Energy Systems Engineering

What is Energy Systems Engineering?

Shape your future and the future of energy in the Energy Systems Engineering (ERSE). This comprehensive undergraduate program responds to the rapidly changing energy landscape and the University of Regina’s commitment to climate action. With three options to choose from; Petroleum, Sustainable Energy and Energy Transportation and Storage; the U of R’s Energy Systems Engineering program offers you the most comprehensive energy-related curriculum available at any Canadian university.

We offer comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs that combine academic depth with hands-on learning. Our undergraduate courses include extensive laboratory work, supported by full-time lab instructors who help students develop essential practical skills. Upper-year classes are small—typically between 10 and 30 students—allowing for a more personalized and engaging learning environment. Students also benefit from co-operative education and internship opportunities that provide valuable real-world experience. Graduate students in MEng, MASc, and PhD programs benefit from access to cutting-edge research facilities, empowering them to drive innovation and make meaningful contributions in their fields.

Key research areas include:

Petroleum Focused

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture
Advancements in CO₂-based EOR, solvent vapor extraction (VAPEX), and chemical EOR methods for heavy and tight oil reservoirs.
Reservoir Characterization and Simulation
Development of high-performance reservoir simulation tools, transient pressure analysis, and modeling of multiphase flow in heterogeneous porous media.
Data Analytics in Energy Systems
Application of data analytics and machine learning techniques to optimize drilling, production processes, and energy system performance.
Heavy Oil and Unconventional Resources
Investigation into the development and exploitation of heavy oil and unconventional gas reservoirs, focusing on enhanced recovery techniques and reservoir dynamics.
Energy Economics and Policy Analysis
Economic modeling and policy analysis to support sustainable energy development and inform decision-making in energy markets.
Multiphase Flow and Transport Phenomena
Research on fluid dynamics, including diffusion, dispersion, and convection mechanisms in porous media, relevant to both EOR and reservoir management.

Sustainability Energy Focused

Nuclear Energy Systems and Safety
Research on small modular reactors (SMRs), including corrosion mitigation, waste management strategies, and safety protocols for advanced nuclear fuels.
Geothermal Energy Conversion and Utilization
Characterization, tests, design, and management of sustainable geothermal reservoir energy production, techno-economic analysis for cost-effective geothermal energy conversion, and evaluation of the feasibility of utilizing local geothermal energy for the local community's use.
Micro-hydropower Plant System
Research on optimal conditions for the advancement and implementation of low-head, eco-conscious micro-hydropower plants capable of functioning as self-sufficient microgrids to energize rural regions.
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
CCUS in depleted oil and gas reservoirs and deep saline aquifers (the three CCUS field projects are Boundary Dam Project, Weyburn CO2 EOR Project and Aquistore Project). Nanocomposite membranes separation for CCUS.
Low-carbon Hydrogen Research
Research to advance sustainable low-carbon hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization, which aims at addressing technological challenges in geological exploration of subsurface hydrogen sources, subsurface hydrogen generation and storage, and hydrogen transportation and surface storage.
Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Energy
Research on using AI technology to empower the field of energy by optimizing the power production and utilization to improve the processes’ economy, safety and ecosystem impact.
Geomechanics and Wellbore Integrity
Studies on sand production, hydraulic fracturing, caprock integrity for CO₂ storage, and wellbore stability in geothermal and SAGD projects.

Energy Transportation and Storage Focused

Pipeline Coating and Liners for Energy Transportation
Development of nanocomposite coatings and liners for restoring pipeline protective layers and combating internal corrosion, including revitalizing aging infrastructures
Pipeline Design and Integrity Analysis
Design and assess the structural integrity of a pipeline system, ensuring safe, reliable and compliant operation throughout its life cycles, focusing on design codes ASME B31.3 and CSA Z662.
Hydrogen Transportation and Embrittlement for Natural gas and Hydrogen blend
Evaluation of pipeline integrity and operation safety for transporting H2-NG blend, including the development of coatings and liners
Supercritical CO₂Transportation and Storage
Pipeline integrity analysis for supercritical CO₂ transportation, focusing on thermal spray coatings and operational strategies relevant to subsurface storage
Advanced Materials for Energy Applications
Development of materials for energy systems, including studies on corrosion resistance and material performance under extreme conditions.
Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies
Exploration of compressed air energy storage systems and novel methods for energy conversion and storage in various applications.

The Energy Systems Engineering undergraduate lab

ERSE undergraduate lab is equipped with cutting-edge, up-to-date apparatuses, ensuring hands-on experiences on major energy resources ranging from conventional fossil fuels to renewable energies. These apparatuses include GUNT ET250 (Solar Module Measurements), GUNT ET264 (Geothermal Energy with Two-Well System), TecQuipment AE1005V (Wind Turbine Dynamics), and Marcraft GT-3000 (Fuel Cells Technology). Also, the lab is equipped with porosimeter, gas permeameter, goniometer, viscometer, density meter, PVT cell, capillary pressure measurement system, resistivity measurement system, hydraulic fracturing system, and sandpack flooding system that cover the main aspects of subsurface engineering. It utilizes 15+ software that expands the students experience to field scale, developed by industry leading companies, such as CMG and SLB. In particular, Hexagon’s Caesar-II and PV Elite are taught for Pipeline Engineering.

Meet our People

Check out our other Programs

Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Applied Science

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Fuel Corrosion Lab (SMR-FCL)

Dr. Arthur Situm runs the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Fuel Corrosion Lab (SMR-FCL) at the University of Regina in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, where his research group studies molten salt, nuclear waste management, and the development of fuel with increased performance for next-generation reactors, with around 2 million dollars supporting multiple projects across these areas. https://situmgroup.ca/

Microfluidic Lab

Dr. Farshid Torabi leads a cutting-edge microfluidic research laboratory, fully equipped with a precision laser system, a high-temperature furnace, and other necessary manufacturing tools enabling the construction of sophisticated reservoir-on-a-chip platforms. These platforms support detailed studies of various enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods, CO₂ storage processes, and other subsurface flow phenomena. Prof. Torabi’s research lab combines micro-scale experimentation with reservoir-relevant conditions to provide unique insights into fluid dynamics and innovative strategies for improving heavy oil recovery and CO₂ storage. In 2025, Prof. Torabi’s group consists of over 15 Ph.D., M.Sc., Post-Doc, and Research Associates is supported by significant funding, including more than $700K from Mitacs (Accelerate and Elevate programs and industry), reflecting strong collaboration with both academic and industrial partners.

Careers for ERSE Graduates

What sort of career could you have?

Your bachelor’s degree in energy systems engineering will prepare you for a career in the changing energy sector. Here are careers that our graduates will be prepared for in each of the three options:

Drilling engineer (Petroleum Engineering career)
Reservoir engineer (Petroleum Engineering career)
Production engineer (Petroleum Engineering career)
Stimulation engineer (Petroleum Engineering career)
Energy systems engineer (Sustainable Energy Engineering career)
Renewable energy project engineer (Sustainable Energy Engineering career)
Clean energy marketing analyst (Sustainable Energy Engineering career)
Sustainability engineer (Sustainable Energy Engineering career)
Transportation engineer (Energy Transportation and Storage career)
Pipeline project engineer (Energy Transportation and Storage career)
Energy storage system analyst (Energy Transportation and Storage career)
Process engineer (Energy Transportation and Storage career)