Xishuang Li

Assessment of structural stability in Bohai Sea area based on AHP-GDM model

The AHP-GDM model is used for the assessment of structural stability, with the Bohai Sea area as an example. In this model, the credit degree of each expert is calculated through the assessment matrix based on the similarity and diversity of vector. The comprehensive opinions of expert panel are quantitatively obtained by considering the effect of credit degree. According to the geological structural setting, the Bohai Sea is divided into twelve assessment zones of structural stability by non-uniform element method. The structural stability grade of each zone is obtained on the basis of the latest geophysical data, earthquake statistical data, and the information of fault activities, current stress field and crustal deformation. The results show that there are one relatively stable area, three relatively sub-stable areas, six relatively sub-unstable areas and two relatively unstable areas. The assessment results of non-uniform element method are very close with those of uniform grid method with size of 0.25° in longitude direction and 0.14° in latitude direction. However the workload of non-uniform element method is only 1/16 of the latter. Compared with traditional assessment methods of structural stability, a more objective and reliable assessment result can be obtained by combining non-uniform element method and AHP-GDM model.

Mass movements in small canyons in the northeast of Baiyun deepwater area, north of the South China Sea

The process of mass movements and their consequent turbidity currents in large submarine canyons has been widely reported, however, little attention was paid to that in small canyons. In this paper, we document mass movements in small submarine canyons in the northeast of Baiyun deepwater area, north of the South China Sea (SCS), and their strong effects on the evolution of the canyons based on geophysical data. Submarine canyons in the study area arrange closely below the shelf break zone which was at the depth of–500 m. Within submarine canyons, seabed surface was covered with amounts of failure scars resulted from past small-sized landslides. A complex process of mass transportation in the canyons is indicated by three directions of mass movements. Recent mass movement deposits in the canyons exhibit translucent reflections or parallel reflections which represent the brittle deformation and the plastic deformation, respectively. The area of most landslides in the canyons is less than 3 km2. The trigger mechanisms for mass movements in the study area are gravitational overloading, slope angle and weak properties of soil. Geophysical data indicate that the genesis of submarine canyons is the erosion of mass movements and consequent turbidity currents. The significant effects of mass movements on canyon are incision and sediment transportation at the erosion phases and fillings supply at the fill phases. This research will be helpful for the geological risk assessments and understanding the sediment transportation in the northern margin of the SCS.

Prediction for potential landslide zones using seismic amplitude in Liwan gas field, northern South China Sea

The Liwan (Lw) gas field located in the northern slope of the South China Sea (SCS) is extremely complex for its sea-floor topograghy, which is a huge challenge for the safety of subsea facilities. It is economically impractical to obtain parameters for risk assessment of slope stability through a large amount of sampling over the whole field. The linkage between soil shear strength and seabed peak amplitude derived from 2D/3D seismic data is helpful for understanding the regional slope-instability risk. In this paper, the relationships among seabed peak, acoustic impedance and shear strength of shallow soil in the study area were discussed based on statistical analysis results. We obtained a similar relationship to that obtained in other deep-water areas. There is a positive correlation between seabed peak amplitude and acoustic impedance and an exponential relationship between acoustic impedance and shear strength of sediment. The acoustic impedance is the key factor linking the seismic amplitude and shear strength. Infinite slope stability analysis results indicate the areas have a high potential of shallow landslide on slopes exceeding 15° when the thickness of loose sediments exceeds 8 m in the Lw gas field. Our prediction shows that they are mainly located in the heads and walls of submarine canyons.

Fault Activity in the Surrounding Sea Areas of the Nuclear Power Plant in Cang-Nan, China

The fault activity in the area surrounding a nuclear power plant is crucial and critical for site selection. This study aims to analyze the fault activity in the surrounding sea areas of the Cang-nan nuclear power plant. The strata information is obtained by both a high-resolution multi-channel seismic survey and a single-channel seismic survey. Based on the processed seismic data, the seismic profiles are interpreted by combining the regional tectonic background and the exploration data from the neighboring nuclear power plant. Seven seismic reflection interfaces are obtained by using the seismic stratigraphy method. According to the active fault criterion, no fault is found in the Quaternary sedimentary layer, indicating that no breakpoint exists. The results show that there is no Quaternary active fault in the concerning area of the Cang-nan nuclear power plant (<25 km) and the site can meet the requirements of the industry standard.

Mapping Submarine Landslide: A Case Study in Northern Continental Slope of the South China Sea

Geographical Information Systems is a useful tool for marine geohazard mapping. This paper describes an integrated and systematic map-based approach for identification and characterization of submarine landslide with multidisciplinary data such as multibeam bathymetric data, multichannel seismic data, sidescan sonar and so on. Taking Liwan 31 gas field in northern continental slope of Southern China Sea as a case study, a regional database is established to provide convenient services to manage search and extract the target data for geohazard mapping and identification. Bathymetric map and seismo-geomorphologic map are calculated and produced with GIS to establish an elementary understanding of geomorphologic features. With this integrated approach, dozens of landslides are identified in the study area and they are featured as small and multiple superimposed failure scars. Fundamental information of landslides can also be provided for further detail interpretation, quantification and assessment of their mechanism and potential risks.