Mixed paradigms : combining participatory and positivist research methods : Guyanese case studies

iii, 99 leaves ; 28 cm.Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-99).The debate between proponents of participatory and positivist research methodologies has been long and at times heated, but in four months research work in Guyana, the author found elements of the two paradigms melding. Positivist researchers are found to be less than completely objective in practice, while participatory researchers adopt positivist tools for use in their studies. In short, hard drawn lines of demarkation between the two schools of thought become blurred in the field. The implications of this blending of methodologies are explored, both theoretically and in the light of practical experience. Can field researchers not have the best of both worlds, combining positivist and participatory methods as these fulfill research needs? Or are the two approaches worlds apart, with practices appropriate to one invalidating the results and conclusions of the other? The key to the puzzle lies in who sets the research agenda and controls the generation of knowledge

New Data and File Requirements for Tet-1

A new version of Tet- is being finalized for distribution and beta-testing. The new version allows the user to create and modify the TETRAD input deck either graphically or manually. By defining Regions within the TETRAD domain and defining parameters within the regions, parameter estimation is done external to any proprietary software. The new version of Tet-1 can be run on any existing version of TETRAD, and makes identifying the TETRAD parameters to be estimated easier and more general than was previously possible. A beta-test version will be available in April 2003

Thermal Velocities Arising from Injection in 2-Phase and Superheated Reservoirs

Production from and injection into geothermal reservoirs gives rise to temperature fronts that move through the porous medium. As many as two temperature fronts are observed in 1-D simulations. The first front is related to the saturation temperature of the production pressure. Its velocity can be calculated from the amount of excess heat in the reservoir, defined as the amount of energy above the interface temperature, Ti = Tsat(Pwf). The second temperature front velocity is the same as for single phase liquid conditions

Tracer Test Interpretation Methods for Reservior Properties

The purpose of this project is to develop tools that can be used to interpret tracer tests and obtain estimates of reservoir and operational parameters. These tools (mostly in the form of spreadsheet applications) can be used to optimize geothermal resource management

A Systematic Method For Tracer Test Analysis: An Example Using Beowawe Tracer Data

Quantitative analysis of tracer data using moment analysis requires a strict adherence to a set of rules which include data normalization, correction for thermal decay, deconvolution, extrapolation, and integration. If done correctly, the method yields specific information on swept pore volume, flow geometry and fluid velocity, and an understanding of the nature of reservoir boundaries. All calculations required for the interpretation can be done in a spreadsheet. The steps required for moment analysis are reviewed in this paper. Data taken from the literature is used in an example calculation

Quantification of ventilation enhancement using the Eye CAN roof support

Convergence of roof and floor in underground mine openings is a common occurrence. This convergence not only adversely affects the ability of workers, equipment and supplies to travel through the mine, it also reduces the effectiveness of the mine ventilation system, which is essential for the dilution of methane gas and airborne respirable dust. While installing secondary standing supports to control floor and roof convergence, such supports, by nature, partially obstruct a portion of the airway. These added obstructions inhibit the ability of the ventilation system to operate as efficiently as it could by increasing the resistance in and reducing the cross-sectional area of the airway. This study introduces and demonstrates the benefits of The Eye CAN™ standing roof support, which controls floor and roof convergence and is less obstructive to air flow than conventional wooden cribs. Laboratory findings show that the normal resistance of a supported lined airway is reduced by using this new product from Burrell Mining Products, Inc., while providing the same roof support characteristics of an established product—The CAN®. Load vs. displacement curves generated from laboratory tests demonstrated that this new product behaves with the same roof support characteristics as others in The CAN product family. Ventilation data gathered from a simulated mine entry was then used for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. The CFD analysis showed an improvement with The Eye CAN vs. other accepted forms of standing roof support. This proof-of-concept study suggests that, when using this new product made by Burrell Mining Products, Inc., not only will the convergence from the roof and floor be controlled, but airway resistance will also be reduced

An Inverse Model for TETRAD: Preliminary Results

A model-independent parameter estimation model known as PEST has been linked to the reservoir simulator TETRAD. The method of inverse modeling is briefly reviewed, and the link between PEST and TETRAD is discussed. A single example is presented that illustrates the power of parameter estimation from well observations