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EG503J: OFFSHORE PROCESS ENGINEERING (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19


Course Overview

Offshore process plants, such as subsea installations, oil rigs, FPSOs, pipelines, and captured CO2 injection sites are some of the most technically challenging environments to operate in. This course uses this context to introduce and explain the advanced engineering and innovative designs used to overcome these challenges. The focus is on developing safe, energy-efficient designs using first-principle reasoning and awareness of modern approaches. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Marcus Campbell Bannerman

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

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course introduces offshore engineering, in particular subsea and subsurface environments. The motivations and challenges of operating in these environments, i.e., the extraction of subsurface minerals, oil and gas, and the reinjection of CO2, are used to motivate the engineering concepts introduced. The ethics and sustainability of these operations are also discussed, focussing on the distinction between material and energy usage.

Before any engineering can be carried out, models are required. The complexity of the aqueous and hydrocarbon fluids force the course to start with a review of modern fluid thermodynamic modelling and prediction. Then an introduction of single phase fluid flow leads on to advanced topics including multiphase compressible flow and flow assurance in the presence of scale and hydrates. These topics are then applied in engineering of multiphase separation, gas compression, gas treatment, and flow assurance. These topics are at the core of oil and gas processing as well as CO2 injection operations. Later lectures consider the drive of energy efficiency in decarbonisation, and carbon capture.


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

2x online open book exam (50%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateIdentify appropriate process configurations for offshore engineering challenges. Design equipment to address these challenges. Undertake flow assurance studies.
ReflectionApplyApply thermodynamics, fluid flow, and fundamental process engineering in offshore environments. Carry out design calculations as an application of the fundamental concepts.
ReflectionCreateSolve open engineering problems, where there is no final design, just improved design. Apply common skills across many process industries.
ConceptualUnderstandConcepts of offshore engineering, in particular subsea and subsurface environments. The motivations and challenges of process engineering in these environments.

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