Dr. Ricardo Olea

Senior Scientist, emeritus

Dr. Olea is no longer with the Survey.

Address Information Kansas Geological Survey 1930 Constant Avenue University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66047-3724 e-mail: olea@kgs.ku.edu

Recent Research Interests

• Spatiotemporal analysis of epidemics
• Contamination assessment for public health and remediation
• Study of recent marine sediments as indicators of climatological changes
• Computer well-log correlation applied to petroleum geology and nuclear waste disposal
• Geostatistical applications in petroleum engineering
• Sampling optimization of attributes with geographical distribution
• Economic evaluation of projects

Professional Experience

VISITING RESEARCH SCHOLAR, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [Jan 2004 - Present]
Conducts original research in the areas mathematical modeling applied to epidemiology and possible interactions between environmental conditions and public health.

Research in Progress: Data mining for spatiotemporal analysis of mortality during the Black Death epidemic of 1347-51 in Western Europe.

PRIVATE CONSULTANT [1985 - Present]
Conducts activities both independently and as an associate with Davis Consultants, Inc.

Achievement Highlights:

• Offered several seminars on geostatistics in North and South America, Europe, and Africa.
• Completed an environmental study of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the Hudson River for the General Electric Company.
• Worked for Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohhstoffe (BGR) in the selection of sites for the permanent disposal of highly radioactive waste by computer well log correlation.
• Characterized waste sites in Thailand using computer well log correlation to investigate groundwater contamination.
• Evaluated the feasibility of tertiary oil recovery in Chile for Empresa Nacional del Petróleo.
• Conducted technical feasibility studies on the use of geochemistry in oil exploration in Tunisia for Marathon Oil Company

KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS [1985 - Present]

• Emeritus Scientist, 2003 - Present
• Senior Scientist, 1995 - 2003
• Associate Scientist, 1987 - 1995
• Research Associate, 1985 - 1987

As Senior Scientist, conducted original applied research, provided support, and prepared grant proposals primarily in the areas of geostatistics, applied mathematics, and computer science applied to earth sciences. Carried out responsibilities both individually and in national or international collaboration with other reputed scientists. Delivered results in the form of publications, lectures, graduate-level classes, short courses, computer programs, and maps. Served as author or coauthor of 140 publications in journals, books, technical reports, and proceedings. Provided information and advice to state, national, and international agencies, organizations, and societies. Served the profession through participation in the activities of technical and scientific organizations.

Achievement Highlights:

• Coded and documented the program CORRELATOR, a major application in Fortran and C.
• Authored the textbook Geostatistics for Engineers and Earth Scientists (Kluwer Academic).
• Produced Geostatistical Glossary and Multilingual Dictionary (Oxford University Press).
• Wrote monograph Geostatistical Analysis of Compositional Data, jointly with Dr. Vera Pawlowsky, University of Gerona, Spain (Oxford University Press).
• Formulated the method of regionalized classification of multivariate samplings together with scientists at KGS and Baltic Sea Research Institute (IOW), Warnemünde, Germany.
• Was active advancing the scientific and industrial knowledge of the geology of the state of Kansas.
• Redesigned the observation network of wells used to monitor the water level in the High Plains aquifer of Kansas, resulting in a more accurate network, less expensive to operate.
• Advanced knowledge of the geology and climatic change of the Baltic Sea.
• Collaborated with geophysicists in several grant projects, including location of gas hydrates in Alaska, coal methane in the Yukon, and ground characterization for the sensing military vehicles.
• Applied quantitative methods for the improvement of reservoir characterization.

EMPRESA NACIONAL DEL PETROLEO [1967 - 1985]
Advisor, Engineer, Financial Modeler, and Seismologist

During this time, this government-owned company was in charge of the exploration, development, and production of all oil and gas resources in the Chile. Prepared 90 technical reports documenting new methodologies and communicated findings.

Achievement Highlights

• Pioneered the use of reservoir simulation in the Chilean oil industry.
• Initiated computer formation evaluation, which resulted in more thorough assessments and well completions.
• Wrote several computer programs for the routine economic evaluation of exploration plays, which radically changed the company's decision-making process.
• Performed economic evaluation for negotiating joint international venture contracts.
• Introduced computer-contour mapping, which resulted in the elimination of inconsistencies and opened the possibility to assess sampling reliability.
• Prepared several highly accurate seismic interpretations, one of them leading to the discovery of the Río del Oro oil field in Tierra del Fuego.

Education

Doctor of Engineering in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering with minor in project evaluation and management, University of Kansas, 1982

Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Kansas, 1972

Mining Engineer with a minor in geophysics (6-year program), Universidad de Chile, 1967

Professional Affiliations

Member, International Association for Mathematical Geology, with 15 years of service on the Board of Directors

• Board Member (2000 - Present)
• President (1996 - 2000)
• Secretary General (1992 - 1996)
• Councilor (1989 - 1992)

Member of organizing committees for five international conferences.
Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers
Active Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Member, Sigma Xi, an elective scientific research society

Kansas Geological Survey
Updated May 24, 2005
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