The discussion revolves around calculating work done during heating cycles in closed systems involving gases. For a rigid walled tank containing helium, the work done during heating can be determined using the formula W = ∫p dV, though no volume change occurs in a rigid tank, resulting in zero work. In the case of an expanding gas storage vessel with methane, the work done by the gas can be calculated using the formula W = pΔV, where ΔV is the change in volume. For isothermal expansion of CO2, the work done on the surroundings can be calculated using W = nRT ln(Vf/Vi) for ideal gases. Additionally, when considering a spring force in the expansion process, the work against the spring can be calculated using W = 0.5kx², where k is the spring constant and x is the extension.