Skip to main content
Elsevier

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.

  • Diagenesis, II

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 43
    • G.V. Chilingarian + 1 more
    • English
    Diagenesis is a highly developed, interdisciplinary field of study. It is reciprocal in that it borrows from numerous scientific or technological specialities and then, in turn, repays them with useful results. Too often, however, the information gained and concepts developed remain unintegrated instead of being utilized quickly by several related earth-science fraternities. This volume, the second of a multi-volume work, attempts to bring together such information, thereby assisting the individual and the research group in keeping up with the data explosion.There is no end in sight to diagenetic research because of its wide practical and intellectual appeals. Consequently, periodic reviews, such as presented in this volume, are greatly needed.

  • Green Marine Clays

    Oolitic Ironstone Facies, Verdine Facies, Glaucony Facies and Celadonite-Bearing Rock Facies - A Comparative Study
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 45
    • G.S. Odin
    • English
    Green Marine Clays provides a comparative study of four authigenic marine clays: the well-known glaucony marine facies; the newly-identified sedimentary facies - verdine; the old oolitic ironstone facies; and the celadonite-bearing facies.The book demonstrates that the sea bottom plays host to a variety of clay minerals specific to the marine environment: ferric di-trioctahedral ``serpentine'', ferric chlorite, ferric smectite, ferric mica, ferric ``swelling chlorite'', all widespread in present oceans and all fundamentally formed by crystal growth and recrystallization processes in semi-confined marine microenvironments.A unique feature of the book is the inclusion of the first detailed study of the verdine facies characterized by a variety of authigenic green clays, some of which are new clay mineral species widespread in all tropical oceans. The celadonite-bearing facies has been studied intensively in the last few years and new results are obtained from deep sea samples and from land outcrops. The current knowledge is synthesized and reviewed in comparison with the glaucony facies. A new approach is adopted in the description of the old oolitic ironstone facies in which a comparison is made with the recent verdine facies.The material is abundantly illustrated throughout by 133 figures and 59 tables; 36 of the figures consist of plates showing 170 selected pictures obtained at different scales of observation including the field, binocular microscope, thin sections, transmission electron miscroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction. A subject index completes the book.The information presented here will help geologists construct a clearer picture of environmental and depositional history of rocks. It will appeal to sedimentologists interested in the processes by which, and the environment in which, clay minerals form. Clay mineralogists will find much useful information on a variety of iron rich minerals, and geochemists interested in the iron in the sea and those working with sedimentary iron ores will also benefit from the book.

  • Groundwater Discharge Tests: Simulation and Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 37
    • D. Clarke
    • English
    This book describes microcomputer programs which can be used to simulate or analyse water production well and aquifer discharge test data. Computer graphics are used to help visualise the data, and output to plotters is also catered for. Simple confined aquifers, leaky confined aquifers, unconfined aquifers and a variety of boundary conditions are dealt with.The book and the microcomputer programs it describes will allow the reader to apply very flexible computer techniques to the analysis of his well and aquifer discharge test data. The speed of the microcomputer analyses will give the user the opportunity of looking at his data in more ways than he would otherwise be able to, thus giving insights into the data that would not otherwise be possible. The simulation programs permit the production of type curve data, which can then be used in comparison with the real data, or used in becoming familiar with the operation of the analysis programs.Although primarily intended for practicing hydrogeologists and universities teaching hydrogeology, this book would also be of interest to anyone having an interest in the effects of groundwater extraction. The programs will run on IBM PCs and compatibles with colour graphics.

  • Electron Microscopy in Microbiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 20
    • English
    This volume of this acclaimed series deals with electron microscopic techniques applied for the elucidation of microbial structures and structure-function relationships at cellular, sub-cellular, and macromolecular levels. Many of the recent findings on ultrastructural features of microorganisms have been obtained with newly developed methods, though classical approaches have not lost their validity. Therefore, both conventional and new methods have been incorporated into this volume. The topics dealt with are meaningful not only in bacterial cytology but also in physiology, enzymology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, and include aspects of medical and biotechnological application.

