Georesources and Geoenergy Engineering

The student will achieve competences in the context of applications of conventional geophysical surveys to different engineering fields. He/She must demonstrate its ability to plan geophysical surveys in multiple geological and morphological environment, to interpret the results of surveys and to understand the meaning of the geophysical parameters obtained. He/She will also acquire skills in the evaluation of the relationships between geophysical and geotechnical/hydrogeological parameters of soils and rocks. Students will acquire skills on the suitability of geophysical methods to characterise permafrost and glaciers.

The course focus on the theoretical background of geophysical methods applied to civil and environmental engineering, on the application in mining operation, and in study of snow/glacier and permafrost in alpine areas. The course aims to illustrate the data acquisition and interpretation methods of the geophysical parameters.

Seismic Methods: (2 credits) Wave equation and correlation between mechanical parameters and seismic response; Correlation between petrophysical parameters (porosity, water content) and velocity and attenuation of porous media: Willie model, Biot-Gassman model; In-hole survey methods: downhole, cross-hole and vertical seismic profile (VSP); Seismic tomography in hole and from surface. Methods of surface waves. Electrical Methods (2 credits) Correlations between petrophysical parameters and electrical resistivity, and induced polarization effects, induced polarization for contaminated site measurements and mining surveys: electrical tomography of resistivity and polarization from surface and in cross-hole modality; examples for hydrogeological and environmental characterization, application of electrical tomography to characterise permafrost (2 Credits). Electromagnetic Methods (2 credits) Methods in frequency and time domain; acquisition mode with low induction Slingram devices; examples for the characterization of contaminated sites; Time domain methods for hydrogeological characterization. Ground penetrating radar: theory, data acquisition and processing, application in geology and hydrogeology, application in permafrost and glaciers. Mining geophysics (2 credits): the magnetic method; airborne electromagnetic survey for geological and mining characterization; integrated magnetic and electromagnetic surveys; seismic characterissation for geomechanical properties of mines; magneto-telluric methods in geothermal exploration. Laboratory works: processing of seismic data and electrical tomographic data; processing of georadar data; processing of magnetic and magne-telluric data for mining prospecting.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Exam: Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
... The exam consists of an oral test aimed at assessing the theoretical skills and the ability to integrate the results of geophysical surveys into different application contexts. The exam is organized with a question about theoretical aspects and one question about planning and carrying out surveys and interpretation of results. The discussion of the laboratory activities is also part of the exam. The final evaluation is based on the clarity of exposition (5 points), technical skills (5 points), capability to relate the different aspects of the subject (10 points), degree of competence achieved (10 points).

The textbook is: J.M. Reynolds, 1997. An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Wiley Ed., 796 pp. The teacher provides through the portal the material discussed during the lessons, hints for the classroom works and laboratory exercises. Technical documentation and scientific articles are suggested for theoretical insights and made available on-line.

Applied geomechanicsAfter the course, the student will be able to: - define and obtain the main geomechanical properties of a rock material, of non conventional geo-materials and of a rock mass as well - carry out a geostructural survey and interpret a geostructural analysis. - recognize the behaviour of geological formations and materials as fundamental for the solution of practical problems in the geoengineering and geoenvironmental field. - evaluate the rock mass quality by following a classification system - evaluate safety factors for stability in basic problems (rock block, embankment, underground wedge) - recognize the role of a support system - manage some basic and worldwide used commercial codes for geomechanics - select parameters for monitoring of geological formations and structures (dumps and slides for example) is offered to the students.Data science and machine learning for engineering applications• Knowledge of the main phases characterizing a data science and machine learning process for a real-life engineering application. • Knowledge of the major data mining algorithms for classification, regression, clustering, and association rule mining. • Knowledge of the major machine learning and deep learning algorithms. • Knowledge of the Python language. • Knowledge of the major data mining and machine learning libraries. • Ability to design, implement and evaluate a data science process. • Ability to design, implement and evaluate a machine learning and deep learning algorithm. • Ability to use and tune data mining and machine learning algorithms. • Students will acquire all the above abilities by exploiting state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms in engineering applications.

Applied geomechanicsThe course offers the fundamentals of rock and soil behaviour and the site engineering application for environmental, quarrying, mining, tunnelling purposes and safety issues for excavations as well. The course is based on the characterisation of rock materials and masses, of non conventional geo-materials and on the solution of some typical cases for surface and underground excavations, while the monitoring of natural and artificial structures is presented as a part of the design methodology in mining, tunnelling and environmental geomechanics and technologies. The content of the lessons is intended to provide a useful reliable background for the excavation engineering and it is a link with oriented courses , such as Tunnelling, Rock and soil reinforcing, Mining methods, Underground excavations, Landslides and slope stability; monitoring concepts in the excavation engineering for safe works are also intended as unavoidable requirements.Data science and machine learning for engineering applicationsThis course explores how new algorithms in the Data Science (DS), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) disciplines can help engineering applications become smarter. These emerging disciplines could play a significant role and substantially impact various sectors. Thus, they could lead to new opportunities to develop cutting-edge and unconventional engineering applications. The course focuses on designing and implementing data-driven processes to extract knowledge from data and support decision-making. The course first introduces the data science process, focusing on its main phases. It then provides a theoretical and practical understanding of data mining and machine learning algorithms commonly used to analyze large and heterogeneous data in engineering scenarios. The course also introduces the Python language and state-of-the-art data mining and machine learning libraries to design and develop machine learning-based applications. Many laboratory sessions, based on a learning-by-doing approach, allow experimental activities on all the phases of a standard data science process - data preparation and cleaning, data exploration and characterization, machine learning algorithm selection and tuning, result assessment - using the most widespread open-source tools and libraries.

Applied geomechanicsRock materials and rock masses. Applications of rock engineering in mining, tunnelling, environmental engineering and civil excavations. Non conventional geo-materials: waste rocks, muds, slurries, tailings, spoil, debris, slags, grout. Fundamentals of elasticity in rock mechanics; stress and strain. Ground formations and basic properties of soils. Geomechanical characterization in lab and in field. Experiences of testing in laboratory. Strength criteria and behavior of rock materials and non conventional geo-materials. Joint properties and related shear strength criteria Geomechanical characterization of natural formations and behaviour of rock masses. Scale effect, difference between continuous and discontinuous media. Induced stress – strain distribution in rock masses (Airy, Kirsch, elasto plastic conditions). Geomechanical classifications and correlations with rock mass properties and technological features (classes of support, unsupported span and self supporting time, excavability). Design methods in rock engineering (analytical, graphical, numerical, empirical). The concept of safety factor. Partial safety factors. Stereographic projections. Kinematics of failure modes in rock masses (translational, ravelling, slabbing, squeezing, rockburst etc) Fundamentals of in situ stress measurement methods Analyses of some basic geomechnical problems for natural conditions and excavations: stability of underground excavation, surface excavation, application of limit equilibrium method, bolting techniques, remedial works, embankments, mining problems, in order to focus and understand the theory. Stability of dumps and landfills in waste rocks and muck. Monitoring issues for mining, environmental, rock and soil engineering. Particular cases: large landslides, morainic cover and debris from glaciers, unexpected and large events in mining and environmental fields. Classworks. Data science and machine learning for engineering applications• Data science process: main phases (0.2 cfu) • Data collection, cleaning, transformation and enrichment, and feature engineering (0.3 cfu) • Data mining algorithms: classification and clustering (0.8 cfu) • Machine learning and deep learning algorithms (0.6 cfu) • Introduction to Python and data mining and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn) (1.0 cfu) • Case study analysis (0.6 cfu) • Design in the lab of data science process and machine learning and deep learning algorithms for engineering applications (2.5 cfu)

Applied geomechanicsModalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria; Data science and machine learning for engineering applicationsModalita di esame: Prova orale facoltativa; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo; Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Applied geomechanicsExam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Data science and machine learning for engineering applicationsExam: Optional oral exam; Group project; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
... Applied geomechanicsDuring the course period, two written tests will be carried out (half of the course and end of the course) aimed to student self verification (1,5+1,5 h); min score 18, max score 30. No didactical material is permitted during these tests. The official exam during the exam sessions is in written form, with 3 exercises (for example: stereonet, testing of specimen, Mohr's circle, kinematic of blocks); then correction and 3 oral questions about theory of the program. Oral part is compulsory. Min score for admittance of written part 18/30, max score 30/30 (+L) for each part; final mark is the average of scores. Duration: written part about 90’, oral part 30'. Criteria to pass the exam: 1) solve in correct mode the exercises 2) demonstrate the ability to understand the interaction between natural and excavated structures and to solve basic analytic problems. 3) The exam is based on the didactical material loaded on the website and developed during the lessons. 4) The evaluation of the student skills is based on the ability to understand the key points to solve practical and common geo - engineering problems presented during the oral part of the exam..Data science and machine learning for engineering applicationsThe exam includes a group project and a written part. The final score is defined by considering both the evaluation of the group project and the written part. The teacher may request an integrative test to confirm the obtained evaluation. Learning objectives assessment The written part will assess - the knowledge of the data preparation techniques and the major data mining algorithms for classification, regression, clustering, and association rule mining. - the knowledge of the machine learning and deep learning for engineering applications. The group project will assess - the ability to design, implement and evaluate a complete data science process, including the evaluation and tuning of machine learning algorithms and result assessment for a specific engineering application. - the working knowledge of the Python language and the major data mining and machine learning libraries. Exam structure and grading criteria The group project consists in designing and implementing a data science process, based on machine learning algorithms, for solving a data analytics task related to a specific engineering application. The project is assigned after 6 weeks of lectures. The evaluation of the group project is based on the performance and accuracy of the proposed solution, in terms of standard quality measures (e.g., prediction accuracy), and completeness (i.e., in depth analysis of each phase of the designed process and motivation for selecting given techniques and algorithms). The written part covers the theoretical part of the course. It includes multiple choice and box-to-fill questions related to the theoretical part of the course (data cleaning, data pre-processing, data mining algorithms, data science process, machine learning and deep learning algorithms). For multiple choice questions, wrong answers are penalized. The score of each question will be specified in the exam text. The written exam lasts 60 minutes. Textbooks, notes, electronic devices of any kind are not allowed. The maximum grade for the group project is 20. The maximum grade for the written part is 12. The final grade is given by the sum of the two parts. The exam is passed if the grade of the group project is greater than or equal to 10, the grade of the written part is greater than or equal to 8, and the overall grade is greater than or equal to 18. If the final score is strictly greater than 31 the registered score will be 30 with honor.

