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3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado Del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia

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3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes Thesis of 60 ECTS credits Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Sustainable Energy May 2019 ii 3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia Thesis of 60 ECTS credits submitted to the School of Science and Engineering at Reykjavík University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Sustainable Energy May 2019 Supervisors: Juliet Newson Department Head of the Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavík University, Iceland Daniela Blessent Professor of Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Medellin, Colombia Examiner: Gylfi Páll Hersir Geophysicist, Iceland Geosurvey - ÍSOR iv Copyright Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes May 2019 vi 3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes May 2019 Abstract The Nevado del Ruiz stratovolcano is located in the Northern Andes Mountain Range of Colombia. The area has been evaluated for its geothermal potential for the past decade. Geothermal energy, once implemented, has been proven to be a stable source of baseload energy. However, geothermal projects are often classified as high-risk since geothermal prospects maintain uncertainties in regard to subsurface characterization and quantification of resource potential. Test drilling is a direct method to mitigate these uncertainties and gain robust information about a geothermal prospect, however drilling requires high upfront capital cost with no guarantee of favorable outcomes. A useful, emerging tool in efforts to decrease geothermal project risk prior to drilling and enhance confidence in decision- making is 3D modelling. Subsurface 3D modelling provides a platform for the integration of geoscientific data collected during the exploration phase of a geothermal project into a dynamic visualization to assess the geothermal system. This includes georeferenced data obtained from remote sensing, geological, geophysical and geochemical surveys. The resulting model becomes accessible for evaluation from different industry domains, facilitating understanding of the resource. Leapfrog Geothermal is a modelling software created by Seequent that provides these capabilities. The purpose of this work is to create the best possible 3D subsurface visualization for the Nevado del Ruiz geothermal prospect using Leapfrog Geothermal. A variety of models were created for the Nevado del Ruiz and surrounding area and are built on publicly available geoscientific data of the denoted area of study. The 3D geological model of the Nevado del Ruiz was used as the base model in which a permeability and conceptual model were extracted. This enabled the visualization of multiple working hypotheses for the Nevado del Ruiz geothermal system. The resulting models show the stage of surface exploration of the Nevado del Ruiz and indicate that facets of the geothermal system are not yet fully understood. The results suggest that further studies and data are required to enhance the usefulness of the model and for the overall progression of the project. Key Words: Colombia, Nevado del Ruiz, Geothermal, 3D Modelling, Leapfrog Geothermal viii Þrívíddarlíkan af misgengjum og innskotum í Nevado del Ruiz eldfjallinu, Kólumbíu Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes Maí 2019 Útdráttur Nevado del Ruiz er eldkeila, staðsett í Norður-Andesfjöllum Kólumbíu. Svæðið umhverfis Nevado Del Ruiz hefur verið rannsakað með það markmið að nýta jarðhita á svæðinu síðastliðin áratug. Þrátt fyrir að jarðhiti sé vel þekktur orkugjafi og þyki henta mjög vel sem grunnálagsorkugjafi eru jarðhitaverkefni flokkuð sem áhættusöm verkefni, sér í lagi vegna óvissu um eðli og stærð auðlindarinnar sem og vegna mikils grunnkostnaðar fyrir fyrstu framleiðslu. Til þess að draga úr áhættu og auka samtúlkun gagna hefur færst í aukana að byggja þrívíð (3D) líkön af rannsóknarsvæðum. Þrívíð líkön eru vettvangur til þess að samtúlka jarðvísindaleg rannsóknargögn með sjónrænni aðferð sem eykur skilning á jarðhitakerfinu. Markmið þessarar rannsóknar er að búa til 3D líkan og „conceptual“ líkan fyrir Nevado del Ruiz sem sýnir mögulega stærð jarðhitavæðisins. Til þess var notast við forritið Leapfrog Geothermal, forrit hannað til þess að útbúa þrívíð jarðhitalíkön. Þetta þrívíða líkan er byggt á opinberum gögnum sem til eru fyrir rannsóknarsvæðið. Þrívíddar líkanið af Nevado del Ruiz jarðhitasvæðinu var notað sem grunnur að líkani fyrir lekt og „conceptual“ líkan, þar sem margar jarðfræði-, jarðeðlisfræði- og jarðefnafræðilegar tilgátur voru sýndar fyrir Nevado del Ruiz jarðhitakerfið. Líkanið gefur til kynna stöðu rannsókna á Nevado del Ruiz jarðhitakerfinu og að það þurfi frekari rannsóknir til þess að skilja kerfið fullkomnlega, þannig gæti notagildi líkansins aukist og á sama tíma framvinda þessa verkefnis. x 3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes Thesis of 60 ECTS credits submitted to the School of Science and Engineering at Reykjavík University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Sustainable Energy May 2019 xii The undersigned hereby grants permission to the Reykjavík University Library to reproduce single copies of this Thesis entitled “3D Modelling of Faulting and Intrusion of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia”, and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the Thesis, and except as herein before provided, neither the Thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author’s prior written permission. May 28, 2019 Date Chelsea Arlette M. Cervantes Master of Science xiv I dedicate this to my Dad, Sam, the first and best geologist I ever knew. Thank you for sparking my fascination for the Earth and for all of the unconditional love. You rock. xvi Acknowledgements I would like to first and foremost thank my family and friends from Canada, Iceland and Colombia for all of their encouragement, positivity and support throughout this entire master’s degree. Thank you to my supervisors, Juliet and Daniela for their guidance in writing this thesis and thank you for the additional help and advice I received from Professor Jacqueline López Sánchez and David Moreno from the University of Medellin. I also would like to extend my gratitude to the Colombian Geological Survey (Servicio Geológico Colombiano) for allowing the use of their data towards this study. The University of Medellin and Reykjavik University I would like to acknowledge for facilitating my exchange for the time I spent in Colombia. My time in Colombia would not have been the same without my host family, and I cannot thank enough Daniela, Fabiola, Luis and Simon for making Medellin feel like home. Lastly, I would also like to extend a special thanks to James Catley and Bastien Poux for their assistance with Leapfrog Geothermal, Daníel Einarsson and my colleagues Snorri Guծbrandsson and Gestur Gíslason from Reykjavík Geothermal for their assistance with crafting an Icelandic abstract. xviii Preface This dissertation is original work by the author, Chelsea Arlette Magpantay Cervantes. xx xxi Contents Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................xvii Preface ............................................................................................................................... xix Contents ............................................................................................................................. xxi List of Figures ................................................................................................................ xxiii List of Tables ................................................................................................................ xxviii List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... xxix 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 2 Background ....................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2 Country Background: Colombia ............................................................................. 2 Current Energy Situation in Colombia ................................................................... 5 2.3.1 General Framework, Distribution and Transmission ................................. 5 2.3.2 Hydroelectricity .......................................................................................... 6 2.3.3 Fossil Fuels ................................................................................................. 7 2.3.4 Climate and Climate Change ...................................................................... 8 2.3.5 Geothermal Energy .................................................................................... 8 2.3.6 Colombian Energy Policy and the Future for Renewables ........................ 9 Chapter Conclusion..............................................................................................
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  • Ecuadorian Volcanoes Supersite

