Robert Valdez Ii, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Nottingham, Gb

Keyworth, England, United Kingdom

I contribute to the British Geological Survey's current strategy of supporting a more secure energy transition. This specific goal aims to enable the use of the subsurface to deliver net-zero emissions and ensure resource security for the UK.Primarily, I contribute to this goal through experimental subsurface characterization. I utilize the Rock Mechanics & Physics Laboratory at BGS, which is equipped with a HTHP (High Temperature High Pressure) testing apparatus. In general, my work involves the following:1) Working both independently and in collaboration with other teams on CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage), geothermal, and geo-energy projects.2) Communicating results through presentations and publications.3) Expanding the current laboratory capabilities.4) Co-supervising graduate students in the laboratory.

Houston, Texas, United States

Primary subject matter expert, technical lead, and manager of the geomechanics laboratory at Stratum Reservoir. I oversee all geomechanics projects to ensure the testing programs and resultant analyses remain in line with the clients overarching goals for their conventional, unconventional, & CCUS assets.

Spring, Texas

Geomechanics researcher within the Upstream Research Company / Research, Technology, & Development [RTD]. I was part of the subsurface characterization team leading geomechanically focused projects for conventional [i.e., Guyana] and unconventional [i.e., Permian & Williston Basin] assets.A few of the primary deliverables for these various projects were static and dynamic elastic moduli, strength and failure analyses, mechanical behavior during simulated depletion [compressibility and pore collapse pressure], pressure-dependent permeability analyses, anisotropy analyses, stress prediction, fracture analyses, & novel proppant analyses.These experimentally-focused projects were essential for the success of the subsequent reservoir simulations, wellbore stability models, hydraulic fracture design/optimization, and mechanical earth models.

State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Rock mechanics experimentalist in the Rock & Sediment Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Penn State. This position functioned as a research position after completing my doctoral degree. My primary role was to 1) conduct deformation tests on core samples from numerous major plate boundary fault zones and 2) train graduate students on current best practices for rock mechanics research [i.e., experimental design, triaxial pressure vessel operation, data analysis, and scientific interpretation].

State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Doctoral research & teaching assistant in the Rock & Sediment Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, Penn State. Dissertation title - Mechanical Behavior of Major Plate Boundary Fault Systems: Insights into the Stress State of the Nankai Subduction-Accretion Complex Offshore SW Japan and Slip Stability of the Alpine Fault Zone in New ZealandAdvisors: Dr. Demian Saffer & Dr. Chris Marone As a doctoral student, I developed 5+ collaborative research projects to study the in-situ mechanical and hydraulic behavior of major plate boundary fault zones [i.e., Nankai Subduction Zone, Alpine Fault, Japan Trench]. This work was experimentally focused and required completing many triaxial deformation, uniaxial consolidation, and high temperature/pressure saw-cut shearing tests. The collaborative nature of these projects allowed for participation in both offshore and land-based scientific drilling efforts as well as opportunities to work in other experimental laboratories [i.e., shearing experiments at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology in Tsukuba, Japan]. The offshore drilling efforts targeted the Nankai Accretion-Subduction complex offshore SW Japan [IODP Expedition 348], while the land-based efforts drilled into the Alpine Fault Zone on the South Island of New Zealand [i.e., DFDP-Phase 2].

Whataroa, New Zealand

As part of my doctoral research, I participated as an on-site physical properties scientist during the second phase of land-based drilling for the ICDP Deep Fault Drilling Project [DFDP]. During active drilling for DFDP-2, I aided in the characterization of physical and stratigraphic properties of drill cuttings to determine lithologic changes as we approached the fault zone/principal slip zone. This position required quick learning of specialized software for real-time documentation of numerous datasets.

Tsukuba, Japan

As part of my doctoral research, I collaborated with colleagues in the rock mechanics laboratory at AIST, Tsukuba, Japan. This suite of testing focused on investigating the effects of temperature on the slip stability of natural fault gouge material from the Alpine Fault Zone in the South Island, New Zealand.The research was comprised of numerous high temperature and pressure tests using their triaxial deformation apparatus [saw-cut shearing configuration].The project was completed over two separate visits to AIST [July-August 2013 & June-July 2014] and resulted in a scientific publication in Tectonophysics [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2019.04.022].

Nankai Trough, Offshore Sw Japan

As part of my doctoral research, I participated as a shipboard physical properties scientist aboard the scientific drilling vessel 'Chikyu' during IODP Expedition 348. The drilling expedition targeted the deep interior of the Nankai Accretionary Complex, with the goal of collecting prism and fault zone samples for laboratory testing.During active drilling, I characterized and documented physical properties of core and cutting material to create real-time log physical properties logs, which our team presented in the daily scientific meeting.Post-expedition, I co-authored the physical properties section of the IODP Expedition 348 scientific report [doi:10.2204/iodp.proc.348.2015]. Additionally, numerous deformation tests were completed on the prism and fault zone material. The results of these tests were presented at the AGU annual meeting in 2017.

Tsukuba, Japan

Same as description above since this work was separated into two visits to AIST Tsukuba, Japan.As part of my doctoral research, I collaborated with colleagues in the rock mechanics laboratory at AIST, Tsukuba, Japan. This suite of testing focused on investigating the effects of temperature on the slip stability of natural fault gouge material from the Alpine Fault Zone in the South Island, New Zealand.The research was comprised of numerous high temperature and pressure tests using their triaxial deformation apparatus [saw-cut shearing configuration].The project was completed over two separate visits to AIST [July-August 2013 & June-July 2014] and resulted in a scientific publication in Tectonophysics [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2019.04.022].

Riverside, California

Teaching assistant for the upper division undergraduate structural geology course. I led the laboratory section of this course and covered topics such as: graphical solution of structural problems and laboratory map study, the genesis of rock structures, the physics of rock deformation, and Mohr diagrams and elementary stress analysis.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Geological And Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Bachelor’S Degree, Geology/Earth Science, General

Undergraduate researcher in the Earthquake Physics laboratory working with Dr. Harmony Colella and Dr. James Dieterich on simulated slow.