Postgraduate Course: Future Geoenergy Resources (PGGE11225)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The geological subsurface is used as both a source of fluids (water, oil, gas); a sink (CO2; waste water; nuclear waste) and a store (compressed air; hydrogen; natural gas). All such industrial operations risk either damaging nearby subsurface resources, or creating pollution at the Earth's surface, and must be conducted in a manner which minimises these risks. The course introduces both the issues and the technical background to the responsible utilisation of these subsurface resources. |
| Course description |
The geological subsurface is used as both a source of fluids (water, oil, gas); a sink (CO2; waste water; nuclear waste) and a store (compressed air; hydrogen; natural gas). All such industrial operations risk either damaging nearby subsurface resources, or creating pollution at the Earth¿s surface, and must be conducted in a manner which minimises these risks. The course introduces both the issues and the technical background to the responsible utilisation of these subsurface resources.
Practitioners involved in the utilisation of subsurface resources should be aware of the issues involving the exploitation of these resources, such as the unintentional contamination of adjacent resources, or leakage of pollution to the Earth's surface. The course covers the technical background to fluid containment in the subsurface, concentrating on the role of sealing rocks (shales) and the techniques used for tracing any alleged pollution. Applications include geological carbon storage; geothermal energy production; hydraulic fracturing for shale oil and gas and energy storage using geological formations.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% written examination
Students will answer TWO essay type questions (out of a selection of FOUR) covering the entire range of the course in two hours (Each question will be equally weighted and hence worth 50% of the final exam mark). |
| Feedback |
Feedback is a key component of your learning experience, and something that is given a high priority in the Future GeoEnergy course. Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback in the following instances:
- Personal 1-to-1 feedback during the practical sessions, as students¿ progress on the exercises during the course (once a week). Feedback will be provided by teaching staff. - Individual feedback will be provided on each students individual presentations on a chosen relevant GeoEnergy project scheduled to be given in Week 10. This will include recommendations as to how you can improve your presentations in the future. Students are expected to build on this feedback to progress and produce work of good standard. Course team members are happy to give individual feedback to students who ask. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Future GeoEnergy Resources | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A broad, integrated knowledge of the range of future GeoEnergy Resources and the geological constraints associated with using them
- A Critically understand geomechanical controls on the subsurface injection of fluids
- Familiarity with common tools used to monitor GeoEnergy Resources
- Introductory knowledge of GeoEnergy sites and enhanced presentation skills
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Reading List
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air, 2009, by MacKay, DJC. Free to download here: https://www.withouthotair.com/
Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future Paperback, 2011, by Everett, Boyle & Peake
Li et al., 2015 - A review on hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoir, by, Petroleum (journal) v. 1, p.8 - 15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405656115000140
Amid et al. 2016 - Seasonal storage of hydrogen in a depleted natural gas reservoir, Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 5549:5558 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036031991531781X
Luo et al., 2014 - Overview of current development in compressed air energy storage technology, by, Energy Procedia, v. 62, p. 603 611. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610214034547
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical thinking - some subsurface technologies are controversial, all require expert knowledge to assess independently.
Group working for preparation of a presentation
Presentation skills
Technical knowledge
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stuart Gilfillan
Tel: (0131 6)51 3462
Email: stuart.gilfillan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Heather Dyson
Tel: (0131 6)51 7126
Email: H.Dyson@ed.ac.uk |
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