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Ramirez, Abelardo

Publications and source records attributed to Ramirez, Abelardo.

Joint Bayesian Inference for Near-surface Explosion Yield

Geophysical observations of an explosion scale with the yield of the explosion. Guided by the principal of yield-scaling and observed relationships in the data, we defined and parameterized seismoacoustic forward models in Ford et al. [2014]. This work extends the model with additional data features of maximum velocity and positive phase duration for the seismic and acoustic data types, respectively, and a new optic data type. Parameters for the seismoacoustic models are estimated via Bayesian inference. The parameterized models can then be used to infer the yield of a new explosion.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Stochastic Inversion of InSAR Data to Assess the Probability of Pressure Penetration into the Lower Caprock at In Salah

Stochastic inversions of InSAR data were carried out to assess the probability that pressure perturbations resulting from CO 2 injection into well KB-502 at In Salah penetrated into the lower caprock seal above the reservoir. Inversions of synthetic data were employed to evaluate the factors that affect the vertical resolution of overpressure distributions, and to assess the impact of various sources of uncertainty in prior constraints on inverse solutions. These include alternative pressure-driven deformation modes within reservoir and caprock, the geometry of a sub-vertical fracture zone in the caprock identified in previous studies, and imperfect estimates of the rock mechanical properties. Inversions of field data indicate that there is a high probability that a pressure perturbation during the first phase of injection extended upwards along the fracture zone ~ 150 m above the reservoir, and less than 50% probability that it reached the Hot Shale unit at 1500 m depth. Within the uncertainty bounds considered, it was concluded that it is very unlikely that the pressure perturbation approached within 150 m of the top of the lower caprock at the Hercynian Unconformity. The results are consistent with previous deterministic inversion and forward modeling studies.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The Value of Spatial Information for Determining Well Placement

The article and accompanying spreadsheet represent the information posteriors derived from synthetic data of magnetotellurics (MT). These were used to calculate value of information of MT for geothermal exploration. Information posteriors describe how well MT was able to locate the "throat" of clay caps, which are indicative of hidden geothermal resources. This data is fully explained in the peer-reviewed publication: The value of spatial information for determining well placement: a geothermal example, written by Trainor-Guitton, W., Hoversten, G. M., Ramirez, A., Roberts, J., Juliusson, E., Key, K., and Mellors, R. and published on August 25th, 2014.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