  • Analysis of Water Resource Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 32
    • L. Votruba
    • English
    Water resource systems research provides a basis for rational water management in large basins. The design and operation of water resource systems are both the most complicated and the most important tasks of water management. This book deals with the basic issues involved in the application of systems sciences to water management.A survey of the systems sciences (the general systems theory, cybernetics, systems engineering, operations research and systems analysis) is presented, as well as the methods for water resource systems analysis and for water resource systems analysis and for their evaluation. The mathematical methods used in systems theory have been given detailed treatment. Linear and dynamic programming have been used as models of optimal programming. Since many practical tasks require the simulation models of water resource systems, apart from their principles and a detailed description, the simulation language for computing programming has been included. Other methods of operations research and their application to water resource systems have been analysed and evaluated. Some of these are: models of inventory theory, models of queuing theory, graphs, network analysis, and some special methods like the out-of-kilter algorithm, the chance-constrained model and the chance-constrained model combined with the simluation model. One chapter is devoted to information and information systems in water management. The final part of the book deals with prospects for water resource systems development.The book is intended for engineers and decision-makers involved in projects, operation and research. However, it can be used by students in high schools, technical universities and by graduate students. It will serve as an up-to-date source of information about the principles and methodology of water resource analysis and design.

  • Diagenesis, I

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 41
    • G.V. Chilingarian + 1 more
    • English
    Diagenesis is a highly developed, interdisciplinary field of study. It is reciprocal in that it borrows from numerous scientific or technological specialities and then, in turn, repays them with useful results. Too often, however, the information gained and concepts developed remain unintegrated instead of being utilized quickly by several related earth-science fraternities. This volume, the first of a multi-volume work, attempts to bring together such information, thereby assisting the individual and the research group in keeping up with the data explosion.There is no end in sight to diagenetic research because of its wide practical and intellectual appeals. Consequently, periodic reviews, such as presented in this volume, are greatly needed.

  • Advances in Geophysics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 30
    • English

  • Water and Wastewater Systems Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 34
    • D.J. Stephenson
    • English
    This book provides a sound basis for analysing water supply schemes from the point of view of water quality. A systematic approach to decision making in water resources planning is presented with particular reference to wastewater re-use. Methods for deciding between recycling, purification or use of river water are given. The problems of poor quality water are documented and alternatives suggested, including management in a way to achieve objectives in the most economic manner.Various methods of system simulation and optimization are applied in a number of case studies. Methods of analysis and numerical methods are described, as well as the basis of pollution and water quality. The economics of desalination are also discussed. The examples studied range from regional supplies to internal re-circulation. Groundwater and artificial recharge are considered, and stormwater quality and sewerage systems are also covered. Computer applications exist throughout and a number of simulation and optimization programs in BASIC are presented. The necessity for scientific sampling procedures in monitoring water quality, an often ignored subject, was written by Professor Tom Sanders of Colorado State University.The theory and case studies should prove of value in many aspects of planning the use of water resources with quality constraints. Wastewater re-use and conservation are therefore promoted by the approach adopted.

  • Advances in Electronics and Electron Physics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 74
    • English

