World-class training for the modern energy industry

The Fundamentals of Geothermal Energy (G904)

Tutor(s)

Mark Ireland: Lecturer in Energy Geoscience, Newcastle University.

Overview

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of what geothermal energy is and how it can be used in our modern world.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A half-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: One 3-hour interactive online session. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Awareness. The course is aimed at non-technical staff and those who do not have a scientific background but want a basic introduction to the topic. The subject matter will be covered from very basic principles and will be of interest to staff from a range of departments, including legal, graphics, administration and technical support.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand what geothermal energy is.
  2. Outline the applications and use of geothermal energy.
  3. Describe the key characteristics of geothermal resources.
  4. Discuss geothermal project risks and uncertainties.

Principles of Subsurface Energy Storage (G564)

Tutor(s)

Kevin Taylor: Professor in Energy Geoscience, The University of Manchester.

Overview

The aim of this course is to give an overview of the requirement, and the range of subsurface solutions, for energy storage. It will cover the key aspects of energy supply and demand, the role that subsurface energy storage can play in addressing this, and the key role that subsurface energy storage will play in decarbonizing energy as a key part of the energy transition. We will cover the fundamental geological, technical, environmental and societal aspects of hydrogen storage, compressed air storage, natural gas storage and heat storage. We also will briefly cover emerging solutions, such as chemical subsurface storage and geo-batteries.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 1-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Two 3.5-hour interactive online sessions. Some short exercises (e.g. handling some basic data, estimating energy storage capacity, etc.) will be undertaken within the course. In-course questions / polls will be included. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is aimed at technical staff from a wide range of backgrounds, and an understanding of specific subsurface geoscience / engineering will not be assumed. The subject matter will be covered from first principles and will be of interest to staff from a range of backgrounds, including geological, engineering and commercial.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand the nature of energy demand and supply within the context of the energy transition and the necessity for energy storage.
  2. Recognize the different ways in which energy can be stored in the subsurface, including natural gas storage, hydrogen storage, compressed air storage and heat storage.
  3. Appreciate the specific geological and technical requirements for different energy storage solutions, along with examples of where these are being deployed.
  4. Appreciate the challenges around subsurface storage, including fluids, gas and geomicrobiology aspects.
  5. Be able to frame subsurface energy storage within environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.

Geothermal Drilling and Completion (G558)

Tutor(s)

Catalin Teodoriu: Mewbourne Chair in Petroleum Geology, The University of Oklahoma.

Overview

This course covers fundamental aspects of geothermal drilling and completion engineering, highlighting the differences between conventional oil and gas and geothermal activities. It encompasses the main geothermal drilling characteristics, focusing on deep geothermal well construction and completion concepts. The course also covers conventional and unconventional geothermal technologies, addressing the need of drilling and completion challenges. The last part of the course will concentrate on well integrity aspects, ranging from existing oil and gas wells to built-for-purpose geothermal wells.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 3-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Five 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 5 days. A digital manual will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading is to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Advanced. The course is intended for geoscientists wishing to learn the engineering aspects of geothermal project implementation, and oil and gas professionals transitioning towards sustainable energy opportunities.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Identify key factors in streamlining geothermal project decision making processes.
  2. Understand different management styles and their impacts on geothermal planning and execution.
  3. Identify the uncertainties and risks associated with drilling geothermal wells.
  4. Assess the impact of different well construction and completion concepts on the life of the well integrity.
  5. Discuss and analyze case studies involving different geothermal well construction solutions.

An Introduction to Clastic and Carbonate Depositional Systems (G064)

Tutor(s)

Jon Noad: Senior Palaeontologist at Stantec and President of Sedimental Services.

