This book considers the most contemporary innovations propelling the extractive industries forward while also creating new environmental and social challenges. The socio-ecological fabric of innovation in the extractive industries is considered through an integrative approach that brings together engineers, natural scientists, and social scientists—academics and practitioners—giving an empirically grounded and realistic evaluation of the innovations in this sector. It synthesizes a series of questions including:

Why have these sectors been historically slow to innovate? What specific strategies can improve innovation and uptake of new technologies? What new forms of technology will shape the sector in the decades ahead? What impact will new technologies have on resource extraction and energy production? How are digital technologies changing the competitive landscape and industry architecture? How will new technologies impact sustainability of the sector and can technologies improve social performance and environmental stewardship?

"This wide-ranging compendium scans a broad horizon of current extractives industry issues, as well as offering some tantalizing glimpses into the future."
-- Tom Butler, CEO, International Council on Metals and Mining (ICMM), London, United Kingdom

"The mining and oil & gas industries are quickly becoming more technology-intensive, and this book helpfully examines many of the technological forces and innovations ushering in these changes around the world. I would highly recommend this book for anybody who needs to think about the future of these industries."
— Rustem R. Shagiev, Moscow Petroleum Institute, Russia

"…examines the nature, trends, drivers, and challenges of innovation in the extractive industries, such as oil and gas and mining, through a series of essays and vignettes. Among the issues addressed are why the extractive sectors are historically slow to adopt and use new technology; what strategies can improve innovation and uptake; what new technologies will shape the sector going forward; how digital technologies are changing the competitive landscape and industry architecture; and how new technologies could improve social performance and environmental stewardship."

-- Journal of Petroleum Technology, November 2018

Martin J. Clifford, Robert K. Perrons, Saleem H. Ali, Tim A. Grice