Energy Geophysics Certificate Program

Online Certificate Program for anyone wishing to expand their understanding of energy geophysics.

Take One Course or the Entire Certificate

Welcome

Gain or expand your geophysical skillset with this 12-credit online certificate. Choose four of the three-credit, eight-week online courses offered to complete the certificate. Each course runs concurrently with an on-campus, in-person course, allowing you to collaborate on discussions, projects, and group activities. Course credits can be applied towards a graduate degree. You may also take individual courses without applying for the complete certificate.

Certification in this program takes advantage of Mines’s world-renowned faculty and expertise in resource and energy evaluation. With guidance from industry-leading experts, you will expand your knowledge base to better address current exploration and production challenges within the energy industry. By participating in this program, you can expect to develop a solid foundation and proficiency in geophysical methods utilizing the most up-to-date workflow practices in the industry.

Map an individual pathway allowing for deeper exploration of:

  • Well logging and other formation evaluation methods
  • Rock physics and petrophysics
  • Seismic data interpretation and quantitative analysis
  • Seismic wave propagation and processing
  • Use of anisotropic seismic data in characterizing unconventional reservoirs
  • Distributed fiber-optic sensing and its applications
  • Carbon capture, utilization and storage

Contact geophysics@mines.edu to learn more.

 

Course Descriptions

GPGN519 - Advanced Formation Evaluation

A detailed review of well logging and other formation evaluation methods will be presented, with the emphasis on the imaging and characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Advanced logging tools such as array induction, dipole sonic, and imaging tools will be discussed. The second half of the course will offer in parallel sessions: for geologists and petroleum engineers on subjects such as pulsed neutron logging, nuclear magnetic resonance, production logging, and formation testing; for geophysicists on vertical seismic profiling, cross well acoustics and electro-magnetic surveys. (3 semester hours)

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CCUS521 - Geological Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration

This course will cover sub-surface aspects of sustainable CCUS projects. Specifically, the topics covered will be geology of the subsurface appropriate for CCUS, how to create sustainable projects, the physics of CO2 transport, injection and storage it’s their modeling studies, practical aspects of CO2 flooding, monitoring and verification methods including seismic, gravity and electromagnetic methods, and assessing CO2 capacity and migration. Each week of the course is taught by experts in the area from geology to engineering to geophysics and covers essential topics such as Class VI CCUS wells and EPA permitting, sustainable project development, to detailed physics such as CO2 phase and flow in the subsurface. (3 Semester Hours)

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GPGN545 - Introduction to Distributed Fiber-optic Sensing and its Applications

This course will first introduce the fundamentals of Distributed Fiber-optic Sensing (DFOS) technologies, including the measuring principles, calibration process, advantages, and limitations. Then we will explore the recent development of DFOS applications in geophysics, petroleum engineer, smart city, hydrology, and other fields. Three major technologies of DFOS will be introduced: distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed temperature sensing (DTS), and distributed strain sensing (DSS). (3 Semester Hours)

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GPGN547 - Physics, Mechanics and Petrophysics of Rocks

This course will discuss topics in rock physics, rock mechanics and petrophysics as outlined below. The class is a combination of lectures, practical sessions, and critical reading and discussion of papers. Topics addressed: Segment in Rock physics: stress, strain, stiffness, modulus, attenuation and dispersion, Segment in Petrophysics: seismic & log expression of various formations, wettability, shale analysis, diagenesis, formation evaluation. (3 Semester Hours)

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GPGN558 - Seismic Data Interpretation and Quantitative Analysis

This course gives participants an understanding of how to model, understand, interpret and analyze seismic data in a quantitative manner on several worldwide projects. When you look at seismic data, how does it relate to the rock properties, what do the amplitudes mean, what is tuning, what is a wavelet, how does the seismic relate to structure, and what are seismic attributes and inversion products? How do you use this information in exploration, production and basic volumetric and economics calculations? The course will go over these topics. Students will work in teams on several modeling and seismic field data exercises around the world in most widely used software platforms (Ikon-RokDoc, Schlumberger-Petrel, GEOX, CGG-HampsonRussell). The course aims to give participants knowledge and information to assist in professional and career development and to be operationally prepared for the work environment. (3 Semester Hours)

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GPGN651 - Advanced Seismology

In-depth discussion of wave propagation and seismic processing for anisotropic, heterogeneous media. Topics include influence of anisotropy on plane-wave velocities and polarizations, traveltime analysis for transversely isotropic models, anisotropic velocity-analysis and imaging methods, point-source radiation and Green’s function in anisotropic media, inversion and processing of multicomponent seismic data, shear-wave splitting, and basics of seismic fracture characterization. (3 Semester Hours)

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Why Choose Energy Geophysics at Mines?

  • Colorado School of Mines is recognized for  world-renowned expertise in resource and energy evaluation.
  • Become a part of Mines long history of involvement in resource and energy industry studies and gain access to its unique facilities.
  • Courses taught by industry-leading experts in seismic interpretation, quantitative analysis, anisotropic seismic data characterization, rock physics and petrophysics, and formation evaluation methods.
  • Courses will include a hybrid of both on-site and remote students, providing collaborative opportunities.
  • Earn a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (available fully online from anywhere in the world).
  • This program is an excellent “Bridge-to-Master’s” and allows working geoscience professionals to gain long-term educational credits.

MEET THE FACULTY

Dr. Brandon Dugan

Brandon Dugan

Professor and Baker Hughes Chair in Petrophysics & Borehole Geophysics

Associate Department Head

dugan@mines.edu
303-273-3512

Dr. Manika Prasad

Manika Prasad

Professor; Director, Mines CCUS Innovation Center; Co-director, Center for Rock and Fluid Multiphysics

mprasad@mines.edu
303-273-3457

Dr. Ali Tura

Ali Tura

Professor; Co-director, Reservoir Characterization Project (RCP)

alitura@mines.edu
303-273-3454

Dr. Ilya Tsvankin

Ilya Tsvankin

University Distinguished Professor

ilya@mines.edu
303-273-3060

Dr. Ge Jin

Assistant Professor; Co-director, Reservoir Characterization Project (RCP)

gjin@mines.edu
303-273-3455