Overview

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of clastic and carbonate depositional settings. Different systems will be analysed in terms of their sedimentary structures, architecture and subsurface character. The first section will focus on clastic settings including aeolian, fluvial and shallow marine and especially the nature of the preserved sand bodies in the subsurface. The second section will explore the diverse topic of carbonate depositional settings, including the ranges of carbonate textures and facies that can be preserved and the different types of porosity. Each section will incorporate case studies, exercises and core examples.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: 3 days including a mix of lectures and exercises. The course manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring along a laptop or tablet to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Three, 3.5 hour online sessions presented over 3 days. Digital course notes and exercises will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is largely aimed at geoscientists who are working on subsurface projects where a wide-ranging understanding of both clastic and carbonate depositional systems is required.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Recognise different clastic environments of deposition including fluvial, aeolian deltaic and shallow marine.
  2. Recognise different sedimentary structures and sedimentary architectures.
  3. Understand the types of sand bodies and associated stacking patterns that are preserved in clastic depositional settings.
  4. Describe the heterogeneities in subsurface clastic reservoirs that can impact fluid flow.
  5. Appreciate how carbonates are classified and different carbonate settings are identified.
  6. Frame the main types of carbonate platform types and corresponding deposits.
  7. Understand the wide range of carbonate textures and facies that make up carbonate reservoirs.
  8. Recognise the different types of porosity and the impact of these on reservoir quality.

Lessons from Energy Transitions: Future Integrated Solutions that Sustain Nature and Local Communities, NE England, UK (G557)

Tutor(s)

Gioia Falcone: Rankine Chair of Energy and Engineering, University of Glasgow.

Bob Harrison: Director, Sustainable Ideas Ltd.

Overview

This course considers the past and future energy transitions in the northeast of England, and their impact and legacy on the region’s industrial sector, local communities and nature conservation. It is hoped that lessons learnt from the past experiences in the region will help a sustainable energy transition. The course will cover CCS, hydrogen generation, wind and nuclear power, geothermal energy and the repurposing of legacy assets.

Duration and Logistics

A 6-day field course with site visits supported by classroom sessions. The course will be based in the town of Hartlepool, County Durham, to provide easy access to nearby coastal and inland locations.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is intended for professionals working in energy transition, nature conservation and community engagement; those responsible for policy on energy and conservation matters; and energy sector investors.

Exertion Level

The course requires an EASY exertion level. Outcrops include coastal sections and inland exposures all with easy access. There will be some walks along beaches and easy paths through dunes with a maximum distance of around 5km (3 miles) or less.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Describe and explain the overall potential of the region for integrated solutions with the context of the present energy transition.
  2. Characterize the locations of potential projects and explain technical factors that affect these and their feasibility.
  3. Describe how wider factors can affect feasibility of the projects including the environmental and social impacts.
  4. Evaluate strategic choices for local and regional policy makers, as well as landowners and investors.
  5. Make predictions and assessments of other regions in the UK for the potential development of similar projects.

Reservoir Characterization for Carbon Capture and Underground Storage, Devon and Dorset, UK (G556)

Tutor(s)

Gary Hampson: Professor of Sedimentary Geology, Imperial College London.

Matthew Jackson: Chair in Geological Fluid Dynamics, Imperial College London.

Overview

This course provides a field-based overview of reservoir characterization relevant to carbon capture and underground storage (CCS) and focuses on widely exploited reservoir depositional environments and their associated heterogeneity. The course links geological heterogeneity observed in well-exposed outcrop analogues with flow and transport processes during CO2 injection and plume migration, and also discusses the characterization and modelling of heterogeneity using typical subsurface datasets. The concepts are illustrated using numerous practical examples.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course with a combination of field activities and exercises, plus classroom sessions. A manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants on the course. Transport is by small coach.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is intended for professionals with experience of, or background in, a related subsurface geoscience area, and / or recent graduates in a relevant topic.

Exertion Level

This class requires an EASY exertion level. Field locations are mainly accessed by hikes of 1–2km (roughly 1 mile) across some irregular terrain, including sandy beaches, coastal paths and pebbly / rocky beaches.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Describe and explain types of geological heterogeneity associated with reservoirs, storage units and aquifers developed in common depositional environments.
  2. Evaluate how these heterogeneities can be characterized and quantified in the subsurface and represented in static and dynamic reservoir models.
  3. Consider the impact of these heterogeneities on fluid flow and transport in the context of CO2 storage.
  4. Understand reservoir characterization requirements for the prediction of CCS.