Applied geomechanicsThe presentations of the lessons are loaded on the website and they follow the program. Class notes taken directly during lessons are recommended as fundamental for the student. Reference textbooks are presented (and available in the DIATI library) for details. Among the others: Hoek E. Practical Rock Engineering, Rocscience; Brady B.H.G. Brown E.T. Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining.Data science and machine learning for engineering applicationsCopies of the slides used during the lectures, examples of written exams and exercises, and manuals for the activities in the laboratory will be made available. All teaching material is downloadable from the course website or the teaching Portal. Book (only a few chapters needed) - Tan, Steinbach and Karpatne, Kumar; 'Introduction to data mining', 2 ed., Pearson, 2019 - Bellini, Alessandro and Guidi, Andrea; ‘Python e machine learning’, McGraw-Hill Education, 2022

Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)• Knowledge of the main phases characterizing a data science and machine learning process for a real-life engineering application. • Knowledge of the major data mining algorithms for classification, regression, clustering, and association rule mining. • Knowledge of the major machine learning and deep learning algorithms. • Knowledge of the Python language. • Knowledge of the major data mining and machine learning libraries. • Ability to design, implement and evaluate a data science process. • Ability to design, implement and evaluate a machine learning and deep learning algorithm. • Ability to use and tune data mining and machine learning algorithms. • Students will acquire all the above abilities by exploiting state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms in engineering applications. Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to: 1) Identify the appropriate rock mechanical properties and select the tests necessary to characterize the rock material with reference to a given field problem; 2) Predict the hydro-mechanical response of porous rocks in field operations; 3) Solve practical problems: wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, stress change induced by reservoir production and gas injection.

Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)This course explores how new algorithms in the Data Science (DS), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) disciplines can help engineering applications become smarter. These emerging disciplines could play a significant role and substantially impact various sectors. Thus, they could lead to new opportunities to develop cutting-edge and unconventional engineering applications. The course focuses on designing and implementing data-driven processes to extract knowledge from data and support decision-making. The course first introduces the data science process, focusing on its main phases. It then provides a theoretical and practical understanding of data mining and machine learning algorithms commonly used to analyze large and heterogeneous data in engineering scenarios. The course also introduces the Python language and state-of-the-art data mining and machine learning libraries to design and develop machine learning-based applications. Many laboratory sessions, based on a learning-by-doing approach, allow experimental activities on all the phases of a standard data science process - data preparation and cleaning, data exploration and characterization, machine learning algorithm selection and tuning, result assessment - using the most widespread open-source tools and libraries. Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)The course provides the fundamentals of rock behaviour in relation to field operations in reservoirs. The main objective of the course is to teach students: 1) how rocks respond to the modification of the underground state of stress in relation to oil and gas production and gas storage 2) the models and methods used to solve practical problems. To reach this objective the following subjects are explained during the course: fundamentals of continuum mechanics, the role of fluids in rock behaviour, drained and undrained conditions, interpretation of laboratory tests, elasto-plastic models for predicting rock behaviour and methods of analysis for evaluating rock failure in oil and gas reservoirs.

Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)• Data science process: main phases (0.2 cfu) • Data collection, cleaning, transformation and enrichment, and feature engineering (0.3 cfu) • Data mining algorithms: classification and clustering (0.8 cfu) • Machine learning and deep learning algorithms (0.6 cfu) • Introduction to Python and data mining and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn) (1.0 cfu) • Case study analysis (0.6 cfu) • Design in the lab of data science process and machine learning and deep learning algorithms for engineering applications (2.5 cfu) Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)1) Continuum mechanics. >The state of stress and strain >Constitutive laws: Theory of elasticity and plasticity; Creep 2) Failure mechanics: Mohr-Coulomb, Hoek & Brown, Griffith, Jaeger strength criteria 3) Mechanical properties of rocks from lab tests 4) Elements of Critical state Soil Mechanics. Modified Cam Clay Model 5) In situ state of stress: geostatic and in fault regime 6) Compaction and subsidence of reservoirs during depletion 7) Stresses around boreholes. Stability during drilling: geomechanical aspects 8) Principles of hydraulic fracturing 9) Stress change during gas storage 9) Stress change during gas storage

Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)Modalita di esame: Prova orale facoltativa; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo; Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo; Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)Modalita di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;
Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)Exam: Optional oral exam; Group project; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform; Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)Exam: Compulsory oral exam;
... Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)The exam includes a group project and a written part. The final score is defined by considering both the evaluation of the group project and the written part. The teacher may request an integrative test to confirm the obtained evaluation. Learning objectives assessment The written part will assess - the knowledge of the data preparation techniques and the major data mining algorithms for classification, regression, clustering, and association rule mining. - the knowledge of the machine learning and deep learning for engineering applications. The group project will assess - the ability to design, implement and evaluate a complete data science process, including the evaluation and tuning of machine learning algorithms and result assessment for a specific engineering application. - the working knowledge of the Python language and the major data mining and machine learning libraries. Exam structure and grading criteria The group project consists in designing and implementing a data science process, based on machine learning algorithms, for solving a data analytics task related to a specific engineering application. The project is assigned after 6 weeks of lectures. The evaluation of the group project is based on the performance and accuracy of the proposed solution, in terms of standard quality measures (e.g., prediction accuracy), and completeness (i.e., in depth analysis of each phase of the designed process and motivation for selecting given techniques and algorithms). The written part covers the theoretical part of the course. It includes multiple choice and box-to-fill questions related to the theoretical part of the course (data cleaning, data pre-processing, data mining algorithms, data science process, machine learning and deep learning algorithms). For multiple choice questions, wrong answers are penalized. The score of each question will be specified in the exam text. The written exam lasts 60 minutes. Textbooks, notes, electronic devices of any kind are not allowed. The maximum grade for the group project is 20. The maximum grade for the written part is 12. The final grade is given by the sum of the two parts. The exam is passed if the grade of the group project is greater than or equal to 10, the grade of the written part is greater than or equal to 8, and the overall grade is greater than or equal to 18. If the final score is strictly greater than 31 the registered score will be 30 with honor. Students who do not participate in their group project from the first week of the course will not be eligible to take the oral exam in the same academic year, as they will not have met the minimum grade requirement for the project. Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)Compulsory oral exam. The exam is aimed at evaluating knowledge, competences and skills acquired during the course. The student should be able to carry out stability analyses, to select strength parameters and to evaluate the effect of water pressure in a given case. The exam will be oral in a classroom of the Politecnico di Torino. A calendar will be published on the course page after the term for exam enrollment and every day a group of students will give the exam. The oral exam comprises 3 main questions. Questions are related to the topics explained in class. Questions consist of discussion of a given topic and/or the solution of a practical exercise. Rules during oral exam: >closed book; >the equation sheet provided in the course material is allowed; >pocket calculator and pen; >the student must show his/her identity document

Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Data science and machine learning for engineering applications)Copies of the slides used during the lectures, examples of written exams and exercises, and manuals for the activities in the laboratory will be made available. All teaching material is downloadable from the course website or the teaching Portal. Book (only a few chapters needed) - Tan, Steinbach and Karpatne, Kumar; 'Introduction to data mining', 2 ed., Pearson, 2019 - Bellini, Alessandro and Guidi, Andrea; ‘Python e machine learning’, McGraw-Hill Education, 2022 Data science and machine learning for engineering applications/Reservoir geomechanics (Reservoir Geomechanics)Reference Books: Fjaer, Holt, Horsrud, Raaen & Risnes, Petroleum related Rock Mechanics, 2nd edition, Elsevier, Oxford, 2008. Brady & Brown Rock Mechanics, 3rd edition, Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, 2004 Lancellotta, 2009. Geotechnical Engineering, 2nd edition, Taylor & Francis, New York The slides presented during lectures will be periodically uploaded on the web site of the course.

The acquisition of technical skills to perform excavation works in different contexts (open pit, underground, underwater construction sites) is expected, aimed to critically examine the choice of the equipment and the best methods to perform a given work, respecting the constraints and minimizing the environmental pressures. The topics treated have the aim to stimulate research for the best solution among those potentially detectable, based on the criticism of the context. It therefore intends to encourage the independence and the learning ability, stimulating the discussion: the right answers are sometimes more than one, and the discussion is fundamental. Students will be then invited to write technical reports on the cases presented during the lectures, to take a reasoned decision, to estimate the orders of magnitude of the numerical values that the engineer has to manage in the main reference cases, to understand the international terminology.

The course aims to provide the fundamentals on excavation techniques and processing plants, the criteria for the selection of equipment and methods for carrying out the works, the rules for setting the organization and performing such work in a technically correct and safe way. Part of the course is devoted to processing, with the aim of making the excavation/production cycle clear in all its phases. The contents of the course are continuously updated, depending on the requirements of different operating conditions, and therefore they can’t be crystallized into a "static" reality. Many examples are presented, with the intention of stimulating topics of research and personal reflection. The course also aims to provide students with the technical international language.

