SEMINAR: MGG Student Seminar -TODAY - 12pm CIMAS

[Estelle Chaussard <echaussard@rsmas.miami.edu>]

MGG Student Seminar
Tuesday 30th March
CIMAS Conference Room, 3rd floor.
12pm - 1pm

Kenri Pomar
"Unraveling the three dimensionals distribution of Solution enhanced
fractures."

	Characterizing fracture patterns of reservoirs in the subsurface is a 
challenging task that requires a good understanding of the 3D geometry 
and distribution of the fractures as well as the processes controlling 
the distribution of fractures. Fracture characterization in outcrops 
relies mostly on 1D scan line measurements to capture the properties of 
fractures including the type, orientation, length, aperture, spacing, 
density and fracture termination. The inability of this technique to 
visualize and analyze the fracture in three dimensions, however, limits 
the fracture characterization using this method. Likewise the 3D 
distribution of karst cavities is not discernable in outcrops but is of 
paramount importance for fluid flow in the subsurface.  This study takes 
advantage of newly developed high precision and high resolution 3D GPR 
(Grasmueck et al., 2005) to image in 3D both fractures and the karst 
cavities in the shallow subsurface.
	Three 3D GPR cubes were acquired from a quarry in southern france that 
exposes highly fractured shallow-water Barremian carbonates. 
Conventional 1D scanline measurements were perfomed along the quarry 
walls in order to record the fractures and the associated karst 
features. Results from the conventional scanlines show that there are 
three major fractures orientations (N-S, E-W and NW-SW) in the outcrop 
and the distribution of the karst features is influenced by the fracture 
orientation, fracture length and stratigraphy. Interpretations of 3D GPR 
cubes reveal four major fracture orientations in the quarry, with the 
additional NE-SW oriented fractures that were not observed in the 
outcrop due to their parallel orientation with the quarry wall. The 
occurrence of karst features is also better visualized in the 3D GPR by 
using seismic attribute technique, which shows that the karsts features 
are mostly located at fracture intersections. In conclusion, combination 
of 1D conventional outcrop study and 3D GPR enhances the accuracy of 
predicting the distribution of solution enhanced fractures.


Fernando Greene
"How to mitigate fatalities associated with big earthquakes: Example of 
a community service project in Mexico."

	The MesoAmerican Subduction Experiment (MASE) deployed 100 seismic 
stations across Mexico, passing through Mexico City at the midpoint. 
Deploying the instruments at a secure site was an important issue, 
schools are nearly ideal in this respect. Consequently, 54 MASE stations 
were situated in schools that range from the K-12 through the University 
level.
	This presented a golden opportunity to outreach to rural communities, 
since the students come from small towns around the school and can 
spread the word to their home towns. Given the constant earthquake 
activity in Mexico and its history of destruction, the societal 
responsibility of UNAM, it is crucial to educate people in understanding 
a phenomenon that affects their daily lives and to prepare them to deal 
with it.
	One challenge in achieving this commitment is the diversity of level of 
knowledge of earthquakes. We addressed this by giving out different 
examples and utilizing didactic material adequate to the level, together 
with a series of talks, posters, handouts, etc. From this experience, we 
conclude that large-scale experiments like this should be accompanied by 
a committed outreach program given the large number of people that would 
be touched by it.



--
______________________________________________________

Estelle CHAUSSARD
PhD Candidate
Division of Marine Geology and Geophysics - RSMAS
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
USA

Phone : Cell :   305-613-4448
		Office :   305-421-4683
        Fax :   305-421-4632

E-mail: echaussard@rsmas.miami.edu
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/users/echaussard
______________________________________________________

Out of office:
January 26th to February 17th : Field work in Haiti - No internet/No phone
March 12th to March 19th : Humanitarian Help in Haiti - No internet/No phone
May 31st to June 30th : Holidays in France - Will check emails


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