    Ecuadorian Volcanoes Supersite

    Version 1.3 15 October 2018 www.geo-gsnl.org Biennial report for Permanent Supersite/Natural Laboratory Ecuadorian Volcanoes Supersite History http://geo-gsnl.org/supersites/permanent- supersites/ecuadorian-volcanoes-supersite/ Supersite Coordinator Patricia Mothes, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Instituto Geofísico, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito Ecuador 1. Abstract The Ecuadorian Volcanoes Supersite is an initiative which has slowly gotten access to satellite images for use in InSAR processing. There are more than 35 potentially active volcanoes in continental Ecuador and several are often in eruptive state. Cotopaxi, which is probably one of the most dangerous volcanoes in all of the Americas, because of the high probability for producing huge lahars (debris flows), had a mild awakening in 2015, and while it quieted down and is now basically sleeping, could awaken at any time. With the capability of processing the satellite images the Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito, which has a government mandate to perform volcano and tectonic monitoring, has been able to efficiently make interferograms of the restless volcanoes. These images and their respective interpretation are shared with the National Secretary for Risk Management as well as being given broad diffusion through social media for the public at large. We consider that the use of satellite images as now a vital part of our volcano and tectonic monitoring because of the wide coverage area, the rapidity of repeat times and the facility to now process these images with new and innovative programs. The Ecuadorian Supersite has facilitated use of the satellite imagery and also learning by practitioners of the many applicable uses for the imagery.