General principles and definitions; mechanical properties and materials behaviour; specific gravity; abrasivity, hardness; geometry of the stope; organization of the work phases. PART I: Rock excavation by D&B. Chemical and physical data of explosives; explosive reactions; properties of explosives; classification and selection of explosives. Initiation systems: safety fuse; blasting caps; electric blasting caps (instantaneous, long-delay detonators, short-delay detonators); detonating cord; relais; non electric detonators and trunk line delays; NPED and electronic detonators. Blast-holes: definition; mechanics of blasting. Blasts: definition; blasting pattern; powder factor, specific drilling, detonators consumption and related costs; firing line and blasting circuit calculations. Open pit blasts. Bench blasts; single row or multi-row blasts; trench blasts. Contour blasting and unwanted effects. Dynamic splitting. Underground blasts. Tunnelling. Charges’ geometry and initiation sequence; type of cuts; muck-pile geometry. Environmental problems (Vibrations, fly-rocks, dust and air blast). Drilling equipment and tools. Types of machines; drillability of rocks; open pit and underground drilling equipment. Mucking and transportation: systems commonly employed for open pit, underground and underwater excavations. PART II. Mechanical excavation, open pit and underground. General. Equipment, productivity. Description of the most common machines. Hardness and toughness; tools’ material; service life of tools, consumption of tools. Motions of tools. Mechanism of action and types of tools. Theoretical models of the rock-tool interaction. Equipment performance and selection criteria as a function of rock type and purpose of work; prediction of productivity and consumption in terms of specific energy. Dimension stones: cutting techniques; diamond wire saw; chain saw; water jet and other systems. PART III. Moving the earth. Cyclic machines: weight, power and productivity; definitions. Hydraulic shovels. Loaders. Backhoes. Dozers. Graders. Scrapers, drag-scrapers, draglines. Continuous machines. Bucket wheel excavators. Excavation and transportation equipment. Dredges: Cyclical and continuous equipment. PART IV. Exploratory drilling. Introduction and overview. Core drilling. Diamond core drills; drill rods; core barrels (single, double, Wire Line). Drill units. Wire Line Rods. Flush pumps. Drill bits; reaming shells; casing shoes; casing tubes; flushing water recommendations. Casing tubes for overburden drilling; Percussion/Rotary rods; In-the-hole equipment accessories. Special operations. Exploratory drilling for mining and/or geotechnical surveys. Sampling: general principles; core barrels (single, double, triple tube). Interpretation of survey results. PART V: Process plants and separation systems. State-of-the-art on mineral processing plants. Separation process principles and capabilities. Jigging machines. Washing and crushing equipment. Modular mineral processing equipment and uupgraded solutions. Base metal operations and grade control. Key performance indicators (KPI) development to optimize the "mine-to-mill" process. Power plants. Underground ventilation systems. Water supply systems. Underground extraction systems. Haulage and conveyance plants

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto individuale;
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Individual essay;
... The exam is aimed at ascertaining knowledge of the topics listed in the official course program and the ability to apply the theory and related calculation methods to solving exercises. The evaluations are expressed out of thirty and the exam is passed if the final mark reported (written and oral) is at least 18/30. The written exam lasts 120 minutes and contains both exercises and theoretical questions on the topics of the course; it has the purpose of verifying the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered. A minimum score of 15 points (30 being the maximum) is required to access the oral exam, which consists of a review of the written exam; a discussion of the reports drawn up during the practical part (exercises); an oral investigation of specific problems. During the examination, it is not allowed to keep and consult notebooks, books, or sheets with exercises. The use of a portable calculator is allowed. The results of the exam are communicated on the teaching portal, together with the date on which students can view the assignment and ask for clarification.

Since the topics explained and discussed are a particular synthesis of many aspects of Geo-Engineering, the material is continually updated and made available to students before the beginning of the course through the didactic portal. The available texts are numerous, and these are explicitly referred to in the material provided, as well as expressly suggested for further details. The constant updating of the topics discussed is also suggested by consulting the most recent International Magazines and/or conference papers provided by the teacher. The slides shown during the lectures are the most complete and comprehensive as possible, to facilitate understanding of the concepts contained in the course. Tutorials: Proposed texts, technical sheets, synthesis of manuals and so on, are also available through the portal. The exercises are solved entirely on the board by the teacher or, in any case, their trace is suggested in the classroom.

Understanding the parameters used to characterize the dynamic behavior of fluid and of reservoirs, in terms of physical meaning and order of magnitude. Ability of approaching different technical problems by the selection the most suitable model. Critical approach in review to real data. Communication skills, ability of using and understanding the technical language and terminology adopted worldwide in the industries. Ability in increasing their own knowledge by selecting the appropriate technical and scientific literature.

The aim of the course consists in giving the fundamental concepts necessary to characterize, to understand and to describe analytically and numerically the behavior of fluids in porous media and, in particular the dynamic behavior of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The course is divided in some main chapters such as: reservoir fluids PVT properties; rock properties; rock fluid interaction properties; diffusivity equations for slightly compressible and compressible fluids. The course has to be considered as introductory to most of the other course of the petroleum engineering program.

Basics definitions and nomenclature Thermodynamic behavior of hydrocarbon mixtures: qualitative phase behaviour (PVT) of single and multi-component systems; hydrocarbon reservoir nomenclature and classification. quantitative phase behaviour of hydrocarbons: PVT parameters of gas, oil, and water. Fluid viscosity. Drive mechanisms and recovery factors. Static pressure profiles: hydrostatic equilibrium of hydrocarbon reservoirs; pressure gradients fluid contacts; interpretation of static pressure profiles for different reservoirs typology. Rock petrophysical properties: Routine core analyses; Porosity: total, effective, primary and secondary; Fluid saturation; Electrical conductivity: Archie's law. Basic concepts of log interpretation, mathematical models and numerical solutions. Darcy's law: hydraulic conductivity, permeability; generalized equation; Darcy's law in different flow geometries: linear, radial flow, vertical free flow, 3D flow. Permeability tensor, homogeneity and isotropy. Darcy's law for gases, slip flow and Klinkenberg effect. Forchheimer equation. Rock-fluids interaction properties: Special core analyses; Extension of Darcy's law to multiphase flow: effective permeability; relative permeability, mobility. Gas Oil Ratio. Superficial and interfacial tension, contact angle, wettability, immiscible fluids flow. Capillary pressure and capillary rise. J function; Imbibition and drainage; residual saturations. Diffusivity equation for monophase flow of slightly compressible fluids (oil and water): definition of the mathematical model; basic assumptions; analytical solutions in transient, steady and pseudo steady conditions, skin effect and productivity index; water encroachment. Diffusivity equation for monophase flow of highly compressible fluids (gas): diffusivity equations for laminar flow; analytical solution for turbulent flow, integration of Forchheimer equation under steady state conditions. Extension to pseudo-steady state and transient conditions. Turbolence skin and non-Darcy coefficient. Multiphase flow models: diffusivity equation in pressure and saturation; numerical models: fundamentals on Finite Difference Methods; treatment of non linearities, transmissibility.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
... Final examination is divided into two parts: written test (duration 50 - 75 minutes) and oral examination. The written test is made up of three/four questions (or problems). Results of the written test will be either "Pass" (P) or "No Pass" (NP). Only students with a "Pass" mark on the written test will be able to take the oral examination. The oral examination can only be taken once for each “Pass�, either during the “appello� of the written test or the immediately following “appello�. If a student doesn’t pass the written, doesn’t pass the oral, doesn’t accept the mark of the oral, doesn’t show up for the oral, they must retake the written.

Slides of the course available on line at the course web page for both theory and exercises. Additional material: E.J. Burcik. 1957. Properties of petroleum reservoirs fluids. John Wiley & sons, inc. London C.H. Whitson. M. R. Brule. 2000. Phase behavior. SPE Monograph Series. Richardson, Texas. C.R. Fitts. 2002. Groundwater science. Academic Press. London, UK A.T. Corey. 1977. Mechanics of heterogenous fluids in porous media. Water Resources Pubblications. Fort Collins, Colorado, USA D.W. Green, G.P. Willhite. 1998. Enhanced Oil Recovery. SPE Textbook Series vol.6

The fundamental knowledge provided by the course during classroom lectures concerns signal processing methods used for geophysical data processing, petrophysical properties of rocks, and the physical phenomena which are used in seismic exploration (seismic wave propagation in natural heterogeneous materials). The course will deepen the geophysical exploration techniques focusing on seismic reflection method (with regards to technical and technological aspects of land and marine data acquisition, seismic signal processing methods and seismic data interpretation). The course aims at reaching competence in simplified seismic data modelling, processing and interpretation through individual computer lab work, during which, the students will apply the fundamental knowledge concepts provided during classroom lectures and implement simple modelling and processing tools that will enable them to consolidate their basic knowledge and improve their practical skills. Seismic data interpretation skill will be developed and trained during team work using industry data.

The course provides knowledge, competences and skills about the use of geophysical methods, with special focus on seismic reflection technique, in hydrocarbon exploration. The course is devoted to students with different backgrounds and it is aimed at supplying fundamental knowledge about seismic method principles and technologies, data processing and interpretation in the context of reservoir discovery, characterization and exploitation. The subject is inherently linked to reservoir modelling, drilling, petroleum geology end geomechanics.

Introduction: basic concepts of geophysical methods and applications (0.5 credits); Signal processing: analog-digital signal; frequency, amplitude, phase; Fourier analysis and synthesis; main features of amplitude and phase spectr; sampling and data loggers; impulse response and convolution integral; digital filters (1 credits) Seismic waves in layered media: seismic wave equations in homogeneous, isotropic, elastic media; seismic wave propagation in homogeneous, isotropic, elastic half-space: body and surface waves; wave fronts and Huygens principle; seismic wave propagation in layered media: seismic ray, Fermat principle and Snell law. Direct, reflected and refracted waves in layered media; the seismogram; seismic wave propagation in real media: attenuation. (1.3 credits). Seismic exploration: seismic acquisition technologies: sources, sensors, cables, data-loggers for land and marine surveys; seismic reflection: acquisition, logistic, multifold data and coverage, 2D and 3D; seismic reflection data processing: editing, filtering, static corrections, CMP sorting, deconvolution, velocity analysis, NMO correction, stacking, migration. (1.3 credits) Seismic interpretation: geological and structural interpretation, convolutional model and seismic resolution; amplitude interpretation: AVO and AVA basic principles, cross-plots and applications; seismic attributes: evolution, classification and applications; 4D seismic and reservoir monitoring. (2.5 credit) Petrophysics: physical properties of rocks: porosity, density, elastic moduli, permeability, effects of temperature and pressure gradients, effects of fluids; analytical and empirical relationships between physical properties and measured geophysical parameters. (1 credit) Inversion: forward and inverse problems in geophysics; linear inverse problems, weakly non-linear problems and strongly non-linear problems; information content of data; deterministic solution techniques: least squares, damping and regularization, data and model resolution matrices; stochastic solution techniques: Monte Carlo method, simulated annealing, neural networks and genetic algorithms; application to seismic tomography and acoustic impedance estimate. (0.4 credits)

Modalita di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato progettuale individuale;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Individual project;
... The exam is aimed at evaluating knowledge, competences and skills acquired during the course. It consists on the evaluation of the computer lab assignments carried on during the course and an oral exam. The assignments 1, 2, and 3, if correctly made and delivered before deadline, will provide 1.5, 1, and 1.5 points respectively (maximum total points for the assignment 4). Assignments are not mandatory but, to be considered, at least one out of two lab class should be attended. (till 2016/17 only 2 assignment were carried out with max total point equal to 3).The points attributed to the individual assignments are added to the oral exam mark. The exam will be oral. A calendar will be defined at the exam date. The exam consists in questions and exercises of the same kind of those normally solved in class. The oral exam will be divided in 3 parts: 1) Open and closed questions or simple exercises 2) Exercise 3) Paper discussion the exam duration is about 30-40 minutes. To access exercise it is needed to pass question part and to access to paper discussion it is needed to pass questions and exercise. The final mark is composed as follows: max 25 points for part 1) and 2), from -3 to + 4 for paper discussion, only after passing part 1) 2) and 3) the assignment marks will be added. Rules during oral exams: the exam is closed book and the equation sheet provided in course material is allowed the student will need a pocket calculator and a pen the student must show his/her identification document

Books of reference (available at Department library): W.M. Telford, L.P. Geldart e R.E.Sheriff: Applied Geophysics, Cambridge University Press M.B. Dobrin, C.H. Savit: Geophysical Prospecting, McGraw-Hill O. Ylmaz: Seismic data processing, SEG. M. Bacon, R. Simm, and T. Redshaw: 3D seismic interpretation. Cambridge University Press. Material available on the web (portale della didattica): lecture slides, limited portions of reference books; scientific papers (tutorial and basic papers) as further readings, collection of exercises; homework assignments.

