99502 - SUBSURFACE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will possess and manage the basic knowledge of subsurface energy systems (petroleum geosystems, underground energy storage, including hydrogen and natural gas, and the basics of CCSU, Carbon Capture, Storage and utilization). These topics represent strategic elements as far as world clean energy supply is concerned. More specifically, the student will be able to: • manage the technology used to produce underground fluids, and assess the consequent environmental impacts; • support the choices of subsurface energy systems in terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability; • use the numerical modeling for the study of subsurface energy systems

Course contents

Part 1 (Prof. Ezio Mesini)

Origin and geology of hydrocarbons reservoirs.  Overview of Exploration & Production industry (Upstream). Oil and gas exploration and drilling techniques. Petrophysical properties reservoir rocks.   Thermodynamic classification of hydrocarbon reservoirs.

CCUS technologies to isolate CO₂ from heavy industry emissions, inject it into permanent underground storage sites and utilize it in the creation of high-value products like building materials and fuel. Particular focus on: 1- capture techniques,  2- transportation, 3- underground storage involving injecting captured CO₂ into geological formations, like saline formations and depleted natural gas reservoirs, for permanent storage. Enviromental issues.

Underground storage of natural gas: fundamentals, Italian field plants. Environmental issues.

 

Part 2 (Prof. Villiam Bortolotti)

Fundamentals of fluid flow in porous media. Flow equations. Simulation of reservoir behavior using numerical modeling: basic concepts of discretization, numerical simulation of single-phase and multi-phase flow, model calibration and history matching. 

Some basic applications for numerical simulations of underground storage of natural gas, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Numerical simulations in laboratory by using free software.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Elsevier: Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) guide for engineers, 2023.

K. Bjørlykke: Petroleum Geoscience - From sedimentary Environments to rock physics. Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, second ed. 2015.

Al-Awad Musaed: Petroleum and natural gas engineering overview, VDM 2010.

Encyclopaedia of hydrocarbons: Volume 1, Exploration, Production and Transport, Treccani 2005.

A.Y. Dandekar: Petroleum Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties, CRC Press 2013.

Supplemental teaching materiasl and lecture notes distributed during classroom hours.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures, laboratory practice (in small groups). The lectures will focus on general aspects of oil and gas industry (upstream sector). The lectures will be supplemented with practical exercises.

Assessment methods

Students must sit a written and/or oral exam comprising of a series of questions that aim to ascertain students’ understanding of the theory of the technological and design principles presented during lectures, and a practical problem similar to the ones dealt with during the practical exercises related to the course lectures.

Moreover, the exam is aimed to assess the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student. The student will be invited to discuss the topics covered during the lessons and to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify in them the useful information that will enable to illustrate typical aspects of the course. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the classes and their critical use, which demonstrate ownership of a mastery of expression and specific language, will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of matter, synthesis and analysis of non-articulating and / or correct language but not always appropriate will lead to discrete assessments; training gaps and / or inappropriate language - although in a context of minimal knowledge of the material - will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the reference materials offered during the course will lead to failed assessments.

Teaching tools

Classroom classical lectures and presentations. PC simulations.

Office hours

See the website of Ezio Mesini

See the website of Villiam Bortolotti