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WILBERTH HERRERA
4600 W Guadalupe St. Apt. B306, Austin, TX. 78751 | C. (713) 377-0252 | herreraw@utexas.edu
Ph.D. in physics with more than five years of research experience in engineering applications of acoustic and
elastic wave propagation. Research topics cover computational modeling, processing and inversion of acoustic
signals generated by microphone arrays, and propagating in waveguides and in anisotropic materials. Particular focus
is the application of acoustic developments in petroleum engineering. Other technical skills include imaging and
processing of acoustic (seismic) data and inversion techniques for sonic well data. Experienced in designing
and teaching courses to multidisciplinary groups, and industry-oriented presentations.
Relevant Qualifications
 Working knowledge of the theory of acoustic wave propagation in waveguides and elastic materials.
 Two years of experience in modeling, signal processing and inversion of acoustic data acquired in sonic
wireline (WL) logging and logging while drilling (LWD).
 One year of experience in modeling acoustic (seismic) reflection data using wave equation methods (Finite
Difference).
 One year of experience in acoustic (seismic) imaging in 2D, including Reverse Time Migration (RTM),
Kirchhoff and phase shift migration.
 Five years of experience with scientific programming with MATLAB, Fortran and C.
 One year of experience with parallelized codes in Fortran (MPI and OpenMP).
 One year of experience with scripts in Linux/UNIX OS.
 Basic skills with Lab measurement devices (multimeters, oscilloscopes, caliper, etc.).
Experience
Senior research fellow: Acoustic well logging 12/2013-Present
The University of Texas at Austin; Formation Evaluation Joint Industry Consortium. Austin, Texas
https://faculty.engr.utexas.edu/formation
Supervisor: Carlos Torres-Verdín (Zarrow Centennial Professor in Petroleum Engineering)
Current research project: Fast forward modeling and inversion of acoustic well data using sensitivity functions.
 Quantified the dependence pattern of sonic logs (modeled using sensitivity functions) with background
reference density.
Previous research project: Simulation and interpretation of acoustic waveforms acquired in horizontal and deviated
wells.
 Assisted in the development of a new technique for the processing of acoustic waveforms using individual
azimuthal receivers of the wireline logging tool.
 Developed a computational code to adaptively select windows in the frequency domain, to estimate shear
slowness using dispersion curves of flexural and quadrupolar acoustic waveforms acquired using wireline
logging and logging while drilling, respectively.
 Studied the transition patterns of flexural and quadrupolar acoustic waves in wells drilled in the vicinity of a
bed boundary between isotropic and anisotropic VTI (polar and azimuthal) materials.
Responsibilities:
 To perform computational simulations of sonic logs for various relevant borehole scenarios and tool models,
and the corresponding data processing and analysis.
 To extend capabilities and provide maintenance to a parallelized (MPI + OpenMP) code for simulation of sonic
well logging 3D data.
 To give oral presentations and write reports oriented to advertise methods and technologies developed in the
consortium.
Professional Overview

2. 2
 To administrate computational resources assigned by the Texas Advanced Computer Center (TACC) to the
research project “Parallel Numerical Simulations of Borehole Logging Measurements Using a Self-Adaptive
Higher-Order Finite Element Method. Applications to the Oil Industry”.
 To train and assist students on sonic modeling related projects.
Postdoctoral research fellow I: Reflection seismology 05/2011 to 11/2013
http://www.mosrp.uh.edu/ Houston, Texas
University of Houston; Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program (M-OSRP).
Supervisor: Prof. Arthur B. Weglein (Hugh Roy Lillie-Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Physics).
Contributions:
 Developed a 1D method to filter coherent noise (internal multiples) from acoustic (seismic) data.
 Developed the Pre-stack and multidimensional extensions of the 1D algorithm mentioned in the previousitem.
 Developed a computationally optimized version of the algorithms mentioned in the previous items.
 Developed a 1D algorithm to eliminate artifacts created by the inverse scattering series when it is applied to
predict coherent noise (internal multiples) in geophysical acoustic data.
 Implemented a computer code for the modeling of the acoustic wave field and synthesis of 2D seismic data
using staggered finite difference methods.
 Implemented a 2D computational code for the acousticimaging of seismic reflection data,using Reverse Time
Migration (RTM) with a zero-lag cross-correlation imaging condition.