Aim of the course is to provide a basic knowledge about the chemical and technological evaluation of crude oils and its fractions to be used as raw materials for industrial processes either for fuels or chemicals production. The student will learn about the analytical, scientific and technological methods useful for the oil and gas characterization and processing and will acquire a clear picture of the surface facilities, refinery and petrochemical processes, involved in the transformation of petroleum into commercial fuels and other commodity products. Moreover, a focus will be given surface facilities for natural gas purification for its further selling. At the end of the course, it is expected that the student: knows how to characterize and identify the quality of a crude oil, either for economical or technological purposes; knows the main processes for oil and gas processing (e.g. distillation, absorption, adsorption, among others); is able to use a process simulator to perform complex mass and energy balances (e.g. of distillation units) and to optimize process conditions; has the capacity to evaluate the suitability of a hydrocarbons mixture to be used as a raw material for fuels production or for chemical transformations through petrochemical processes; is able to make a preliminary estimation of the efficiency of a process based on energy and mass balances.

The lectures give an up-to date and fundamental knowledge on the main composition, properties and applications of crude oils and gas; as well as the main products obtained through refining and surface facility processes. Chemical, technological and sustainability aspects of the industrial processes involved in the oil and gas processing for their purification and conversion to fuels and other chemicals are considered. Computational process simulation methods are also introduced as a tool to evaluate and optimize process variables of typical oil & gas industrial technologies like distillation.

Economic, societal and environmental background of the petrol industry (3h). Crude oil and natural gas composition (6h). Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons classification and properties. Functional groups and organic molecules: carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, thiols, aldehydes, ketons, amines, amides, alkyloyl chlorides, alkyl chlorides. Chemical structures. IUPAC nomenclature and trivial names. Petroleum composition and chemical classification. C/H ratio. Sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen compounds in petroleum. Naphtenic acids recovery. Inorganic components. Theoretical evaluation of the combustion heat (9h). Safety criteria in hydrocarbon handling. Flash point and flammability limits. Exercises on this matter. Crude Oils characterization methods (3h). ASTM, TBP and EFV distillation curves. Distillate yields. Mean boiling points. Key fractions. Sulphur content. Density and boiling point correlation with chemical composition. Correlation index. Property diagrams. Definition of the pseudocomponent composition from the oil distillation curve. Properties and composition of commercial gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, lubricants, waxes and lubricants. Standard methods of characterisation. Petroleum refining (9h). Oil desalting. Principles of distillation processes. Vapour-liquid equilibrium diagrams. Ideal and real behaviour of liquid mixtures. Separation of azeotropic mixtures. Oil distillation processes at atmospheric pressure and under vacuum. Overlapping of distillation curves. Sulfur removal from gaseous and liquid fractions. Hydrocarbon conversion processes (e.g. catalytic cracking, alkylation, oligomerisation, isomerisation, catalytic reforming). Mass and Energy Balance of processes for oil purification and/or conversion. Blending and additives for commercial fractions. Olefins from thermal cracking. Aromatics by liquid-liquid extraction. Mass and Energy balances of those processes. Natural gas (NG) composition, classification and purification in surface facilities (9h). Acid gases (CO2 and Sulphur-based molecules in NG). Natural gasoline, LPG. Mass and Energy Balance of processes for natural gas purification and/or conversion. Chemical and physical processes for natural gas sweetening (removal of acid gases such as absorption, adsorption and membranes). Gas dehydration processes. Industrial chemical processes (6h). Schemes of industrial chemical processes. Separation units. Reactors. Chemical equilibrium and kinetics. Catalysts. Influence of temperature and pressure on conversion and yield. Examples of industrial processes for commodities production. Mass and Energy Balance of processes for chemicals production. Petrochemical industry: raw, base, intermediate and end user products. Sustainability in the oil and gas industry (3h). Industrial principles of sustainability and strategies for performing sustainable industrial processes to deal with climate change issues, based on the 12 principles of green chemistry. Simulation of industrial processes (12h) Introduction to a professional process simulation software (Aspen Plus). Set up of practical exercises (e.g. distillation). Sensitivity analysis for process optimization. Timelines are indicative and can vary based on the students needs.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale facoltativa; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;
Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam; Group project;
... Written test (compulsory): 100% of final mark; Oral exam (facultative): If taken, its mark will be averaged with the written test mark to make the final mark; ASPEN simulation essay (optional): This essay, when completed in a group, can boost your final mark by up to 2 points, providing a valuable opportunity for improvement of the final mark. Descritpion: The written exam (2 hours) covers theoretical issues, descriptions of industrial processes, and exercises from the course. It's important to note that the exam is conducted without the use of books or notes. Students who would like to improve their written exam marks can request an additional oral exam (not mandatory). The oral exam will consist of 3 questions on the theoretical principles and/or descriptions of industrial processes learned during the course. In this case, the final mark will be an average of the oral and written exams. The students can enhance the final mark (up to 2 points) by working in a group on a computing assignment in ASPEN software. This will be evaluated through an oral presentation.

After each lecture, related texts and eventual exercises will be available on the course site of the web. Besides the subject explained in the lesson, also chapters of technical books useful for a best comprehension and deepening of the lesson topics will be stored on the site. Materials requiring periodic updating will be available before the end of the course.

The students should develop the ability to identify the best methodologies to apply in order to obtain a free substance that can be used as a raw material both from natural resources and from waste. The student shall have the possibility of testing the physical and mechanical properties of some minerals/rocks and some recyclable waste substances in the laboratory and by means of different separation methodologies to reach a valuable yeld of the desired substance. At the end of the course, the students shall be able to plan a process treatment obtaining the free raw material from the additional components to which it is connected in nature if dealing with minerals, or in the commercial product, if dealing with wastes. The analysis and observation capacities acquired over the three year degree course shall be necessary for this purpose.

The aim of this course is to offer an outline of the technologies employed in the processing of raw materials. By raw materials we mean solid georesources with a market value destined for use in industry, while by secondary materials we mean those materials that are recovered from waste. Knowledge of the properties of solids shall be the starting point for the identification of the best physical and mechanical process techniques to adopt to obtain a raw or a secondary materal. The operations that shall be considered include solid separation and treatment methodologies based on the physical and mechanical properties of the materials. Some of the most important examples of mineral and solid waste processing for the production of primary and secondary materials shall be examined, and at the end of the course the students shall be able to design a treatment plant on the basis of the knowledge acquired during the course.

Concepts on primary and secondary raw materials. Solid georesources production and economic layout. UE guide lines on soustainability Sampling - Concepts on liberation of the grain, yield and concentration - Separation and recovery efficiency Physical and mechanical main properties - laboratory test methods General concepts pertaining to comminution. Alternative and rotating crushing machines; roller mills, impact crushers, milling, general concepts and technologies pertaining to screening industrial classification in a fluid medium, by fall, counter-current, mechanical, centrifuge, the pneumatic classifying systems, sink-float separation, hydraulic and pneumatic table flotation, magnetic separation, electric separation Natural stones and aggregates - laboratory test for CE marking of natural stones and aggregates - the weathering of natural stone – the ageing tests – in situ measurements Examples of mineral processing plants: minerals for the glass, ceramic and refractory industries, limes and cement, gold suphides coal iron Waste management. Evolution of the concepts pertaining to wastes, differentiated collections and consortiums; UE guide lines on wastes and recycling Recycling quality standards and technology the recycling of electric and electronic waste, inert waste from construction and demolition, aluminium and other metals, glass, paper, plastic, compost, tyres. Flowcharts. Solid waste pre-selection plants.

Modalita di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group project;
... The final evaluation is the weighted average of the following three phases: 1) the project of treatment will be presented by each group on the last day of the lesson, to the colleagues of the course and to the experts called by the teacher (time for each presentation: 15 minutes) . Its rating will weigh as much as 50% of the final vote. 2) Each student must deliver at least two days before the final examination a report on one of the didactic visits and a second report on one of the laboratory exercises carried out. The vote attributed to the reports will weigh for a quarter of the final vote. 3) The oral examination, which will weigh for the last quarter, will consist of a question related to the subjects of the course not addressed in the project and in the reports.

Notes shall be made available by the lecturer. Moreover, the following texts can be consulted in DIATI library: Barry A. Wills - Mineral Processing Technology : An Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Ore Treatment and Mineral Recovery, Edition 7, 2011, Butterworth-Heinemann Gupta and D. S. Yan - Mineral Processing Design and Operation : An Introduction, 2006, Elsevier Manning D.a.C. Introduction to industrial minerals. Chapman and Hall Ed. , 1995 Industrial Minerals (periodic)

With emphasis on engineering tools that can support Sustainable Development, the student is expected to gather basic knowledge about the socio-economic-environmental characterisation of energy and mineral resources, and environmental engineering projects. He/she should gain a basic understanding of resource management issues and their relationship to property rights, externalities, market structure, and discount rates, as well as the economic analysis tools and evaluation techniques used in environmental economics and the analysis of natural resources and construction of engineering works. He/she should understand what is meant by sustainable development and how sustainability concepts are applied to energy, minerals and in engineering projects. He/she should be able to conduct a life cycle assessment and interpret the results in terms of environmental management and sustainable development, in a context of a more circular economy.

