The International Conference on Earth Sciences and Energy Transition [ICESET] is organized by the Earth Sciences Research Center at Sultan Qaboos University - Sultanate of Oman and will be launched every two years. The energy demand is increasing across many countries globally as the population increases. According to the United Nation report, the world population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, and energy demand is increasing from 11.4 billion tons of oil equivalent to 17.7 billion. The increase in global energy demand and consumption has significant implications for climate change. The transition to low-to-zero carbon energy is now a prime concern for the global community to reduce and avoid climate change and accordingly several governments have merged their economic growth rate and greenhouse gas emissions through a rapid increase in low-to-zero carbon energy. Earth sciences play a major role in enabling that transition possible toward low-to-zero carbon energy through geothermal energy, natural hydrogen exploration and production, carbon utilization and storage, energy storage, waste storage, and mining of minerals. The objective of this conference is to bring together earth scientists to share and exchange their up-to-date findings about low-to-zero carbon energy. The conference will also serve as a premier interdisciplinary forum for researchers, professionals, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, as well as encountered challenges and adopted solutions in the field of earth sciences and energy transition.
The Earth Sciences Research Center (ESRC) at Sultan Qaboos University cordially invites all earth scientists to the first International Conference on Earth Sciences and Energy Transition [ICESET-23] on February 06 – 10, 2023 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The ESRC realized the future energy challenges as the energy demand is increasing across many countries globally as the population increases. According to the United Nations report, the world population is set to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, and energy demand is increasing from 11.4 billion tons of oil equivalent to 17.7 billion. Furthermore, the increase in global energy demand and consumption has significant implications for climate change. The transition to low-to-zero carbon energy is now a prime concern for the global community to reduce and avoid climate change, and accordingly, several governments have merged their economic growth rate and greenhouse gas emissions through a rapid increase in low-to-zero carbon energy. Earth sciences play a major role in enabling that transition towards low-to-zero carbon energy through geothermal energy, natural hydrogen exploration and production, carbon utilization and storage, energy storage, waste storage, and mining of minerals. The objective of ICESET-23 is to bring together earth scientists to share and exchange their most up-to-date findings about the energy transition and low-to-zero carbon energy. The conference will also serve as a premier interdisciplinary forum for researchers, professionals, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, as well as encountered challenges and adopted solutions in the field of earth sciences and energy transition. I am looking forward to welcoming you to Muscat for a learning and memorable experience!
Yours sincerely,
Organizing Committee
Pre-conference Importance Dates
Deadline for abstract submission [max. 350 words]
Deadline for abstract submission is extended
30 October 2022
30 November 2022
Notification of acceptance or rejection of abstracts [max. 350 words]
13 November 2022
15 December 2022
Opening of online registration to attend only, present and publish, or to publish only at the ICESET-23 [publication will be for accepted abstracts only]
Deadline for submitting a revised abstract [max. 350 words]
27 November 2022
22 December 2022
Notification of acceptance or rejection of revised abstracts [max. 350 words]
11 December 2022
29 December 2022
Deadline for extended abstract [not exceeding 4 pages] submission [submission is optional] for publication.
18 December 2022
29 January 2023
Deadline for online registration to attend only, present and publish, or to publish only at the ICESET-23 [publication will be for accepted abstracts only].
31 December 2022
Deadline for workshop/short courses, and/or field trip registration.
15 January 2023
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Keynote Speaker 1: Unlocking the Future Energy Potential Through the Understanding of the Geology
The subsurface and surface geological settings of Oman have vividly offered, for decades, great understanding of the earth processes and the evolution of the global and regional petroleum systems. Today, as the globe unavoidably requires to harvest in sustainable clean energy, Oman's geology yet becomes the center of focus in offering major solution to unleash the future energy solutions for the country and the region.
Dr Mohamed Al-Kindi is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the oil and energy industry, and mining sector. Skilled in Petroleum, Product Optimization, Petrophysics, Petroleum Economics, and Reservoir Engineering, as well as mining-block evaluations. Strong business development professional with a PhD in Philosophy focused on Geology - Structural Geology from University of Leeds. He gained his BSc in Physics and Geology in 2003 from Aberdeen University, UK and his PhD in Structural Geology in 2006 from University of Leeds, UK.
