracing from their impact device to the pin level is described. The resulting error data are categorized by the charge levels of the injected transients by location and by their potential to cause logic upsets, latched errors, and pin errors. The results show a 3 picoCouloumb threshold, below which the transients have little impact. An Arithmetic and Logic Unit transient is most likely to result in logic upsets and pin errors (i.e., impact the external environment). The transients in the countdown unit are potentially serious since they can result in latched errors, thus causing latent faults. Suggestions to protect the processor against these errors, by incorporating internal error detection and transient suppression techniques, are also made.

Duba, Patrick↗
DOE OSTI2021

Data Driven Fault Detection of Premixer Centerbody Degradation in a Swirl Combustor

This paper introduces a data-driven framework for combustor-focused, performance-based condition monitoring of gas turbines. Commercial condition monitoring systems typically generate huge amounts of data that make efficient onboard monitoring challenging. This paper focuses on quantifying combustor component degradation, using premixer centerbody degradation in a swirl stabilized combustor as a case study. The input for these analyses is acoustic pressure measurements acquired at various locations on the combustor. The diagnosis methodology is based on a classification framework and consists of 3 steps: 1) Data curation, 2) Feature Engineering, and 3) Diagnosis. Data curation ensures good quality of the data that is passed through the algorithm. Feature engineering deals with the extraction of the most informative features, from the most informative sensors, that can accurately capture the introduced fault. To perform diagnosis, the classification model is trained using experimentally acquired data and is then tested on a separate data set. The framework was able to achieve high classification accuracy (>99%) for training size as low as 30% of the total recorded observations. The low number of features required to achieve this accuracy suggests high potential for integration into existing onboard condition monitoring systems.

data driven methods, fault detection, swirl flames↗