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Books in Earth and planetary sciences

Elsevier's Earth and Planetary Sciences collection brings together pioneering research on the complexities of our planet and beyond. Covering topics from Earth's structural dynamics and ecosystems to planetary exploration, these titles support advancements in geoscience, environmental science, and space studies, offering essential insights for researchers, professionals, and students.

  • Fractal Models in Exploration Geophysics

    Applications to Hydrocarbon Reservoirs
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 41
    • V.P. Dimri + 2 more
    • English
    Researchers in the field of exploration geophysics have developed new methods for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of gravity and magnetic data, based on detailed investigations of bore wells around the globe. Fractal Models in Exploration Geophysics describes fractal-based models for characterizing these complex subsurface geological structures. The authors introduce the inverse problem using a fractal approach which they then develop with the implementation of a global optimization algorithm for seismic data: very fast simulated annealing (VFSA). This approach provides high-resolution inverse modeling results—particularly useful for reservoir characterization.
  • Regional Geology and Tectonics: Phanerozoic Passive Margins, Cratonic Basins and Global Tectonic Maps

    • 1st Edition
    • David G. Roberts
    • English
    Expert petroleum geologists David Roberts and Albert Bally bring you Regional Geology and Tectonics: Phanerozoic Passive Margins, Cratonic Basins and Global Tectonic Maps, volume three in a three-volume series covering Phanerozoic regional geology and tectonics. Its key focus is on both volcanic and non-volcanic passive margins, and the importance of salt and shale driven by sedimentary tectonics to their evolution. Recent innovative research on such critical locations as Iberia, Newfoundland, China, and the North Sea are incorporated to provide practical real-world case studies in regional geology and tectonics. The vast amount of volcanic data now available to form accurate hydrocarbon assessments and analysis at passive margin locations is also included into this thorough yet accessible reference.
  • Regional Geology and Tectonics

    • 1st Edition
    • David G. Roberts + 1 more
    • English
    Volume 1A: Principles of Geologic AnalysisA "how-to" primer describes the basic concepts petroleum geologists and students need to understand hydrocarbon exploration in a broad range of geological settings globally. Volume 1B: Phanerozoic Rift Systems and Sedimentary BasinsIncorporates industry data to present regional seismic lines and cross sections to accurately document and analyze proven hydrocarbon systems. It also includes summaries of analogue and theoretical models as an essential backdrop to the structure and stratigraphy of a variety of geological settings. Volume 1C: Phanerozoic Passive Margins, Cratonic Basins and Global Tectonic MapsFocuses on both volcanic and non-volcanic passive margins as well as cratonic basins—critical habitats for hydrocarbons. It provides a unique basis for comparison of different passive margins and for an understanding of their structural and stratigraphic evolution, as well as their petroleum systems—especially useful to explorationists working in deep-water basins and researchers examining the tectonic evolution of the continent-ocean transition. A vast amount of data to enable hydrocarbon play assessments and analysis on passive margins is also included in this thorough yet accessible reference. Individual volumes can also be purchased:9780444530...
  • Underbalanced Drilling: Limits and Extremes

    • 1st Edition
    • Bill Rehm + 4 more
    • English
    The present crude oil and natural gas reservoirs around the world have depleted conventional production levels. To continue enhancing productivity for the remaining mature reservoirs, drilling decision-makers could no longer rely on traditional balanced or overbalanced methods of drilling. Derived from conventional air drilling, underbalanced drilling is increasingly necessary to meet today’s energy and drilling needs. While more costly and extreme, underbalanced drilling can minimize pressure within the formation, increase drilling rate of penetration, reduce formation damage and lost circulation, making mature reservoirs once again viable and more productive. To further explain this essential drilling procedure, Bill Rehm, an experienced legend in drilling along with his co-editors, has compiled a handbook perfect for the drilling supervisor. Underbalanced Drilling: Limits and Extremes, written under the auspices of the IADC Technical Publications Committee, contain many great features and contributions including: Real case studies shared by major service companies to give the reader guidelines on what might happen in actual operations Questions and answers at the end of the chapters for upcoming engineers to test their knowledge Common procedures, typical and special equipment involved, and most importantly, the limits and challenges that still surround this technology
  • Energy Potential of the Russian Arctic Seas