Keynote Speaker 2: Bioleaching of Cu, Ni, Co, Mo, Au, U and Zn from ores and black shales: Past, present and future
The role of acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing autotrophs is well established in the bioleaching of sulfide ores and black shales for the commercial-scale extraction of Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, U and Au by heap, dump, in-situ and stope-leach operations in the mining industry. The acidophilic iron and sulfuroxidizing mesophiles (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, A. ferridurans, A. ferriphilus, A. ferrianus, A. sulfuriphilus, Leptospirillum spp.,) and moderate thermophiles (Acidithiobacillus caldus, Acidimicrobium and Sulfobacillus spp.) as well as mesophilic and thermophilic archaea (Ferroplasma, Sulfolobus, Acidianus, Metallosphaera spp.) and many others including iron-oxidizing heterotrophs play an important role in bioleaching of sulfide ores and black shales (Wang et. al., 2018; Yi et. al., 2021; Rawlings 2005). These bacteria are habitats of sulfur springs, hot water springs, bioleaching environment, acid mine drainage and tailings dams, which are capable of oxidizing pyrite (FeS2), metal sulfides, sulfur (S0) and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (thiosulfate, polythionates) to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and/ or soluble metal sulfates (CuSO4, NiSO4, CoSO4, VOSO4, MoSO4 and ZnSO4) during bioleaching process. Gold (Au) is liberated from the pyrite or arsenopyrite matrix during bioleaching process and remains in the ore leached residue. Biologically generated sulfuric acid acts as a leaching agent (lixiviant), while ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) as a powerful oxidant which oxidizes metals sulfide minerals and metals contained are then leached by sulfuric acid formed during bioleaching process. In fact, bioleaching process is an indirect acid leaching process, in which sulfuric acid is generated from the bacterial oxidation of pyrite or metal sulfide by the metabolic activity of Fe and S oxidizing acidophiles. The bioleaching reactions involve pH values in the approximate range of pH 1.5-3.5 as the low pH facilitates proton attack on the minerals and alleviates the precipitation of metals in the leach solution. Soluble metals from the acidic bioleach solution by ion-exchange resins/ solvent extraction to separate and recover to produce metals concentrate as metals end-products (Bhatti, 2015; Tuovinen and Bhatti 1999). The Sultanate of Oman has potential ore deposits of Cu-sulfide, Au and Zn-Pb as well as black shale beds of the Rus formation in northern Oman. Bioleaching process can be applied to virgin sulfide ore deposits, mine overburdens, mine wastes and black shales to extract valuable metals at one-third to one-fifth cost of the conventional hydrometallurgical process. Acid leaching process can be established to extract Ni, Co and Mn from the Ophiolite Ni-laterites, Oman Mountains (Al-Khirbash, 2015). In addition, beneficiation studies for light REEs present in the Crabonatite of Semail and Masirah Ophiolite in Oman (Sobhi, 2015) can be carried out to produce REEs concentrate using shaking table, magnetic separator and froth flotation techniques.
Dr. Tariq Bhatti did his Ph.D. in Chemistry with specialization in Mineral Biotechnology (Mineral Bioprocessing of ores) from the Institute of Chemistry, University of Punjab (Lahore, Pakistan). He got predoctoral USAID Fellowship in the field of Mineral Biotechnology at the Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, during 1991-1993. He also got postdoctoral fellowships at the Tampere University (Finland) and Umeå University (Sweden) in the field of mineral bioprocessing during 2009 and 2010. Dr. Bhatti has over 40 years of research and teaching experience in the domains of mineral processing, bioprocessing, and applied and analytical chemistry. He has served the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the Balochistan Copper Gold Project (BCGP), and the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and engaged in teaching and applied research projects related to hydrometallurgy and biohydrometallurgy of ores. He also served as a full-time and adjunct faculty member (associate professor or professor) at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad (a prestigious, highly ranked degree awarding institute of PAEC) during 2003–2014. He is one of the faculty members who initiated the MSc degree program on Minerals Resource Engineering in 2015 for mining engineers and geologists at PIEAS. He has published over 50 national and international publications, two book chapters, and one review article. Dr. Bhatti’s research interests include mineral bioprocessing of ores and black shales (mineral biotechnology), sulfide mineral oxidation biogeochemistry, chemical extraction of lithium from pegmatite rocks and brines, fermentation (organic acid production by fungi), biosorption of heavy and toxic metals by fungal biomass, environmental bioremediation, and metal nanoparticle biosynthesis.
