Emerging Trends Course Content Overview
Energy production is an ever-changing and evolving field. Covering emerging technical and industrial concerns, this course provides an overview of underground injection, carbon capture utilization and storage, induced seismicity, and subsurface containment.
This course includes the following lessons. Some popular lessons can be purchased individually* (see below to enroll in individual lessons).
- Underground Injection*
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage*
- Induced Seismicity
- Subsurface Containment
Underground Injection*
Introduced after World War II, the underground injection control has gone through many changes and improvements. This lesson introduces underground injection control (UIC) wells and their primary applications. The curriculum provides a brief overview of regulatory issues, including primacy, describes the different classes of injection wells, and discusses the importance of particular classes to oil and gas operations and geothermal energy. In-depth segments within the lesson highlight injection techniques for enhanced recovery of oil and gas, a geothermal project case study, and case studies of CO₂ injection for enhanced oil recovery as well as geologic storage.
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage*
The lesson on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) presents the role of carbon dioxide injection, both for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage, in the move toward sustainability. A recent establishment of a new class (VI) of injection wells, as well as a number of policy and tax incentives in the U.S., have created renewed interest and activity around CCUS technology. This lesson covers the general history and specifics of Class VI wells, the role of EOR in storage, misconceptions about carbon dioxide, protections for drinking water resources, and Class VI well considerations, such as storage capacity, injection rate, and storage mechanisms.
Induced Seismicity
Induced seismicity refers to earthquakes (in most cases, minor earthquakes) that are the result of human enterprise. Human activities such as geothermal energy access, wastewater injection, well stimulation, carbon storage and other projects all must be well designed and monitored to avoid induced seismicity. This lesson covers foundational topics such as faults and folds, seismic waves, earthquake measurement techniques, a brief history of natural earthquakes, and the geomechanics of fluid injection. A case study explains how these fundamental concepts are applied to understanding, mitigating and preventing induced seismicity in the oil and gas industry.
Subsurface Containment
The primary goal of subsurface containment focuses on preventing leakage of production or injection fluids from their intended zone. In turn, prevention mitigates environmental damage, damage to assets, and negative impacts on drilling and production. Subsurface containment requires a multi-faceted approach incorporating technical, geologic, and human variables. The subsurface containment lesson of this course includes topics such as well control, well construction, aging well infrastructure, subsurface integrity, and several case studies of high-profile, subsurface-containment incidents.
Each lesson has a self-assessment at the end, allowing you to ingrain the information in your mind and get ready for the next lesson.
View Complete Course ContentsWho Should Take This Course?
Professionals working in a variety of energy-related careers (e.g., engineers, geoscientists, attorneys, accountants, managers, regulatory personnel, policymakers) know how important it is to stay current and up-to-date with the latest technology and advancements in the oil and gas sector. Students have a critical need to gain a solid foundation of industry fundamentals and distinguish their future college and/or employment applications. Educators want to present a broad perspective of the technical solutions within the oil and gas industry to their students, highlighting the diverse nature of careers and opportunities within the energy sector.
Testimonials
As our industry moves forward, [TOP Energy’s] training continually evolves as well… by providing online… that covers petroleum geology and engineering concepts, petroleum technology, environmental management technology, and emerging industry topics.
—Lucas Keeler, Inspection Specialist, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
I’ve been out of school for ten years, it’s a great refresher course for somebody like myself and then for new employees the training would be superb.
—Carly Goins, State of Indiana/Division of Oil and Gas
