Prof. Firoozabadi's Courses

Summer 2026

August 03 to 07, 2026; Rice University, Houston TX

Thermodynamics and Basic Principles in Modern Hydrocarbon and Geothermal Energy Production from Subsurface Formations

Course Registration and Payment Information

This five day course covers a variety of topics on efficient energy production from conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbons, geothermal, and to a lesser degree, hydrogen in the subsurface. Supercritical geothermal formations at depths less than 4 km may contain as much energy as hydrocarbon formations. Recent hydrogen discoveries in subsurface formations also look promising. In addition to topics of subsurface energy production, phase-behavior of CO2-brine will be discussed, as well as CO2 sequestration in the subsurface and its widespread use will be covered in detail.

Starts August 03, with daily sessions till August 07. Sessions will go from 9am to 4:30pm, with an included lunch at noon.
The fee for attendance is USD $2,600. For the employees of companies who are members of our Energy Production Consortium, the fee is US $2,100. Current faculty and PhD students of universities fees will be discounted to USD $2,100. After June 10th, the regular registration fee will increase to $2700, and the discounted price to $2200. Please see our registration for details.
Fee includes a copy of the 2016 textbook, Thermodynamics and Applications in Hydrocarbon Energy and Production , a file containing the relevant write-ups and papers, and the provided food and refreshments.

Summer 2024

Thermodynamics and Basic Principles in Modern Hydrocarbon and Geothermal Energy Production from Subsurface Formations

Course Registration and Payment Information

Course Information and Schedule PDF

This four-and-half day course covers a variety of topics on efficient energy production from conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbons, geothermal, and to a lesser degree, hydrogen in the subsurface. Superhot geothermal formations at depths less than 4 km may contain as much energy as hydrocarbon formations. Recent hydrogen discoveries in subsurface formations also look promising. In addition to topics of subsurface energy production, the topic of CO2 sequestration in the subsurface and its widespread will be covered in detail.

Starts July 22, 2024. Sessions will go from 8:30am to 4:30pm with an included one hour lunch at noon.
The fee for attendance is US $2,500 before May 16th, $2625 after. Discounted rates for certain individuals for RERI member companies, and faculty and students from universities. Please see our registration form for more details.
Fee includes a copy of the 2016 textbook, Thermodynamics and Applications in Hydrocarbon Energy and Production , a file containing the relevant write-ups and papers, and the provided food and refreshments.

Fall 2023

Hydrocarbon and Renewable Energy Production

Rice Website and Registration

Course Information and Schedule PDF

This five-day course offers a unified framework of classical equilibrium, irreversible thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, and molecular simulations to investigate bulk phases, interfaces, and thin liquid films. Rheology of bulk and interfaces is an integral part of the intensive course. The focus of the topics will be on molecule structure in bulk phase, adsorption at the fluid-solid and fluid-fluid interfaces, interfacial energy density of fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interfaces, wettability, viscosification of CO2, hydraulic fracturing by water and by CO2 in tight hydrocarbon and geothermal formations, and interfacial rheology. Many topics are covered in relation to efficient hydrocarbon energy and renewable energy production from the subsurface and environmental stewardship.

Starts August 7th, 2023. Sessions will go from 8:30am to 4:30pm with an included one hour lunch at noon.
There is a way t oregiste fothe event ahead og the time shceudle for the eventm, pleaee see below The fee for attendance is US $2,900, discounted rates for certain individuals. Please refer to the Course Information.
Fee includes a copy of the 2016 textbook, Thermodynamics and Applications in Hydrocarbon Energy and Production , a file containing the relevant write-ups and papers, and the provided lunch.

Recent Events

Company Lunch, August 29, 2025

From left to right: Jakub Solovsky, Jie Liu, Pierre Pegolotti, Abbas Firoozabadi, Tomas-Eduardo Chavez-Miyauchi, Rongbin Li.

Image taken by restaurant employee, Palo Alto Downtown

We gathered to welcome a new researcher, Jie Liu, and wish Tomas-Eduardo Chavez-Miyauchi success in his next endeavors, thank you!

RERI XXXVI Workshop, May 27-28 2025

Hosted in Room 130 and 530, Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science Rice University, Houston, Texas

RERI XXXV Workshop, May 14-15 2024

Hosted in Room 130, Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science Rice University, Houston, Texas

RERI - Sinopec Visit, December 15, 2023

Image taken by Pierre Pegolotti, RERI's office

RERI XXXIV Workshop, May 15-16 2023

Hosted at Duncan Hall, Rice University, Houston TX

Image provided by Tommy Duran, Communications, Marketing, and Events Specialist at Rice University