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Elsevier Science

  • Hydraulic Proppant Fracturing and Gravel Packing

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 26
    • D. Mader
    • English
    Many aspects of hydraulic proppant fracturing have changed since its innovation in 1947. The main significance of this book is its combination of technical and economical aspects to provide an integrated overview of the various applications of proppants in hydraulic fracturing, and gravel in sand control. The monitoring of fractures and gravel packs by well-logging and seismic techniques is also included.The book's extensive coverage of the subject should be of special interest to reservoir geologists and engineers, production engineers and technologists, and well log analysts.
  • Coastal Oceanography of Washington and Oregon

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 47
    • M.R. Landry + 1 more
    • English
    The Washington-Oregon coastal zone is a classical Eastern Boundary Current region. The area is extremely productive, the productivity dependent on near-shore infusions of nutrients into surface layers during wind-driven coastal upwelling. The Washington-Oregon coastline is much more regular than areas off California or off the East Coast, where large capes lend complexity to both the physical environment and the ecosystem response. The relatively straight coastline and broad, deep shelf greatly simplify the physical environment, so that processes responsible for much of the variance are more easily identified. The system response from mid-Oregon northward, although not strictly two-dimensional, is more so than many other coastal areas. Consequently, the system is amenable to the testing of relatively simple models integrating wind forcing with physical, chemical and biological responses in the upper water column.This book is an integrated synthesis of physical, chemical, geological and biological research in a dynamic shelf ecosystem characterized by seasonal, wind-driven upwelling, major river influences, extensive silt deposits, productive pelagic and demersal fisheries, and unique surf-zone communities. The broad scope of the book includes: detailed analyses of physical circulation and sediment transport; production and utilization of organic matter in the marine food web; river influences on regional hydrology and sediment deposition; inputs and inventories of anthropogenic chemicals in the water column and sedimentary deposits. Much of the book is based on primary analyses of previously unpublished data sets. Interdisciplinary approaches are emphasized in models and discussions of coastal upwelling dynamics, hydrographic patterns and anomalies, benthic boundary-layer processes and larval transport, oceanographic influences on commercial stocks, mechanics of chemical cycling and accumulation, and surf-zone production. An extensive index and references complete the book.The book is intended both to document and explain specific regional features of the Washington/Oregon shelf system and, more generally, to illustrate the complexities of interactive influences on the dynamics of coastal ecosystems. Oceanographers, both researchers and students, will be very interested in this book, and it can also be used by governmental agencies and industries dealing with coastal zone management and planning.
  • Antarctic Sector of the Pacific

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 51
    • G.P. Glasby
    • English
    The Antarctic Sector of the Pacific covers the area between Australia and South America south of about 45°S. The region comprises about 6% of the Earth's surface and is amongst the most remote, hostile and least studied of the world's oceans. The scientific importance of the region is derived from its role in the reconstruction of Gondwanaland, its influence on Pacific climate and palaeoclimate and its biological productivity. No systematic surveys of the region have been undertaken since the work of the U.S.N.S. Eltanin (1962-1972). The comprehensive reassessment of whale stocks by the International Whaling Commission in 1990 and problems with ratification of the Antarctic Minerals Regime attest to the importance of Antarctic matters at present.The book will stimulate scientific activity in the region and serve as a handbook for future research. It should also appeal to oceanographers and Polar scientists.
  • Water Management in Reservoirs