  • Fundamentals of Gas Reservoir Engineering

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 23
    • J. Hagoort
    • English
    Gas reservoir engineering is the branch of reservoir engineering that deals exclusively with reservoirs of non-associated gas. The prime purpose of reservoir engineering is the formulation of development and production plans that will result in maximum recovery for a given set of economic, environmental and technical constraints. This is not a one-time activity but needs continual updating throughout the production life of a reservoir.The objective of this book is to bring together the fundamentals of gas reservoir engineering in a coherent and systematic manner. It is intended both for students who are new to the subject and practitioners, who may use this book as a reference and refresher. Each chapter can be read independently of the others and includes several, completely worked exercises. These exercises are an integral part of the book; they not only illustrate the theory but also show how to apply the theory to practical problems.Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are concerned with the basic physical properties of reservoirs and natural gas fluids, insofar as of relevance to gas reservoir engineering. Chapter 5 deals with the volumetric estimation of hydrocarbon fluids in-place and the recoverable hydrocarbon reserves of gas reservoirs. Chapter 6 presents the material balance method, a classic method for the analysis of reservoir performance based on the Law of Conservation of Mass. Chapters 7-10 discuss various aspects of the flow of natural gas in the reservoir and the wellbore: single phase flow in porous and permeable media; gaswell testing methods based on single-phase flow principles; the mechanics of gas flow in the wellbore; the problem of water coning, the production of water along with the gas in gas reservoirs with underlaying bottom water. Chapter 11 discusses natural depletion, the common development option for dry and wet gas reservoirs. The development of gas-condensate reservoirs by gas injection is treated in Chapter 12.Appendix A lists the commonly used units in gas reservoir engineering, along with their conversion factors. Appendix B includes some special physical and mathematical constants that are of particular interest in gas reservoir engineering. Finally, Appendix C contains the physical properties of some common natural-gas components.

  • Numerical Methods for Transport and Hydraulic Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • English

  • Modelling Surface and Sub-Surface Flows

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 35
    • English

  • Coastal Meteorology

    • 1st Edition
    • Shih-Ang Hsu
    • English
    Coastal meteorology is an integral part of the total system approach to understanding coastal environments. This book provides information for students who are not necessarily majoring in meteorology or atmospheric sciences but who nonetheless have need of such knowledge. Scientists, engineers, and coastal planners will also find this book a useful resource for familiarizing themselves with meteorological information.

  • Small-Scale Turbulence and Mixing in the Ocean

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 46
    • J.C.J. Nihoul + 1 more
    • English
    This volume contains the proceedings of the 19th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, the programme of which focused on the relationships between small-scale mixing and large-scale features, transports and processes. The presentation of papers on various methods of parameterization of small-scale turbulent mixing for numerical ocean models was particularly encouraged and this resulted in more than a third of the papers presented at the Colloquium dealing in one way or another with the parameterization problems; many of these papers demonstrate the direct results of modelling. These proportions are well reflected in this volume of proceedings and thus emphasize once more the importance of small-scale turbulence research for such vital practical applications as ocean modelling and forecasting.

  • Fish Physiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 11A
    • English

  • Advances in Insect Physiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 20
    • English

  • The Physiology of Developing Fish: Viviparity and Posthatching Juveniles

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 11B
    • English
    FROM THE PREFACE: Dramatic changes occur in the physiology of most animals during their development. Among the vertebrates, birds are entirely oviparous, live for variable periods in a cleidoic egg, and show fundamental alterations in excretion, nutrition, and respiration at the time of hatching. In contrast, the eutherian mammals are all viviparous, depend on the maternal circulation and a specialized placenta to provide food, exchange gases, and discharge wastes. The physiology of both mother and fetus is highly specialized during gestation and changes fundamentally at the time of birth. Fishes exemplify both the oviparous and the viviparous modes of development, with some examples that are intermediate between the two.In these two volumes, selected reviews of many, but not all, aspects of development are presented. The chapters in Part A relate to the physiology of eggs and larvae; those in Part B concern viviparity and the physiology of posthatching juvenile fishes.

  • Composition and Properties of Drilling and Completion Fluids

    • 5th Edition
    • HCH Darley + 1 more
    • English
    Composition and Properties of Drilling and Completion Fluids, Fifth Edition, covers the fundamental principles of geology, chemistry, and physics that provide the scientific basis for drilling fluids technology.New material for drilling, logging, and production supervisors and engineers exlains how the choice of a drilling fluid and proper maintenance can profoundly reduce total well costs. It also defines technical terms necessary to the understanding of instructions and information provided by the mud engineer. Updated chapters discuss evaluation of drilling fluid performance, clay mineralogy and colloid chemistry, rheology, filtration properties, hole stability, drilling problems, and completion fluids.