The overarching framework for this course is sustainable engineering and industrial ecology, i.e., the theory and practice of engineering within a complex, interconnected world that faces many economic, environmental and social challenges. The objective is to build on basic concepts of market economics as they apply to minerals, energy, the environment, and engineering projects. Students will be taught the skills necessary to understand and evaluate the socio-economic-environmental consequences of energy and mineral production, as well as environmental engineering projects, and their relationship to biotic resources and the environment. At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the basic concepts relevant to the role of natural and environmental resources in the economic system, the environmental issues connected with the production and use of energy and minerals, and to understand how resources and engineering can contribute (positively or negatively) to sustainable development through a more circular economy.

•Role of natural resources in the economy and man’s efforts to modify the earth to his needs. Role and evolution of energy and minerals in the economy: past, present and future perspectives. National material flow accounts. Birth and evolution of the “Environmental debate�. •Sustainable engineering. Engineers need to solve problems in the real world, one that is fast changing, complex, and interconnected. Because the challenges engineers must face today differ from those of prior generations, and because societies are looking for solutions that are consistent with a sustainable future, the course will address how the practice of engineering is fundamentally changing. Basic concepts of sustainable development, from societal and intergovernmental perspectives, and linkage of industrial ecology to sustainability. •Sustainable development as applied to energy and mineral resources and engineering projects. Sustainability and business management in the energy and mineral industries. Recent SD thinking, sustainability assessments, indicators of sustainability, corporate reporting, and codes of conduct. •Mineral economics and policy. Basic microeconomic theory as applied to non-renewable resources. Economic significance of mineral raw materials and the resource industry, including minerals and energy in GDP and national income and product accounts. Principles of minerals economics, including scarcity and resource depletion, the nature of economic rent. Market structure, international aspects, and trade of minerals. Raw Materials Policy and the EU. Critical Raw Materials. •Energy resources economics and policy. Primary and secondary energy sources. Demand and supply of energy. Conventional energy sources: oil, gas and coal. Renewable energies. Evolution of the international energy strategies from the birth of OPEC to present days. Energy Management and Industrial Energy Analysis. •Environmental economics. Progression from environmental to ecological economic theory; core concepts, including public goods, common property resources, pollution, and externalities. Market and non-market valuation of damages. The internalization of externalities. Environmental policies and public/private instruments. Applications of the foregoing to energy, mineral, and engineering projects. •Circular economy. Elements of Circular Economy, starting for the EC COM/2015/0614 final: Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy. The European Commission has adopted an ambitious new Circular Economy Package to help European businesses and consumers to make the transition to a stronger and more circular economy, where resources are used in a more sustainable way. The overarching goal is to maximise the benefits to society from all raw materials, products and waste, fostering energy savings and reducing Greenhouse emissions, covering the full lifecycle of products. •Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). A methodology to evaluate the environmental performances of production and consumption systems. Origin and basic principles of LCA according to the ISO 14040 standards. Use of LCA software applications. Basics of Life Cycle Management and green communication. The IT laboratory will be used in order to carry out those practice exercises which require the use of the software packages SimaPro, GaBi and openLCA.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;
Exam: Written test; Group project;
... The final examination consists of a written test (1,5 hours) made of open (essay) questions and short exercises (oral examination not allowed). Examples of written tests from previous years will be distributed via Portale della didattica. The final mark is given 60% according to the mark obtained in the written examination (passmark 16/30) and 40% according to the mark obtained in the Team Project report. In order to attend the final exam it is necessary: -to register via web site of the Politecnico within the deadline; -to submit the Team Project report any time, but not later than 5 days before the written examination. The written examination must be in legible English. The use of teaching material during the exam is not allowed.

Powerpoint Slides available at the Politecnico web site. References: Field, Environmental Economics, Chapters 5 and 6, McGraw-Hill, Irwin, 2009. Gibson, et al., Sustainability Assessment, Chapter 3, Earthscan, 2005. Hacket, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Chapters 3 and 4, M.E. Sharpe, 2006. IEA, World Energy Outlook, International Energy Agency. IEA, Renewables Information. International Energy Agency. Tilton, Mineral Economics: an overview of the discipline, 2007. Turner, Pearce and Bateman, 1993, Chapters 5 and 8, Johns Hopkins, 1993. Additional supplementary articles and materials (uploaded in the Politecnico web site)

At the end of the course, students should have acquired specific skills that related to: - major classification and origin of the rocks - main geological phenomena of sedimentary basins genesis and evolution - origin, geochemical composition, migration and trapping of hydrocarbons - fundamental aspects of applied mining geology - fundamental aspects of geological and geo-engineering mapping

The Resources geology course is mainly aimed to provide geological skills for engineers involved in the petroleum and mining industry. The primary objectives of the first part - Introduction to the rock’s classifications and origin – introduction to sedimentology and stratigraphy concept - Sedimentary basins and sequence stratigraphy – sediments transport and deposition – facies and sedimentary environments. The second part is hydrocarbon origin, composition - geological principles and processes and relationships with hydrocarbons generation and accumulation processes. The third part focuses on the Mining Geology aspects. In particular, lessons introduce the fundamentals of the mineral resources generation, general introduction of surface and underground mine, mine mapping and sampling, resource estimation methods. General concepts of geochemical rocks composition. A fourth part regards the basic concepts of structural geology and geological mapping, geological data interpretation and correlation.

The course is subdivided into four main sections. Section I: Introduction to sedimentary concept and sequence stratigraphy (2 CFU) Lectures: Introduction to the rock’s classifications, base concepts of geochemical rocks composition and origin, introduction to sedimentology and sedimentary rocks, sediments transport and deposition, facies and sedimentary environment, sequence stratigraphy. Section II: Hydrocarbons (2 CFU) Lectures: Petroleum origin, Petroleum migration and accumulation, Unconventional hydrocarbons. Section III - Mining Geology (2 CFU) Lectures: Mineral deposits, sampling and mineral resources estimation. Section IV – Geological mapping (2 CFU) Lectures: Introduction of structural geology, fundamentals of mapping, geological survey, data acquisition, correlations, conceptual geological models. This section includes both lectures and practical exercises

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale facoltativa;
Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam;
... The written examination (1 hours) consists of a set of questions, numerically evaluated. If the numerical assessment is sufficient (over 18/30) students can ask for an optional oral exam to improve the final evaluation.

Summary of the main topics and PPT slides are made available on the course web site. Some didactic material on general concepts of basic geology. Main reference texts: - Compton R.R. (1962) Manual of field geology. John Wiley & Sons. - Chapman R.E. (1983) Petroleum Geology. Elsevier. ISBN 0-444-42165-3 - Hyne N.J. (2001) Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production. Pennwell. ISBN 0-87814-823-X - Knut B. (2010) Petroleum Geology. Springer. ISBN: 9783642023316. - Marat A. (2016) Applied Mining Geology. Springer. ISSN 1876-1690 (electronic) - Bustillo Revuelta M. (2018) Mineral Resources. Springer. DOI 10-1007/987-3-319-58760-8-4 Other specific references will be provided during the course.

Basically, at the end of the course students will be able to manage properly concepts such as safety, hazard, risk and to approach their future daily professional choices using a risk based approach. From a technical point of view, they will be able to organise a risk assessment for a complex technical system (geoenergy process systems or mining installations) using the tools presented in this course and collecting their knowledge resulting from previous courses: • comprehension of a technical system starting from description and drawings; • understanding of the regulation concerning occupational safety, process safety, safety of machines; • identification of the related hazards; • selection of the potential accidental sequences; • estimation of accident/failure probabilities by RAM (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability) analyses; • estimation of damage extension in case of major accident, by simplified methods; • identification of the preventive and mitigation measures for risk control; • specific safety issues for geoenergy process systems and mining applications; The application of these concepts and tools to a real study case will be performed during practical lectures by team working; two different subject will be investigated: a portion of a process plant for geoenergy students and a mine installation, for mining students. These project works are set in order to train students in the typical approach adopted for professional risk analysis, where several specialists contribute for a common goal, by a multidisciplinary investigation.

The course deals with the risk assessment of technical systems, a tool to guarantee safety for personnel and population, environment and asset protection against daily and major accidents, both for geoenergy installations and mining installations. Risk assessment is a common tool to approach and optimise safe design and safe operations in geonenergy and mining activities supporting the methods and practices provided by the other courses of the Master programme. The contents of this course are preliminary for the course Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering of the Sustainable Mining track.

1. The Risk concept: definition, assessment, perception and tolerability. 2. Role of Risk in the International Legislation and technical Standards with a special focus on process safety, occupational safety and safety of machineries. 3. Methodologies for the risk assessment: * Elements on the Boolean algebra and probability theory, * Hazard identification, * Methodologies for the reliability assessment of complex systems, * Methodologies for the study of accidental sequences, * Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessment, * Risk Assessment and tolerability criteria, *The role of risk assessment in the international legislation. 4. Insights on the reliability theory and RAM (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability) analyses: * RAM characterisation of elementary components, * Reliability Data Banks, * Calculation of unreliability and unavailability for complex systems/machineries, * Common Cause Failures and Criticality Indexes, * Elements of Functional Safety. 5. Process Safety: * Description and modelling of accidental phenomena (loss of containment, fires, explosions, gas dispersion), * Vulnerability analysis, * Emergency planning and management. 6. Machine Safety: * Investigation of typical hazards (HAZID methodology and statistical investigation), * Verification of safety for machines by RAMS studies, * Identification of preventive and protection risk control measures.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;
Exam: Written test; Group essay;
... The final exam consists in: ' a written session based on questions and exercises, where each student has 1.5 hours to demonstrate its comprehension on concepts and methods presented during the theoretical lectures (max 26 points over 30); students can use their own books, slides or notes during the test. Any communication with other people, except the teacher, is forbidden ' the evaluation, by the Teacher, of the Project Work done by the students during practical lectures (max 5 points over 30); evaluation will take into account the participation of students to the practical lectures, the contents and results of the project work and finally the quality of the final report. The Project Work must be delivered at the end of the course to the teacher in pdf format (one file only). One delivery for each team is sufficient.