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 33
    • L. Votruba + 1 more
    • English
    This book introduces methods for solving the technical and economic problems posed by water reservoirs, so as to ensure they have the best possible economic and social effect. The significance of reservoirs and the development of their function in water management is assessed, and they are classified according to origin and placing. Among the methods for solving the reservoir's function, both graphical and numerical procedures are described, based on the probability theory and mathematical statistics. In the explanation of the supply function of the reservoirs, attention is paid to the processing of hydrological data, the respective probability distribution is assessed, the theory of stochastic processes is explained, and methods of modelling the sequence of mean annual and monthly discharges are mentioned. The demands of consumers and the reliability of water supply are analysed. All types of reservoir discharge control are presented, i.e. multi-year, annual, short-term and compensation. A solution is given for the discharge control in reservoir systems and in special cases of water management, as well as in individual reservoirs. To describe the flood control function of reservoirs, hydrological data are evaluated, the precision of the flood regime characteristics is assessed, the flood routing in a reservoir is resolved, and the question of flood control is discussed. Control of a reservoir is ensured by a special space, as well as by utilizing the supply and overflow components of the reservoir.A separate part is devoted to the water management operations of reservoirs, mentioning the rules for control of the discharge from reservoirs in permanent operation, mainly using central control, and for the study and evaluation of the water management function of reservoirs. The last part of the book describes solutions for new reservoir functions resulting from their incorporation into water management systems and their function in the environment. The basic types of water management systems are described, as well as conditions for their optimal operation. In a similar way, the distribution of investment and operation costs for the various parts of a complex water management project are discussed in detail, as well as the economic impact of the reliability of water supply and flood control. The physical, chemical, biological and social consequences of reservoirs and their significance in creating a cultural landscape are analysed.The book is mainly intended for those who are involved in the development, preparation and operation of water management schemes and students of graduate and post-graduate courses in the field of water management.
  • Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 22
    • E.C. Donaldson + 2 more
    • English
    The use of microorganisms and their metabolic products to stimulate oil production is currently receiving renewed interest worldwide. This technique involves the injection of selected microorganisms into the reservoir and the subsequent stimulation and transportation of their in situ growth products, in order that their presence will aid in further reduction of residual oil left in the reservoir after secondary recovery is exhausted. Although unlikely to replace conventional microbial enhanced oil recovery, this unique process seems superior in many respects. Self-duplicating units, namely the bacteria cells, are injected into the reservoir and by their in situ multiplication they magnify beneficial effects.This new approach to enhancement of oil recovery was initiated in 1980 and the first results were published in the proceedings of two international conferences. This book evolved from these conferences, and was designed to encompass all current aspects of microbial enhanced oil recovery: the development of specific cultures, increase of the population for field application, various methods for field applications and the results, and the environmental concerns associated with this newly developed technology. It provides a comprehensive treatise of the subject, and is arranged to show the laboratory development of microbes suited to microbial enhanced oil recovery and the perpetuation of the special cultures in a petroleum reservoir. Thus, this book has specific usefulness in the laboratory, the oilfield and the classroom. Although not written as a text book, it can be used as a reference volume for graduate studies in enhanced oil recovery.
  • Advanced Scientific Computing in BASIC with Applications in Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 4
    • P Valko + 1 more
    • English
    This book gives a practical introduction to numerical methods and presents BASIC subroutines for real-life computations in the areas of chemistry, biology, and pharmacology. The choice of BASIC as the programming language is motivated by its simplicity, its availability on all personal computers and by its power in data acquisition. While most of the scientific packages currently available in BASIC date back to the period of limited memory and speed, the subroutines presented here can handle a broad range of realistic problems with the power and sophistication needed by professionals and with simple, step-by-step instructions for students and beginners.Please note that a diskette containing the 37 program modules and 39 sample programs listed in the book is no longer available.The main task considered in the book is that of extracting useful information from measurements via modelling, simulation, and statistical data evaluations. Efficient and robust numerical methods have been chosen to solve related problems in numerical algebra, nonlinear equations and optimization, parameter estimation, signal processing, and differential equations. For each class of routines an introduction to the relevant theory and techniques is given, so that the reader will recognise and use the appropriate method for solving his or her particular problem. Simple examples illustrate the use and applicability of each method.
  • Atmospheric Ozone Research and its Policy Implications

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 35
    • S.D. Lee + 3 more
    • English
    These proceedings describe the current state-of-the-art of ozone research. A wide range of topics is discussed including: emissions, transport and transformation of precursors of ozone and of ozone itself, the distribution of ozone, the deposition of ozone at the earth's surface, and its effects on man and the environment. Attention is also given to the role of stratospheric ozone and the role of the ultraviolet radiation which is transmitted through the ozone layer. Finally it describes in detail present and future policy measures to reduce the ozone in the lower atmosphere and to protect the ozone layer in the stratosphere.Many of the papers describe recent developments and new research results. Research carried out in both in Europe and in the United States is described, as are the policy measures which are being taken by both European and U.S. governments.
  • Pesticide Chemistry

