12 Jul Gunnar Robinson, The Colorado School of Mines, Petroleum Engineering, Week 4

Hello everyone, it’s Gunnar Robinson! This week of my internship was a little different from the previous weeks because I stepped away from the research lab and participated in the Petroleum Engineering Super School hosted by Dr Luis Zerpa and the Colorado School of Mines. Instead of focusing on individual experiments, I spent the week learning from professors and industry professionals about the broad foundations of petroleum engineering.

(Getting A Lecture From Dr Luis Zerpa on Petroleum Basics)

Throughout the week, I attended lectures covering many important topics in petroleum engineering, including sustainability, drilling operations, geology, fluid behavior, and rock properties. I learned how drilling engineers design and execute wells to safely and efficiently reach underground reservoirs, as well as the challenges they face while drilling through different rock formations. The geology lectures explained how sedimentary basins form over millions of years and how geologists use rock layers, faults, and other geological features to locate potential oil and gas reservoirs. We also learned about fluid properties such as viscosity, density, and pressure, and how these characteristics affect the movement of oil, gas, and water through underground formations. The lectures on rock properties focused on concepts such as porosity and permeability, which help determine how much fluid a rock can store and how easily those fluids can flow. Learning about these topics helped me better understand how geology, engineering, and physics all work together in the process of finding and producing energy resources.

(Dr Luis Zerpa introducing the Apache Drilling Rig used in the Edgar Mine)

One of my favorite parts of the week was the field trips. I visited the Edgar Experimental Mine, which is owned and operated by the Colorado School of Mines. This allowed us to see a real underground mining environment and learn about the history of mining research and education at the school. We also took geology field trips to locations such as Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks, and the geology trail on campus. Seeing exposed rock formations and learning how geologists interpret the history recorded in layers of rock helped connect the concepts from the classroom to real-world examples.

(Me in front of the Edgar Mine before entering)

Outside of the program, I have continued exploring Golden and making the most of my time here. I have kept busking around town, which has been a fun challenge as I work toward becoming more financially independent. I also spent time with friends, including going bowling, and I have continued playing basketball and working out at the local recreation center. Staying active and building connections outside of the internship has made this experience even more enjoyable.

(Dinosaur tracks in the sandstone from Dinosaur Ridge during the geology field trip)

Although this week was less focused on research, it gave me a much broader understanding of petroleum engineering and the many different fields that contribute to it. It has been exciting to experience both the academic and personal sides of being in Golden, and I am looking forward to continuing to learn during the rest of my internship.

Do Things Worth Doing!!

~Gunnar Robinson