Lecture notes prepared by the teacher; material can be downloaded by the POLITO Didactic Portal. Other books suggested for personal deepening: ' F.P. Lees, Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Elsevier, 1996; ' AIChE /CCPS, Guidelines for Quantitative Risk Analysis, 2000; ' Vinnem, Quantified Risk Assessment for Offshore Petroleum Installations, NTNU Trondheim Norway, 1997; ' NUREG, PRA Procedures Guide, CR2300, 1983; ' Mc Cormick, Reliability and Risk Analysis, Academic Press, 1981; ' Kletz, HAZOP & HAZAN, Inst. Chem. Eng., 1986; ' TNO, Methods for the Calculation of Physical Effects (Yellow Boook), 1997; ' TNO, Methods for the determination of possible damage, (Green Boook), 1989.

On the basis of the learning of the proposed solutions and technologies the student will be able to describe the guidelines for excavation and mining operations fully compatible with the environment, to evaluate the impact load on soil, water and groundwater that is originated from a specific human activity and to fix the instruments that must be adopted for the remediation of soil, water and groundwater, by considering performances, applicability, project criteria, costs, results. The knowledges that must be acquired are directed to the definition of a multi-disciplinary approach to the establishment of the best solutions for environmental impact limitation.

The aim of the course is to provide the main knowledges concerning the possible interactions about pollutants, water and soil that determine the pollution of soil, water and groundwater during mining and excavation and processing activities. A particular attention will be devoted to cases concerning excavations and mining contaminations description and analysis. The environmental sustainability of mining and mineral processing operations will be examined in detail in order to face the challenge of anthropic activities fully compatible with the environment. The main remediation technologies for soil and groundwater will be presented concerning the engineering, the potential applicability conditions (kind of pollutants, different geological conditions, kind of pollution source, and so on), the hypothesized efficiency according to the established remediation target. A focus on the treatment optimization of excavation waters and on the analysis of solid contaminants for different kind of mining waste will be performed too. The subject is inherently linked to resources and environmental sustainability, planning of sustainable mining , raw material processing and recycling.

Environmental sustainability of oil mining activities: examples. Characteristics and properties of the different environmental sectors: air, water, soil. Particular emphasis will be given to soil characterization: components, chemical absorption constants (CEC, Kow ...), characteristics of vadose zone and saturated area. Chemistry of aqueous solutions, chemical equilibria, material exchanges: redox potential, solubility product, volatility of compounds in solutions (Henry's law and Rault's law) (1 CFU). The application of the sampling strategy to the polluted sites. The calculation of pollution index. Comparison of concentration with the contaminants TLVs (From Europe, America and other international Countries). (0,5 CFU) Case study of mining processes and contamination assessment. Soil contamination near a former Zn–Pb ore-treatment plant: a case study. Chromite mining pollution: a case study. The environmental impact of gold mines: pollution by heavy metals. (0,5 CFU) Methods to detect preliminarily contaminants on site (0,5 CFU). Laws procedures concerning the excavation of soil, polluted soils, characterization plan and risk analysis procedure. Basic principles of remediation techniques: removal of contaminants by physical, chemical, biological methods. Classification of treatments: in situ, ex situ (on site, off site). Gas-liquid exchange techniques: air sparging, soil venting, soil vapor extraction, dual phase extraction, bioslurping, pump and treat. Biological techniques: bioventing and biosparging, lagooning, biopile, composting, land farming. Chemical techniques: permeable reactive barriers (PRB), oxidation-chemical reduction, washing with solvents Chemical-physical-thermal treatments: desorption, incineration, vitrification, solidification-stabilization, soil washing. Fundamentals of water treatment (3 CFU) Learning by doing: evaluation of pollution index of project made in Raw Material Processing and Recycle on chromite , mixed sulphides, phosphates processing plant (0,5 CFU).

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Exam: Written test; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
... In order to verify the apprehension of the presented arguments and the capacity to arrive to practical applications, a traditional exam in written form is used. In general the text will foresee some closed questions with multiple choice (generally 4), two exercises and two open questions concerning theoretical basis for the technologies or pollutant, water, soil interactions and some possibilities of technology application, in order to verify the maturity level gathered from the student. The mark of the written exam may vary from 0 to 30 and in order to access to the facultative oral. It’s compulsory to gather at least 18. The oral is facultative and foresees one question concerning the arguments of the course and the mark may be increased of three points maximum. The final evaluation is based on the apprehension capacity that has been demonstrated, on the quality of presentation, on the acquired capacity to apply to specific practical cases the general indications that are introduced.

Teaching material: the slides will be made available to students enrolled on the teaching portal. Furthermore, technical reports and open access publications relating to the topics of the program will be made available to students. The bibliography will be suggested to the students for a higher comprehension or a more extended analysis of the arguments that are introduced during the lessons or the exercises.

The course is located at the end of the study paths of Chemical, Environment and Land and/or Energy Engineering students and has the ambition to provide some notions on the industrial processes of CO2 treatment in order to obtain products for consumers or to realize its storage. However, the main result that we intend to pursue is not exclusively related to the acquisition of these skills, but also to provide an alternative point of view on the possibility of re-activating the carbon dioxide molecule in the natural carbon cycle. The lessons present problems and examples of practical nature that follow the brief basic notions illustrated; in such problems, the engineering approach that recalls wide-ranging skills that the student is supposed to possess must be used to give precise answers on the practical feasibility of the analyzed process solutions. By attending the course, the student must acquire: - knowledge of the nature and chemistry of the natural carbon cycle on the planet; - the peculiar properties of the CO2 molecule and the consequent poor chemical reactivity; - the carbon dioxide capture processes; - the possibility of chemical reactivation through the use of renewable energy and H2 as an energy vector; - the possibility of CO2 entrapment in “end-of-life� compounds, such as carbonates.

The course covers an emerging field of modern process engineering, both environmental and chemical, based on the most competitive process alternatives for the conversion of carbon dioxide into products that are easy to consume or simple to store. The lectures aim to give an overview of the innovative processes currently used or in an advanced stage of technological development for the "sustainable" exploitation of natural resources and renewable energy that can activate the CO2 molecule.

The carbon cycle: the transfer of CO2 between the different sources and geological deposits on a planetary level is characterized by natural and anthropogenic dynamics. The relative kinetics of the various phenomena is the main reason for concern by the scientific community, in relation to the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere of our planet. The main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide. Plant sources (industrial and biogenic) and measurement methods. Relationship between polluting gases and greenhouse gases. CO2 sequestration: the CO2 capture processes are divided into absorption and adsorption, which differ in the capture phase (liquid or solid, respectively). The choice between the two systems is made based on the streams containing the CO2, in terms of flow rate, composition, operating conditions, presence of contaminants, plant costs, environmental compatibility. Seizure will be treated for stationary applications, but the potential of mobile systems will also be explored. CO2 conversion processes: In this module, the different chemical and biological options of CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) or reuse (CCU) for the production of compounds and fuels will be developed. • Synthesis of urea: the urea synthesis process is an example of a classic process that has CO2 as its reagent. • Dry reforming: dry reforming represents a process of great interest as a transition stage between the use of fossil fuels (methane) and the reactivation of CO2, with the aim of producing CO, a key molecule for synthesis of carbon-based products of interest. • Conversion of CO2 into inorganic carbonates (carbonation of minerals and industrial residues) and organic ones: CO2 can be converted into chemical compounds, both as a long-term storage strategy (in deposits, through the carbonation of minerals) and medium term (for the production of consumer products): among the latter, there are inorganic carbonates, such as calcium carbonate, which can be used as fillers for cementitious materials. Organic carbonates, on the other hand, are materials that can penetrate the plastics industry (polycarbonates), eliminating dangerous reagents such as phosgene. • Power-to-X chemical and biological processes: in these processes the activation of CO2 derives from reductive processes using hydrogen, obtained from renewable sources by electrolysis of water / steam and / or co-electrolysis of steam and CO2. The multiplicity of CO2 reduction products (collectively referred to as X) includes a broad spectrum of compounds: methane, methanol, di-methyl-ether, short-chain olefins (for the plastics sector) and medium ones (for chemistry), liquid hydrocarbons (covering the similar oil cuts of gasoline, kerosene up to diesel). The reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbon products can take place indirectly (conversion of CO2 to CO and subsequent hydrogenation of CO according to consolidated processes) or directly in the chemical or biological reactor (conversion of CO2 to final products). In this context, the reaction intermediates follow mechanisms similar to the Fischer-Tropsch process or the production of methanol, depending on the catalytic system. • Photo-catalytic processes: in these processes the activation of CO2 occurs by sunlight irradiation. The fundamentals of photocatalytic systems and the materials including sunlight radiation absorption and the systems for coupling with the catalytic system mechanisms will be described. The main challenges towards the application of this kind of technology will be addressed. • Electro-catalytic processes: in these processes, CO2 is converted into final valuable products like fuels or chemicals, without with the direct and in-situ production of H+ intermediates in the catalyst surface (without the intermediation of H2 in gaseous form) and allow the direct exploitation of renewable electricity resources. The fundamentals and engineering challenges of electrochemical systems to achieve this reduction process will be described. • Photo-synthetic processes: in these processes, CO2 is converted into microalgae by the action of light. Depending on the type of migroalgae grown, the final use of biomass is different: nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals are some examples. Process environmental sustainability: the process calculations relating to the different CO2 reactivation approaches will be functional to estimate its competitiveness compared to existing processes, as well as energy and environmental sustainability.

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Exam: Written test; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
... The exam has the aim to verify the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge delivered during the course. Theoretical questions and numerical exercises will be asked. Theoretical open- and closed-ended questions and exercises to be performed in the Exam platform, using personal laptos brought by the students the day of the exam, in physical presence. The exam lasts 1 h, with around 15 questions as detailed before. It is not allowed to bring any teaching material during the exam, the use of calculator is admitted. The maximum mark is 30 with laude.

Literature and slides provided by the course teachers

Occupational safety engineeringStudents are asked to: - understand the leading causes of accidents or damage to workers' health in industrial and mining/construction activities; - properly identify the hazards in the working environments; - learn the operational techniques to mitigate the risks of planning operations and activities correctly and safely; - understand the process steps and structure of a safety&health concept (including risk analysis, safety analysis and their implementation).Planning of Sustainable MiningThe student will acquire the theoretical notions underlying the mine planning, to be able to design mining activities taking into account the economic, social and environmental sustainability. The mine planning competences are essential also to optimize the subsequent treatment process and to reach valuable yield for the target minerals.

