Hydrogeology Department researchers are developing a quantitative understanding of the main physical and chemical processes that operate in geologic systems, and providing practically useful modeling tools for recovering, storing, and protecting subsurface fluid resources.
Hydrogeology
Overview
Hydrogeology has been an important component of Berkeley Lab’s former Earth Sciences Division (ESD) since its inception in 1977. Together with geophysics and geochemistry researchers, hydrogeologists addressed subsurface energy challenges at that time, which focused on geophysical characterization and numerical modeling of fracture flow, associated first with fundamental geosciences, geothermal energy exploration, and nuclear waste isolation and research activities heavily relied upon understanding flow and transport in the subsurface.
Today, the broad range of cutting-edge research continues in fundamental and applied hydrology. The Hydrogeology Department has expertise in theoretical, experimental, field, and modeling approaches in a variety of research areas, among which are advanced process modeling, reservoir engineering, vadose-zone and fracture hydrology, contaminant hydrology, and coupled nonisothermal, geochemical, and geomechanical processes. Our researchers address national needs in the areas of subsurface energy resources recovery, subsurface remediation, geological CO2 storage, and nuclear waste disposal, with a continued focus on mass and heat transport through porous and fractured earth materials under saturated and unsaturated conditions.
Currently, the majority of the Hydrogeology Department personnel support the Energy Geosciences Division.
Core Capabilities

Contaminant Hydrology
Hydrogeology Department researchers are addressing the national and international need for subsurface contaminant characterization and remediation across a spectrum of approaches—laboratory experiments, field tests, and theoretical and numerical investigations.
Coupled Processes
Hydrogeology Department researchers are addressing the complex field of coupled processes analysis through an integrated experimental and modeling effort, combining laboratory experiments and in situ tests, using advanced monitoring methods with sophisticated modeling analysis.

Reservoir Engineering
Hydrogeology Department researchers are studying ways to enhance production of energy from subsurface reservoirs containing methane gas hydrates, geothermal energy, and oil and gas resources.

Vadose-Zone and Fracture Hydrology
Hydrogeology Department researchers have made significant contributions to identifying the physical mechanisms, and developing modeling approaches and characterization/monitoring techniques, for flow and transport in fractures in both saturated and unsaturated systems.

Pramod Bhuvankar
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Phone:
pbhuvankar@lbl.gov

Jens Birkholzer
Director, Energy Geosciences Division;
Senior Scientist;
Hydrogeologist
Phone:
Fax:
jtbirkholzer@lbl.gov

Laura Blanco Martin
Faculty Scientist

Sharon E. Borglin
Principal Scientific Research Associate

Chun Chang
Research Scientist
Phone:
chunchang@lbl.gov

Abdullah Cihan
Staff Scientist
Phone:
acihan@lbl.gov

Christine Doughty
Staff Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
cadoughty@lbl.gov

Boris A. Faybishenko
Earth Staff Scientist

Stefan Finsterle
Guest Scientist
Affiliate

Barry M. Freifeld
Guest Scientist/Mechanical Engineer (Retired)
Affliate
Phone:
bmfreifeld@lbl.gov

Mengsu Hu
Research Scientist
Phone:
mengsuhu@lbl.gov

Preston D. Jordan
Principal Scientific Engineering Associate
Phone:
pdjordan@lbl.gov

Kenzi Karasaki
Guest Scientist
Affiliate
Phone:
kkarasaki@lbl.gov

Kunhwi Kim
Affiliate
Phone:
kunhwikim@lbl.gov

Tim Kneafsey
Affiliate Scientist (Retired)
Phone:
Fax:
tjkneafsey@lbl.gov

Keurfon Luu
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Phone:
keurfonluu@lbl.gov

Michael Manga
Faculty Scientist
Phone:
mmanga@lbl.gov

George J. Moridis
Senior Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
gjmoridis@lbl.gov

Nils Anders Petersson
Guest Scientist
Affiliate
Phone:
andersp@lbl.gov

Curtis M. Oldenburg
Senior Scientist
Rehired Retiree

Omotayo A. Omosebi
Research Scientist
Phone:
oaomosebi@lbl.gov

Clayton J. Radke
Faculty Scientist/Engineer
Phone:
clradke@lbl.gov

Matthew T. Reagan
Staff Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
mtreagan@lbl.gov

Jonny Rutqvist
Senior Scientist
Hydrogeology Department Head
Phone:
Fax:
jrutqvist@lbl.gov

Tsubasa Sasaki
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Phone:
tsubasasasaki@lbl.gov

Matthias Sprenger
Earth Research Scientist
Phone:
msprenger@lbl.gov

Tetsu K. Tokunaga
Senior Scientist (retired)
Affiliate
Phone:
Fax:
tktokunaga@lbl.gov

Hafssa Tounsi
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Phone:
htounsi@lbl.gov

Haruko Murakami Wainwright
Affiliate Scientist
Phone:
hmwainwright@lbl.gov

Jiamin Wan
Staff Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
jmwan@lbl.gov

Yingqi Zhang
Staff Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
yqzhang@lbl.gov

LianGe Zheng
Staff Scientist
Nuclear Energy and Waste Program Head
Phone:
Fax:
lzheng@lbl.gov

Quanlin Zhou
Staff Scientist
Phone:
Fax:
qzhou@lbl.gov