Finalità del corso:
Il corso si propone di descrivere le modalità di reperimento e di coltivazione dei combustibili fossili, lo stato delle riserve e lo stoccaggio sotterraneo del gas naturale come strumento per la modulazione della produzione in relazione alla domanda energetica.


Aims of the course:

An overview of the activities of exploration, appraisal, and exploitation of fossil fuels will be provided. The concept of reserves and their current availability will be defined. The potential of underground storage of natural gas as a way to modulate production as a function of the market demand will be discussed.

Program: Characteristics and properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs (rocks, fluids and their interactions). Methodologies for identification, quantification and production of reserves: modeling approaches. Types and characteristics of underground natural gas storages. Requirements, design and operational principles of an underground gas storage.

Lectures will take place at DIATI (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Ambiente, del Territorio e delle Infrastrutture) in room Bibolini/sala Giunta (ground level) with the following schedule:

- Friday, Dec. 5, 10:00-13:00, room Bibolini (Introduction. Energy needs worldwide with focus on natural gas. Main characteristics, critical issues, measurements and study methodologies of hydrocarbon reservoirs).

- Friday, Dec. 5, 14:00-17:00, sala Giunta (Geological characteristics and modeling of hydrocarbon reservoirs)

- Thursday, Dec. 11, 14:00-17:00 room Bibolini (Thermodynamic behavior of hydrocarbon mixtures, rock properties, fluid-rock interactions. Production drives.)

- Friday, Dec. 12, 10:00-13:00 room Bibolini (Simulation of fluid-flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Reservoir dynamic models)

- Friday, Dec. 12, 14:00-17:00 sala Giunta (Properties, design and operational characteristics of underground natural gas storages)