Postgraduate Course: Future GeoEnergy Resources (PGGE11261)
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 | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces the technical background and covers the environmental issues associated with the responsible utilisation of Future GeoEnergy resources.
Future GeoEnergy resources encompass the broad range of energy technologies and sources that interact with the geological subsurface. This includes both established energy technologies such as conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon extraction, the production of geothermal energy, water resources and developing areas such as energy storage (via compressed air or hydrogen), nuclear waste storage and the influence of the deep biosphere.
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. |
| Course description |
This 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 of course delivery.
Semester 1:
Week 6
Introduction to course and GeoEnergy Research Talks ¿ Prof Stuart Gilfillan
A brief introduction to the aims of the course and its assessment breakdown will be provided. This will also outline the research talks where students will select a project to prepare an oral presentation on, to be given in Week 4 of Semester 2, chosen from operating GeoEnergy sites from around the world.
Unconventional Hydrocarbons ¿ Prof Stuart Gilfillan
Detailed guide to the history, hydrocarbon products and environmental issues surrounding unconventional hydrocarbon extraction and the associated hydraulic fracturing process. This will include discussion on the facts surrounding wastewater injection, induced seismicity, groundwater contamination and air pollution associated with unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
Interactive practical exercise on whether Scotland should allow exploration for unconventional hydrocarbons? As a class we will review the evidence gathering reports commissioned by the Scottish Government as part of their consultation on the exploration for unconventional hydrocarbons in Scotland.
Week 7 ¿ 9:30am start
Introduction to GeoEnergy Resources ¿ Prof Stuart Haszeldine
Overview lecture focusing on the Future GeoEnergy resources field and the need for rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector covering the developments in unconventional gas, geothermal resources and the need for energy, hydrogen and radioactive waste storage.
The following practical exercise will also be undertaken:
How will the UK meet its energy needs in the future? ¿ Prof Stuart Haszeldine
Interactive hands-on 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.
Week 8
Geomechanics & Experimental Simulation of the Subsurface ¿ Dr Mike Chandler
This session will introduce the principles of geomechanics before discussing how geomechanics informs our understanding of changing subsurface conditions as we interact with it.
Through a series of real-world examples, we will cover techniques for improving flow in low permeability reservoirs, discuss induced seismicity and techniques for its mitigation, and consider geomechanical controls on the movement of subsurface fluids. We will also familiarise ourselves with laboratory geomechanics techniques, and upscaling results from the lab to the field scale.
Throughout the session a series of short exercises will give you the chance to work with data collected by UoE researchers, and publicly available field data from geoenergy projects.
Week 9
Metal Supply and a Low-Carbon Energy future ¿ Dr Steve Hollis
The increased adoption of green energy technologies required for a low-carbon future is expected to lead to significant growth in demand for a wide range of minerals and metals.
This session will examine the number of metals produced today, how they are produced as primary or by-products and look at examples of metals that will be influenced by green energy growth and which will also impact policy decisions. Will we run out of metals? The manner in which resources and reserves are estimated will be examined historically to understand whether predictions for resource limitation are reasonable. Mining and metal refining is an energy sink with its own C footprint and other environmental impacts.
Water Resources for a Zero-Carbon future ¿ Dr Ian Molnar
An overview of the energy supplied by the global hydropower sector, the environmental issues surrounding it, and the energy demands of the future posed by ensuring clean drinking water supplies are available to the increasing global population.
Week 10
Geothermal Resources ¿ TBC
A whistle-stop tour of arguably the oldest future geoenergy resources - Geothermal energy. Dr. Samuel Graham will take a journey around the world from Iceland to New Zealand and everywhere in between to see the different types of geothermal energy, how it can be used for different applications and why it could have an important role in the future geoenergy net-zero portfolio.
Drawing on current work from the University of Edinburgh we will also discuss geothermal energy from a renewable and sustainability perspective through worked examples of resource assessment, as well as introduce the future frontiers of geothermal energy provision from around the globe.
