GeoEnergy Transition Archives

Energy Transition and Sustainability: Economic and Policy Perspectives (G910)

Tutor(s)

Brian Matthews: Independent Consultant, Founder and Managing Director of TerraUrsa

Overview

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the economic and market opportunities of renewables in the context of European decarbonisation policies and targets.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: Two-day classroom workshop.

Virtual version: Option 1: One 3-hour interactive online session that would cover contents sections 1-4. Option 2: Two 3-hour interactive online sessions would include content sections 1-6.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The one-session course is aimed at non-technical staff and those who do not have a business 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. The two-session course is aimed at middle and senior managers who can influence strategy within the company.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Understand global and European energy demand trends to 2050.
Explore the economic and market opportunities of renewables.
Analyse primary energy supply projections and the role of different energy sources.
Examine European decarbonisation policies and targets.
Evaluate case studies to assess market context, policy drivers, and commercial strategies.
Develop and assess a sustainability timeline.

Natural Hydrogen, Pau, France (G582)

Tutor(s)

Eric Gaucher: CEO, Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult and RockyH2.

Jean Gaucher: Development Officer, Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult.

Overview

The last few years has seen a growing interest in natural hydrogen accumulations. We know that there are a variety of processes that can lead to hydrogen being produced in the Earth’s crust but there is much still to understand about these, how much is perhaps present in subsurface stores and where these accumulations are. Commercial exploitation will also need to assess the engineering challenges for extracting this hydrogen and ultimately how best it can be utilised as part of the changing face of our modern energy landscape. This course will give an integrated view on the economic, strategic and scientific aspects of natural hydrogen exploration and its perspectives.

Duration and Logistics

Virtual version: Four 3.5-hour online sessions presented over four days comprising a mix of lectures, exercises, case studies and discussion. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Fieldtrip version: A 5-day field course located in Pau, France with a focus on the geological aspects of natural hydrogen.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is largely aimed at geologists interested in natural hydrogen occurrences but the trainers able to adapt the level of the course to the requirements of the attendees.

Exertion Level

This class requires and EASY exertion level. Travel is by small coach and there are hikes of less than 10 minutes in duration (less than 1 km) on well-graded terrain in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Evaluate the different types of hydrogen and the origins of natural hydrogen.
Characterise the strategies for the exploration of natural hydrogen.
Clarify and organize the different technical steps of a natural hydrogen exploration programme.
Appraise the geological, geochemical and geophysical tools that can be used for natural hydrogen exploration.
Assess the co-production of natural hydrogen with geothermal resources, Helium and the mining industry.
Assess the techno-economic evaluation of natural hydrogen.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems: Design Optimization and Project Examples (G581)

Tutor(s)

Mark McClure and Koenraad Beckers: ResFRac Corporation.

Overview

In Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), hydraulic stimulation is applied to improve the productivity of wells drilled in hot, low-permeability formations. This training course provides an introduction to EGS fundamentals including history, stimulation designs, and challenges and opportunities. We will present FORGE and Fervo case studies, briefly cover market trends and thermodynamics, and work through exercises calculating power output and thermal decline for an idealized EGS reservoir and understanding the stress field and implications on EGS design at FORGE from wellbore and test data obtained.

Duration and Logistics

Virtual version: Two 3.5 hour online sessions presented over two days comprising a mix of lectures and exercises. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Level and Audience

Advanced. The course is largely aimed at geologists and engineers working EGS projects.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Outline key geothermal technical themes with a focus on EGS (history, current case studies, market trends, thermodynamics).
Evaluate modern stimulation designs for EGS as applied at FORGE and Fervo.
Assess EGS challenges (induced seismicity, poor connectivity, rapid thermal decline) and potential mitigation strategies.

Geologic Carbon Storage at Outcrop: Lessons for Subsurface Characterization, Modeling, Risk and Monitoring, Utah (G579)

Tutor(s)

Alex Bump: Research Science Associate, University of Texas at Austin.

Michael Sweet: Co-Director and Research Scientist, University of Texas at Austin.