 Prepared oral presentations and written reports oriented to advertise methods and technologies developed in
the consortium.
Visiting postdoctoral research fellow: Theoretical Physics (String Theory) 04/2010 to 03/2011
http://zippy.ph.utexas.edu/ Austin, Texas
 The University of Texas at Austin; Theory group of the department of physics.
 Group Director: Prof. Steven Weinberg (Nobel Laureate in Physics).
 Supervisor: Prof. Jacques Distler.
Lecturer and visiting researcher 09/2009 to 02/2010
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (IPN). Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
Supervisor: Dr. Moisés Santillán Zerón.
Contributions:
 Designed and taught a physics course at a multidisciplinary M. Sc. degree program, for students coming from
diverse fields such as biology, engineering and physics. Ranked by students among the top three courses
taught at the institute in the fall term.
 Prepared a scientific publication in theoretical physics.
Visiting researcher 04/2009 to 08/2009
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (IPN). Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
Fellowships and Awards
 Member of the Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) de México, granted by CONACYT (Consejo
Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) of México for outstanding contributions in science and technology, 2014.
 Fellowship for postdoctoral studies in the M-OSRP consortia at the University of Houston, 2011-2013.
 CONACYT fellowship for postdoctoral studies at The University of Texas at Austin, 2010-2011.
 Fellowship from the ICTP (InternationalCentre for TheoreticalPhysics) for the Latin-American schoolon string
theory, 2007.
 CONACYT fellowship for a short-term visit to the University of Ottawa, as part of the Ph.D. thesis, 2005.
 Fellowship from the FIELDS institute for the Summer School on Operator Algebras, 2005.
 CONACYT fellowship for Ph.D. studies, 2005-2009.
 CONACYT fellowship for M. Sc. studies, 2002-2005.

3. 3
Education
Ph.D. Physics 2009
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (IPN). México, D.F., México
Group of Mathematical Physics and Gravitation.
Visiting Graduate Student 2005
University of Ottawa. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Department of Mathematics.
Specialized training in Mathematics (Functional Analysis) 2005
Summer School on operator algebras. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
FIELDS institute for research in the Mathematical Sciences.
M. Sc. Physics 2005
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (IPN). México, D.F., México
Group of Mathematical Physics and Gravitation.
B. Sc. Physics Engineering 2001
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. Mérida, Yucatán, México
School of Engineering.
Scientific Publications
Peer reviewed publications
 Ruijia Wang, Wilberth Herrera and Carlos Torres-Verdín, Simulation and interpretation of sonic waveforms
acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells, in preparation.
 W. Herrera, C. Ma, H. Liang and A.B. Weglein, Isolation of an elimination subseries for the surgical removal
of first-order internal multiples with downward reflection at the shallowest interface, sent for publication to the
Journal of Seismic Exploration.
 W. Herrera-Suárez and O. Loaiza-Brito, Minkowski vacuum transitions in (nongeometric) flux
compactifications, Phys. Rev. D. 81: (2010).
 Hugo García Compeán, W. Herrera-Suárez, Benjamin Itzá Ortíz and O. Loaiza-Brito, D-branes in Orientifold
and Orbifolds and Kasparov KK-theory, JHEP 12 (2008), 007 [arXiv:hep/0809.4238].
 I. Carrillo Ibarra, H. García-Compeán and W. Herrera-Suárez, Berezin quantization ofgauged WZW and coset
models; Gen. Rel. Grav. 38: 663-676, 2006.
Conference papers:
 Wilberth Herrera, Ruijia Wang and Carlos Torres-Verdín, Simulation and interpretation of LWD sonic
measurements acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells, Abstract for the 56th Annual Symposium of the
SPWLA, 2015.
 Ruijia Wang, Shan Huang, Carlos Torres-Verdín and Wilberth Herrera, Interpretation of sonic waveforms
acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells. Abstract for the 56th Annual Symposium of the SPWLA, 2015.
 W. Herrera and A.B. Weglein, Eliminating first-order internal multiples with downward reflection at the
shallowest interface: Theory and initial examples, Expanded abstract for the 83rd Annual Meeting of the SEG,
2013.
Technical reports:
 W. Herrera and Carlos Torres-Verdín, Simulation and interpretation of LWD borehole sonic measurements
acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells II, 15th annual meeting of the Joint Industry Research Consortium
on Formation Evaluation of The University of Texas at Austin, 2015.