Plays, Prospects and Petroleum Systems, Wessex Basin, Dorset, UK (G054)

Tutor(s)

Jonathan Evans: Director, GeoLogica; Chair of Trustees, Lyme Regis Museum.

Overview

This course will illustrate the processes of play analysis and prospect evaluation using the geology of the Wessex Basin and outcrops of the Jurassic Coast of Devon and Dorset. The course will assess the elements of a working petroleum system including reservoir, source, seal and trap in the context of the Wytch Farm oilfield. Participants will have the opportunity to study a wide range of clastic and carbonate depositional systems, in addition to varying structural concepts, and visit two producing oil fields.

The manual will be provided in digital format and you will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to the course.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course comprising fieldwork (70%) and classroom exercises (30%). The course will be based in Weymouth and transport will be by coach.

Exertion Level

This class requires an EASY exertion level. Outcrop access is easy with short walks of 1-2 km mostly across sandy beaches. Some field stops have more irregular terrain, in the form of pebbly and rocky beaches.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is intended for junior-mid level geoscientists who are working in exploration as well as development and want a broad overview of key petroleum systems concepts or the chance to revise the key themes. The course would also be of value to reservoir engineers wanting to appreciate the role of, and subsurface data analysed by, the geological team.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand the elements required in a working petroleum system and the concept of play analysis.
  2. Create play fairways maps based on fieldwork and published data.
  3. Examine the process of prospect evaluation and volumetric assessment including probability of success.
  4. Rank prospects based on the different play elements.
  5. Perform simple resource assessment and exploration risk analysis.
  6. Identify source rocks, how they form and what makes a good source rock.
  7. Compare different reservoir rocks, including sandstones and chalk, to work out how they were deposited and what controls the key reservoir properties of porosity and permeability at different scales.
  8. Describe different seals and flow barriers both above and within the reservoir intervals.
  9. Work with different types of subsurface data, as part of a team, and measure what scale of information they provide e.g. seismic, well logs, core, well tests, production tests.
  10. Analyse a series of local prospects and establish the geological chance of success.
  11. Assess the stages of a subsurface project from exploration through to development and production.
  12. Appreciate the different drilling and production technology in relation to the different reservoir types and project requirements.

Hydrogen Masterclass: Production, Geological Storage and Operational Engineering (G552)

Tutor(s)

Katriona Edlmann: Chancellor’s Fellow in Energy, The University of Edinburgh.

Overview

Future energy scenarios foresee a prominent and growing role for hydrogen. Demand is likely to rapidly exceed the capacity of typical above-ground energy storage technologies, necessitating the need for the geological storage of hydrogen in engineered hard rock caverns, solution mined salt caverns, depleted gas fields and saline aquifers. This course will firstly provide participants with an overview of the current hydrogen landscape, including its likely role in the energy transition, production and economic challenges. The course will then focus on the need for geological storage, introducing the geological storage options available for the secure storage and withdrawal of hydrogen from these different geological stores. The main body of the course will then explore the key considerations involved in geological hydrogen storage including hydrogen flow processes and thermodynamics, geomechanical responses to rapid injection and withdrawal cycles, geochemical and microbial interactions during storage, and the operational considerations and monitoring of hydrogen storage sites that may impact storage integrity, withdrawal rates and hydrogen purity.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 3-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises. 