    Choice of Development Strategy
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 58
    • Alexey Piskarev + 1 more
    • English
    The structure of sedimentary basins of the Russian Arctic Seas is studied and illustrated by a number of maps, cross-sections and geophysical models. The calculated density models of the Earth crust illustrate the deep structure of the main blocks of the crust. Five major gas-condensate and gas fields are discovered here: three (Shtokman, Ludlov, Ledovoe) in the Barents and two (Leningrad and Rusanov) in the Kara Sea.Geological and geophysical characteristics of the Russian Arctic Sea sedimentary basins allow an estimation of their hydrocarbon potential by comparison with the known world analogues.Total potential resources of giant deposits of hydrocarbons in Russian Arctic Seas are estimated at 470 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The richest resources are the Kara Sea and Laptev Sea. Less rich is Barents Sea. The relatively smaller contribution to the overall estimation of the resources makes the resources of East-Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea.Development the energy capacity of the continental shelf of Russia can play a stabilizing role in the dynamics of oil and gas production in the period 2010-2020. A key role in developing the capacity of the Arctic shelf oil and gas play is the innovative technology in exploration, production and management of the relevant investment projects. World offshore experience indicates that the combination of these factors is achieved through the formation of international firms and organizations.
  • Regional Geology and Tectonics: Phanerozoic Rift Systems and Sedimentary Basins

    • 1st Edition
    • David G. Roberts
    • English
    Expert petroleum geologists David Roberts and Albert Bally bring you Regional Geology and Tectonics: Phanerozoic Rift Systems and Sedimentary Basins, volume two in a three-volume series covering Phanerozoic regional geology and tectonics. Experience in analyzing and assessing rifts—locations where the Earth’s outer shell and crust have been stretched over time by seismic activity—is critical for you as an exploration geologist in identifying Earth’s most lucrative hydrocarbon locations in which extraction is both efficient and safe. Vast compilations of related industry data present regional seismic lines and cross sections, and summaries of analogue and theoretical models are provided as an essential backdrop to the structure and stratigraphy of various geological settings.
  • The Climate of the Mediterranean Region

    From the Past to the Future
    • 1st Edition
    • P. Lionello
    • English
    The Mediterranean region contains a diverse and interesting climate ranging from areas with permanent glaciers to areas of subtropical, semiarid regions. The region is potentially sensitive to climate change and its progress has environmental, social, and economic implications within and beyond the region. Produced by the Mediterranean Climate Variability and Predictability Research Networking Project, this book reviews the evolution of the Mediterranean climate over the past two millennia with projections further into the twenty-first century as well as examining in detail various aspects of the Mediterranean region’s climate including evolution, atmospheric variables, and oceanic and land elements. Integrated with this, the book also considers the social and economic problems or vulnerabilities associated with the region. Written and reviewed by multiple researchers to ensure a high level of information presented clearly, Mediterranean Climate Variables will be an invaluable source of information for geologists, oceanographers, and anyone interested in learning more about the Mediterranean climate.
  • Formation and Properties of Clay-Polymer Complexes

    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 4
    • B.K.G. Theng
    • English
    Formation and Properties of Clay-Polymer Complexes provides a comprehensive account of the reactions between clay minerals and organic polymers. The book opens with a discussion of the structures of common clay minerals, clays colloid chemistry, and the behaviour of organic polymers at clay surfaces. This is followed by a systematic treatment of complex formation between clay minerals and various classes of synthetic and naturally occurring polymers, a description of the properties of the resulting complexes and, wherever appropriate, their practical applications. The book will have a new separate chapter on clay-polymer nanocomposites. Each chapter is written as a self-contained review paper, giving a list of reference to the original literature.
  • Regional Geology and Tectonics: Principles of Geologic Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • David G. Roberts
    • English
    Expert petroleum geologists David Roberts and Albert Bally bring you Regional Geology and Tectonics: Principles of Geologic Analysis, volume one in a three-volume series covering Phanerozoic regional geology and tectonics. It has been written to provide you with a detailed overview of geologic rift systems, passive margins, and cratonic basins, it features the basic principles necessary to grasping the conceptual approaches to hydrocarbon exploration in a broad range of geological settings globally.
  • New Perspectives on Deep-water Sandstones

    Origin, Recognition, Initiation, and Reservoir Quality
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 9
    • G. Shanmugam
    • English
    This handbook is vital for understanding the origin of deep-water sandstones, emphasizing sandy-mass transport deposits (SMTDs) and bottom-current reworked sands (BCRSs) in petroleum reservoirs. This cutting-edge perspective, a pragmatic alternative to the conventional turbidite concepts, is crucial because the turbidite paradigm is built on a dubious foundation without empirical data on sandy turbidity currents in modern oceans. In the absence of evidence for sandy turbidity currents in natural environments, elegant theoretical models and experimental observations of turbidity currents are irrelevant substitutes for explaining the origin of sandy deposits as "turbidites." In documenting modern and ancient SMTDs (sandy slides, sandy slumps, and sandy debrites) and BCRSs (deposits of thermohaline [contour] currents, wind-driven currents, and tidal currents), the author describes and interprets core and outcrop (1:20 to 1:50 scale) from 35 case studies worldwide (which include 32 petroleum reservoirs), totaling more than 10,000 m in cumulative thickness, carried out during the past 36 years (1974-2010). The book dispels myths about the importance of sea level lowstand and provides much-needed clarity on the triggering of sediment failures by earthquakes, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, and cyclones with implications for the distribution of deep-water sandstone petroleum reservoirs.