Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit Title	COMPUTATIONAL GEO-MECHANICS AND APPLICATIONS
Course Unit Code	MPE501
Course Unit Details	MSc Oil & Gas and Offshore Engineering (Required Courses) -
Number of ECTS credits allocated	7
Learning Outcomes of the course unit	By the end of the course, the students should be able to: Evaluate and select appropriate constitutive models and analysis methods according to ground conditions and analysis goals. Understand basic concepts and models for discrete modelling. Understand numerical procedures and critically appraise outputs. Appreciate the importance of validation in computational geomechanics. Perform computer simulations of flow problems using finite element and finite difference methods.
Mode of Delivery	Face-to-face
Prerequisites	NONE	Co-requisites	NONE
Recommended optional program components	NONE
Course Contents	Introduction: revision and introduction to geomechanics, rock testing, friction and deformation in low and high porosity rocks, pore pressure, reservoir behaviour, effective stress concept. How these materials differ from other engineering materials and are not suited to simple constitutive modelling. Methods of analysis: mathematical models, governing differential equations, boundary conditions, continuum assumptions, discrete modelling, geometric considerations. Flow through porous media: basic Darcy’s law, variable and anisotropic permeability, Biot formulation for flow in a deforming porous material. Numerical analysis of flow through porous media: development of the finite element and finite difference equations. Consolidation simulation: time-integration algorithms, Terzaghi’s consolidation theory, application to problems. Elasto-plastic models: linear elastic, LEPP, hyperbolic, non-linear stiffness, anisotropic. Selection of appropriate models. Structure interaction, interface elements. Numerical solution of geomechanics problems: practical procedure, examples: 1D consolidation, axisymmetric flow, 3D flow, axisymmetric borehole and pile analysis, 3D analysis of laterally loaded piles and anchors.
Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks	“Computational Geomechanics (Theory and Applications of Transport in Porous Media)”, Verruijt, A. Springer.
References	“Computational Modelling of Multiphase Geomaterials”, Oka & Kimoto, CRC Press.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods	The course will be presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures will present to the student the course content and allow for questions. Part of the material will be presented using visual aids. Lecture notes, project assignments, practice questions, feedback and additional material such as site videos and photographs will be available to students at any time on the e-learning Moodle platform. The learning process will be enhanced with the requirement from the student to solve exercises. These include self-evaluation exercises which will be solved in class. These exercises will not be graded. Numerical analysis projects will be given as part of their assessment following software demonstrations in class. The instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any additional tutoring.
Assessment methods and criteria	Assignments 20% Tests 20% Final Exam 60%
Language of instruction	English
Work placement(s)	NO