• Cotutela con mondo esterno

If coal was the dominant fuel of the 19^th century and oil of the 20^th, gas is unquestionably the dominant fuel of the 21^st century, because of its abundance, environmental cleanliness, ease of use and compatibility with the needs of the transition towards renewables. Its applications have been given a big boost by discoveries of many new reserves, but even more by very innovative technology breakthroughs, which have made possible the economic exploitation of gas from new unconventional gas reserves, such as shale and deepwater. Additional technology innovations have improved the feasibility and extended the range of the entire gas supply and delivery chain, from economic transportation across ever longer distances to innovative applications as a clean fuel.

The course aims at providing students with knowledge of all the relevant topics of the natural gas chain, from production to possible final end uses.

The course is taught in innovative teaching mode (“co-tutela con mondo esterno”) in collaboration with experts from Saipem, one of the main engineering companies of the oil&gas field.

The course will allow students to:

• know all the technologies and issues related to the natural gas chain (conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding);
• be able to apply the learned fundamentals in order to solve problems and to select the best technology for production, purification and transportation of natural gas (capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione – applying knowledge and understanding);
• know how to use the simulation software ASPEN HYSYS^® to solve flowsheets (conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding);
• be able to apply the acquired knowledge to case studies different from the one presented during the course, also by means of new sources (books, technical reports) (capacità di apprendimento – learning skills).

The course is based on lectures, development and discussion of real-life case studies, taught in innovative teaching mode in collaboration with experts from Saipem (“co-tutela con mondo esterno”).

All key technical aspects in the gas production and transportation value chain will be covered:

• Key players: gas companies, oilfield service providers, EPC general contractors, gas transportation players;
• Gas supply and demand: growth prospects; role of gas in overall global energy picture; conventional and unconventional reserves; natural gas liquids and associated gas;
• Gas production technologies: from traditional gas fields onshore to offshore; emphasis on fracking to produce shale gas; gas from offshore fields; deepwater exploitation and associate subsea production technologies; challenges of Arctic fields current permitting scenarios; new frontiers in digitalization;
• Gas purification processes: acid gas removal technologies (amine washing, physical absorption, PSA, membranes); conventional CO₂ removal processes vs. cryogenic ones; dehydration;
• Midstream gas: key design criteria and challenges in gas transportation via long-distance pipelines, onshore and offshore; latest technology breakthroughs in materials, instrumentation and automated control; pipelaying methodologies; pipelaying assets development, for onshore and offshore; inspection and maintenance;
• Midstream gas: key design criteria and technical challenges in gas transportation over long distances via LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas): liquefaction processes and technologies; specialized LNG vessels; regasification terminals, onshore and offshore;
• Gas distribution networks: gas grids;
• Gas applications in today’s industry: power production; pivotal role in balancing electric grids with power generation also from renewable sources; domestic and industrial gas usage; gas-to-liquids, gas to petrochemicals applications;
• Direct use of LNG or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as clean fuels in automotive and marine transportation;
• Biogas as a peculiar natural gas: biogas characteristics; biogas cleaning and upgrading; biomethane distribution through the existing gas grids, LBG production.

A visit to Saipem and to its “Fabbrica dell’Innovazione” is scheduled.

Exercises will focus on case studies in accordance with Saipem. The simulation software (ASPEN HYSYS^®) will be used to solve flowsheets, by simulation of the process and related analyses.

Students are required to know how to solve material and energy balances, phase equilibria and the basic principles of unit operations (columns, heat exchangers, …).

The final evaluation of learning will be obtained through an oral test, with questions about all the topics covered during the course; a short technical report on all the exercises and problems presented during the course will be prepared by the student and discussed during the oral exam.

After having passed the examination, the student must be able to talk about and critically discuss all the topics presented during the course, showing the capabilities described in “Risultati di apprendimento attesi”.