Quantifying the effects of hydrocarbon contamination on hybrid poplar fine root dynamics provides information about how well these trees tolerate the adverse conditions imposed by the presence of petroleum in the soil. Infection by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may benefit hybrid poplar growing in contaminated soils by providing greater access to water and nutrients and possibly inducing greater contaminant degradation. The overall objectives of this research were to: 1) investigate the relationship between the varying concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and nutrients across a hydrocarbon-contaminated site, as well as interactions between these contaminants and physical and chemical soil properties; 2) quantify the effects of these properties on the spatial and temporal patterns of fine root production for Griffin hybrid poplar (<i>P. deltoids </i> x <i>P. petrowskyana</i> c.v. Griffin); and (3) quantify the effect of ectomycorrhizal colonization on hybrid poplar fine root dynamics and N and P uptake when grown in diesel contaminated soil under controlled conditions. A minirhizotron camera provides a nondestructive approach for viewing roots in situ. This camera was used in both the field and growth chamber experiments to provide the data necessary for estimating fine root production. The field study was conducted at Hendon, SK, Canada. Twelve minirhizotron tubes were distributed across the field site and facilitated quantification of fine root production in areas of varying contamination levels. Residual hydrocarbon contamination was positively correlated with soil total C and N, which may suggest that the hydrocarbons remaining in the soil are associated with organic forms of these nutrients or increased microbial biomass. Total fine root production at the site was greater in the 0- to 20-cm depth (1.27 Mg/ha) than the 20- to 40-cm depth (0.51 Mg/ha) in 2004. Fine root production was stimulated by small amounts of hydrocarbon contamination at the field site. Nonlinear regression described fine root production as increasing linearly up to approximately 500 mg/kg TPH, then remaining constant as contamination increased. This trend was most pronounced in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer, with a (r&178; = 0.915). Stimulation of fine root production in the presence of hydrocarbons has significant implications for phytoremediation. If hybrid poplar can maintain increased root production in hydrocarbon contaminated soils, the rhizosphere effect will be exaggerated and increased degradation of contaminants is likely to occur. Under controlled conditions, colonization of hybrid poplar roots by the ectomycorrhizal fungus <i>Pisolithus tinctorius</i>increased fine root production in a diesel contaminated soil (5000 mg diesel fuel/kg soil) compared to non-colonized trees growing in the same soil. Fine root production was 56.6 g/m&178; in the colonized treatment and 22.6 g/m&178; in the non-colonized treatment. In diesel contaminated/ECM colonized treatment, hybrid poplar leaf N and P concentrations after 12 wk were 23.1 and 3.6 g/kg, respectively. In diesel contaminated/non-colonized treatment, N and P concentrations were 15.7 and 2.7 g/kg, respectively. After 12 wk, 5.0&37; of the initial concentration of diesel fuel remained in the soil of the non-colonized treatment and 6.7&37; remained in the colonized treatment. Both treatments removed more contaminants from the soil than an unplanted control, which contained 8.9&37; of the initial diesel fuel concentration after 12 wk. Significantly more hydrocarbons were found sequestered in hybrid poplar roots from the colonized treatment (354.1 mg/kg) than in the non-colonized treatment (102.2 mg/kg). The results of this study indicate that hybrid poplar may be good candidates for use in phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons because of the stimulation of fine root production at low levels of hydrocarbon contamination. However, colonization of hybrid poplar growing in diesel contaminated soil by <i>P. tinctorius</i> inhibited remediation of diesel fuel.

A Study of Competition Strategy of Petroleum Firms under Petroleum Market Liberalization THESIS ABSTRACT The ultimate purpose of market liberalization is to enhance the operational efficiency of the firms through good competition under the market mechanism. This enhancement enables the consumers to share the best quality of products and services with the most reasonable prices. It indicates the realization of a social welfare system of the ideal "returning benefits to people". Therefore, the government should play a more proactive role under the tide of liberalization, i.e., to construct a fair competition environment, to institute a reasonable game rule for all the petroleum participatory firms to abide by, and to regulate the possible illegal behaviors of the relevant firms. On this account, this paper first review and analyze the political and economic environment and market perspectives of Taiwan's petroleum industry. Second, we predict the probable competitive behavior of relevant petroleum firms under petroleum market liberalization. Third, we use SCP (structure-conduct-performance) analytical method to examine how the firms adjust their conduct, especially their price strategy, when the market structure has changed. Since the open of telecommunication market not only has brought the consumers many advantages but also reduce the manufacturing cost to upgrade Taiwan's industrial competitiveness, then we evaluate whether it is similar that the firms' performance has positive contribution to the society after petroleum market liberalization. Finally we use rational decision making of game theory to analyze the price competition behavior of relevant firms and their probable influence to the general public.

This study proposes a new, easily applied method to quantify uncertainty in production forecasts based on reservoir simulation. The new method uses only observed data and mismatches between simulated values and observed values as history matches of observations progress to a final "best" match. The method is applicable even when only limited information is available from a field. Previous methods suggested in the literature require more information than our new method. Quantifying uncertainty in production forecasts (i.e., reserve estimates) is becoming increasingly important in the petroleum industry. Many current investment opportunities in reservoir development require large investments, many in harsh exploration environments, with intensive technology requirements and possibly marginal investment indicators. Our method of quantifying uncertainty uses a set of history-match runs and includes a method to determine the probability density function (pdf) of future oil production (reserves) while the history match is evolving. We applied our method to the lower-Pleistocene 8-Sand reservoir in the Green Canyon 18 field, Gulf of Mexico. This field was a challenge to model because of its complicated geometry and stratigraphy. iv We objectively computed the mismatch between observed and simulated data using an objective function and developed quantitative matching criteria that we used during history matching. We developed a method based on errors in the mismatches to assign likelihood to each run, and from these results, we determined the pdf of reservoir reserves and thus quantified the uncertainty in the forecast. In our approach, we assigned no preconceived likelihoods to the distribution of variables. Only the production data and history matching errors were used to assess uncertainty. Thus, our simple method enabled us to estimate uncertainty during the history-matching process using only dynamic behavior of a reservoir.

Although the use of compressible drilling fluids is experiencing growth, the flow behavior and stability properties of drilling foams are more complicated than those of conventional fluids. In contrast with conventional mud, the physical properties of foam change along the wellbore. Foam physical and thermal properties are strongly affected by pressure and temperature. Many problems associated with field applications still exist, and a precise characterization of the rheological properties of these complex systems needs to be performed. The accurate determination of the foam properties in circulating wells helps to achieve better estimation of foam rheology and pressure. A computer code is developed to process the data and closely simulate the pressure during drilling a well. The model also offers a detailed discussion of many aspects of foam drilling operations and enables the user to generate many comparative graphs and tables. The effects of some important parameters such as: back-pressure, rate of penetration, cuttings concentration, cuttings size, and formation water influx on pressure, injection rate, and velocity are presented in tabular and graphical form. A discretized heat transfer model is formulated with an energy balance on a control volume in the flowing fluid. The finite difference model (FDM) is used to write the governing heat transfer equations in discretized form. A detailed discussion on the determination of heat transfer coefficients and the solution approach is presented. Additional research is required to analyze the foam heat transfer coefficient and thermal conductivity.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-217). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Petroleum Engineering." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Petroleum Engineering." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Akademisk avhandling--Handelshögskolan, Gothenburg, Sweden. / Extra t.p., with thesis statement, inserted. Summary in English. Bibliography: p. 409-421.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Petroleum Engineering." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Petroleum Engineering." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.