Postgraduate Course: Topical themes in GeoEngineering (PGGE11279)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course develops the students understanding of how to design and implement coupled process multiphysics model simulations to address topical geoengineering problems. The course provides a practical introduction to hydrogeology risk based analysis, environmental impact assessments and remediation technologies, with an emphasis on applying current concepts, methods and technologies for ground water resource assessment for different geological settings, physical domains and exploitation proposals. The course lectures will be supplemented by specialist guest lecturers introducing students to the UK hydrogeological research and industry community. |
| Course description |
All geoengineering activities involving utilisation of subsurface resources, such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage and energy storage will cause changes in the subsurface hydrogeology. Hydrogeologists must assess the impact of these changes and take steps to minimise their impact. This course will cover current environmental legislation and regulations along with the environment impact assessment and risk assessments, which are the framework within which all geoengineering activities must take place. The course will introduce regional groundwater flow modelling within a variety of different geoengineering scenarios; to refine skills in conceptualising groundwater systems from limited data; and to introduce professional groundwater modelling software use computers to model groundwater flow, chemistry and temperature according to geological formations, surface water flow and man-made influence.
The course lectures, which develop the students¿ knowledge base with advancing concepts that, are supported by practical numerical modelling and report writing. This is aimed at developing technical, interpretation and reporting skills and encourage critical thinking. Integration of the concepts developed in the taught programme is facilitated through student centred investigations of current issues linked to a range of geoengineering applications.
Full details of the course content can be found in the course handbook
Course outline:
WK1
Session 1: Modelling Topic Multiphysics codes and creating meshes (Tuesday 17th January)
Computer workshop 1: Coupled Process Modelling. The students will be introduced to coupled process modelling to refine their skills in conceptualising groundwater systems and to introduce OpenGeoSys (OGS) multiphysics modelling software. The content will include
¿ An introduction to THMC coupled process modelling
¿ Code architecture and model requirements.
¿ Using Gmsh to create numerical meshes of any 1D, 2D or 3D system
¿ Start of tutorial for OGS ¿ Jolley Valley.
Session 2: Water Environment Legislation and Regulations (Wednesday 18th January)
Seminar 1: 30-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q and A on Water regulations and legislation with a SEPA hydrogeologist
¿ Water regulations and legislation - Isla Smail (SEPA hydrogeologist)
Seminar 1 activity: Using the relevant SEPA water environment-controlled activities you will determine the SEPA level of authorisation required for a number of different water use/interaction scenarios.
WK2
Session 1: Modelling Topic Hydraulic Controls on Fluid Flow (Tuesday 24th January)
Computer workshop 2: Using models to understand fluid flow in the subsurface
Students are provided with a template for a groundwater model. Working in small groups representing consulting companies, they are to provide the most accurate groundwater model based on a few water level readings during a steady state natural conditions by manipulating the Hydraulic Conductivity. Teams are allowed to purchase (using mock money) further data points. The team with the closest to the virtual reality model gains the highest income, but this is of course balanced against how many data points were requested (purchased). Teams are then expected to present their results in terms of demonstrating the calibration of their model and are then given extra data points to validate their model.
Session 2: Risk and Environmental Impact Assessment (Wednesday 25th January)
Seminar 2: 30-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q and A on Environmental Impact Assessment with an industry consultant
Seminar 2 activity: We will work through the submitted environmental risk assessment associated with an environmental permit application for a landfill site at Homers Farm.
WK3
Session 1 Model Topic: Contaminant transport model, using OGS
Saltwater ingress due to over pumping at the coast, part 1. (Tuesday 31st January)
Computer workshop 3: A coastal aquifer system will be modelled, requiring a conceptual hydrogeological model with both groundwater flow and mass (contaminant) saltwater transport to be developed and parameterised. Students will have to consider appropriate parameterisation (turning geology into numbers), uncertainties and controls. The application of the tutorial is to balance possible water use and prevent long term saltwater ingress by managing the location of possible wells and pumping rates.
¿ Representation of natural geometry and different hydrogeological environments.
¿ Consideration of initial conditions
¿ Selection and assignment of boundary conditions.