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 32
    • G. Matolcsy + 2 more
    • English
    This book provides an overview of the major chemical aspects of pesticides giving detailed descriptions of the various groups of pesticides in current use - insecticides, acaricides, nematocides, rodenticides, fungicides and herbicides. The organic syntheses are discussed in detail, as are the biochemical aspects of the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of these chemical agents. The ecological aspects of the use of pesticides - nowadays an important consideration - are also discussed.The main trends of development in the field are also dealt with, e.g. the development of insecticides which present less of a threat to human beings and animals than the ones presently used, whose point of attack is the nervous system. Research is now concentrated on developing chemical compounds which affect the biochemistry or the special behavioural features of insects, instead of acting upon their nervous system. Newly discovered chemicals with selective action which are still in the developmental and experimentational stages are also described.Because of its comprehensive character, the book will be a useful source of information to those engaged in practical work in this field, as well as to researchers in the agricultural sciences.
  • Laboratory Studies of Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 42
    • E.G. Christoffel + 1 more
    • English
    Providing a concise treatment of methods of heterogeneous catalysis used in the laboratory, this book describes the basic phenomena of heterogeneous catalytic reaction systems and discusses in detail the experimental methods and procedures for investigating these systems. The introductory chapter illustrates the whole procedure with an actual example. The next chapter presents the basic phenomena of catalytic systems and the concepts used in studying them. The third chapter covers the description of methods for investigating reaction mechanisms and the dynamics of heterogeneous catalytic reaction systems. The last chapter discusses the design and operation modes of laboratory reactors, frequently used for the investigation of heterogeneous catalytic reactions.The approach is interdisciplinary, providing a balance between chemical engineering and chemical viewpoints of treating laboratory-scale reactors. Chemists and chemical engineers involved in catalyst research will be very interested in this book and it can also be usefully used in specialized courses for graduate students in chemistry or in chemical reaction engineering.
  • Analytical Artifacts

    GC, MS, HPLC, TLC and PC
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 44
    • B.S. Middleditch
    • English
    This encyclopaedic catalogue of the pitfalls and problems that all analysts encounter in their work is destined to spend more time on the analyst's workbench than on a library shelf. The author has dedicated the book to ``the innumerable scientists who made mistakes, used impure chemicals and solvents, suffered the consequences of unanticipated side-reactions, and were otherwise exposed to mayhem yet were not too embarrassed to publish their findings''. Traditionally, the mass spectroscopist or gas chromatographer learnt his trade by participating in a 4-6 year apprenticeship as graduate student and post-doctoral researcher. Generally, no formal training was provided on the things that go wrong, but this information was accumulated by sharing in the experiences of colleagues. Nowadays, many novice scientists simply purchase a computerized instrument, plug it in, and use it. Much time can be wasted in studying and resolving problems due to artifacts and there is also a strong possibility that artifacts will not be recognized as such. For example, most analysts realize that they should use glass rather than plastic containers; but few of them would anticipate the possibility of plasticizer residues on glassware washed using detergent from a plastic bottle.This book is an easy-to-use compendium of problems encountered when using various commonly used analytical techniques. Emphasis is on impurities, by-products, contaminants and other artifacts. A separate entry is provided for each artifact. For specific chemicals, this entry provides the common name, mass spectrum, gas chromatographic data, CAS name and registry number, synonyms and a narrative discussion. More than 1100 entries are included. Mass spectral data are indexed in a 6-peak index (molecular ion, base peak, second peak, third peak) and there are also formula, author and subject indexes. An extensive bibliography contains complete literature citations.The book is designed to be used. It will not only allow experienced analysts to profit from the mistakes of others, but it will also be invaluable to other scientists who use analytical instruments in their work.