Oil and natural gas together form a fossil fuel called petroleum. It is a mixture of hundreds of hydrocarbons of different molecular weights and other organic compounds that exist sometimes as a liquid and sometimes as a vapor. Petroleum provides a relatively cheap and convenient source of energy compared to rest of the fuels. It is one of the most important raw materials available to mankind and has been the foundation of the industrial civilization in 20th century. Oil is estimated to supply 30 percent of the world's energy mix in 2030. Oil is mostly used for transportation sector, power generation and agriculture sector and as a raw material for many chemical products including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides and plastics. Volume 3 includes articles on both upstream and downstream processing of crude oil, the role of oil and natural gas in global energy mix, combustion technologies, alternate fuel for compression ignition engine, performance evaluation of bio-diesel and several others. Topics being covered in this volume are: o Reservoir characterization o Reservoir formation damage o Analysis of modern methods for enhanced oil recovery o Microbial enhanced oil recovery o Application of TOPSIS and ANP methods to prioritize artificial lift methods o Development of offshore technology and offshore oil and gas production platforms o Accurate fluid properties in ultra-deep oil reservoirs for safe exploration o Recent advances in petroleum refining technologies o Upgrading and hydro treating of heavy oils and residua o Upgrading of Colombian heavy crude oils o Three-dimensional, two-phase CFD model for petrochemical pre-heaters o Review on combustion technologies o Mathematical modeling of HCCI combustion of natural gas o Deterioration of solvent quality and foaming studies in natural gas sweetening unit o Effect of glycol type and circulation rate on natural gas dehydration process efficiency o Primary energy context in Europe: the case of natural gas o The role of OPEC o The role of oil and natural gas in the global energy mix o Oil production and the energy-growth nexus o Petroleum energy supply and road transport challenges in Nigeria o Biodiesel-petro diesel-bioethanol blends as fuel for compression ignition engines o Performance evaluation of small diesel engine using bio-diesel as alternate fuel This volume contains 22 chapters from 52 researchers and/or academicians representing 18 nations, namely Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela giving an overview of the various research activities being carried out in different parts of the world on Oil and Natural Gas.

By Umesh Chandra Sharma and Ram Prasad