Occupational safety engineeringThe course deals with Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) aspects related to industrial and mining/construction activities. The goal is to examine the different workplaces and conditions and learn about the main actions to prevent the hazards. The main risks and hazards are discussed and analyzed, as well as the preparation of a safety & health concept and its meaning on the process of mitigating the risks. Analysis of notable examples and statistics from different workplaces will be carried out in order to ease the learning process.Planning of Sustainable MiningMine planning has the goal of minimizing the capital and operating costs of the ultimate project, while maximizing the operability and profitability of the venture: it sets the economic and technical direction of a project, by taking into account the correct strategy to be adopted for its economic, social, and environmental success. Geological analysis, computation of geological and minable reserves, determination of preproduction mining or development requirements, production and stripping schedules, labour and equipment requirements and costs, revenue forecasts, and cash flow management are all factors to consider in mine planning. A geological model, the ore distribution in the rock mass, and the geomechanical model of the ore deposit are the basis for the design of both open-pit and underground mines, for selecting the appropriate mine development and planning. The equipment selection, the exploitation sequence, and the stripping management, including the problems related to the waste, are fundamental aspects of mine planning. Moreover, following the approach of sustainability and circular economy, also the valorisation of the by-product should be planned and foreseen at the beginning of the work activities. The subject is inherently linked to resources and environmental sustainability, excavation engineering and mining plants, raw material processing and recycling, and environmental management of soil, water and groundwater in geoengineering.

Occupational safety engineering1. General aspects of Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) 2. The organization of activities; primary sources of risk for workers 3. International legislation on safety in the industrial and mining/construction sector 4. Analysis of occupational risks; causes of accidents and strategies for the containment of accidents in industrial and mining/construction activities 5. Safety and health concept (risk analysis, safety analysis and implementation) 6. Hazard awareness and identification; recognized and foreseeable hazard 7. Hierarchy of controls and its application 8. Emergency action and fire prevention plans 9. Risk assessment and job safety analysis 10. Flammable substances related risks and assessment of hazardous concentrations of flammable substances. The flammability of mixtures. Phenomenology of fire and explosions. ATEX. Dust explosion 11. Behaviour and fate of toxic substances 12. Risks in the industrial and mining/construction sector: dust, asbestos, radiation and electromagnetic pollution 13. Microclimate and basic ergonomics 14. OSHA’s “Fatal Four� (Falls, Caught-In or -Between, Struck-By and Electrocution) 15. Noise and vibration control in the industrial sector 16. Geotechnical risksPlanning of Sustainable Mining60 hours will be organized as follows: European and international mining legislation. Mining and sustainability: the ISO 55000 standard and the optimization of the asset management system in mining (3h). Development of the mine and plant concepts; calculation or estimation of the equipment and all important amounts (of excavation, building area and volume, etc.); provisional construction schedule (6h). Introduction to geostatistics and its contribution in a number of techniques which can be used in the design stage of underground and open pit mining (5h). Reserve estimation, mining planning optimization, production forecasting, resources optimization (9h). Cost estimating for underground mining/surface mining (3h). Mining Economics and Strategies (5h). Planning for closure: lease agreements, surface and underground facilities, water management, site rehabilitation, waste management, socio-economic aspects (3h). Discretized orebody model of the deposit; the value of each block by comparing market prices for ore with extraction and processing costs. Cut-off grade and production rate for a sustainable mining (20h). Corporate social responsibilities. The process to achieve the Social License to Operate and the Environmental Assessment for mining activities. Some significant case studies are presented and discussed with a view to the sustainable use of natural resources, referring both to open pit and underground mining (6h).

Occupational safety engineeringModalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo; Planning of Sustainable MiningModalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;
Occupational safety engineeringExam: Written test; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform; Planning of Sustainable MiningExam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
... Occupational safety engineeringThe exam is oral and requires answering questions regarding the course topics, including possible problem-solving related to actual cases. Students are expected to correctly understand the aspects of designing a safe working environment in different industrial and mining/construction sites and possibly understand and manage the risks associated with these works, in agreement with the expected learning outcomes. Planning of Sustainable MiningWritten and oral exam. The written exam will focus on open theoretical questions and / or short exercises, and will last approximately 120 minutes. To access the oral exam, it is necessary to reach a score of at least 18/30. The oral exam will be focused on further details related to the written part, and the general understanding acquired on the topics of the course will be investigated. The single final score will result from the combination of the partial scores obtained in the two modules into which the course is divided. The exam is considered passed if the final score is not lower than 18/30.

Occupational safety engineeringa) Slide presentations and other documents used for classes; b) Reese C.D. (2017). Occupational Safety and Health. Fundamental Principles and Philosophies. CRC Press c) Selected additional readings d) Official reports from International Labour Office and other governing bodies such as OSHAPlanning of Sustainable MiningTeaching material: the slides will be made available to students on the course portal. Furthermore, technical reports and open access publications relating to the topics of the course will be suggested. 1) Open Pit Mine Planning and Design-W. Hustrulid et al. 2) SME Mining Engineering Handbook-H.L. Hartman

Students will acquire: - Deep knowledge of the technologies and methodologies applied for the characterization of hydrocarbon-bearing formations through reservoir geology and geophysics, laboratory data, productivity tests as well as through the analysis of historical production data. - Profound understanding of the production drives and their implications on the reservoir productivity and hydrocarbon recovery. - Good knowledge of the improved and enhanced oil recovery methods. - Ability to identify the key elements of a technical problem in reservoir engineering. Ability to understand, describe and analyze the physical phenomena occurring in a reservoir during production through the governing equations and through the use of analytical models. - Ability to handle the methods and software adopted worldwide in the oil industry for static and dynamic reservoir numerical simulation based on a good understanding the principles and assumptions of which they rely. - Ability to define the most adequate production strategies based on technical, economic and environmental indicators, also with the aid of scientific software, graphs, and other convenient tools or representations. - Ability to capture the essential messages, the methodologies and their implications from technical papers and manuals.

The course aims at providing the fundamentals needed to investigate, characterize, model and develop a hydrocarbon reservoir. The course integrates the knowledge gained during the previous courses (especially Geophysical Prospecting, Reservoir Geology, Petroleum Geomechanics and Fluid Mechanics in Porous Media) with the analytical and numerical approaches typical of reservoir engineering so as to obtain a consistent understanding of the reservoir dynamic behavior and to define field development strategies. The course on Well logging and Well Testing is to be considered complementary to gain a complete knowledge on reservoir characterization. Furthermore, strict connections with the Well Drilling and Completion course, with the design of surface facilities (course on Petroleum Chemistry and Technology) and with economic considerations (course on Resources and Environmental Economics) are necessary when forecasting the future field performance and evaluating the effectiveness of the potential production strategies. For these reasons the reservoir engineering course is very central and has a key role in the petroleum engineering program, just like reservoir engineering would have in the industrial practice. Specific goals of the course are to provide the ability of quality assessing and interpreting ' when needed - all the input data necessary to understand the reservoir behavior and to build a reservoir dynamic model, to understand the cause-effect relationships when history matching the reservoir past performance, and to optimize the field development and production strategy. The skills gained in the Reservoir Engineering course will allow the students to cooperate at, or to be in charge of, integrated reservoir studies. Students will acquire the competences needed to efficiently communicate with experts from other disciplines who can provide scientific and technical insights or design constraints for an effective reservoir understanding and exploitation. Attitude to team working, accurate and meticulous approach to data analysis and management, and an open mindset are essential traits of this course.

• Material balance for oil and gas reservoirs - Productivity tests > well damage > oil well productivity > gas well deliverability - Water and gas injection > immiscible displacement > operational issues - Reservoir numerical modelling > static modelling > dynamic modelling > set-up and calibration of a reservoir model, and simulation of the reservoir dynamic behavior under different development scenarios - Impact of geomechanics on reservoir behavior - Decline curve analysis

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
... The assessment of acquired knowledge and technical skills occurs through written exams on the theoretical parts and on applicative aspects. The capability to integrate knowledge gained in other courses and contexts, to critically examine a technical problem and to select models and methods to reach the solution is expected. The exam will comprise true/false options, multiple choice questions, open questions, and problem solving. The exam is closed books. Each answer will be assigned marks depending on the complexity of the question. Oral integration is up to the students, provided that the minimum marks for passing the exam (18/30) have been reached. The oral integration can modify the score of the written exam by plus or minus 2 point maximum.

Reference books: Tarek H. Ahmed, 2006. Reservoir engineering handbook, Elsevier/Gulf Professional L. P. Dake, 1983. Fundamentals of reservoir engineering, Elsevier Petroleum Engineering Handbook, Volume V, 2007, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Technical Papers will be provided (unlimited free download from the SPE One-Petro library is also available) The slides presented during lectures will be periodically posted on the course website

The main goal of the program is to provide to the students the skill to identify the best procedures and tool for the correct design of a tunnel, to set up a correct risk analysis, to make the choices for the job site management and to be able to develop the design of the first phase lining The knowledge of the technological aspects of most used full face tunnel machines and their working procedures are another skill that will be provided with the course. The student should become able to: - analyse multidisciplinary problems that requires the skills and abilities developed in the disciplines of applied geology, rock mechanics, structural design and to become to apply these abilities to the specific sector of tunnel construction; - to follow and understand a technical speech in English and know the international terminology of the tunnel sector; - to develop and write a technical report; - to take design decision by motivating them; - to evaluate quickly the order of magnitude of the variables and parameters that the engineer should have do deal with when designing a tunnelling or managing a tunnel job site. These skills and abilities will be provided with the class lessons but also with the technical visits and with the analysis of some relevant case histories.

The lectures will provide the fundamental information on the design and technical aspects related to tunnel construction taking into account: the excavation process conventional an mechanized, the stability of voids, the installation, choice and design of linings (both firth phase and final) and the job site managements. The lessons will deal in detail with the design of tunnel with the final goal to construct the works in safety conditions both of the job site, the tunnel surrounding and the surface. Based on the principles of rock mechanics and rock engineering the stability aspects of the underground are analysed and the calculation procedures are presented. The specific ground reinforcing techniques and the structural design procedures of tunnel lining are presented. The excavation methods both for conventional and mechanized tunnelling are analysed and discussed. Due to the natural heterogeneity both lithological and structural of the rock masses and their variable behaviour with reference under different overburden, the tools and methods for monitoring are presented and discussed to clarify their use in the design flow procedure and to explain how to use them for a correct check of the design hypothesis. The program is developed both with class lectures and exercises, discussion of case histories, and with technical visits to tunnel job sites if available during the lesson period.

