In this study, we employ molecular statics to construct the structure of amorphous zinc oxide. First, we find out the first number of higher energy structures in all local stable structures by Basin-Hopping algorithm, which are separated into different ratio of crystalline/amorphous zinc oxide structures, and then we judge the type of zinc oxide structure by radial distribution function. In addition, we use coordination number to analyse the interatomic bond length and bond angle in the structures. Furthermore, we employ molecular dynamics to increase the temperature of amorphous zinc oxide structures, and then use the distribution of coordination number, bond length and bond angle between zinc and oxygen atom to analyse the change of the local structure of amorphous zinc oxide during the heating process.

Isolated carbonate platforms and buildups of the Likas Formation provide a long record of carbonate sedimentation in the southern end of the Southwest Palawan Basin. While most carbonate platforms terminated in early Miocene and middle Miocene time in northern parts of western offshore Palawan (i.e. Northwest Palawan Basin and central South Palawan), carbonate deposition began later in the south during late middle Miocene time. Carbonate platforms of the Likas Formation developed in the Paragua sub-basin, which is interpreted to be a depozone eastward of the Palawan accretionary wedge in the structurally complex Southwest Palawan Basin. A regional 2D seismic grid and borehole data from four wells were used to analyze the growth patterns of the carbonate platforms, identify seismic facies, and reconstruct the evolution of the platforms. The carbonate platforms developed on the folded and faulted middle to premiddle Miocene siliciclastic strata. These older siliciclastic units were thrusted onto the southern end of the North Palawan microcontinental fragment, which represents a block of continental crust that drifted southward from South China during early Tertiary time. The platforms aggraded over time and backstepped to keep pace with increasing rates of relative sea level rise. Karst features are recognizable on seismic sections and indicate that the platforms were subaerially exposed at various times during their development. The platforms exhibit variable morphology from faulting and tilting. The platforms terminated in early Pliocene time, as relative sea level continued to rise, and were buried by deep-marine siliciclastic units.

In order to implement an accurate system that allows for absorption of reflected waves impinging to a wave maker (Active Reflection Absorption), it was required to apply a method to estimate properly the direction of arrival of the waves that does it in the fastest way possible. Our wavemaker control system has been prepared to handle an algorithm provided by Bosch-Rexroth where the wave angle estimation is practically locked to a very narrow frequency band (spatial gain-mixer). The system was evaluated with physical tests in a 3D wave basin for different conditions of reflected waves arriving with an angle to the wavemaker front, and acceptable performance has been found for the 3D ARA mode. However, for certain conditions over-compensation or sub-compensation can develop resulting in a poor absorption. This is mainly related to not being able to determine accurately the direction from which the reflected waves travel towards the wavemaker. The present work employed concepts found in the areas of antenna array signal processing and signal propagation, which were applied to this problem. This approach coupled naturally with our wavemaker system since it was prepared with 48 gages that can be employed in an array antenna fashion. A program was codified from an algorithm found in literature to calculate the Direction of Arrival (DOA) of the reflected waves. The focus for the testing of this program was with regular waves. The tests were conducted to validate the program with different angles of incidence and show that for regular waves the program was able to detect accurately the DOA of these in as few as 5 snapshots, with a minimum of 7 gages used as the antenna input. With data obtained directly from the control system of our wavemaker using regular waves, the program was able to determine the DOA. The computational burden of the algorithm is not significant in the case of regular waves. A modification of the program is required to analyze the DOA of reflected irregular waves, which could increase the computational burden. Actual implementation of this program to our control system depends on cooperation with Bosch-Rexroth.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a primary source of greenhouse gases. Injection of CO2 from power plants near coalbed reservoirs is a win-win method to reducing emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere. Limited studies have investigated CO2 sequestration and enhanced coalbed methane production in San Juan and Alberta basins, but reservoir modeling is needed to assess the potential of the Black Warrior basin. Alabama ranks 9th nationally in CO2 emissions from power plants; two electricity generation plants are adjacent to the Black Warrior coalbed methane fairway. This research project was a reservoir simulation study designed to evaluate the potential for CO2 sequestration and enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery in the Blue Creek Field of Black Warrior basin, Alabama. It considered the injection and production rate, the components of injected gas, coal dewatering, permeability anisotropy, various CO2 soak times, completion of multiple reservoir layers and pressure constraints at the injector and producer. The simulation study was based on a 5-spot well pattern 40-ac well spacing. Injection of 100 percent CO2 in coal seams resulted in average volumes of 0.57 Bcf of sequestered CO2 and average volumes of 0.2 Bcf of enhance methane production for the Mary Lee coal zone only, from an 80-acre 5-spot well pattern. For the entire Blue Creek field of the Black Warrior basin, if 100 percent CO2 is injected in the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek coal zones, enhance methane resources recovered are estimated to be 0.3 Tcf, with a potential CO2sequestration capacity of 0.88 Tcf. The methane recovery factor is estimated to be 68.8 percent, if the three coal zones are completed but produced one by one. Approximately 700 wells may be needed in the field. For multi-layers completed wells, the permeability and pressure are important in determining the breakthrough time, methane produced and CO2 injected. Dewatering and soaking do not benefit the CO2 sequestration process but allow higher injection rates. Permeability anisotropy affects CO2 injection and enhanced methane recovery volumes of the field. I recommend a 5-spot pilot project with the maximum well BHP of 1,000 psi at the injector, minimum well BHP of 500 psi at the producer, maximum injection rate of 70 Mscf/D, and production rate of 35 Mscf/D. These technical results, with further economic evaluation, could generate significant projects for CO2 sequestration and enhance coalbed methane production in Blue Creek field, Black Warrior Basin, Alabama.