  • Chemistry of the Natural Atmosphere

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 41
    • Warneck
    • English

  • Chemistry of Soil Organic Matter

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 17
    • K. Kumada
    • English
    Despite the large number of papers and books published on soil organic matter (humus), our knowledge of the subject is still very limited, as is our knowledge of humic acid. The author of this book began to study humus at the end of the 1940s and continued until 1984 when he retired from Nagoya University. With the intention of establishing a systematic understanding of soil organic matter, he has compiled facts and a discussion of humus based on his extensive experimental results during the past 40 years.In this book, humic acids are classified into A, B, Rp and P types, based on their optical properties. The elementary composition and other chemical properties of humic acid types are shown to be regularly different from each other. A new method for humus composition analysis applied to various kinds of soils in Japan and several other countries indicates that the diversity of humus compositions of soils is systematically understandable. These findings lead the author to novel theories on the chemical configuration and formation of humic acids and humic substances. Diagenesis of humus under terrestrial conditions is illustrated as to the buried humic horizons of Black soil (Andosol).The book will be useful not only to soil scientists and agronomists but also to geochemists, oceanographers, limnologists, water scientists, biologists and chemists who are dealing with organic matter in terrestrial, aquatic, and sedimentary environments.

  • Fine Coal Processing

    • 1st Edition
    • Surendra K. Mishra + 1 more
    • English

  • Methods in Microbiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 19
    • English

  • Carbonate-Clastic Transitions

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 42
    • Laurence (Hy) Doyle + 1 more
    • English
    Over the years, the field of sedimentology has become subdivided into various specialities. Two of the largest groups are those who study clastic rocks and those who study carbonates. There is little communication between the two: journals appear which are exclusively devoted to one or the other, and research conferences tend to be mutually exclusive. On the other hand, rocks themselves cannot be "pigeon-holed" in this way - the facies change from clastic to carbonate both laterally and through time. This volume stems from the editors' observations of such changes in the Gulf of Mexico and their realization that these geologically important transitions were being largely ignored because of professional compartmentilization... book opens with a chapter which gives an overview of the whole picture of global patterns of carbonate and clastic sedimentation. It then proceeds to a discussion of sedimentary models of siliciclastic deposits and coral reef relationships. The rest of the book comprises eight case studies on carbonate-clastic transitions, and a final chapter on control of carbonate-clastic sedimentation systems by baroclinic coastal currents.The aim of the book is to emphasize that clastic and carbonate sedimentation are not separate but part of a continuum - a transition which needs to be more thoroughly investigated and better understood. The excellent research papers presented here will undoubtedly help to achieve this goal.

  • Contributions in Petroleum Geology and Engineering: Volume 4

    • 1st Edition
    • Sanjay Kumar
    • English
    From gas properties to processing to production and flow, this practical, well-illustrated text thoroughly describes proven techniques and practices. Worked examples appear throughout the text and almost every chapter is followed by study questions and problems.

  • Middle Atmosphere Dynamics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 40
    • David G. Andrews + 2 more
    • English
    For advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in atmospheric, oceanic, and climate science, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics is an introductory textbook on the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean and their interaction, with an emphasis on global scales. It will give students a good grasp of what the atmosphere and oceans look like on the large-scale and why they look that way. The role of the oceans in climate and paleoclimate is also discussed. The combination of observations, theory and accompanying illustrative laboratory experiments sets this text apart by making it accessible to students with no prior training in meteorology or oceanography.

