Ye Zhang

Associate Professor

Office Phone: (307) 766-2981
Fax Phone: (307) 766-6679

Dept. #3006
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3006 Office Room No: GE 220
Email: yzhang9@uwyo.edu

Education

Hydrogeology, PhD, Indiana University, 2005
Hydrogeology, MS, University of Minnesota, 2004
Hydrogeology, BS, Nanjing University (PR China), 1998

Research Projects

• PI, An Integrated Well Location Optimization Study for Commercial-Scale CO2 Storage in A Deep Saline Aquifer, UW CFSF, WYDEQ49811. Co-PI: KJ Reddy (UW Renewable Resources) and Phil Stauffer (Los Alamos National Lab).
• PI, Determination of Optimal Geological Model Complexity in CO2 Sequestration Simulation: A Pre-Injection Numerical Scoping Analysis at the La Barge Anticline, Moxa Arch, Wyoming, DOE, DOE42609TASK10.
• PI, Evaluation of CO2 Modeling Uncertainties in Deep Saline Aquifers: Mount Simon Sandstone, Illinois Basin, ACS PRF and SER, PRF# 48773 -DNI 8.
• PI, Evaluation of Model Uncertainty in CO2 Sequestration in Deep Aquifers: A Flow Relevance Study using Experimental Stratigraphy and Field Verification (Teapot Dome, Wyoming), NSF, EAR-0838250.
• PI, Optimal Parameter Estimation for Groundwater Flow Models to Evaluate the Impact of Coalbed Methane Development on Regional Aquifer Drawdowns in the Powder River Basin, USGS (to be submitted by Oct 2009).

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Details on current research can be found on my Personal Website where publications (in pdf) can be downloaded.
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Details on current or future course offerings (i.e., syllabi) can be
found on my Personal Website, under "Teaching".
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Publications

Links to Publications in PDF format

S-Q Li†, Ye Zhang*, Xu Zhang (2011) A Study of Conceptual Model Uncertainty in Large Scale CO₂ Storage Simulation, Water Resources Research, accepted for publication.

Ye Zhang*, Baozhong Liu, Carl W Gable (2010) Homogenization of Hydraulic Conductivity for Hierarchical Sedimentary Deposits at Multiple Scales, Transport in Porous Media, accepted for publication.

Baozhong Liu^§, Ye Zhang*, Xu Zhang, Waste Gas Storage in a Deep Saline Aquifer: A Numerical Sensitivity Study to Evaluate Parameter and Model Uncertainty, Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, accepted for publication.

Ye Zhang*, Carl W Gable, Ben Sheets (2009) Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity Of Three-Dimensional Heterogeneous Porous Media: An Upscaling Study Base on An Experimental Stratigraphy, Journal of Hydrology, V. 388, No. 3-4, p. 304-320, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.05.009.

Ye Zhang, Carl W Gable, George Zyvoloski, Lynn Walter (2009) Uinta Basin: Hydrogeochemistry and Gas Compositions: A Regional Scale Overview, AAPG Bulletin, V. 93, No. 8, p. 1087-1118, doi: 10.1306/05140909004

Ye Zhang, 2008, Hierarchical Geostatistical Analysis of an Experimental Stratigraphy: Implications for Indicator-based Variogram Decomposition, Mathematical Geosciences (formally Mathematical Geology), 10.1007/s11004-008-9180-6.

Ye Zhang, Carl W Gable, 2008, Two-Scale Modeling of Solute Transport in an Experimental Stratigraphy, Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 348, p. 395-411, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.10.017

William Milliken, Marjorie Levy, Sebastien Strebelle, Ye Zhang, 2007, The Effect of Geologic Parameters and Uncertainties on Subsurface Flow: Deepwater Depositional Systems, SPE 109950.

Ye Zhang, Mark Person, Carl W Gable, 2007, Representative Hydraulic Conductivity of Hydrogeologic Units: Insights from an Experimental Stratigraphy, Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 339, p. 65-78, doi: 10.1016/ j.jhydrol.2007.03.007.

Ye Zhang, Carl W Gable, Mark Person, 2006, Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity of an Experimental Stratigraphy - Implications for Basin-Scale Flow Simulations, Vol. 42, W05404, Water Resources Research, doi:10.1029/2005WR004720.

Courses

(1) Introduction to Geostatistics (GEOL 5446), Fall 2009, syllabus [PDF] .

Geostatistics course notes (Chp1 only) [PDF]

(2) Geohydrology (GEOL 4444/5444), Spring 2009, syllabus [PDF] .

Geohydrology course notes (Chp1 only) [PDF].

(3) Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport Modeling (GEOL 5200), Fall 2008, syllabus [PDF]. Students can sign up in either S/U or A/F grading.

Modeling course notes (Chp1 & Chp2 only) [PDF].

(4) Classical Papers in Hydrogeology (GEOL 5210), Fall 2008, syllabus [PDF].

Current Graduate Students

• Ye Li - PhD Candidate
• Guang Yang - MS Candidate

Research Statement

(1) Parameter Estimation

Permeability heterogeneity is the single most salient feature of sedimentary aquifers. It exerts a dominant control on subsurface fluid flow and solute transport, while the lack of its representation in hydrogeological models accounts for much uncertainty in model predictions. In lieu of heterogeneity, models adopt effective parameters to represent the bulk flow/transport behaviors arising out of the unresolved heterogeneity. To address the issues related to "the heterogeneity problem", my research focuses on (a) innovative data; (b) new upscaling method; (c) high performance computing; (d) novel statistical analysis technique.

(2) Regional Hydrogeology

In the hydrocarbon-rich intermontane basins of the Rocky Mountain region, little is understood of the interplay of groundwater flow, salinization, and petroleum generation/migration. At the basin scale, groundwater flow is coupled to heat transfer and salinity transport (variable-density flow). The data-rich Uinta Basin in Utah provides a natural laboratory to understand a variety of subsurface phenomena. My research focuses on (a) realistic 3D model building; (b) regional 3D mapping of water and gas chemistry; (c) geostatistical modeling (CoKriging) to predict gas concentration/migration pathways; (d) based on field sampling, theoretical analysis on fluids co-migration via multiphase flow modeling.

Teaching Statement

My teaching approach is one of thorough preparation, student participation, and individual mentoring. I use both mathematical models and hands-on exercises to clearly illucidate the concepts, theories and their applications. Though mathematical rigour in developing the models is an integral part of the instruction, practical applications and appropriate use of models are also emphasized. Thus, most of the exercises, howework and projects involve solving practical hydrogeological problems either by hand or by computers (more advanced classes only). I emphasize to the students the importance of being professional at this early stage of their career, by encouraging critical thinking, logical and clear writing, and quantitative rigour. In general, I assist students to “learn how to learn” and solve problems independently. For complex projects, students are sometimes encouraged to work in groups and to seek solutions in a collaborative environment, as team work is key to success in many real-world situations.