As the conventional reservoirs decrease in discovering, producing and reserving, unconventional reservoirs are more remarkable in terms of discovering, development and having more reserve. More fields have been discovered where Barnett Shale and Bakken Shale are the most recently unconventional reservoir examples. Shale reservoirs are typically considered self-sourcing and have very low permeability ranging from 10-100 nanodarcies. Over the past few decades, numerous research projects and developments have been studied, but it seems there is still some contention and misunderstanding surrounding shale reservoirs. One of the largest shale in the United State is the Bakken Shale play. This study will describe the primary geologic characteristics, field development history, reservoir properties,and especially production trends, over the Bakken Shale play. Data are available for over hundred wells from different companies. Most production data come from the Production Data Application (HDPI) database and in the format of monthly production for oil, water and gas. Additional 95 well data including daily production rate, completion, Pressure Volume Temperature (PVT), pressure data are given from companies who sponsor for this research study. This study finds that there are three Types of well production trends in the Bakken formation. Each decline curve characteristic has an important meaning to the production trend of the Bakken Shale play. In the Type I production trend, the reservoir pressure drops below bubble point pressure and gas releasingout of the solution. With the Type II production trend, oil flows linearly from the matrix into the fracture system, either natural fracture or hydraulic fracture. Reservoir pressure is higher than the bubble point pressure during the producing time and oil flows as a single phase throughout the production period of the well. A Type III production trend typically has scattering production data from wells with a different Type of trend. It is difficult to study this Type of behavior because of scattering data, which leads to erroneous interpretation for the analysis. These production Types, especially Types I and II will give a new type curve matches for shale oil wells above or below the bubble point.

Analysis of the satellite altimetry based predicted bathymetry, magnetic anomalies, and earthquake seismic data relating to the geophysical structure on the Nazca plate indicates that the Galapagos Rise system served as the transitional spreading system between Pacific-Farallon spreading and the current East Pacific Rise (EPR) system. First order age/depth relationships for this area indicate that the Galapagos Rise, the most prominent extinct spreading system within the Nazca plate, accommodated most of the Pacific-Nazca plate separation from ~23 million years ago (Ma) to ~8 Ma. After this time, spreading was dominantly along the EPR, with probable ultra slow spreading along the Galapagos Rise continuing until very recent times (0-5 Ma). Magnetic lineations and depth trends across the Bauer Basin suggest that it was captured between the failing Galapagos Rise and the currently active EPR. Anomalously shallow ridge crests along the Galapagos Rise indicate that magmatic activity may have occurred until very recent time (0-5 Ma). Tightly curved (concave southward) fracture zones offsetting Galapagos Rise ridge segments indicate a pole of rotation at the present day position of ~22.5 S and ~99.5 W. The curvature of the fracture zones and the fan-shaped spreading pattern of seafloor structures produced at the Galapagos Rise indicate that the Galapagos Rise initiated parallel to the Mendaña fracture zone. Consistent with the rotation of the Nazca plate after the fragmentation of the Farallon plate, the Galapagos Rise rotated counterclockwise during its active phase. The Galapagos Rise initiated in the vicinity of Gallego fracture zones and propagated southward. Failure of the Galapagos Rise occurred as spreading jumped westward in stages to the East Pacific Rise.