  • Advances in Heat Transfer

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 18
    • English

  • Biogeography and Plate Tectonics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 10
    • J.C. Briggs
    • English
    One needs to look at only a small portion of the enormous literature on plate tectonics published in the last 15 years to realize that there are many differences between the various reconstructions that have been presented. It becomes obvious that, although there is a general agreement about the presence of an assembly of continents (a Pangaea) in the early Mesozoic, there is considerable disagreement among earth scientists as to the configurement of the assembly and the manner and timing of the subsequent dispersal. While the revolution in geophysics was taking place, systematic work in paleontology and neontology was being carried out. This book is an attempt to incorporate the biological evidence into the theory of plate tectonics.The author traces the changing relationships among the various biogeographic regions and demonstrates how such changes may often be correlated with the gradual geographic alteration of the earth's surface. He analyses recent information about the distribution of widespread groups of terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates, invertebrates and plants, and discusses the biogeographical effects of the movement of oceanic plates.It is particularly important to obtain dependable information about certain critical times in the history of continental relationships. We need to know when the terrestrial parts of the earth were broken apart and when they were joined together. The present investigation makes it clear that we cannot depend entirely on evidence from plate tectonics nor will purely biological evidence suffice. This book thus provides much of interest to systematists working on contemporary groups of plants and animals, paleontologists, evolutionary biologists, and professors teaching courses in biogeography.

  • Principles of Ocean Physics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 38
    • John R. Apel
    • English
    In recent years, significant advances in both the theoretical and observational sides of physical oceanography have allowed the ocean's physical behavior to be described more quantitatively. This book discusses the physical mechanisms and processes of the sea, and will be valuable not only to oceanographers but also physicists, graduate students, and scientists working in dynamics or optics of the marine environment.

  • Surface Operations in Petroleum Production, I

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 19A
    • G.V. Chilingarian + 2 more
    • English
    This is the first part of a two-volume work which comes at a time when oil producers are taking a close look at the economy of oilfield operation and redesign of production technology to improve ultimate recovery. The very high cost, and risk, of the search for new oilfields demands the re-evaluation of production technology and reservoir engineering to improve the production characteristics of existing oilfields.It is the aim of this work that it will be instrumental in the improvement of the global enhancement of oil production and ultimate recovery. It is the outcome of extensive collaboration between experts in petroleum who have devoted their time to the lucid expression of the knowledge that they have acquired through experience in the evaluation and solution of field problems, and development of economic field processes. Oil production companies have been generous in their cooperation through assistance and encouragement to the authors and permission to publish data, designs and photographs.Together... the two books provide a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the subject. The physical and chemical properties of the fluids encountered by engineers in the field are clearly described. The properties, methods of separation, measurement, and transportation of these fluids (gases, condensate liquids derived from natural gas, crude oils and oilfield waters) are dealt with. Following a presentation of the fluids and their process technology, a series of chapters give a thorough discussion of every type of surface equipment that is encountered in the myriad aspects of oilfield operations, ranging from waterflooding to new enhanced oil recovery techniques. Included are all methods for pumping, water control, production logging and corrosion control. The coverage also extends to: well completion and work-over operations, methods for design and operation of underground gas storage, and a review of offshore technology.Surface Operations in Petroleum Production is therefore a comprehensive reference which will be invaluable for field production managers and engineers; as well as being an ideal text on production technology to complement the study of reservoir engineering.

  • The Lightning Discharge

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 39
    • Martin A. Uman
    • English
    From the Preface: In the 18 years since my technical monograph Lightning (McGraw-Hill, 1969; Dover, 1984) was first published, there have been significant advances in our understanding of lightning, but, until now, there has been no new monograph on the subject. A number of edited collections of papers and conference proceedings relating to lightning have been published during this period and are listed in Appendix D as well as being referenced, where appropriate, throughout the text... In the present book, the chapters are organized primarily by lightning process. Each chapter contains a reference list of essentially all literature on the subject discussed in that chapter, although all of these references may not be cited in the text.

  • Hydraulic Processes on Alluvial Fans

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 31
    • R.H. French
    • English
    Alluvial fans are among the most prominent landscape features in the American Southwest and throughout the semi-arid and arid regions of the world. The importance of developing a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the hydraulic processes which formed, and which continue to modify, these features derives from their rapid and significant development over the past four decades. As unplanned urban sprawl has moved from valley floors onto alluvial fans, the serious damage incurred from infrequent flow events has dramatically increased.This book presents a concise, coherent discussion of our current and rapidly expanding knowledge of hydraulic processes on alluvial fans. It addresses the subject from a multidisciplinary viewpoint, acquainting the geologist with engineering principles, and the civil engineer and planner with geological principles pertinent to the analysis of hydraulic processes on alluvial fans. The book thus provides much of interest to geologists, civil engineers and planners involved in floodplain management and drainage design in arid and semi-arid regions.