Virtual version: Five 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 5 days. Digital course notes and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some exercises may be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is largely aimed at geoscientists, but engineers will also find the course instructive. Intended for sub-surface scientists, with an emphasis on geoscience topics. Participants will probably have a working knowledge of petroleum geoscience. However, the main subject matter of this course, the geoscience of hydrogen production and storage, is covered from basic principles.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Appreciate the role of geoscience in the hydrogen economy and the contribution hydrogen can make to the energy transition in support of Net Zero emission targets.
  2. Describe the different processes involved with hydrogen production and the associated lifecycle carbon intensity of this production.
  3. Recall details of the developing hydrogen supply chains, including infrastructure considerations, distribution networks and pathways for market growth.
  4. Describe the different geological storage options available and their capacity and spatial constraints.
  5. Understand hydrogen as a fluid in the subsurface, including its thermodynamic and transport properties.
  6. Characterize the geomechanical considerations for storage integrity and associated risks, including caprock sealing considerations.
  7. Appreciate the impact of geochemical and microbial interactions in subsurface hydrogen stores and the relevant monitoring and management tools.
  8. Describe the operational engineering considerations and monitoring of hydrogen storage sites.

Geothermal Energy: Resources, Projects and Business Aspects (G529)

Tutor(s)

David Townsend: CEO, TownRock Energy.

Overview

This course explores the key themes of geothermal energy from the fundamentals of what a geothermal resource is and what it can offer, through to project examples and the business case. The course will explore a variety of geothermal resource types and current EU-based project examples, in addition to environmental considerations, legislation and future innovations and emerging technologies.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 2-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Four 3.5-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 days. A paper by the course presenter will be distributed to participants before the course, and materials for an interactive cashflow modelling exercise will be distributed during the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is aimed at those individuals looking to transition to geothermal projects and/or who are new to the geothermal industry

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand the basics of geothermal resources and their use and applications.
  2. Recall the fundamental characteristics of geothermal resources and reservoirs.
  3. Appreciate the European potential for geothermal projects and case studies representative of the current state of active projects, as well as some case studies of unsuccessful projects.
  4. Describe the fundamentals of a geothermal project business case, including identifying the relevant stakeholders, the project development timeline and the risks and mitigations.
  5. Assess the financial framework of a geothermal project and how to create a business model and de-risk these projects.
  6. Assess the potential environmental impacts of geothermal developments.
  7. Understand how emerging technologies can be included as part of a geothermal project and how these could rewrite the way geothermal business models are developed in the future.

Carbon Capture – Reservoir Storage and Risk Elements: Insights from the Field, NE England, UK (G550)

Tutor(s)

Richard Jones: Managing Director, Geospatial Research Ltd.

Overview

This course is framed around demonstrating the principles of CO2 storage capacity and risk elements of a prospective CCS play. Starting from basic geoscience principles, the course focuses on reservoir capacity estimation, injectivity and containment risks. The principles will be illustrated using well-exposed outcrop examples from NE England including clastic reservoirs from a variety of depositional settings (typically Carboniferous, Permo-Triassic, or Jurassic), sealing lithologies (mudrocks and evaporites) and structural controls on reservoir connectivity and containment (fractures, juxtaposition and fault zone complexity).

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course with fieldwork and practical sessions supported by classroom lectures. The course will be based in the historic city of Durham in NE England with easy access to coastal and inland locations in the counties of Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Level and Audience

Fundamental: The course is intended for subsurface scientists, including geologists and engineers, with a knowledge of petroleum geoscience, who are working on or new to, CCS projects.

Exertion Level

The course requires an EASY exertion level. Outcrops include coastal outcrop sections and inland exposures all with easy access. There will be some walks along beaches and easy paths to get to the outcrops with a maximum distance of around 5km (3 miles) or less, elevations vary from sea level to up to 500m (1600 ft). Temperature variations in late spring and summer are typically between 10 and 25°C (50–80°F).

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Characterize a variety of reservoir types (considering potential impacts of stratigraphic, depositional and structural heterogeneities, porosity and permeability) with respect to their suitability for carbon capture and storage.
  2. Estimate reservoir capacity through stratigraphic and structural analysis, and porosity estimation.
  3. Understand fluid transport parameters – injection/flow rate and reservoir permeability.
  4. Assess containment potential for CO2 (evaporitic and shale seals, faults and fractures).
  5. Evaluate fracture networks with respect to storage capacity, injection rates and containment risk.