Keynote Speaker 3: Natural hydrogen exploration – State of knowledge and focus on the Intra-cratonic systems
Hydrogen directly coming from the Earth could represent an alternative source of decarbonized hydrogen and potentially provide the opportunity to rapidly scale up green hydrogen production for domestic use and export. Hydrogen can be naturally produced by various processes in the subsurface. We first propose to review the generation processes and elements of the hydrogen system though known case studies and focus on the intra-cratonic hydrogen occurrences that are not directly related to a mid-oceanic ridge system type. In this type of environment, the hydrogen is proposed to be mostly coming from water which is separated from oxygen by diagenetic process or by radiolysis. Since hydrogen is the most abundant element of the solar system, the degassing of large reserves of deep seated H2 from the mantle or the Earth’s core have been also proposed. The most well-known process is the oxidation reaction between water and ferrous sediments resulting in their transformation to the ferric state through the release of H2. This process is the best candidate to explain high hydrogen flux measured above intra-cratonic surface depressions all over the worlds, such as in Brazil, Mali, United-States and Russia. We will here provide an overview of natural hydrogen exploration in the world as well as the real rush toward natural Hydrogen exploration that is happening in Australia. In February 2021 the state of South Australia opened the doors to Hydrogen Exploration and as soon as September 2021 all the exploration licences have been applied to! Given that natural hydrogen exploration is quickly scaling up and has a potential to support energy transition for Australia and the global market, we need to unlock the natural hydrogen system with the best science, and we need to undertake a multidisciplinary approach, involving expertise from minerals, petroleum, groundwater systems and biology.
Dr Emanuelle Frery is a senior research scientist leading a research team at the CSIRO, the Australian Science institute. Her expertise is in natural geogenic hydrogen exploration. Her team focus on multidimensional modelling with an expertise in structural geology applied to comprehensive assessments of energy production impact on the groundwater systems and the environment. Dr. Frery is passionate about fluid and gas circulation along natural faults and the impact of those circulations on the seismic cycle. She works with a multi-scale approach, from fieldwork to laboratory analyses and to numerical modelling. She acquired a worldwide academic expertise in this field with a PhD thesis on the circulation recorded in the well-known red sandstone of the Colorado Plateau and her implication in the IODP research. Before joining CSIRO, she worked in the oil and gas industry as a seismic interpreter and a petroleum system analyst.
Keynote Speaker 4: Hydrogen: Decarbonization Lever and Future Energy Vector
Blue and Green hydrogen are not competing, but rather complementary energy carries that are expected to unlock new levers to decarbonize hard to electrify industrial and demotic energy and chemical feedstock applications. In country rich with renewables and geological energy resources, the prospect of hydrogen as a future energy carrier will shape the future energy industry in Oman. Addressing the challenges to enable fast upscaling of hydrogen production in Oman to enable global hydrogen trade will unlock opportunities in the full hydrogen value chain.
Dr. Khalil Al Hanashi is the Coordinator of Oman’s National Hydrogen Alliance (Hy-FLY) under the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. He also holds the role of senior energy renewal divisor in Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) where he focuses on supporting new energy trends and projects through collaboration and partnerships. He comes from energy and technology management background. Dr. Khalil holds a Ph.D. in sustainable energy technology from the Energy Technology Research Institute in the University of Nottingham, UK. He graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK with M.Sc. in applied process control and holds B.Eng. in systems and control engineering from the University of Sheffield, UK.
He has more than 17 years of experience in the Energy sector. Started his career working with oil and gas operations and engineering in PDO before taking the role of corporate technology advisor in the corporate planning directorate of PDO. He also worked as business development and oil and gas research manager in EJAAD, the industry-academia-government collaboration platform for applied industrial research.
Dr. Khalil contributed to various energy transition strategies, projects and studies including Oman’s National Hydrogen Economy, Oman national energy master plan and PDO strategy refresh. Dr. Khalil guest lectures in local academic institutes and co-supervises students in academia for final year project and mentor students doing their year in industry or graduate placement.
Keynote Speaker 5: From gas to stone Carbon Capture and Storage: where are we?
Carbon Capture (Utilization) and Storage (CCUS) has been investigated over the last 20+ years to attempt to reduce the anthropic carbon imprint, yet very few large scale CO2 storages exist in the world. After a brief overview of the landscape of current and in-coming large scale CO2 storage, the three most recent new paths of technologies for carbon storage will be presented: (i) Direct Air Carbon Capture (DACC); (ii) Gas or supercritical CO2 injection in depleted gas reservoirs; (iii) Carbon mineralization in volcanic reservoirs. Discussions around pros and cons from each technology will be developed from lab scale to field scale and lessons learned from successful CCUS projects. What remains to be done to maximize success will conclude the talk.