Overview

Using outcrops from the Cretaceous and Jurassic of Utah, this course will analyze some of the major subsurface challenges facing the storage of CO2 in subsurface formations, with particular reference to the planned Oligo-Miocene carbon stores on the Gulf Coast. It is intended to give participants the opportunity to consider the key factors of injectivity, capacity and confinement, and the range of storage play concepts available to match project needs with practically accessible storage sites. The course will explore the impact of multi-scale reservoir heterogeneity on migration and trapping of CO2, the propagation and dissipation of pressure, and the risks of unintended lateral or vertical migration of CO2 and/or displaced brine. We will also look specifically at boundary conditions and potential leakage paths, including faults and wells, using a variety of outcrops as a natural laboratory to facilitate the learning points.

Duration and Logistics

A 6-day field course comprising a mix of field activities with classroom lecture sessions and discussions. Transport will be by minivan or bus.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. This course is intended for geoscience and engineering professionals working in, or soon to transfer to, CCS projects.

Exertion Level

This class requires a MODERATE exertion level. There will be some short hikes to outcrops with some of these over uneven and rocky ground. The climate in southern Utah during the spring and fall is variable, with temperatures from 50°F (10°C) to 100°F (38°C). The elevation is between 4,000 and 5,000 feet (1200 and 1500 meters).

Objectives

You will learn to:

Describe the subsurface requirements for a successful storage project, including similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration.
Illustrate the CCS reservoir details of proposed Gulf Coast carbon stores and the state-of-play of these projects.
Characterize the main depositional features that influence reservoir properties and CCS reservoir development, as well as likely performance, with special reference to clastic coastal/shallow marine depositional systems.
Gauge fluid transport parameters, including the impact of geological heterogeneity and permeability on CO2 injection and plume migration.
Evaluate sustainable injection rates for different carbon stores, including pressure propagation and interference, and factors such as loss of injectivity and pressure build-up.
Manage containment risks with respect to both structural and depositional heterogeneities.
Validate models for plume migration and integrate the key uncertainties.

Reservoir Characterization and Subsurface Uncertainties in Carbon Stores, Cheshire, UK (G578)

Tutor(s)

Richard Worden: Professor in the Department of Earth Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.

Overview

This course will give participants the opportunity to see some of the rocks at outcrop that are planned UK CO2 storage sites and to analyze the associated range of subsurface challenges. Visiting these outcrops will allow subsurface geoscientists, who generally use logs and limited core to build models, the opportunity to see the larger and smaller scale architecture and heterogeneity of the rocks they are working on and to consider the key processes of injectivity, migration and trapping of CO2. The course will also discuss post-depositional changes to sandstones, including petrophysical and geomechanical property evolution (pre- and post-CO2 injection), and some of the risks (migration and leakage) associated with developing saline aquifers and depleted gas fields as CO2 storage sites in these sandstones.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course comprising a mix of field activities with classroom lectures and discussions. Transport will be by bus.

Exertion Level

This class requires an EASY exertion level. Field locations are mainly relatively easy walks of less than 1km (0.6 mile) along paths from road access points, although there is some walking down and up gentle slopes. One outcrop involves a 6km (3.7 miles) round trip walk over an intertidal sandflat.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. This course is intended for geoscience and engineering professionals working in CCS projects, especially those with an active interest in the Triassic Bunter/Sherwood Sandstones.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Appraise the main depositional and diagenetic features that influence Triassic Sandstone (Bunter/Sherwood) reservoir properties and CCS reservoir development and likely performance.
Validate the CO2 storage volumetrics from the micro (pore-scale) to the macro (aquifer volumes).
Predict CO2 flow away from injector wells controlled by permeability and aquifer architecture with reference to injection rates and subsurface pressure.
Assess the range of effects that CO2 can have on the host aquifer, from geomechanical to geochemical.
Create plume migration models with respect to compartmentalization risk, pressure barriers, faults and fractures.
Assess the role of top-seal and fault-seal properties and how they will influence CO2 storage, from risk of fracking, or induced seismicity, to mineral dissolution.

Geothermal Sedimentary Systems: Exploration, Development and Production Principles (G574)

Tutor(s)

Mark Ireland: Senior Lecturer in Energy Geoscience, Newcastle University.

