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GL5571: GEOTHERMAL FLOW (2023-2024)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43


Course Overview

Through lectures delivered by academics and industry professionals, you will develop a general understanding of the role of fluid flow, heat transfer, and fractures in different geothermal systems. You will gain practical experience in reservoir modelling and sustainable reservoir management using industry standard computing software. During a field trip to a geothermal site, you will learn about risks and pitfalls in practice. An independent research project provides an opportunity to expand your knowledge on a representative geothermal field.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Mr Joseph Armstrong

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge and expertise to understand the geoscience aspects of fluid flow in the subsurface with a focus on heat transfer in different geothermal systems. These include low enthalpy ground-source heating and cooling systems (pumps within shallow aquifers and mine workings) as well as high enthalpy geothermal (hydrothermal) systems, both in sedimentary basins and in active volcanic areas. The content is delivered by both academics and industry professionals in the form of lectures, computer exercises, and field trips and comprises four main parts:

1) Fluid flow fundamentals, heating, cooling, and energy generation

ILOs:

  1. Explain the dynamics of fluid flow and heat transfer in geothermal systems
  2. Evaluate heat production in a geothermal system and manage it sustainably based on a simple numerical model

Event type: Lectures, computer exercises, field trip

Assessment: Computer exercise (30%)

2) Fractures and induced seismicity

ILOs:

  1. Explain the role of fractures for fluid flow properties and geothermal productivity
  2. Identify properties of fractures in the field and classify them
  3. Describe the processes that lead to induced seismicity in a geothermal system and the strategies employed to mitigate the seismic risk

Event type: Lectures and field trip

Assessment: MCQ (20%)

3) Independent research project

ILOs:

  1. Distinguish different types of geothermal systems, including low-enthalpy aquifers and high-enthalpy deep/enhanced systems, and assess their risks and benefits
  2. Analyse key parameters and characteristics of a representative geothermal field and explain them on a scientific poster

Event type: Independent study, Seminars

Assessment: Poster presentation (50%)

4) Reservoir modelling short course

ILOs:

  1. Discuss the approaches employed in building qualitative and quantitative geological models of the subsurface, and the difficulties associated with doing this reliably
  2. Build a simple model of a subsurface flow unit and test model parameters on observed flow

Event type: Lectures and computer exercises

Assessment: not assessed, but prerequisite for “Subsurface Storage and Sequestration” course

Associated Costs

DescriptionValue
Glasgow: £200 per student (£100 train travel, £50 accommodation for two nights, £50 subsistence) Peterhead: £250 minibus hire (total), £20 subsistence per student GBP 450.00

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Poster Presentation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 33 Feedback Weeks 36

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Students will present the results of their independent research project to their fellow students in a 10 min oral poster presentation. The content and style of the poster and the ability of the student to answer questions will be evaluated.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse key parameters and characteristics of a representative geothermal field and explain them on a scientific poster
ConceptualUnderstandDistinguish different types of geothermal systems, including low-enthalpy aquifers and high-enthalpy deep/enhanced systems, and assess their risks and benefits

Exam - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 33 Feedback Weeks 36

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2-hour exam

Students will answer questions related to the material covered in Part 2 of the course (fractures and induced seismicity)

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the role of fractures for fluid flow properties and geothermal productivity
FactualUnderstandDescribe the processes that lead to induced seismicity in a geothermal system and the strategies employed to mitigate the seismic risk
ProceduralApplyIdentify properties of fractures in the field and classify them

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 31 Feedback Weeks 34

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Using software such as Matlab, Python, or FEFLOW, students will model fluid flow and heat transfer in a geothermal system. Adjusting different in- and output parameters they will demonstrate how to manage heat production in a geothermal system sustainably.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the dynamics of fluid flow and heat transfer in geothermal systems.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate heat production in a geothermal system and manage it sustainably based on a simple numerical model

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate heat production in a geothermal system and manage it sustainably based on a simple numerical model
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the dynamics of fluid flow and heat transfer in geothermal systems.
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse key parameters and characteristics of a representative geothermal field and explain them on a scientific poster
FactualUnderstandDescribe the processes that lead to induced seismicity in a geothermal system and the strategies employed to mitigate the seismic risk
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the role of fractures for fluid flow properties and geothermal productivity
ProceduralApplyIdentify properties of fractures in the field and classify them
ProceduralApplyBuild a simple model of a subsurface flow unit and test model parameters on observed flow
ConceptualUnderstandDistinguish different types of geothermal systems, including low-enthalpy aquifers and high-enthalpy deep/enhanced systems, and assess their risks and benefits
ProceduralUnderstandDiscuss the approaches employed in building qualitative and quantitative geological models of the subsurface, and the difficulties associated with doing this reliably

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