  • Microcomputer Programs for Groundwater Studies

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 30
    • D. Clarke
    • English
    This book provides the practising hydrogeologist with a selection of microcomputer programs which the author has found to be very useful as an aid in the investigation of groundwater wells and aquifers. The programs are written in BASIC and are designed to suit as wide a range of computer as possible.The book begins with a group of programs which solve several of the most common functions encountered in groundwater science. These are then developed into programs capable of calculating drawdown in a variety of discharge rate/aquifer/boundar... configurations, either at one time, or a series of exponentially increasing times. The author shows how a computerised form of Newtons method (for solving difficult equations) may be applied to such tasks as evaluating storage coefficient if transmissivity is known. Lagrangian interpolation is used to produce accurate values from tabled functions, either within a program, or on demand.One of the major programs in the book may be used to enter discharge test data into a computer, edit it as required (e.g. change drawdown measurements from feet to metres, or water levels to drawdowns etc.), and finally to analyse the data. For example, three different methods are provided for evaluation of the well equation. Another program is provided for controlling a plotter to produce several popular types of discharge test graphs; and a new image well method is included for simulating boundaries consisting of straight line junctions between areas of two different transmissivities.Thi... is a practical book, written to solve real-life problems. Accordingly, program operation is clearly described, but derivation of equations and functions have been omitted. (For those readers wishing to check on derivations, references are provided). Readers familiar with microcomputer programming may apply the programs given here to their own work, perhaps incorporating them as subroutines into large, more specialized programs. Those unfamiliar with programming can use the programs as they are listed. All programs are designed to be run with no more than an occasional reference to the written instructions being necessary.

  • Antarctica: Soils, Weathering Processes and Environment

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 16
    • I.B. Campbell + 1 more
    • English

  • The Interpretation of Logging Data

    Part B
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 15B
    • English
    Conceived and written by a geologist for geologists, Fundamentals of Well-Log Interpretation is a considerably revised and updated translation of the French edition. Part 1 dealt with the acquisition of logging data and when it appeared, one reviewer wrote: ``Serra has written a major reference work which is unusually well-organized, well-illustrated, and information-rich... If volume 2 is as thorough and exacting in detail as volume 1, it will do much toward furthering geologists' knowledge of well logging.'' (AAPG Bulletin).The fundamental objective of this second volume is to show that wireline log data constitute a remarkable source of geological information of the utmost importance for geologists, but also for reservoir engineers, geophysicists and petrophysicists. Too often, by nature of their training, geologists do not realize that wireline log data, which are physical data, hold in fact a tremendous variety of geological information covering practically all branches of geology. They are reluctant to use these data because often they are not familiar with them and do not know how to interpret wireline logs. Other log users generally do not realize the importance of geological knowledge to better interpret logs.This book aims to fill the gap by showing how wireline log data are dependent on geological parameters and how to extract the latter from the former. Methods of extracting the desired information from the wireline log data are explained and illustrated. In summary, the book explains how to make good geological studies from wireline logs. It is an invaluable acquisition for geologists, petrophysicists, reservoir engineers and geophysicists who wish to make better use of wireline log data.

  • Three-Dimensional Models of Marine and Estuarine Dynamics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 45
    • J.C.J. Nihoul + 1 more
    • English
    These proceedings represent the most recent and complete state of the art review of three-dimensional models of the modern generation for the study of marine hydrodynamics and management of the marine system. The book is well illustrated by application to well-documented case studies.

