This contributed volume presents a multi-perspective collection of the latest research findings on oil and gas exploration and imparts insight that can greatly assist in understanding field behavior, design of test programs, and design of field operations. With this book, engineers also gain a powerful guide to the most commonly used numerical simulation methods that aid in reservoir modelling. In addition, the contributors explore development of technologies that allow for cost effective oil and gas exploration while minimizing the impact on our water resources, surface and groundwater aquifers, geological stability of impacted areas, air quality, and infrastructure assets such as roads, pipelines, water, and wastewater networks. Easy to understand, the book identifies equipment and procedural problems inherent to oil and gas operations and provides systematic approaches for solving them.

Molecular Modelling of Kerogen Structure, Thermodynamic Properties and Swelling with Liquid Solvents.- Phase Behavior of Multi-component Fluids Confined to Organic Nano-pores in Shale Oil.- Distinct Aggregation Behaviors of Model Asphaltenes in Water and Organic Solvents Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulation.- Shale Fracturing for Energy Recovery: Current Issues and Review of Available Analytical and Computational Models.- Induced Seismicity Potential in Energy Technologies with Special Emphasis on Shale Gas Recovery and Water Disposal.- Numerical Simulation of Simultaneous Growth of Multiple Interacting Hydraulic Fractures from Horizontal Wells.- Comminution of Solids Due to Kinetic Energy of High Shear Strain Rate: Implications for Shock and Shale Fracturing.- Guided Ultrasonic Waves for the Nondestructive Evaluation Imaging of Pipes.- Influence of Mineralogy on the Index Properties and Durability of Crushed Shales.- Behavior of layered sandstone under laboratory test conditions.- Subcritical Crack Propagation Enhanced by Chemical Injection.