MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering / Course details

These topics will be taught in the course:

- porosity, permeability, typical reservoir rocks (sandstone, carbonate) porosity permeability

- Hagen-Poiseuille equation

- Single-phase Darcy’s law,

- Radial flow and flow in wells,

- Flow diffusivity equation- well testing,

- Wettability, contact angle, interfacial tension,

- Pore-level capillary pressure (Young-Laplace equation), macroscopic capillary pressure (van Genuchten and Brooks-Corey)

- Relative permeability and two-phase Darcy’s law

- Method of Characteristics and Buckley- Leverett calculation for two-phase flow

- Continuity and mass balance equations for single phase and two-phase flow in porous media

- Transport and mixing in porous media in single-phase flow,

 - Transport and mixing in porous media in two-phase flow,

- Analytical solutions for advection-dispersion

- Inverse modelling of advection-dispersion-reaction

- Reactive transport for carbon storage process, EOR and geothermal

- Getting familiar with computer models for flow and reactive transport in subsurface (ModFlow, STANMOD,PHREEQC).

Students who successfully follow this course should be able to:

- analyse and evaluate the fundamental physical and chemical processes in subsurface systems for oil and gas industry, geothermal energy recovery, geological carbon storage

- write the mathematical models required to solve a subsurface engineering

- identify and evaluate the proper boundary and initial condition applicable to a subsurface case study.

- evaluate the performance of flow and transport in a subsurface system.

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

ILO 1: Evaluate and quantify the flow and transport in subsurface systems

ILO 2: Interpret permeability and capillary pressure data of a natural rock

ILO 3: Calculate the single phase flow rate for a geological setting.

ILO 4: Identify and analyse fundamentals of two-phase flow, reactive transport and capillarity

ILO 5: Develop the mathematical models required to simulate flow and transport in subsurface systems

ILO 6: Analyse the laboratorial data to evaluate wettability of a rock sample

ILO 7: Perform inverse modelling to quantify flow and transport properties  based on capillary pressure data, relative permeability data, breakthrough concentration data

ILO 8: Run simple computer models for simulating advection-dispersion-reaction in subsurface applications

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.

Test - 20%

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.