 W. Herrera and Carlos Torres-Verdín, Simulation and interpretation of LWD borehole sonic measurements
acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells, 14th annual meeting of the Joint Industry Research Consortium
on Formation Evaluation of The University of Texas at Austin, 2014.

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 W. Herrera and A. B. Weglein, Initial study and implementation of the Convolutional Perfectly Matched Layer
for modeling the 2D acoustic wave equation, M-OSRP Annual Report 2013: 239-283.
 W. Herrera, C. Ma, H. Liang, and A. B. Weglein, Isolation of an elimination subseries for the surgical removal
of first-order internal multiples with downward reflection at the shallowest reflector, M-OSRP Annual Report
2013:175-214.
 W. Herrera, C. Ma, H. Liang, P. Terengui and A. B. Weglein, Progressing amplitude issues for testing 1D
analytic data in leading order internal multiple algorithms, M-OSRP Annual Report 2012: 167-188.
 W. Herrera, J. D. Mayhan, and A. B. Weglein, A background review of the theory of the Perfectly matched
Layer (PML) method: The acoustic wave equation, M-OSRP Annual Report 2012: 189-219.
Oral Presentations
 Plenary talk: Interpretation of sonic waveforms acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells, 56th Annual
Symposium of the SPWLA, 2015; Long beach, CA, July 18-22, 2015.
 Poster presentation: Simulation and interpretation of LWD sonic measurements acquired in high-angle and
horizontal wells, 56th Annual Symposium of the SPWLA, 2015; Long Beach, CA, July 18-22, 2015.
 Plenary talk: Simulation and interpretation of LWD borehole sonic measurements acquired in high-angle and
horizontal wells II, 15th annual meeting of the Joint Industry Research Consortium on Formation Evaluation of
The University of Texas at Austin, 2015.
 Plenary talk: Simulation and interpretation of LWD borehole sonic measurements acquired in high-angle and
horizontal wells, 14th annual meeting of the Joint Industry Research Consortium on Formation Evaluation of
The University of Texas at Austin, 2014.
 Parallel talk: Eliminating first-order internal multiples with downward reflection at the shallowest interface:
Theory and initial examples, 83rd Annual Meeting of the SEG, 2013; Houston, TX. Sep 22-27, 2013.
 Plenary talk: Identification of an elimination subseries for the surgical removal of first-order internal multiples
with downward reflection at the shallowest interface, M-OSRP Annual Meeting 2013; San Antonio, TX. May
1-2, 2013.
 Plenary talk: Initial study and implementation of the Convolutional Perfectly Matched Layer (CPML) for the
modeling of the 2D acoustic wave equation, M-OSRP Annual Meeting 2013; San Antonio, TX. May 1-2, 2013.
 Plenary talk: Progressing amplitude issues for testing 1D analytic data in leading order internal multiple
algorithms, M-OSRP Annual Meeting 2012; Austin, TX., May 30-31, 2012.
 String Theory and D-brane charge, M-OSRP seminar at the Department of Physics of the University of
Houston, March 1st, 2011.
 MMS instantons, torsion, and non-abelian gauge symmetry, Brown Bag Meeting of the Weinberg/Theory
group at the Department of Physics of the University of Texas at Austin. Oct. 14, 2010.
 2D Topological Quantum Field Theories, Geometry and String Theory Seminar at the Department of
Mathematics of the University of Texas at Austin. Sep. 22, 2010.
 Invited talk: Minkowski vacuum transitions in (non-geometric) flux compactifications, Mexicuerdas 2009;
México D.F. Oct. 22-23, 2009.
 Parallel talk: D-branes in Type I Op Orientifolds and KRR-theory, VII workshop on Gravitation and
Mathematical Physics; Monterrey N.L. Nov. 26-30, 2007.
 Poster: D-branes in Type I Op Orientifolds and KKR-theory, Strings 2007; Madrid, Spain, June, 25-30, 2007.
Memberships
 Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
 Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SWLPA).
Hobbies and interests
 Martial arts: Black belt degree and former competitor at national level in Tae Kwon Do.
 Latin music dancer with two amateur performances.
 Volunteer at a vet hospital to take care of animals.