CONTENTS Module 1 – Design aspects (2 credits) Design of tunnels analysis of the key points. Tunnel layouts. Management of the "geo" data. Surveying for deep tunnels: data collection and management. Geological problems and investigations. Risk analysis. Convergence-confinement method. Basic concepts and its use for the design of linings. Subsidence in urban area: forecast and management by design. Stabilization of the tunnel face with shields and calculation of the counter-pressure. Properties and design of the first phase supports: steel ribs, shotcrete, rock bolts. Use and application of the most common analytical and numerical design tools. The bedded-beam method for the evaluation of the actions inside the structural elements used for tunnel lining. Problems related with the construction of the final lining. Formworks. Technical properties of segmental lining. Water control Design procedure for segmental lining (basic concepts). Module 2 – Ground reinforcing (1 credit) The ground reinforcing used in tunnelling: construction aspects and actions. Permeation grouting, rock bolts, VTR face reinforcement, steel pipe umbrella. Design ground reinforcing techniques. Module 3 – Excavation techniques (2 credits) Drill and blast design. Types of blast rounds and to job site organization. Roadheader, High energy impact hammers. Rock full face machines (TBM – Tunnel Boring Machines). Shield tunnelling (SS, Mixed Shield, EPBS). Soil conditioning for EPB tunnelling

Modalita di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam;
... Assessement criteria Knowlege of the technologies that are used for tunnel construction (excavation &supports) Knowledge of the mechanized excavation techniques and ability to describe the components of a full face machine and of the conventional excavation method Knowledge of the design methodologies and approaches to be used for the tunnel design Ability to construct a logical path of the choices to be developed to face a specific problem that can be encountered during undergound construction Quality of the developed project assignements Grading Criteria The exam is oral with not less three questions that will be developed with a discussion and/or a simple calculation. The question will ask the description of a technology, of a computational method or the solution of a specific problem. The exam has the goal to assess the knowledge of the topic listed in the program and the ability of the student to apply the theory and the computation methods developed during the course A discussion on the design assigments and of the applied solutions is part of the oral discussion of the exam. The design assignements have to be submitted in the printed version one week before the exam and its quality will be evaluated. The discussion of the assignement project document is a fundamental the part of the exam. The max score of the whole exame is 30/30 while the exam is considered passed if the score is 18/30.

Compulsory documentation: The lessons ppt will be made available on Politecnico di Torino web site. Additional information can be obtained from the following books Chapman D., Metje N., Stark A. (2010) Introduction to tunnel construction, Spoon Press Guglielmetti V., Grasso P.G., Mahtab A., Xu S. (2007) Mechanized Tunnelling in Urban Areas, Taylor and Francis Maidl et al. (2008) Hardrock Tunnel Boring Machines, Ernst & Sohn

Knowledge of the specificities of different underground storage types. Good understanding of the phenomena and mechanisms taking place when injecting natural gas, CO2, or hydrogen underground. Awareness of the requisites of storage sites to contain fluids. Skills to efficiently design, operate and monitor underground storage systems. A critical approach to review real data for site assessment and monitoring. Understanding of the technical and safety challenges affecting the process plants used for underground fluid injection and withdrawal. Communication skills, ability to use and understand the technical language and terminology adopted worldwide in the industries. Ability in increasing knowledge by selecting the appropriate technical and scientific literature.

The course deals with the storage of fluids in deep geological formations. First, the concept of storing natural gas underground to balance the divergence between a constant gas supply and the seasonal and daily variability of gas consumption is introduced. Typical underground storage facilities include depleted oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers, and salt caverns. Methods for characterization, development and monitoring of underground storage facilities are presented and studied. Then, geologic sequestration of CO2 for reducing greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and mitigating climate change is investigated. Specific aspects of CO2 and CO2 storage – fluid properties and dynamics, trapping mechanisms, and site integrity - are examined. Also, the conversion of platforms originally designed for hydrocarbon production to store CO2 offshore is introduced and discussed. Projects around the world where geologic storage of CO2 is being successfully performed are presented. Eventually, the challenges posed by the emerging option of underground hydrogen storage are addressed.

• Characterization of depleted reservoirs, deep saline aquifers and salt caverns from the geological and fluid-flow perspectives. Necessary laboratory and field data. - Storage capacity - Working gas and cushion gas for underground natural gas storage - Well deliverability and injectivity - CO2 trapping mechanisms - Operating pressure conditions - Differences between depleted reservoirs and deep saline aquifers - Numerical simulation of the fluid-flow, geochemical, and geomechanical behavior of storage systems - Process plants for underground fluid injection and withdrawal; operational and safety issues - Main safety issues of storage systems and monitoring techniques

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula);
Exam: Written test;
... The ability to critically examine a technical problem, also by integrating knowledge gained in other courses and contexts if needed, to select the appropriate models and methods and to correctly calculate the solution is expected. The exam is related to theoretical and applicative aspects and comprises true/false options, multiple choice questions, open questions, and mostly problem-solving. The exam is closed notes and closed books. Each answer will be assigned marks depending on the complexity of the question. The score is attributed by taking into account the correctness and completeness of the answers to the questions, the ability to elaborate the topics presented and discussed in class for problem-solving; the ability to support the discussion with a correct nomenclature and clear form and with graphs (when relevant/required).

Reports from international agencies and organizations. Scientific papers.

The course aims to give basic knowledge and practical techniques for the planning, design and construction of the main underground civil and mining works. Students will learn how to dimension underground works and their supports, in order to ensure their stability. Students will be able to evaluate the techniques necessary for their realization and to define the most important strategies for extracting the minerals from an open quarry and an underground mine.

The course deals with the issues related to the design and construction of underground works in soils and rocks, in the civil and mining sectors (such as underground parking lots, urban and road tunnels, underground stations, hydroelectric caverns, quarries and underground mines, service shafts and access tunnels to underground works, access ramps to mineral voids, mining exploitation panels). Furthermore, the fundamental concepts of Mining (the exploitation techniques for above ground and underground mines, the typical scheme of an open quarry and an underground mine are also given.

1. Introduction to underground works Outline of demographic development in the urban environment. Types and use of underground works. Characteristics and problems of an underground work. Advantages and disadvantages of an underground work. The economic evaluation of environmental benefits. 2. Stability of the underground voids The shallow excavations to house the underground work. The stability of the side walls of the excavation in the absence of supporting structures. The use of supporting structures for the realization of shallow excavations in soils. Diaphragm functioning mechanism. The contrast structures of the diaphragms. Definition of the geomechanical parameters of the rock mass starting from the geomechanical classifications. Stress state around an underground rock cavity. Simplified methods for analyzing stresses around an underground cavity in rock. Use of diagrams and tables to identify the stress state on the contour of the cavity. Detailed analysis of the stress state around an underground cavity. The convergence-confinement method. Analysis of the loads induced on the supporting structures using the convergence-confinement method. Effects of the presence of supports and reinforcements on the stress distribution. Plastic zones development around the cavities. Effect of the original stress state on the static behavior of an underground cavity. 3. Construction methods The large shallow cavities (underground car parks and underground stations). The Cut and Cover Method. Construction methods of caverns and large underground cavities. Caverns in rock: top heading attack and lowering of the foot. Shaft construction methods. 4. Methods for the analysis of the stability of an underground work Finite element methods for simulating diaphragm behavior. The dimensioning of the diaphragms (thickness and steel rod reinforcement). Determination of induced displacements on the surface. Effects on adjacent buildings. Numerical methods for the analysis of the stability of an underground work: continuous and discontinuous methods. Advantages and disadvantages. The finite element (FEM) and finite difference (FDM) method. Mathematical principles of numerical methods. Procedure for the construction of a numerical model: the boundary conditions, the mesh definition, the insertion of the rock mass parameters, the initialization of the lithostatic stress, the simulation of the excavation steps. 5. Reinforcement and support structures Micropiles and jet-grouting comb: Technological aspects and dimensioning calculations. The concept of the equivalent bulkhead. The effect of tie rods on the diaphragm behavior. The support structures of underground cavities. Dimensioning of concrete and steel support structures. Dimensioning of passive bolts and tie rods. Stress verifications inside the bolt and on the lateral surface. Dimensioning of anchor bulb and tie rod strands. 6. Mining General principles of mining. Typical schemes of open quarries and underground mines. The exploitation methods adopted in the mines. Stability analysis of mining voids. Exploration and mining works. Preliminary investigations, the estimate of the amount of mineral in a deposit. The typical schemes of a quarry and a mine. Issues related to mining: useful mineral loss, dilution, yield. The subsidence of the surface as a result of mining.

Modalita di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group essay;
... The exam is in written form (duration 2 hours). The following oral exam concerns the presentation and discussion of the reports developed in groups by the students during the course and the presentation of an in-depth report on a specific theme of the program, also carried out in groups. The vote will be defined considering the result of the written exam (weight 65 %), the evaluation of the reports on the exercises and the presentation and discussion (weight 25%) and the evaluation of the in-depth report and its presentation (weight 10%).

a) Slide presentations and other documentary material used during the lessons; b) In-depth texts reported gradually for each topic, available in the library of the DIATI Department or freely on internet.

Project design and field operational capabilities. Skills concerning field activity. Discussion of result optimization and project management skills.

The Course aims to provide technical formation concerning how to design and to perform the drilling and completion activities of oil and gas wells. Multidisciplinary background know how is required. Not only ppt files are supplied (only providing information), but fundamentally written (on the blackboard) theory and applications are supplied, providing FORMATION.

Gradient analysis Well hydraulics - the CHART Casing and liner design Drilling and well logging Structural analysis and evaluation Cementing Completion Artificial lift and system optimization

Modalita di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
... Written test: 4 exercises and 6 open questions Oral test: Questions decided at the moment by the Examination Committee

Oil and Gas Journal Journal of Petroleum Technology Seminars offprints by the Professor Publications by the Professor. Written notes. Experience and skills of the Professor written on the blackboard.