¿ Steady state and transient flow representation
¿ Implementation of time or other dependent functions, e.g. source terms (pumping schedule, rainfall events).
¿ Saltwater transport in the coastal environment
Session 2: Geoenergy (Wednesday 1st February)
Seminar 3: 15-minute talks from each panel member followed by a 15-minute Q and A with the following panel:
¿ Emissions, energy and the energy transition ¿ Katriona Edlmann
¿ Intro to Geothemal ¿ Andrew Fraser Harris (The University of Edinburgh)
¿ Intro to Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) ¿ Zuansi Cai (Napier Univeristy)
¿ Intro to Hydrogen storage ¿ Ali Hassanpouryouzband (The University of Edinburgh)
¿ Intro to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) ¿ Niklas Heinemann (The University of Edinburgh)
Seminar 3 activity: Class workshop on the ¿future of energy¿. Workshops and associated break out groups are a common working pattern used by many employers and scientific meetings.
WK4
Session 1: Modelling Topic: Importance of benchmarks (Tuesday 7th February)
The students will develop understanding of the importance of benchmarks both to verify models and to create template from which to develop further models. The computer workshop will include modelling a number of single process simulations.
¿ Finalise OGS Intro HC model
¿ Physics, Parameters, Equations, Benchmarks
¿ Groundwater Flow to a Well (Confined Aquifer, Unconfined Aquifer)
¿ HC Benchmark Model (Mass Transport, Column Experiment) BM & Model
¿ HT Benchmark Model (Heat transport, Column Experiment) BM & Model
Session 2: Water Equality and social licence to operate (Wednesday 8th February)
Seminar 4 activity: We will hold formal class debates around ¿resolutions¿ pertinent to the topic of water equality:
¿ Should water be supplied for free?
¿ Are charities such as Water Aid the best vehicles to ensure equal access to water across the globe?
¿ Should building of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile be allowed to continue?
¿ Should fracking for shale gas be supported?
¿ Should people who live on flood plains pay more for their house insurance?
¿ Should our environment and biosphere have an equal right to water as the local population in areas of water scarcity?
¿ Does water storage in reservoirs reduce water scarcity?
¿ Is desalination that answer to providing potable water?
WK5
Session 1: Modelling topic Contaminant transport part 2, consolidation of learning and reporting. (Tuesday 14th February)
Computer workshop 5 Contaminant transport model: Saltwater ingress due to overpumping at the coast, part 2.
Students are to determine the main controls on the saltwater intrusion, and identify key sensitivities. The workshop is free for students to explore the parameter space and the model responses, in preparation of the modelling report due at the end of the week.
Session 2 Geological repositories for hazard waste storage (Wednesday 15th February)
Seminar 5: Talk from Simon Norris, Head of RWM Research, UK on Nuclear Waste Storage.
WK6 Reactive Transport Part 1
Modelling Topic: From rainwater to groundwater
Modelling Skill: Setting up a multi species reactive transport scenario
Computer workshop 6: (Tuesday 28th February) The students will explore the influence of changing chemistry within the hydrological environment using the industry standard code PhreeqC to appraise changes in groundwater chemistry under a range of geoengineering scenarios. The content will include:
¿ Geochemical modelling using PhreeqC
¿ Rainwater and mineral equilibration
¿ Reactive transport simulation
¿ Using PhreeqC to evaluate equilibrium and kinetic controlled chemistry
Session 2: Sustainable groundwater management / production (Wednesday 1st March)
Seminar 6: 30-minute talks from each panel member followed by a 15-minute Q and A with the following panel:
¿ Alan McDonald at BGS to talk about African groundwater.
¿ Ahmed Chowdhury to talk about groundwater in Bangladesh.
Seminar 6 activity: Class discussions on sustainable groundwater management case studies.
WK7
Session 1 and session 2 Student presentations on their dissertation projects (Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th March)
Students will give a 10-minute presentation on their proposed dissertation topic with time for questions and discussions (this will run over both sessions of this week)
The outline of the talks follows that of the posters:
¿ Background and motivation (importance)
¿ Knowledge gaps and statement of research problem
¿ Aims and objectives
¿ Methods
¿ Project logistics, costs and risks
¿ Project timeline
These presentations form part of the course assessment and will also include an element of peer feedback, where each student will be expected to fill in an assessment form for each presentation given.