Week 11
The role of Hydrogen in a net-zero Future ¿ Prof Katriona Edlmann
Hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a critical low-carbon energy carrier, expected to make up 20¿35% of future energy mixes, with no credible net-zero scenario achievable without it. Over 60 countries have now adopted national hydrogen strategies, reflecting its growing importance for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, enhancing energy system flexibility, and improving energy security. This session explores hydrogen¿s pivotal role in the transition, with discussions on production, transport, storage, safety, public acceptance, and the policies and market drivers shaping its future deployment.
Semester 2:
Week 1
Nuclear Power ¿ Prof Stuart Haszeldine
This session will outline the principles of nuclear energy generation, the history of nuclear power development, the obstacles which push against that today and the incentives which favour nuclear. This will also explain the fit of nuclear into a national energy system for baseload electricity or hydrogen production, along with the geological resources needed to discover extract and purify fuel, and finally the geological resources and criteria needed to dispose of waste in diverse geologies.
A practical session investigating how the current proposition to develop an underground offshore coal mine 10 km north of Sellafield might impact on proposals for radioactive waste storage in excavated offshore tunnels.
Week 2
Shale Geology and Seal Properties ¿ Prof Mark Wilkinson
This session will cover the formation and geology of shales and how this affects their properties to act as seals to fluids in the subsurface. This will include the properties that control seal quality and how to assess seal integrity, porosity and permeability.
The lecture components will be complemented with a practical introduction to shale characterisation by X-ray diffraction, covering how the shale depositional parameters can be resolved experimentally from geochemical proxies.
Week 3
Energy Storage ¿ Prof Katriona Edlmann and Prof Mark Wilkinson
Overview lecture of the different methods of energy storage utilising the subsurface (compressed air, hydrogen, gas, heat) and associated management issues. This session will also involve a tour of the Applied Geoscience Laboratory and a practical overview of the experimental means to investigate issues related to subsurface energy storage technologies.
Week 4
Implications of the Deep Biosphere for GeoEnergy Resources ¿ Dr Sean McMahon
Introduction to the deep biosphere and how it affects GeoEnergy Resources. This session will also provide a practical exercise on the control of reservoir microbial sulphide production using chemical treatment of injection water: simulation vs. reality
Week 5
GeoEnergy Research Talks ¿ Prof Stuart Gilfillan and Prof 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 |
Students MUST have passed:
Geology for GeoEnergy (PGGE11293)
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must have studied basic geology to the satisfaction of the Course Organiser |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
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 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework: 100 %
Students will be required to submit the following coursework items to constitute the assessed component of this course:
A written 6 page report (including figures and tables, but excluding references which are not included in the page limit) report on a chosen Future GeoEnergy Technology to be submitted digitally for assessment week 11 of Semester 1.
An A0 size digital poster on a selected operating GeoEnergy site (excluding CCS sites as these are covered in Carbon Storage and Monitoring course). This is expected to be the same site as that presented orally in week 4 of Semester 2, in order for the formative feedback on the presentations to be acted upon in poster preparation.
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| 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). Teaching staff will provide feedback.
- Individual feedback will be provided on each students individual presentations on a chosen relevant GeoEnergy project scheduled to be given during the course. 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 a high 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/teachingorganisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
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| No Exam Information |
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 their use
- A critical understanding of the geomechanical controls on the subsurface injection of fluids
- Knowledge of the properties of fine grained rocks and their ability to act as geological seals
- An insight into the experimental approachs used to understand subsurface processes relevant to utilisation of GeoEnergy Resources
- Familiarity with common tools used to monitor GeoEnergy Resources
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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
World Bank 2017 - The Growing Role of Minerals and Metals for a Low Carbon Future ¿ free
to download here:
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/207371500386458722/pdf/117581-
WPP159838-PUBLIC-ClimateSmartMiningJuly.pdf |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical thinking- some subsurface technologies are controversial; all require expert knowledge to assess independently.
Presentation and data interpretation skills will also be gained from the course. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
All classes will be delivered in person. |
| Keywords | Earth Resources,GeoEnergy,Geothermal energy,Energy Storage |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stuart Gilfillan
Tel: (0131 6)51 3462
Email: stuart.gilfillan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Jones
Tel:
Email: sarah.jones@ed.ac.uk |
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