  • Surface Operations in Petroleum Production I

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 19A
    • English

  • Amber

    • 1st Edition
    • Helen Fraquet
    • Peter G. Read
    • English

  • Quartz

    • 1st Edition
    • Michael O'Donoghue
    • Peter G. Read
    • English

  • Application of Optimal Control Theory to Enhanced Oil Recovery

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 21
    • W. Fred Ramirez
    • English
    In recent years, enhanced oil recovery techniques have received much attention in the oil industry. Enhanced oil recovery methods can be divided into three major categories: thermal processes which include steam flooding, steam stimulation, and in-situ combustion; chemical processes which include surfactant-polymer injection, polymer flooding, and caustic flooding; and miscible displacement processes which include miscible hydrocarbon displacement, carbon dioxide injection of large amounts of rather expensive fluids into oil bearing reservoir formations. Commercial application of any enhanced oil recovery process relies upon economic projections that show a decent return on the investment. Because of high chemical costs, it is important to optimize enhanced oil recovery processes to provide the greatest recovery at the lowest chemical injection cost.The aim of this book is to develop an optimal control theory for the determination of operating strategies that maximize the economic attractiveness of enhanced oil recovery processes. The determination of optimal control histories or operating strategies is one of the key elements in the successful usage of new enhanced oil recovery techniques. The information contained in the book will therefore be both interesting and useful to all those working in petroleum engineering, petroleum management and chemical engineering.

  • Reservoir Sedimentation

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 29
    • G.W. Annandale
    • English
    Research on reservoir sedimentation in recent years has been aimed mainly at water resources projects in developing countries. These countries, especially in Africa, often have to cope with long droughts, flash floods and severe erosion problems. Large reservoir capacities are required to capture water provided by flash floods so as to ensure the supply of water in periods of drought. The problem arising however is that these floods, due to their tremendous stream power, carry enormous volumes of sediment which, due to the size of reservoirs, are virtually deposited in toto in the reservoir basin, leading to fast deterioration of a costly investment. Accurate forecasting of reservoir behaviour is therefore of the utmost importance.This book fills a gap in current literature by providing in one volume comprehensive coverage of techniques required to practically investigate the effects sediment deposition in reservoirs has on the viability of water resources projects. Current techniques for practically estimating sediment yield from catchments, estimating the volume of sediment expected to deposit in reservoirs, predicting sediment distribution and calculating scour downstream of reservoirs are evaluated and presented. The liberal use of diagrams and graphs to explain the various techniques enhances understanding and makes practical application simple. A major feature of the book is the application of stream power theory to explain the process of reservoir sedimentation and to develop four new methods for predicting sediment distribution in reservoirs.The book is primarily directed at practising engineers involved in the planning and design of water resources projects and at post-graduate students interested in this field of study.

  • Jet

    • 1st Edition
    • Helen Muller
    • Peter G. Read
    • English

  • Water Resources and Water Management

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 28
    • M.K. Jermar
    • English
    The size and number of water projects and other development activities which influence the hydrological cycle have reached such proportions that the majority of problems involved extend beyond the boundaries of the traditional disciplines of hydraulics, hydrochemistry, hydrology and hydrogeology.New scientific methods for the solution of the contemporary problems in water management include analogy, operation research, system analysis and cybernetics. The distinctive features of these methods are their emphasis on measurement and on the use of conceptual models described in quantitative terms, the verification of their theoretical predictions, and their awareness that concepts are conditional and subject to growth and continuous change. This new approach should be defined within the framework of water resources management, i.e. within a complex of activities whose objective is the optimum utilization of water resources with regard to their quality and availability and the requirements of society. These water management activities should at the same time also ensure an optimum living environment, above all through protection of water resources against deterioration and exhaustion as well as through the protection of society against the harmful effects of water. In the course of these activities water resources management should avail itself of the entire spectrum of explicit sciences, gradually coming to form the sphere of its own theory.This monograph deals with the fundamental interdisciplinary problems of this complex sphere, an understanding of which is indispensable for successful water resources management in the widest sense of its social functions and environmental consequences. Thus, a common basis is provided for the mutual understanding of specialists from different backgrounds.

  • Coal Exploration, Mine Planning and Development

    • 1st Edition
    • Roy Merritt
    • English
    This is an important look at coal exploration and mining worldwide, with discussions on the parameters and decision-making factors in drilling and processing coal.