Dr. Lionel Esteban is principal petrophysicist at CSIRO (Perth, WA) since 2009. He holds a BSc and MSc in geophysics and a PhD in petrophysics and simulation of radioactive fluids dynamics in shale barriers for the French agency of nuclear waste management (ANDRA) from the University of Toulouse and Institut de Physique du Globe of Strasbourg (France). He develops and tests petrophysical experimental laboratory approaches and integrate them to logs analysis to characterize and understand the physical properties responses of unconventional and conventional reservoirs at different scales using a wide spectrum of petrophysical tools including by instance: X-ray imaging, electrical, nuclear magnetic resonance, mechanical, and core flooding under (or not) HP/HT. His current research focuses on rock physical properties, fluid dynamics and fluid-rock interactions in shales (seal to gas) and conventional reservoir rocks for hydrocarbon, CO2 and hydrogen gas storage.
Keynote Speaker 6: Geothermal Energy: A Little-Known Defense in the Fight Against Global Warming
Locally gained experiences with the deployment of skills from oil and gas into geothermal is very applicable and helpful covering similar domain expertise such as geology, reservoir engineering and drilling experiences Exploring the country’s geothermal potential by leveraging its extensive oil and gas expertise, subsurface datasets, and technology access can be one of the paths to success.
Dr Azzan Al Yaarubi, Technical Manager, OPG Schlumberger
Mr Tevfik Kaya, BDM Geothermal & CCS, MENA, Schlumberger
Keynote Speaker 7: Energy Transition-The Underground Storage of Hydrogen
Rising global atmospheric carbon emissions and changing climatic patterns across the globe is a major concern. The 2016 Paris agreement mandate to limit the further temperature increase of 1.5 °C requires number of initiatives under the mainstream theme of Energy Transition. This talk reviews the scientific and technological opportunities of achieving the net-zero targets via the pipeline transport and underground storage of hydrogen with the associated benefits of development of industrial hubs. The talk will focus on the Net Zero Technologies mainly around blue hydrogen production, transport and their utilization via geological storage evolving around the storage mechanisms involving the brine-rock interactions, hydro-thermo-geo-chemical-dynamic effects and the caprock seal-integrity issues.
Dr Prashant Jadhawar is Academician (Lecturer/Assistant Professor), University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Dr Prashant Jadhawar is an engineering professional with 20 years of experience in academia and petroleum industry in UK, Germany, Australia, and India. Over the years he has led numerous projects including the enhanced oil and gas recovery and pipeline flow assurance. His expertise also includes gas (H2, CO2, natural gas) transportation, subsurface storage in the geoformations (depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers), through the means of laboratory experimentation and numerical simulation tools. Currently he is leading project/s to develop the means of transportation and injection of hydrogen (H2), CO2 and natural gas in the subsurface in porous media and its seasonal reutilization.
Chair
Mohamed El-Ghali, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Co-Chair
Arshad Ali, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Members
Osman Abdalla, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Talal Al-Hosni, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Mohamed Al-Kindi, Oman
Mariya Khalfan Al Kharusi, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Abdulmunaim Al Zakwani, Geological Society of Oman, Oman
Scientific Committee
All abstracts and extended abstracts submitted to ICESET-23 will be peer-reviewed by the track chair(s), co-chair(s), and scientific committee members.
Track 1
Natural Hydrogen (Session ID: NH)
Tarek Ganat, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Khalid Al-Ramadan, King Fahd of Petroleum and Minerlas, KSA
Mohamed Al-Wosabi, Sana'a University, Yemen
Arshad Raza, King Fahd of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA
Track 2
Geothermal Energy (Session ID: GE)
Mohamed Farfour, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Mingjie Chen, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Track 3
Solar and Wind Energy (Session ID: SWE)
Track 4
Hydroenergy (Session ID: HE)
Mohamed Khalifa, Libyan Academy of Postgraduate, Libya
Mohamed Al-Gharbi, Water Researches and Technologies Center, Tunisia
Track 5
Wave and Tide Energies (Session ID: WTE)
Mohamed Moustafa, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Hezam Al Awah, Qatar University, Qatar
Numair Siddiqui, Universiti Technology Petronas, Malaysia
Al Sharif Al Baghdadi, Libyan Academy of Postgraduate, Libya
Track 6
Energy Storage (Session ID: ES)
Osman Salad Hersi, University of Regina, Canada
Ahmed Shmela, Cardiff University, UK
Abdullah Alqubalee, King Fahd of Petroleum and Minerlas, KSA
Track 7
Energy Waste and Environment (Session ID: EWE)
Sanket Joshi, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Track 8
Energy Management, Policies, and Economics (Session ID: EMPE)
Rifaat Abdalla, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Track 9
CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Storage (Session ID: CCUS)
Andreas Scharf, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Khalifa Elderbak, Ellington Geological Services, USA
Mohamed Shalaby, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Arshad Raza, KFUPM, King Fahd of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA
Publications Committee
Field Trips Committee
Salah Al Khirbash, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Issa Al Shibli, Geological Society Oman, Oman
Workshops and Short Courses Committee
Iftikhar Ahmed, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Laila Al Habsi, Geological Society Oman, Oman
Social Activities Committee
Program Committee
Visa and Accommodation
Marketing and Media Committee
Faisal Al Harrasi, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Suad Al Handhali, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Kindly share the flyers and posters with those who might be interested
Flyer 1
Flyer 2
Flyer 3
UNESCO Chair of Ophiolite
C1- Find out if you are a citizen of a country in list 1 via Royal Oman Police (rop.gov.om)
The list of nationalities/countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the Sultanate of Oman with tourist visas; there is 3 ways to get this kind of visa:
1- Visa in advance by applying unsponsored visa from Home-Evisa (rop.gov.om)
2- Upon the arrival at Muscat airport or any of the legal borders to get paid visa for 10 days’ worth 5 Omani Rials or 30 days’ worth 20 Omani Rials. This paid tourist type visa is extendable from the tourist visa office at the airport.