Overview

This course covers all aspects of various sedimentary geothermal systems, from exploration through to production. It is intended as an introduction to the entire lifecycle of sedimentary geothermal resources, covering aspects of geoscience and engineering.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A two-day classroom course comprising a mixture of lectures and exercises. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Virtual version: Four 3.5-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is intended for all career stage industry professionals and early career researchers with a geoscience or geo-engineering background, including those with a familiarity in oil and gas production.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Understand the basic principles of heat generation within the upper crust.
Describe the key characteristics of sedimentary geothermal resources and reservoirs.
Examine the geothermal play concept.
Establish exploration methods using oil and gas data to assess geothermal resources in sedimentary basins.
Illustrate the development and production options for these geothermal resources.
Appreciate the principle geological hazards, in relation to geothermal projects, including induced seismicity.
Appreciate the range of environmental impacts associated with geothermal developments.
Appreciate project risks and uncertainties in developing geothermal resources.

Lessons Learned from Carbon Capture and Storage Projects to Date (G577)

Tutor(s)

Matthew Healey: Managing Director, PACE CCS.

Overview

This course is designed to provide information vital to anyone involved with CCS project design. It will provide an introduction to CCS design with a focus on sharing lessons learned from CCS projects in design and operation today. Technical analysis, useful references and practical solutions will be provided.

Duration and Logistics

A 1-day in-person classroom course. An electronic copy of the manual will be provided by the tutor at the end of the course.

Level and Audience

Advanced. This course is suitable for all management and technical staff engaged in carbon capture and storage design and operations. It will provide clear, actionable, technical information that will be immediately applicable to CCS project design.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Understand the key elements in the CCS chain, from capture to disposal.
Understand the unique challenges faced by CCS, and how these are different from oil and gas, CO2-EOR and midstream projects, with primary reference to project experience and lessons learned.
Apply fundamentals of CO2 design, including thermodynamics, chemical reactions, carbon capture, dehydration and compositional control.
Understand the risk to CCS pipeline and well integrity due to corrosion, with primary reference to project experience and lessons learned.
Review the behavior of CO2 and challenges associated with very low temperatures during operation, with primary reference to project experience and lessons learned.
Understand the challenges related to design in order to manage planned and unplanned CO2 releases to atmosphere from CCS projects, with primary reference to project experience and lessons learned.
Review the key commercial drivers and risks for CCS that inform design, and understand how these are managed, with primary reference to project experience and lessons learned.
Review lessons learned from application of project management and organizational processes to CCS deliver teams, in order to understand how best to deliver CCS project design and execution.

Hydrogen Technology: Value Chain and Projects (G572)

Tutor(s)

Matthew Healey: Managing Director, PACE CCS.

Overview

This course is designed to provide the participants with a summary of the technical and engineering challenges within hydrogen energy, including production, storage and transport, in addition to associated risk and safety challenges.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 1-day in-person classroom course. An electronic copy of the manual will be provided by the tutor at the end of the course.

Virtual version: Two 3.5-hour interactive online sessions presented over 2 days, including a mix of lectures and discussion. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Level and Audience

Advanced. This course is designed for all technical staff working on hydrogen projects with an emphasis on operations, facilities and engineering aspects.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Outline the different ‘colours’ of hydrogen and how these are produced.
Evaluate the technical challenges with hydrogen, including thermodynamic modelling of H2 mixtures.
Review how H2 can be stored and transported safely.
Outline the design specifications of H2 networks with a focus on pipelines, including material of construction and reuse of existing infrastructure.

The Transportation and Geological Storage of Hydrogen (G576)

Tutor(s)

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

Overview

The course will focus on the need for geological storage of hydrogen, 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 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 1.5-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: Three 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over three 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

Advanced. 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.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Describe the different geological storage options available and their capacity and spatial constraints.
Understand hydrogen as a fluid in the subsurface, including its thermodynamic and transport properties.
Characterize the geomechanical considerations for storage integrity and associated risks, including caprock sealing considerations.
Appreciate the impact of geochemical and microbial interactions in subsurface hydrogen stores and the relevant monitoring and management tools.
Describe the operational engineering considerations and monitoring of hydrogen storage sites.

The Hydrogen Landscape: Production, Policy and Regulation (G575)

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 provide participants with an overview of the current hydrogen landscape, including its likely role in the energy transition, production and economic challenges.

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 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over two 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

Fundamental. Intended for subsurface scientists involved in hydrogen projects.

Objectives

You will learn to:

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.
Describe the different processes involved in hydrogen production and the associated lifecycle carbon intensity of this production.
Recall details of the developing hydrogen supply chains, including infrastructure considerations, distribution networks and pathways for market growth.