Fundamentals of CCUS Course | Carbon Capture & Storage Guide | IIT(ISM)

Course Details

Fundamentals of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS): A Complete Guide

In the global fight against climate change, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has emerged as a critical suite of technologies. It offers a pragmatic pathway to decarbonize industrial sectors and achieve net-zero emissions targets. For engineering students and professionals, understanding CCUS is no longer a niche specialization but a fundamental component of modern energy and environmental education.

This detailed guide explores a comprehensive 12-week course on the Fundamentals of CCUS, designed and taught by a distinguished expert from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. We'll break down the curriculum, instructor expertise, and the vital skills you'll gain.

Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Archana

The course is led by Prof. Archana, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad with over 19 years of combined experience in academia, research, and the software industry.

Her unique profile bridges cutting-edge technology with core engineering principles:

• Academic Credentials: PhD in Petroleum Engineering (IIT(ISM), Dhanbad), MTech (IIT Guwahati), B.Sc Engineering in Chemical Engineering (BIT Sindri).
• Industry Experience: Nearly 5 years at Wipro Technologies, working as a Software Developer, Business Analyst, and Solution Delivery Analyst, bringing a strong data analytics and project implementation perspective.
• Modern Pedagogy: Has previously taught "Introduction to Python and Petroleum Data Analytics," and holds certified training in AI/ML applications for the Oil and Gas sector, ensuring the CCUS course incorporates contemporary analytical tools.

Who is This CCUS Course For?

This course is meticulously designed for a broad audience, making complex topics accessible and relevant.

• Intended Audience: BTech, MTech, and PhD students.
• Core Disciplines: Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Fuel Engineering, Energy & Environmental Engineering.
• Prerequisites: A Bachelor’s degree in any Engineering discipline is preferable.
• Industry Relevance: The curriculum is supported by major industry players like ONGC, OIL, Essar, IOCL, Cairn, and GAIL, highlighting its direct applicability to the energy sector.

Detailed 12-Week Course Layout

The course progresses from global context to technical specifics, providing a holistic understanding of the CCUS value chain.

Weeks 1-3: The Global Context & CCUS Necessity

The foundation is laid with an understanding of why CCUS is essential.

• Week 1: Overview of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, the global carbon cycle, and Life Cycle Analysis focused on CCUS.
• Week 2: Deep dive into the evidence of climate change, establishing the necessity of CCS. Introduction to carbon trading, carbon credits, and carbon footprint concepts.
• Week 3: Introduction to different carbon sequestration pathways: Biological (forests, soil, ocean), Geological, Technological, and Industrial.

Weeks 4-6: Capturing Carbon – The Technologies

This module focuses on the first and most crucial step: capturing CO2 from emission sources.

• Week 4: Concepts of Carbon Intensity, Carbon Neutral vs. Net Zero. Overview of carbon capture technologies: Post-combustion, Pre-combustion, and Oxy-fuel combustion.
• Weeks 5 & 6: Detailed study of capture methods: Adsorption, Absorption, Membrane separation, and Cryogenic processes.

Weeks 7-10: Storing and Utilizing CO2

The course then explores what happens after capture—storage and creating value from CO2.

• Weeks 7 & 8: Geological Sequestration: In-depth study of trapping mechanisms in subsurface formations like depleted oil/gas reservoirs and saline aquifers.
• Weeks 9 & 10: CO2 Utilization: Practical applications, primarily in Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) and Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery (ECBM), where CO2 is used to produce more energy resources.

Weeks 11-12: Transport, Advanced Topics & Project Economics

The final module addresses practical challenges and future outlook.

• Week 11: CO2 transport (pipeline, ship), related issues like hydrate formation, and advanced storage options like sequestration as hydrates.
• Week 12: Latest advances in carbon utilization technologies, and crucially, the modeling of cost and performance of CCUS plants—a key skill for project feasibility analysis.

Essential Reading Materials

The course is supported by authoritative textbooks and references:

Why Enroll in This CCUS Course?

This course is more than an academic module; it's career preparation for the energy transition.

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Covers the entire CCUS chain from A to Z.
• Industry-Aligned Skills: Focus on EOR, project modeling, and sequestration prepares you for roles in energy companies and consultancies.
• Expert Instruction: Learn from a professor with a rare blend of deep academic knowledge and real-world software/analytics experience.
• Future-Proof Knowledge: As nations and corporations commit to net-zero, expertise in CCUS will be in high demand across petroleum, chemical, and environmental sectors.

Mastering the fundamentals of CCUS is a strategic step towards becoming a problem-solver in one of the most pressing challenges of our time. This course provides the robust technical foundation needed to contribute meaningfully to sustainable energy solutions.

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