Course overview
This course covers the processes and systems that control the formation and storage of energy resources (e.g. water, hydrogen, heat (geothermal) and hydrocarbons) in sedimentary basins. This course will examine the formation of different types of sedimentary basins, the geological settings and climates that control the sediments and structures we observe within them and the burial and uplift histories of basins, all of which set up the present-day setting where energy resources can be stored naturally or anthropogenically (e.g. CO2 injection for storage). Thus, this course draws upon sedimentary, structural and igneous geology, stratigraphy, geochemistry and geodynamics. The course introduces stratigraphic, geophysical and geochemical techniques that can be applied to the detection and mapping of energy resources and location for storage of CO2. Practical work emphasises the integration of different types of data at a regional scale to understand the geology of a basin and its potential for energy resources and storage at all scales from small to large.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills to identify energy resources
- Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals of the formation of sedimentary basins and evaluate and interpret the processes leading to the storage of energy systems
- Use and evaluate the appropriate strategies and methods for exploration of energy resources and potential storage and the scientific approaches being applied to exploration, production and storage
- Integrate data of varied type (stratigraphic, geochemical, geophysical) to analyse the potential of an energy resource
- Demonstrate understanding of the position of the energy industry (e.g. water, CO2 sequestration, hydrogen, geothermal, hydrocarbons) in the Australian economy
- Demonstrate knowledge of the geological characteristics of the geology of Australian energy resources