Challenges of an Interdisciplinary Science: Progress in Mining and Oilfield Chemistry (Progress in Mining and Oilfield Chemistry, 1)

"During the past centuries the non-renewable natural resources, particularly the hydrocarbons, coals, ores and minerals, have totally changed the life of mankind. Utilization of these materials is still increasing and their availability will remain a fundamental issue in the next century. The scientific and engineering knowledge, however, which is in the back-ground of these industrial activities, significantly diversified in the past few decades. The driving force of these changes are rooted in facts that scientists and engineers have a joint responsibility to economize continuously the exploration, production, processing, transportation and storage of non-renewable natural resources, meanwhile they have also to promote the progress sciences. Many decades ago the dedicated mining and petroleum engineers recognized that the chemical engineering has fundamental role in development of new and efficient methods, procedures and technologies. In the present stage of earth sciences the contribution from chemistry is not only accepted, but required, and as a result, the mutual dependence, relevance and togetherness logically led to development of a new interdisciplinary science, the mining and oilfield chemistry. The aim of the Progress in Mining and Oilfield Chemistry is to stimulate interdisciplinary discussion among mining, petroleum and chemical engineers providing a long awaited forum for regular publication. The editorial board is firmly convinced that this new book series will contribute substantially to strengthen the reputation of the mining and oilfield chemistry and to serve the overall demands of industry, agriculture, and the civil community. "