3- Upon the arrival at Muscat airport to get unpaid visa. This visa is free type visa for 14 days and it is not extendable. You can get this visa type from the passport control at the airport.
C2- Passport holders of countries not included in country list 1:
1- The local sponsor (i.e. SQU) has to sponsor their entry visa if they are keynote speakers and presenters of oral and poster talks (refer to point A above).
Email the following documents to iceset-23@squ.edu.om:
If you are participant as an audience and your nationality is not included in list 1 and C1-1, C1-2, C1-3, C2-2, and D, are not applicable to you, then you need to visit the nearest Embassy of Sultanate of Oman to apply for a visa.
2- They can enter to the Sultanate by tourist visa upon the arrival at Muscat airport (unpaid visa/ free visas for 14 days, not extendable) from the passport control at the airport with the condition of holding a valid Schengen visa or a valid visa to one of the following countries (USA, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan).
D- Citizens from GCC countries do not need to apply for VISA.
E- To check eligibilities and for more information, please visit the Royal Oman Police website: https://www.rop.gov.om/english/dg_pr_visas_tourist.asp
NOTE: ALL travelers need to have travel insurance when you apply for a visa either at the embassy or at the airport.
Traveling
1- Before traveling to the Sultanate of Oman please visit Oman Airports rules/regulations for recent updates. Kindly, follow updates using this provided link:
Oman Airport [Update-on-travel-restrictions-related-to- covid-19]
2- Fill out the arrival form Arrival and Departure Form - Google Forms
Omani people are warm and welcoming. It’s not unusual to be invited into a local’s home after a day of touring the mountains or walking through the local souk. It’s considered polite to take a small gift for your host. When entering an Omani home, you’ll likely be greeted with the scents of frankincense and cardamom, and treated to Omani coffee, dates, and halwa – a local dessert made with saffron, dates, and rosewater. Coffee is served in small cups, which are refilled until the guest gives them a gentle shake to signal they’ve had enough.
Language
Arabic is the official language of Oman. Street names and generally most of the road and transport signs are in Arabic and English. Most restaurants have menus in both Arabic and English. But if there is something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask as Omani people are kind and will be happy to help you.
Weather
December is a wonderful time to visit Oman because the weather at this time is generally excellent. Field trips into the mountains during December can expect temperatures of 20- 25 o C. Please visit the weather update
https://www.accuweather.com/en/om/muscat/258638/weather- forecast/258638
Time-Zone
Muscat is in Gulf Time, UTC+04:00.
Omani Rial is the currency of Oman. The currency code for the Rial is OMR. It has a fixed exchange rate of $2.60 per 1 OMR. Foreign currency can be exchanged at airport, banks, or at currency exchange counters. For further information please visit the Currency Converter page:
https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=OMR
SQU is located approximately 25km to the Muscat International Airport (MCT) and limited pick and drop service will be provided, moreover, Buses and Taxis are available 24 hours. Oman has one of the most diverse environments in the Middle East with various tourist attractions and is particularly well known for cultural tourism. The capital of Oman, Muscat was named the second best city to visit in the world in 2012 by the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. Muscat also was chosen as the Capital of Arab Tourism in 2012. Other than Muscat, Nizwa, Al-Hamra, Sur, Sohar, and Salalah are the major Omani cities. Please visit the Oman Transport Site.
https://mwasalat.om/