  • The Petroleum Handbook

    • 6th Edition
    • Shell
    • English
    Those connected with the petroleum industry will need no introduction to The Petroleum Handbook. It is a technically-oriented manual whose aim is to provide explanations of the processes of today's petroleum industry, from crude oil exploration to product end use, with some historical background and explanation of the economic context in which the oil, gas and petrochemical businesses operation. Much of the material in this sixth edition is completely new and includes the latest information on world oil and gas reserves, future prospects, transportation, storage, refining, marketing, research, and environmental conservation.

  • Vitamins and Hormones

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 43
    • English

  • Lunar Gravimetry

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 35
    • Sagitov
    • English

  • Advances in Geophysics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 29
    • English

  • Biogeochemical Processes at the Land-Sea Boundary

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 43
    • P. Lasserre + 1 more
    • English
    There is an intuitive belief among scientists that each estuary or lagoon is unique and different. Similarities do exist, however, and this book attempts to highlight some common properties and perhaps some innovative views on biogeochemical processes, and biological fluxes which are of central concern in the understanding of the land-sea boundary. The contents are based upon lectures given at a Seminar organised as the scientific component of the 17th General Meeting of SCOR, held at the Station Biologique de Roscoff, France, on 22-24 October 1984. The original lectures have been substantially extended and revised in order to give a fuller treatment of the subject. The contributions identify important processes influencing (I) Behaviour of chemical species, (II) Nutrient cycling and mechanisms of organic transformations and (III) Uptake of trace elements by living systems. The connection between terrestrial and oceanic systems is a functional one and the consequences of this linkage on the very large variety of coastal systems are profound. It is widely recognized that many of the major processes which influence the biological properties and chemical forms of elements, and their biogeochemical cycles in the ocean occur at the land-sea boundary, especially in estuaries, coastal lagoons, the coastline and the shelf. Over 80% of living systems and their fisheries take place in near shore waters and the consequential production of organic matter produced triggers off the high level of activity. Over the last fifteen years, there has been considerable stimulus to provide framework to evaluate the interactions and effects of human activities. The rich assemblage of tables and figures and of literature citations contained in the chapters provides an excellent basis for in-depth investigations.Ocean... limnologists, aquatic chemists, marine biologists, and environmental specialists will find this book highly valuable reading for advanced research and training purposes.

  • Atmospheric Chemical Compounds

    Sources, Occurrence and Bioassay
    • 1st Edition
    • T. E. Graedel + 2 more
    • English
    This practical reference examines the structure and properties of the atmosphere, including listings of compounds in clouds, fog, rain, snow, and ice; a listing of compounds detected in the stratosphere; and a compendium of compounds in indoor air. An introduction to carcinogenicity and bioassay of atmospheric compounds is also presented. Readers will find the extensive cross-referencing especially useful--compounds can be located by chemical type, name, CAS registry number, or source.

  • Marine Mineral Exploration

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 41
    • H. Kunzendorf
    • English
    The past 20 years have seen extensive marine exploration work by the major industrialized countries. Studies have, in part, been concentrated on Pacific manganese nodule occurrences and on massive sulfides on mid-oceanic ridges. An international jurisdictional framework of the sea-bed mineral resources was negotiated by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III). A most important outcome of this conference was the establishment of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of at least 200 nautical miles for all coastal states and the recognition of a deep-sea regime.Mineral deposits in EEZ areas are fairly unknown; many areas need detailed mapping and mineral exploration, and the majority of coastal or island states with large EEZ areas have little experience in exploration for marine hard minerals. This book describes the systematic steps in marine mineral exploration. Such exploration requires knowledge of mineral deposits and models of their formation, of geophysical and geochemical exploration methods, and of data evaluation and interpretation methods. These topics are described in detail by an international group of authors. A short description is also given of marine research vessels, evaluation of marine exploration examples; and an overview is provided of the jurisdictional situation after UNCLOS III.

Related subjects