Training on the challenges of underground storage: programmes designed by a leading operator

Question: What kind of expertise does Storengy provide through its training programmes?
Thierry Leleu: Our training courses cover all the major areas of underground storage, in particular:

• the subsurface, including geology, reservoir modelling and site characterisation
• the excavation of salt caverns for storage
• wells, from their design to their monitoring and maintenance
• surface facilities and technical equipment
• new gases, such as hydrogen or biomethane
• and, more broadly, decarbonisation solutions and their applications

This comprehensive approach enables participants to understand projects in all their complexity.

Question: What sets Storengy’s training approach apart?
T.L.: Our training courses draw directly on our experience as a storage operator. They combine:

• theoretical modules, providing the essential foundations
• practical modules based on real-life scenarios
• the use of operational facilities, where relevant
• and trainers with hands-on-experience, who share their lessons learned and practical expertise

The aim is to strike the right balance between conceptual understanding and operational application.

Question: Who are these training programmes aimed at?
T.L.: Our training courses are aimed at a very broad audience: engineers and operational technicians, operators wishing to develop or enhance their skills, professionals undergoing career transitions or seeking to develop their careers, and new staff requiring initial training.

G.H.: We also support non-technical professionals, such as investors or decision-makers, who wish to gain a better understanding of the challenges associated with underground storage and related fields, such as geothermal energy and CO₂ storage.

Question: What benefits do these training courses offer to decision-makers and investors?
G.H.: For these professionals, the key is, above all, understanding the fundamentals. The training courses provide a clear understanding of the principles of underground storage, enable participants to master the key technical aspects of risk analysis, and understand the uncertainties inherent in geological formations.

This leads to a better understanding of the challenges of the energy transition and their impact on infrastructure. It provides an essential foundation for informed strategic and investment decisions.

Question: How are the programmes tailored to the specific needs of participants?
T.L.: Our programmes are entirely flexible. They can be delivered over a few days or several weeks, depending on the objectives. We design the training programmes taking into account the participants’ initial level, their operational or strategic challenges, and the skills that need to be developed as a priority.

Question: How does this training programme illustrate Storengy’s service offering?
G.H.: It illustrates our ability to leverage our expertise as an operator to help improve the skills of those working in the sector. Beyond projects and infrastructure, we thus contribute to disseminating best practice, strengthening the safety culture and supporting the transformation of the energy sector.

Conclusion
Through its training programmes, Storengy puts its expertise at the service of professionals in the underground storage and energy sectors, offering training courses rooted in real-world operational experience and tailored to the sector’s current and future challenges.