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 |
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.
Syllabus
This lecture and practical programme order is subject to change based on the availability of academic staff and should be used as an outline guide to content, not the final order.
Lectures
Week 6
1. Introduction to GeoEnergy Resources - Prof. Stuart Haszeldine
- Overview of the developing GeoEnergy resources field and the need for rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector covering the developments in unconventional gas, geothermal resources, and need for energy, hydrogen and radwaste storage.
2. Overview of Energy Storage - Dr Mark Wilkinson
- Overview of the different methods of energy storage utliising the subsurface (compressed air, hydrogen, gas, heat?) and associated management issues.
Week 7
3. Overview of Geomechanics and experimental simulation of the subsurface - Dr Andrew Fraiser-Harris
- Overview of geomechanical principles and how these control subsurface injection and production practices. Introduction to how subsurface conditions can be replicated in the laboratory.
4. The implcations of the deep biosphere for GeoEnergy Resources - Dr Sean McMahon
- Introduction to the deep biosphere and how it affects GeoEnergy Resources.
Week 8
5. Low temperature Geothermal Resources - Dr Chris McDermott
- Overview of low enthaply geothermal resources, inlcuding minewater heat, district heating and their applications.
6. High temperature Geothermal Resources - Dr Chris McDermott
- Overview of high enthaply geothermal resources including volcanic, hot and dry rock and deep saline formations and examples of the use of each in a global context.
Week 9
7. Introduction to shale geology and properties - Dr Mark Wilkinson
- Overview of geomechanical principles and how these control subsurface injection and production.
8. Shales as seals - Dr Mark Wilkinson
- What controls seal quality and how to assess seal integrity, porosity, permeability, capillary seals.
Week 10
7. Unconventional hydrocarbons - Dr Stuart Gilfillan
- Detailed guide to the process, products and issues surrounding the hydraulic fracturing process and associated shale hydrocarbon production.
8. Issues surrounding the use of GeoEnergy Reosurces - Dr Stuart Gilfillan
- Wastewater injection, induced seismicity, groundwater contamination, subsidence
Practicals
Week 6
1a. How will the UK meet its energy needs in the future? - Prof. Stuart Haszeldine
- interactive experience of designing an energy system for the UK, which mixes fossil, sustainable, low carbon, and renewable energy sources to achieve 80% carbon reduction from 1990 values by 2050, at a feasible cost. This will use the established DECC 2050 calculator from UK government, which is now part of the planning systems for many governments worldwide. (90 min minimum). Students must bring their own laptop or tablet, to use web-software through Wi-Fi
1b. Introduction to individual GeoEnergy research talks - Dr Mark Wilkinson
- Each student picks a project to prepare an oral presentation on, to be given in Week 10, selected from a list of currently operating GeoEnergy sites from around the world.
Week 7
2. Geomechanics and experimental simulation of subsurface - Dr Andrew Fraser-Harris
- Analysis of dataset obtained from the GREAT cell and laboratory tour
Week 8
3. Geothermal practical - Dr Stuart Gilfillan & Dr Chris McDermott
- Exercise assessing the sutiability of KB site for baseline heat production for a new GeoSciences building
Week 9
4. Shale geochemistry - Dr Mark Wilkinson
- Determining the depositional parameters of shales from geochemical proxies.
Week 10
5. Student presentations - Dr Stuart Gilfillan and Dr Mark Wilkinson
- Oral presentations on the selected currently operating GeoEnergy sites. Individual feedback will be provided to each student following the talks via email.
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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 %
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| 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.
- Personal 1-to-1 feedback during the one day field trip to Berwick upon Tweed. Feedback will be provided by teaching staff.
- Individual feedback will be provided on each students report summarising the major geological events shown by the rocks observed on the fieldtrip. This will include recommendations as to how you can improve your grades.
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.
Examples of feedback can be found here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have a broad, integrated knowledge of the range of future GeoEnergy Resources and the geological constraints associated with using them
- Critically understand geomechanical controls on the subsurface injection of fluids
- Be familiar with common tools used to monitor GeoEnergy Resources
- Gain 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 | Mrs Faten Adam
Tel: (0131 6)50 5850
Email: Faten.Adam@ed.ac.uk |
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