Energy and Geotechnics (250MEG014) – Course 2025/26 PDF
Contents
Course presentation, teaching methodology, assessment methods, and student presentations. General presentation of the new geotechnical issues emerging along the entire energy production-transport-storage pipeline: - extraction of fossil fuels, gas (including hydrates), minerals (mines), and heat (geothermal energy), - electricity generation by wind turbines, - construction and maintenance of transmission lines (oil pipelines, hydro pipelines), - storage of gas and heat in the ground and waste management, whether mining or nuclear energy products
Specific Objectives
Identify the specificity of geotechnical problems in energy-related issues.
Related Activities
In-class workshop-debate on the elements that should be added to geotechnical practice to address energy-related problems. Home autonomus search for a case study to be presented at the end of the course.
Dedication
1h 30m Large group + 1h 30m Guided Activities + 5h 20m Self StudyTwo issues of great current relevance and relatively close to traditional geotechnical practice will be addressed. These are: 1) the sizing of foundations for onshore and offshore wind farms, 2) the sizing of tailings dams and mine tailings. From a materials behavior perspective, these two issues are characterized by the involvement of coupled hydromechanical processes in saturated/unsaturated soils and cyclical stresses.
Specific Objectives
Understand the processes operating in soft soils subjected to cyclic loading. Use numerical tools to analyze the response of wind tower foundations and mine tailings ponds.
Related Activities
Class presentations Presentation by a professional from an offshore company Supervised numerical calculations. Workshop on capillary barriers
Dedication
7h 30m Large group + 7h 30m Guided Activities + 26h 40m Self StudyIssues related to gas injection into the ground will be addressed.
Specific Objectives
- Understand the processes that control gas flow in the ground. - Numerically model gas injection and flow problems in the ground. - Understand existing gas injection solutions. Design improvements to existing solutions.
Related Activities
In-class presentations Hand's on sessions using numerical calculation programs Case study
Dedication
3h Large group + 3h Guided Activities + 10h 40m Self StudySome issues related to the extraction, injection, and storage of heat in the ground will be addressed: - Thermal geostructures - Storage of exothermic waste
Specific Objectives
Understand heat propagation processes in the soil. Model boundary problems involving heat propagation in the soil. Calculate solutions for heat storage and return to the soil. Analyze the safety of underground exothermic waste storage solutions.
Related Activities
Numerical Modeling Workshop Group exercise on thermal geostructure design Discussion on the contributions of geotechnics to problems involving heat propagation.
Dedication
9h Large group + 9h Guided Activities + 23h 40m Self StudyThe class will be dedicated to a 3-hour workshop where students will present a case study and perform a role-playing game around a social/environmental issue related to energy.
Specific Objectives
Integrate diverse information to analyze a real-life problem and develop solutions. Present the information to an audience. Discuss the solution in a group.
Related Activities
Self learning Public presentation Role-playing game at a meeting
Dedication
6h Guided Activities + 10h 40m Self Study