What is Geosystems Engineering?

Geosystems engineering is concerned with the use and development of practical engineering approaches for the management of oil, gas and water resources. It is also concerned with the environmental restoration of contamination sites and sub-surfaces. This field combines the sciences of engineering, geology and geophysics to address and solve real-world problems.

The Science of Geosystem Engineering

Geosystems engineering science is concerned with the managing of resources from the earth’s subsurface. These scientific principles and practices are used to solve resource development and subsurface environmental problems. This includes knowledge of both engineering and geological sciences related to fluid flow, hydrology, field methodology and the transfering of heat and mass. This unique science deals with problems related to energy use, environmental destruction, water resource management and even government natural resource policies and practices. Most geosystems engineers have advanced training in specializations related to applied geology, petroleum engineering and subsurface environmental engineering. Geoscience may cover resource economics, reservoir engineering, thermodynamic behaviors and the basics of well logging.

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Degree Programs

The objective of geosystems engineering degree programs is to prepare students to work with oil production, gas services, subsurface environmental engineering and possibly carbon dioxide sequestration. Graduates will understand the fundamental principles of hydrogeology and geosystems engineering. These programs teach students college-level mathematics, such as physics and differential equations, as well as basic sciences related to chemistry and geology. Basic geo-engineering topics cover thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, transport phenomena, phase behaviors and material properties and strengths. Engineering and geoscience topics may cover the various assessments of subsurface formations and their correlating resource management. Students will learn about geoscientific engineering methods that inject, handle and produce subsurface fluids.

Geosystem Job Description

Geosystems engineers may be called geostructural or geotechnical engineers who work on a variety of projects throughout assigned regions. Their work may primarily pertain to commercial and industrial buildings, excavation support systems, instrumentation monitoring and engineering system inspection. They may perform field work, observe construction activities and coordinate with clients on-site. They may also perform detailed inspections and conduct analysis on existing or proposed structures and facilities. Geosystems engineers may prepare structural, construction or geotechnical designs and documents for geoengineering projects. They often are members of interdisciplinary teams of engineers and experts. Many geosystems engineers have an employment background in civil or structural engineering. They must understand how to design and analyze excavation support systems, deep foundations, geoengineering projects and structural facilities.

Hydrogeology Engineer Job Description

Hydrogeology engineers or environmental engineers who specialize in subsurface geology may provide technical expertise for groundwater flow, watershed transport and surface water modeling projects. They may provide leadership in the development and implementation of plans and strategies for proper hydrogeology and geoengineering management practices. They will develop strong client relationships, provide key contributions to business development activities and contribute to geotechnical and geostructural engineering projects. They generally have a master’s degree in hydrogeology, environmental engineering or water resources engineering. They should have experience with conceptual design, project management, transport model development and equipment calibration and validation. Experience with environmental remediation projects and non-destructive testing is a plus.

Geosystems engineering is a unique science that focuses on the evaluation and management of various subsurface liquids. Geosystems engineers will mostly likely need a master’s degree with at least five years of field experience.

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