GEOTHERM 620 : Geothermal Engineering

Engineering

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Completion tests, wellbore flow, two-phase flow, geothermal power cycles, flow measurements, direct use of geothermal energy, environmental effects, scaling and corrosion in geothermal wells, drilling engineering, flow measurements, steam-field operation and maintenance, subsidence, waste heat rejection, heat exchangers, geothermal well-test analysis, stimulation, pipeline design, feasibility study, reservoir modelling theory, TOUGH2, reservoir modelling process, case study (data and conceptual model, natural state modelling), Wairakei model.

Course Overview

This course teaches foundational knowledge in geothermal modelling tools and techniques. Geothermal models (both conceptual and numerical) help reservoir engineers to understand and visualise the geological and hydrothermal properties of a geothermal system. In doing so, geothermal models help to reduce the uncertainty associated with geothermal resource assessment, development, and management.

Students will explore the theoretical foundations and practical applications of numerical reservoir and wellbore modelling in the context of geothermal systems.

Students will be taught to calibrate, and interpret numerical models of geothermal reservoirs and wells. Integrated modelling practices, where reservoir models are strongly linked to the conceptual understanding of a geothermal system, are taught in this course. As such, students will be introduced to digital conceptual modelling software and learn how to create a digital conceptual model suitable for numerical reservoir simulation.

The course covers key topics such as heat and mass transfer in porous media, fluid flow dynamics in geothermal wells, and best-practice techniques for numerical model development, calibration, and interpretation. future This content is taught through a combination of lectures, hands-on modelling exercises, and relevant case studies from the geothermal industry.

Course Requirements

Corequisite: GEOTHERM 601, 602 Restriction: GEOTHERM 785

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of fluid flow in geothermal reservoirs and geothermal wells (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the uses and limitations of numerical modelling in a geothermal context (Capability 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. Develop competency in applying numerical simulation tools to geothermal systems (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2 and 5.1)
  4. Analyse and interpret simulation results to inform decision-making for geothermal systems (Capability 2.1, 4.1 and 7.1)
  5. Develop communication skills required for effective and transparent dissemination of geothermal modelling methods and results (Capability 6.1 and 7.1)
  6. Understand and explain the competency requirements of geothermal modelling practitioners with respect to real-world engineering projects (Capability 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Assignments 35% Individual Coursework
Project 40% Group Coursework
Test 15% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Quizzes
Assignments
Project
Test
A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Late assignments will be penalised at 4% of the total mark per hour.

Workload Expectations

For this course, each week you can expect (on average) 3 hours of lectures, 3 hours of reading/thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, but lectures will be available as recordings. When necessary, the course will include (live) online events including group discussions/Q&As. Other learning activities including tutorials/lab sessions/Q&As will not always be available as recordings. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The lecturer for each topic will provide course notes or slides on Canvas, and provide details about other useful resources.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the University's Health and Safety policy.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

GEOTHERM 620 has been updated for the 2025 teaching year by a refreshed teaching team. We look forward to receiving feedback on the 2025 course.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 02/12/2024 01:34 p.m.