<p>The thesis focuses on the environmental sustainability ofwater projects. The concept is analysed from the theoreticaland the implementation viewpoints The evolution of the conceptof sustainable development is presented, with an in-depthdiscussion on the present status of the environmentalsustainability of water projects. Several case studies areanalysed on different important aspects of environmentalsustainability. These case studies include the analysis ofissues like the role of institutions, effectiveness of legalframeworks, participation of stakeholders, contributions ofwater development projects to regional development,consideration of environmental and social issues, and impactsof social and environmental movements.</p><p>The impacts of the Ataturk dam, within the SoutheasternAnatolia (GAP) Project, Turkey, are analysed in terms ofplanning, policy making, institutional arrangements,infrastructural development, and human resources development.Its economic, social and environmental impacts during theconstruction phase and the first seven years of operation arereviewed.</p><p>The role of large dams in poverty alleviation andsocio-economic development are analysed, especially in terms ofresettlement. The current global thinking on involuntaryresettlement is reviewed, as are the experiences onresettlement of the people affected by water projects. Anassessment of the participatory process that was formulated forthe resettlement of the people affected by the construction ofthe Birecik dam, GAP Project, Turkey, is presented.</p><p>Institutional arrangements for integrated river basinmanagement in Latin America is analysed, with special emphasison the Brazilian and the Mexican experiences of watermanagement at the river basin level. Brazil and Mexico werechosen since they are by far the most advanced in this area,compared to all the other Latin American countries.</p><p>It is concluded that economic, social and environmentaldimensions should be considered concurrently within the goalsof water development. Social considerations are essentialbecause poverty is both a cause and an effect of environmentaldegradation, and societies festering with poverty and socialtensions will not have the means, or inclination, to makesustainable development a priority issue. There are noblueprints for a transition to sustainability, but there arepolicy reforms that could reduce environmental degradation,income disparity and persistent poverty. The water sector isnot an exception to this conclusion.</p><p>There is now considerable discussion on the operationalfeasibility of the sustainable development concept. It issuggested that sustainable development should be considered tobe a journey and not a destination. The world is nothomogeneous, and thus there cannot be one unique path tosustainable development that would be equally valid andapplicable for all countries of the world, and for alldevelopment sectors. Each country will have to base its waterdevelopment agendas depending on their own social, economic,cultural and environmental conditions, available managerial,technical and administrative capacities and societalexpectations and aspirations. For developing countries, as longas water development policies, programmes and projects cancontribute to socio-economic development, reduction in povertyand income disparity, and environmental conservation, they arewell on course in their long journey to sustainabledevelopment. Definitional debates as to what constitutessustainable water development are likely to beunproductive.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-187). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Utah, 2000. / "FY00-246." Title from web page (viewed Nov. 13, 2003). Includes bibliographical references (p. [118]-122). Also available in print version.

Analysis of scattered, or diffraction energy (the seismic response of small-scale objects) in the seismic data from Canterbury Basin, New Zealand reveals additional geological information about depositional patterns in sedimentary deposits. Diffrac- tion images from the seismic response for Canterbury Basin provide complementary interpretation tools to the conventional specular reflection images. To image diffrac- tions for a dataset from Canterbury Basin, I take the following steps: First, I attenuate multiples using a surface multiple prediction algorithm to predict multiples and apply regularized nonstationary regression to adaptively subtract the predicted multiples. Next, I separate diffractions using the plane-wave destruction method. The plane- wave destruction method removes conventional reflected energy in order to enhance the diffracted energy. I then apply a velocity continuation method on diffraction data to estimate migration velocities and then migrate the data using Kirchhoff migration in the dip-angle-gather domain. The resultant conventional and diffraction images are improved images suitable for geological interpretation of prograding sediment drifts. / text