What is SFERA?
SFERA is a non-profit making Association of all the people interested in the subject of fractured media and the importance this may have in their profession, and in human activity in general. We are represented in Industrial, Academic, State, Regional and Local Administration realms, with activities ranging from geoscience, oil and gas exploration, research and production, thermal energy, hydrogeology, environmental and groundwater control, seismic hazard and earthquake studies, but also civil engineering, architectural and cultural development applications. Our main goal is enhancing communications between these fields of applications, for mutual benefit through the exchange of data, technology, knowledge and experience. Our mission is to create a network of communications using instruments like meetings, workshops, a virtual communication groups on the web site, and many others to be created in the near future.

Scope
The Association SFERA (Global Association for the use of knowledge on Fractured Rock in a state of Stress, in the field of Energy, Culture and Environment) has the following purpose:

This covers a wide range of applications: hydrocarbon industry, mining industry, hydrogeology and groundwater reserves exploitation, geotechnical and civil engineering, energy resources including geothermal reservoirs, cultural, artistic and architectural patrimony management and local to international tourism, and environmental purposes such as seismic hazard estimation, groundwater pollution management, all having direct impact on the interaction between Mankind and the resources of the Earth, in an economic, geographical, and environmental sense.

History
The Association SFERA was constituted on the 22nd April of 2002 as a non-profit making organisation with its headquarters in Italy. The organisation was initiated in response to a recognised need for a focused platform expressed in two relevant events:

• A Geological Society-London (GSL; Petroleum Group) sponsored Meeting on Fracture & In-Situ Stress Characterization of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs, 28-29 June, 1999.
• The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) special forum on Naturally Fractured Reservoirs, S. Maxime, France, 10-15 September, 2000.
  
  

Inaugural Meeting
The Inaugural Meeting of SFERA was held at Pescara (Abruzzo Region), Italy, 2nd – 6th of September, 2002, including three days of scientific presentations and discussion, and a two day field trip.

Where are we?

Legal address:  

Via O. Henrici, 2; 66100 Chieti (Ch)
(Abruzzo Region), Italy

Charity Number:  

912 Mod I Chieti

Administrative office:  

Via Benedetto Croce, 249
65100 Pescara (Pe) Italy

Fax:  

++ 39 085 9231888

• P.O. Box 92, Chieti Centro, Italy
• Via Benedetto Croce 249
  65100 Pescara (Pe) (Abruzzo Region), Italy

E-mail Addresses:  
General Information:  
Administration:  
Scientific Communications:  

info@sferae.org
admin@sferae.org
science@sferae.org

What does SFERA offer you?
SFERA’s scope is to enhance and promote communications on a wide range of scientific aspects and offers to its members the instruments to arrive at this goal: regular Meetings/Conferences on an annual basis, Field Trips and Thematic Meetings, a Forum Discussion to exchange knowledge and ideas on the web site, a collection of Scientific Material that can be consulted on-line, etc.
The activities we are organising in the near future are as follows:

• Organise Scientific Meetings (first one: Inaugural Meeting September 2002)
• Create a “common interest network” for communication related to the subject of fractured rock
• Create an interchange of knowledge on the Web site regarding:
  • Literature
  • Upcoming events: Conferences, Workshops, Courses
  • Knowledge base
  • Existing Scientific Consortia and Projects
• Co-ordinate Conferences, Meetings, Field Workshops, courses and training on specific topics
• Organise and edit newsletter, special issues / volumes

How to Subscribe?
In order to subscribe to SFERA, enter in the Register Page, and follow the explanations there.

How to support SFERA?
If you and/or your Company are interested in helping SFERA with financial support, please contact us through the indications given on the Register Page.