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Volume 3, Issue 2, 2024

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The Jaintiapur-Jaflong region, strategically positioned between the subsiding Surma Basin to the south and the uplifting Shillong Massif to the north, presents a unique geological setting. This study employed geological clinometers and other field methods to ascertain the geological characteristics of the area. The regional strike was determined to be N66˚W, with a dip direction of S24˚W and a dip angle of 42.25˚. Through extensive field investigations, including geological mapping, stratigraphic logging, rock sampling, fossil analysis, and structural analysis, complemented by Global Positioning System (GPS), photography, remote sensing, and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, seven lithostratigraphic units were identified. These include the variegated color sandstone, mottled clay, yellowish to reddish-grey sandstone, sandy shale with intercalated silty shale, pinkish sandstone, bluish to blackish-grey shale, and limestone units, corresponding sequentially to Dupi Tila, Girujan Clay, Tipam Sandstone, Surma Group, Jenum Shale Fm, Kopili Shale, and Sylhet Limestone Fm, respectively. Five critical geological contact boundaries were delineated, with notable boundaries identified at the Dupigaon-Sari River Section, the Lalakhal-Tetulghat Section, the Nayagang-Gourishankar Section, and between the Barail and Jaintia groups at the Tamabil-Jaflong Highway Road Cut Section. These findings elucidate the geological contacts and stratigraphic units, providing significant implications for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, resource potential assessment, and stratigraphic correlation, thus enhancing the understanding of regional geological history and laying a foundation for future research endeavors.

Open Access
Research article
Monitoring the Billion Trees Afforestation Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Through Remote Sensing
syed ubaid ullah ,
munawar zeb ,
adnan ahmad ,
sami ullah ,
faisal khan ,
ayesha islam
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Available online: 06-29-2024

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The utilization of remote sensing (RS) techniques plays a crucial role in the efficient planning and monitoring of afforestation projects within constrained timeframes. This study evaluates the progress of the Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) in Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, using RS technology. Geographical positioning systems were employed to delineate the boundaries of the plantation areas, and two temporal Sentinel-2 images from 2016 (the commencement of the plantation) and 2018 were analyzed to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The results revealed that the survival rate of plantations varied between 37.39% and 85.15%, while the area of unstocked regions ranged from 14.84% to 62.60%. Overall, in 2016, the survival rate was determined to be 61.28%, with 38.72% of the area remaining unstocked. The NDVI values in 2016 ranged from -1 to -0.43, whereas in 2018, they spanned from -0.43 to 0.80, indicating significant progress in plantation growth and a substantial reduction in unstocked areas. The RS-based assessment proved to be highly effective, suggesting its adoption for the rapid detection and evaluation of plantation efforts. It is recommended to use high-resolution satellite images and drone technology to enhance accuracy further. Additionally, measures such as the establishment of closures, pit sowing, appropriate site and species selection, and effective soil and water conservation techniques are essential to maximizing the survival rate of plantations.

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The utilization of oil-based drilling fluids is a significant technical approach for drilling in ultra-deep, unconventional, and other complex hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, these fluids present notable disadvantages, including high preparation costs and environmental pollution. There is an urgent need to develop an eco-friendly, high-performance water-based drilling fluid system suitable for complex geological conditions to support the exploration and development of oil and gas under deep, challenging, and unconventional conditions. Addressing the current issue where polymer filtrate reducers cannot simultaneously achieve temperature resistance, salt resistance, and environmental performance, a novel organic/inorganic composite micro-nano filtrate reducer (MNFR) was developed using inverse emulsion polymerization. The MNFR has a D50 particle size of 1.313μm, withstands temperatures up to 200℃, resists saturated NaCl brine, and exhibits an EC50 biotoxicity value of 86700 mg/L. Furthermore, a high-temperature-resistant (up to 200℃) eco-friendly high-performance drilling fluid system (HBHP) was constructed, demonstrating excellent rheological and filtration properties, with a high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) filtration volume of only 7.6mL and an EC50 biotoxicity value of 54300mg/L. It also shows outstanding plugging, anti-collapse, and hydration inhibition properties. The HBHP system has been applied in three wells in the Shengli oilfield, with no complex situations related to wellbore stability occurring during field operations, thus providing technical support for the green development of complex hydrocarbon reservoirs such as deep, ultra-deep, offshore deepwater, and unconventional formations.

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