EART60682 15 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Catherine Hollis Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <div><p>Fluids (including gas) are central to the how energy is stored and produced in the subsurface. Over geological timescales, fluids will react with minerals and rocks to generate porosity, and also to recrystallize sediments and re-precipitate minerals, including critical minerals. The chemistry of fluids, their temperature and pressure exert a fundamental control on rock composition and rock physical properties, which can be altered by the offtake or injection of fluids on anthropogenic timescales. This unit will introduce the types of fluids encountered in sedimentary basins and their circulation mechanisms. It will evaluate their chemistry and use hydrological principles to interpret likely flow and reaction pathways.</p></div> <p>Fluids (including gas) are central to the how energy is stored and produced in the subsurface. Over geological timescales, fluids will react with minerals and rocks to generate porosity, and also to recrystallize sediments and re-precipitate minerals, including critical minerals. The chemistry of fluids, their temperature and pressure exert a fundamental control on rock composition and rock physical properties, which can be altered by the offtake or injection of fluids on anthropogenic timescales. This unit will introduce the types of fluids encountered in sedimentary basins and their circulation mechanisms. It will evaluate their chemistry and use hydrological principles to interpret likely flow and reaction pathways.</p> <p>The unit will be delivered using asynchronous, pre-recorded lectures in preparation for weekly synchronous activities. Synchronous activities will include practice exercises, demonstrations, quizzes and Q&amp;A. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <figure class="table"><table class="Table" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:1.0pt solid windowtext;"><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);" colspan="2">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Developed</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Assessed</td></tr><tr style="height:44.4pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 1</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Predict the occurrence of different types of subsurface fluids based on knowledge of basin tectonics, depth and lithology and identify fluids based on chemical properties</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:49.95pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO2</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Use the principles of hydrogeology to describe how groundwater flows in sedimentary basins</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:57.15pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 3</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Describe deep fluid circulation mechanisms and pathways, based on knowledge of basin architecture, heat flow, pressure and time</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:49.4pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 4</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Conceptually model fluid-mineral-rock reactions based on rock texture, mineralogy, porosity, permeability and fluid composition</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:49.4pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 5</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Predict changes in fluid composition and reactivity due to mixing, cooling, dissolution and precipitation</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:49.4pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 6</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Understand the processes involved in the formation of critical mineral deposits</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr><tr style="height:49.4pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO 7</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Calculate project economics and assess environmental impact and social responsibility issues</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">X</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <p><strong>Lectures and Practicals:</strong></p><p>Week 1: Types of fluids in sedimentary basins (Cathy Hollis): marine, meteoric, magmatic, formation water geochemistry (salinity, trace element, heavy metals, NORMS, Li and heavy metals/critical metals), implications to facilities integrity (biofouling, scaling, etc)</p><p>Week 2: Techniques for fluid characterisation and palaeo-fluid reconstruction (Cathy Hollis): Stable isotopes (d18O, d13C of water, reaction pathways and fractionation) and noble gas isotopes; Trace element geochemistry and dissolved salts in modern subsurface fluids; Determination of palaeo fluid composition from minerals (fluid inclusion and stable isotope analysis)</p><p>Week 3: Fluid circulation mechanisms (Cathy Hollis): Diffusion, advection, gravity; convection, gravity/topographic flow and tectonic controls (compactional dewatering and seismic pumping); Aquitards and aquifers, fractures vs matrix porosity; Implications to CCS and geothermal (aquifer storage and open loop systems)</p><p>Week 4: Precipitation and dissolution I (Greg Holland); Basic chemistry, Water as a solvent; activity coefficient and ionic strength; Solubility and complexing; Common ion effect. Laboratory practical experiments.</p><p>Week 5: Precipitation and dissolution II (Greg Holland): Acids, bases and pH, buffering. Geochemistry of the carbonate system. Control of temperature and pressure on carbonate solubility. Write up of lab experiments.</p><p>Week 6: Redox (Greg Holland): Redox reactions, pH and pE in natural systems, chemical weathering, dissolution of silicates, mineral stability diagrams; Implications to redox related mineral deposits. Case studies: Trapping and reaction of CO2 during injection; fate of CO2 / geothermal fluids using noble gases; redox controls on caprock integrity and heavy metal mobilisation.</p><p>Week 7: Low temperature sedimentary hosted deposits (Cathy Hollis): Mineral assemblages; fluid source and composition; metal transport; fluid flow/emplacement processes (SEDEX, Irish-style &amp; Mississippi-Valley type)</p><p>Week 8: Hydrothermal processes (Cathy Hollis): Definition of hydrothermal systems; reaction pathways, natural H2 production: magmatic degassing &amp; serpentinization</p><p>Week 9: High temperature mineralization (to be confirmed): Pegmatites, carbonatites, REE rich deposits</p><p>Week 10 /11: Project economics (to be confirmed): CAPEX, OPEX, rate of return, environmental impact, social responsibility, life cycle analysis&nbsp;</p> <div><p>This module will be delivered as 11 sessions with up to 2 hours asynchronous lecture material and pre-read material, prior to weekly 2 hour synchronous teaching, focused on problem solving and data analysis, supplemented by self-study (background reading, quizzes, revision)</p></div> 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table class="Table" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:1.0pt solid windowtext;" width="0"><tbody><tr style="height:50.85pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Assessment type</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">% Weighting within unit</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Hand out and hand in dates</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);"><p>Length</p><p>&nbsp;</p></td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">How, when and what feedback is provided</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">ILO tested</td></tr><tr style="height:75.9pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Coursework</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">20</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">tbc</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">tbc</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Discussion of solution in class and posted on Blackboard</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">All</td></tr><tr style="height:75.9pt;"><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">End of unit examination</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">80</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">End Semester 2</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">1.5 hours</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Marked scripts</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">All</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> EART60031 Fundamentals of Applied Subsurface Geoscience Pre-Requisite Compulsory EART60381 Key Interpretation Skills Pre-Requisite Compulsory N <p>Papers will be provided online each week for further reading. &nbsp;In addition, the following textbooks are recommended:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Techniques in Sedimentology</p><p>Ed. Maurice Tucker (available in library)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Inorganic Geochemistry: applications to petroleum geology</p><p>Dominic Emery and Andrew Robinson (available online)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Introduction to Geochemistry: Principles and Applications</p><p>K.C. Misra (available online)&nbsp;</p> Lectures 11 Practical classes & workshops 22 0 117