The Department conducts interdisciplinary research in the fields of reservoir engineering, applied geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, geoenergy, and chemistry. The main thematic areas include:
The scientific activity of the Department of Petroleum Engineering is organized into four research teams that carry out specialized work in the fields of reservoir engineering, subsurface resource management, environmental protection, and numerical modeling and simulation of extraction processes and fluid flow in porous media. These teams conduct research, development, and expert projects in collaboration with national and international research centers and industry partners.
Geoenergy – Laboratory for Advanced Methods of Hydrocarbon Production and Energy Storage
This team conducts laboratory and modeling research on fluid flow processes in porous media and the properties of fluids under reservoir conditions. Their research supports sustainable and optimized hydrocarbon extraction, geothermal reservoir exploitation, and processes related to fluid injection and energy storage in geological formations.
Their work focuses on mathematical and numerical modeling applied to reservoir processes, as well as injection, extraction, and storage technologies. They also develop AI-based tools and scenario models for CCS/CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) and underground energy storage, supporting assessments of technological and environmental efficiency.
Computer Modeling and AI applications in Petroleum Engineering
This team applies mathematical and numerical modeling in petroleum and gas engineering, focusing on the simulation and optimization of technological processes and the use of artificial intelligence. Their scope includes underground energy storage and CCS/CCUS modeling.
Their work aligns closely with that of the Geoenergy team, focusing on modeling reservoir processes, injection and storage technologies, and developing AI tools for scenario planning and performance evaluation.
Sustainable Subsurface Management Team
This team conducts interdisciplinary research aimed at the comprehensive and responsible use of the subsurface environment. Main research areas include: evaluation of low- and medium-temperature geothermal potential, geological and reservoir considerations related to underground storage of substances (e.g., water, gases, CO₂, or waste) and use of modern geophysical methods to investigate the water-soil environment.
The team also addresses management of groundwater resources classified as mineral deposits, and investigates the extraction potential of critical raw materials from formation waters. A key research direction is the environmental impact of liquid resource extraction, especially on groundwater and the atmosphere.
Composed of experts from various Earth science disciplines—hydrogeologists, geologists, drillers, geophysicists, and geoinformatics specialists—the team conducts highly interdisciplinary research, integrating spatial data, numerical modeling, and environmental analysis. They offer scientific expertise and practical support to the energy sector, industry, and public administration in sustainable resource and subsurface management.
The team also runs projects related to subsurface spatial planning and environmental impact assessments, such as evaluating the suitability of geological structures for storage and analyzing the environmental consequences of extraction activities. Their work also involves managing groundwater resource extraction and assessing the potential for critical element recovery from formation waters. These findings support investment planning and environmental assessments.
Water and Hydrocarbon Management and Environmental Protection Team
This team focuses on the environmental aspects of water and hydrocarbon resource exploitation. Their research includes treatment, desalination, and purification of water, particularly waters with varied mineralization and saline formation waters associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs. Laboratory-scale studies are also conducted on the recovery of elements from brines.
Their work includes physicochemical characterization of groundwater, crude oil, and petroleum products, and the development of treatment methods, resource recovery technologies from brines, and environmental solutions for the water and resource management sector. The team provides industrial support in environmental and resource water management.
Between 2012 and 2016, staff members of the Department of Petroleum Engineering served as principal investigators for 37 industry-funded projects, 3 grants funded by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), and one international research project titled “Multifield CO₂ Storage for Environment and Energy”, financed through the Norwegian Grants.
Project MUSE – Multifield CO₂ Storage for Environment and Energy
The MUSE project was co-funded by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) under the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme, and was conducted from May 2014 to April 2017 at the Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, under the direction of Prof. Jerzy Stopa. AGH was the project leader, with the University of Stavanger as the international partner. The project's aim was to develop novel technologies for CO₂ injection into oil reservoirs in the late or abandoned production phase, with the dual goal of enhancing hydrocarbon recovery and enabling safe CO₂ storage (CCS-EOR).
Project URGENT – Sustainable and Affordable Urban Geothermal Exploration: Novel Technologies and Workflows
HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-02-05
The URGENT project aims to develop a sustainable and cost-effective solution for urban seismic geothermal exploration. It is conducted by an international consortium led by VITO, an independent Flemish research institute. In addition to AGH, partners include seismic research companies (Seismic Mechatronics B.V., Innoseis Sensor Technologies B.V., dGB Earth Sciences B.V. from the Netherlands; Realtime Seismic from France), MOL Group from Hungary, and Euroquality SAS from France. The project will design and construct low-impact seismic exploration technologies including an electric seismic source and innovative MEMS-based sensors integrated with autonomous nodes. These technologies will be tested in three locations: Balmatt (Belgium), Konin (Poland), and Batta (Hungary). Additionally, AI and machine learning techniques will be developed to automate fault and fracture detection and optimize well placement.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101147467.
Project HOCLOOP – A Circular by Design, Environmentally Friendly Geothermal Energy Solution Based on a Horizontal Closed Loop
HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-06-01
The HOCLOOP project focuses on designing and testing an innovative horizontal borehole heat exchanger (BHE). It is led by Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in Norway, with AGH as a partner. Other consortium members include drilling technology companies (Reelwell A.S. and NORCE from Norway), and academic institutions (Technical University of Darmstadt, Vito N.V., IFP Energies Nouvelles, University of Florence, and University of Bari). The University of Vaasa supports the project with management and social acceptance analysis. The innovative solution is based on DualPipe technology, implementing a deep horizontal BHE, and evaluating alternative working fluids such as CO₂-based and ionic liquid-based fluids. System efficiency will be assessed using numerical simulations for selected sites in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, and Poland.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101083558.
Project CompLithium – Integrated Technology for Lithium and Utility Water Recovery from Formation Brines
Lider Program, Application No. 0174/L-12/2020
The CompLithium project aims to develop a comprehensive technology for lithium and utility water recovery from waste formation brines, using a combination of sorption and membrane techniques. The solution is a process innovation at both the national and international level. Key innovations include: high-porosity sorbents produced via 3D printing with enhanced selectivity and sorption capacity for lithium recovery and modified nanofiltration membranes (e.g., crown ether-modified) enabling simultaneous desalinated water production and residual lithium capture. The integration of membrane techniques supports the desalination of formation waters to produce usable water, potentially beneficial for industrial applications or agricultural irrigation, especially amid growing water scarcity. The combination of sorption columns and membrane modules enables sustainable and efficient utilization of brine waste, contributing to resource base expansion and economic feasibility of hydrocarbon extraction in Poland and across Europe.