WK8 Reactive Transport Part 2
Modelling Topic: From rainwater to groundwater
Modelling Skill: Setting up a multi species reactive transport scenario
Computer workshop 7: (Tuesday 13th March), as WK6 above
Session 2: Water and health (Wednesday 15th March)
Seminar 8: 30-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q and A with the following panel:
¿ Moira Malcom (DWQR Scot Gov)
Seminar 8 activity: Using the BGS GeoIndex Onshore (https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html?_ga=2.186146857.1041029353.1634390037-1198642527.1633511721) we will identify areas around the UK that may be at the greatest risk of arsenic, copper, lead, nickel and Cadmium exposure and summarise the health impacts of these contaminants.
WK9
Session 1 Multiphase flow modelling (Tuesday 21st March)
Modelling Topic: The Unsaturated Zone and Multiphase flow modelling
Computer workshop 8: Multiphase flow modelling, introduction to theory, and modelling. Gas storage, NAPL contamination, Oil migration all need multiphase flow models. Here we will explore the physics of multiphase flow models.
The students will investigate
¿ Infiltration using a Vadose zone RICHARDS flow model
¿ A column experiment exploring the replacement of fluid by gas during experimental work using a MULTIPHASE FLOW model.
Session 2: Remediation / Pollution Management (Wednesday 22nd March)
Seminar 9: Talk by Ian Molnar on emerging contaminants with a Q and A discussion.
Seminar 9 activity:
In groups of 3, each group will give a 12-minute presentation on a remediation/pollution management technology including a case study of it in use.
The talks should cover:
¿ Technology background/basics
¿ Pros and con of the technology
¿ Case study of the technology in use
With each section presented by one team member so everyone gets to participate.
The remediation technologies to cover are:
¿ Pump and treat
¿ Cut off wall
¿ Permeable reactive barriers
¿ Soil washing
¿ Bioremediation
WK10
Wastewater treatment (Wednesday 29th March)
Class fieldtrip to Scottish Water wastewater treatment centre
WK11
Legacy pollution (Wednesday 5th April)
Class fieldtrip to Leadhills to visit a lead mine, go gold panning + see industrial/legacy pollution
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Basic knowledge of geology and maths to satisfaction of CO |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The coursework assessment (100%) consists of:
1. Modelling report (20%) due week 5
2. 10-minute dissertation presentation (20%) due week 7
3. Poster on the student¿s planned dissertation topic (60%) due in April
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| Feedback |
During the course, two of the components of the assessment, the modelling report and the dissertation outline presentation will provide formative feedback.
Over 80% of the course content has associated tutorials and practical sessions, most directly aligned with their assessment poster. This provides students with ongoing opportunities to consolidate their learning and provide continuous in-class feedback and the provision of in-class support to provide clarification if required.
Informal class discussions will be included within the course, teaching allowing both the exchange of ideas, and feedback on knowledge levels and on the presentation ideas
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Interpret environmental regulations in the context of environmental impact assessments.
- Use complex Multiphysics codes and coupled process modelling software
- Recognise and appraise the most monitoring and mitigations techniques to minimise the impact of geoengineering applications
- Evaluate and choose the most suitable remediation plan
- Prepare a poster and communicate its contents to an informed audience for a geoengineering application
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will equip our graduates with a wide range of skills including;
A good level of mathematical, analytical and modelling skills, using both industry standard and academic software packages.
Problem solving and practical hands on skills.
Capacity to evaluate complex data and to extrapolate conclusions from incomplete data.
Critical and reflective thinkers, some subsurface technologies are controversial and require expert knowledge to assess independently.
Organised with good project management skills and a flexible approach to work.
Skilled communicators, both oral and written
Ability to work well within a team. |
| Keywords | Hydrogeology,geoengineering,numerical modelling,THMC,coupled process modelling,OGS |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Katriona Edlmann
Tel: (0131 6)50 7339
Email: katriona.edlmann@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Lauren Blackman
Tel: (0131 6)50 2624
Email: Lauren.Blackman@ed.ac.uk |
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