1. Course Introduction Text

Course Title: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): From Science to Real-World Application

Subtitle: A Masterclass in CO₂ Storage, Environmental Risk Management, and Emerging CCS Technologies

Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Graduate students, professionals, researchers)

Duration: 7–9 modules (self-paced)

Course Description

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the most critical technologies for achieving global decarbonization targets, with the potential to reduce emissions by 25–67% in heavy industries. Yet the path from concept to deployment is complex—spanning subsurface geology, reservoir engineering, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and risk management.

This masterclass bridges the gap between theory and practice. Drawing on real-world case studies—including hands-on field data from the Barnett Zero CCS project in North Texas—you will learn how CO₂ is captured, transported, injected, and permanently stored underground. You will explore how machine learning and advanced simulation tools are used to quantify uncertainty, optimize storage site selection, and monitor environmental impact.

Unlike most CCS courses that remain at a conceptual level, this course puts real operational data in your hands. You will examine CO₂ injection scale-up data (from 29,150 MCF to 327,261 MCF), groundwater monitoring results showing calcium and sodium concentration changes, and uncertainty quantification workflows that reduce computational effort by over 90%. This is a course built on published research, field experience, and regulatory practice.

What You Will Learn

• The full CCS value chain: capture technologies, transport logistics, injection operations, and long-term storage mechanisms (structural, residual, solubility, mineral trapping)
• Geological modeling and reservoir simulation for CO₂ storage site evaluation
• Machine learning approaches for uncertainty quantification: Bayesian neural networks, unsupervised clustering, and scenario reduction
• Environmental monitoring protocols: groundwater quality assessment, EPA-standard field sampling, and QA/QC procedures
• Risk management frameworks covering both technical risks (leakage, induced seismicity) and non-technical risks (regulatory, financial, public acceptance)
• S. regulatory requirements for CCS: EPA Class VI wells, Texas Railroad Commission oversight, and state-federal coordination
• Techno-economic analysis of CCS projects: costs, incentives (45Q tax credits), and business models
• Real-world case studies with operational data from the Barnett Zero CCS project

Who This Course Is For

• Petroleum, environmental, and geological engineers seeking CCS expertise
• Graduate students and researchers in energy transition and subsurface sciences
• Environmental consultants and regulatory professionals
• Energy industry professionals transitioning into carbon management roles
• Policy makers and stakeholders involved in climate and energy regulation

2. Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to CCS: Why It Matters and How It Works

Module 2: CO₂ Capture Technologies: Pre-combustion, Post-combustion, and Oxy-fuel

Module 3: CO₂ Transport and Injection Operations

Module 4: Geological Storage: Site Selection, Characterization, and Trapping Mechanisms

Module 5: Reservoir Simulation and Uncertainty Quantification for CCS

Module 6: Environmental Monitoring and Groundwater Quality Assessment

Module 7: Risk Assessment: Technical and Non-Technical Risks in CCS

Module 8: Regulatory Frameworks, Economics, and Policy Incentives

Module 9: Case Studies: Barnett Zero and Global CCS Projects