MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering

The unit covers the properties of subsurface fluid systems. The unit provides the theoretical and empirical bases for characterising the subsurface fluids. The unit covers: (1) Gas properties relevant to CO2 and H2 storage processes; (2) Definitions of Rs, Bo, rs and PVT tests for black-oil approach of fluid treatment for subsurface applications; (3) The Material Balance of synthetic reservoirs used to derive storage capacities for CO2 or H2 storage in subsurface systems; (4) Aquifer influx modelling for underground gas storage processes; (5) Two-phase flash calculation and Equation of State; (6) Compositional modelling vs black-oil modeling for CO2; (7) CO2 storage trapping mechanisms and storage capacity calculation; (8) Ternary diagram and miscibility concept; and (9) CO2 storage simulation in compositional form (CO2STORE and CO2SOL in ECLIPSE).

The unit aims to: (i) provide knowledge about the properties of subsurface resident and injected fluids relevant to subsurface energy engineering applications, (ii) provide an understanding of characterisation methods used for describing properties of subsurface fluids used in flow simulators, (iii) utilisation of fluid properties to derive engineering estimates for CCS, geothermal or hydrogen storage processes.

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

ILO 1: Analyse the dry gas properties relevant to supercritical CO2 storage or H2 storage including isothermal compressibility, density and sonic velocity calculation

ILO 2: Express the definitions and formulations of properties of subsurface liquids used in reservoir simulation

ILO 3: Employ material balance technique for identifying drive mechanism in reservoir engineering

ILO 4: Calculate the aquifer flux for underground gas storage processes

ILO 5: Apply the formulation for two-phase flash calculation to determine the reservoir fluid state

ILO 6: Explain the CO2 sequestration trapping mechanisms, their time scale, their typical location in the reservoirs, and their safety level

ILO 7: Describe miscible/immiscible gas injection processes, their concepts and their performance prediction

ILO 8: Derive the formulation differences between compositional and black-oil approaches for subsurface fluids

ILO 9: Utilise academic (MRST) or industry-standard (ECLIPSE) software packages for CO2/H2 storage for synthetic subsurface systems

Lectures provide fundamental aspects supporting the critical learning of the module and will be delivered as pre-recorded asynchronous short videos via our virtual learning environment.

Synchronous sessions will support the lecture material with Q&A and problem-solving sessions where you can apply the new concepts. Surgery hours are also available for drop-in support.

Students are expected to expand the concepts presented in the session and online by additional reading (suggested in the Online Reading List) in order to consolidate their learning process and further stimulate their interest to the module.

50% Final exam

25% Mid-term exam

25% Course project

Feedback on problems and examples, feedback on coursework and exams, and model answers will also be provided through the virtual learning environment. A discussion board provides a opportunity to discuss topics related to the material presented in the module.

Reading lists are accessible through the Blackboard system linked to the library catalogue.