Subsurface Energy Engineering

Catalog description

This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of subsurface energy resources and their engineering principles. Students will explore the energy industry, focusing on the geological and petrological aspects of subsurface reservoirs. Key topics include the origin and occurrence of hydrocarbons, the characteristics of subsurface reservoirs, low-permeability reservoirs, shale formations, heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs, natural gas hydrates, and coalbed methane. In addition, the course delves into renewable and sustainable energy sources such as geothermal energy. Students will learn about geologic carbon sequestration technologies, hydrogen geo-storage, and enhanced recovery techniques. These topics are self-contained and taught in a way that assumes no prior knowledge in this area, although having enough of a mathematical background to understand equations and formulas will be beneficial. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and practical exercises, students will gain both a solid foundation and a broad perspective on existing and emerging practices in subsurface energy engineering. This course is a stand-alone General Education course that contributes to the General Education Learning objectives of Critical and Analytical Thinking and Integrative Thinking. Furthermore, it is a single-domain course in the Natural Sciences (GN).