Dr. William S. Derhsowitz, Technical Director at Golder Associates / FracMan Technical Group, presents "Integrating Geology, Geophysics, Geomechanics, and Hydrodynamics with the Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Approach."

"Dr. Bill Dershowitz will present an overview of the use of the FracMan® Discrete Fracture Network Simulator to solve engineering problems in fractured rock by integrating geology, geophysics, geomechanics and hydrodynamics.   Dr. Dershowitz will demonstrate the simulation of induced hydraulic fractures, inflated natural fractures, and hydro-sheared natural fractures in realistic heterogeneous and layered geologies.  The approach presented provides an improved understanding of reservoir drainage, environmental risk, and induced seismicity.  FracMan builds on over 40 years of research that began with Dr. Dershowitz’ undergraduate research with Prof. Einstein at MIT."

Bill Dershowitz is a rock mechanic and hydrogeologist at Golder Associates in Redmond.WA.  He is Technical Director of Golder’s FracMan Technology Group www.fracman.com .  Dr. Dershowitz integrates principles of geology, structural geology, geophysics, hydrodynamics, and geomechanics to improve the analysis of fractured rock. He is also active in development of the “Discrete Fracture Network” (DFN) approach to integrate an understanding of natural and induced fractures to solve practical problems of civil, environmental, mining, and petroleum engineering.  The author of over 50 professional papers. Dr. Dershowitz earned a B.S. in Geotechnical Engineering (‘77) and an M.S. (’79) and Ph.D. (’85) in Civil Engineering (Rock Mechanics) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under Prof. Herbert Einstein.  Dr. Dershowitz is on the Affiliate Faculty at the University of Washington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he teaches Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics.