Hydrogen underground storage—Petrographic and petrophysical variations in reservoir sandstones from laboratory experiments under simulated reservoir conditions (original) (raw)
Related papers
Proceedings of the 2022 Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, 2022
Hydrogen has been recently gaining global popularity for being a great potential low-carbon energy carrier, essentially considered for eco-friendly transportation, power, and heating. However, storage has been an issue due to the material’s low density which suggests greater volumetric capacity compared to other gases such as CH4, and lower temperatures to accommodate storage facilities. This has called for exploring alternatives such as underground hydrogen storage in porous media (UHSP), essentially considered in saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. Across the U.S., many depleted shale reservoirs hold large volumetric capacities possibly suitable for hydrogen storage. Studying the effect of reservoir rock and fluid exposure to hydrogen would help explore this possibility. Experimental work has been done on conventional rock, which begs the question of the effect on abundant unconventional shale. Exposure of shale samples to compressed hydrogen gas at in-situ conditions would help determine changes in wettability, permeability, and porosity. Sample properties are measured before and after exposure. Another interest is the effect of hydrogen exposure on fluid properties, such as interfacial tension between oil and water. Also, gas flooding techniques can be used to estimate the effect of hydrogen on oil recovery, to better understand the interaction with reservoir fluids. Moreover, exploring the interaction between hydrogen and CH4 would give an idea about the effect of natural gas presence. Any significant chemical reaction would be noted in the process. An increase in permeability and porosity would suggest better storage. Change in wettability would define what fluids could accompany hydrogen when extracted after storage, and could help estimate hydrogen extraction rates. A change from oil-wet to water-wet can lead to oil production. Primary experiments have not shown a significant effect on wettability, but changes in temperature and pressure could prove otherwise. If hydrogen flooding shows decent oil recovery, that could imply more space for hydrogen to be stored in. Hydrocarbon production during storage and extraction could attract operators to look more into UHSP. It should be noted that hydrogen can always react with fluid or rock to generate toxic acid gases. It is intriguing to see how those gases affect reservoir behavior. The recent exponential rise of hydrocarbon production from unconventional formations has led to the depletion of many reservoirs that could serve as potential resources for hydrogen storage. Studies have been done to optimize carbon sequestration and natural gas storage in such formations. Similarly, investigating the possibility of hydrogen storage would also prove to be useful.
Review of underground hydrogen storage: Concepts and challenges
Advances in Geo-Energy Research
The energy transition is the pathway to transform the global economy away from its current dependence on fossil fuels towards net zero carbon emissions. This requires the rapid and large-scale deployment of renewable energy. However, most renewables, such as wind and solar, are intermittent and hence generation and demand do not necessarily match. One way to overcome this problem is to use excess renewable power to generate hydrogen by electrolysis, which is used as an energy store, and then consumed in fuel cells, or burnt in generators and boilers on demand, much as is presently done with natural gas, but with zero emissions. Using hydrogen in this way necessitates large-scale storage: the most practical manner to do this is deep underground in salt caverns, or porous rock, as currently implemented for natural gas and carbon dioxide. This paper reviews the concepts, and challenges of underground hydrogen storage. As well as summarizing the state-of-theart, with reference to current and proposed storage projects, suggestions are made for future work and gaps in our current understanding are highlighted. The role of hydrogen in the energy transition and storage methods are described in detail. Hydrogen flow and its fate in the subsurface are reviewed, emphasizing the unique challenges compared to other types of gas storage. In addition, site selection criteria are considered in the light of current field experience.
In-situ hydrogen wettability characterisation for Underground Hydrogen Storage
2021
Hydrogen storage in subsurface aquifers or depleted gas reservoirs represents a viable seasonal and/or long-term energy storage solution. However, currently, there is a scarcity of subsurface petrophysical data for the hydrogen system, limiting modelling work and industrial rollout. In this work, we address the knowledge gap by determining the wettability and Interfacial Tension (IFT) of the hydrogen-brine-quartz system using a multi-modal, in-situ approach. We utilise the captive bubble, pendant drop and in-situ 3D micro-Computed Tomography (CT) methods to rigorously characterise a hydrogen-brine-Bentheimer rock system, applicable to high quartz sandstone storage systems generally. The captive bubble method determined the effective contact angle ranged between 29°-39° for pressures 6.89-20.68MPa and salinities from distilled water to 5000ppm NaCl brine. In-situ methods confirmed the water-wet system with the mean of the macroscopic and apparent contact angle distributions being 39....
Storage Integrity during Underground Hydrogen Storage in Depleted Gas Reservoirs
The transition of energy from fossil fuels to renewable energy particularly hydrogen is becoming the centre of decarbonization and roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon emission. To meet the requirement of large-scale hydrogen storage as a key part of hydrogen supply chain, underground hydrogen storage can be the ultimate solution to economically store hydrogen thus meet global energy demand. Compared to other types of subsurface storage sites such as salt caverns and aquifers which are limited to geographical locations, depleted gas reservoirs have been raising more interest because of the wider distribution and higher storage capacity. However, safely storing and cycling of hydrogen in depleted gas reservoirs requires caprock, reservoir and wellbore to remain high stability and integrity. Nevertheless, current research on storage integrity during underground hydrogen in depleted gas reservoirs is still scarce and non-systemic. We therefore reviewed the major challenges on storage int...
Hydrogen Underground Storage as a Critical Factor in the Energy Transition Period
Technical Gazette, 2021
In this paper, the authors elaborated on the conversion of excess electricity, generated from renewable energy sources by water electrolysis, into chemical energy and on its underground storing. Specifically, one of potential solutions in the function of transition and decarbonization of the energy sector is a project of conversion and storage of wind and solar energy, that is, underground storage of chemical energy (hydrogen). In the primary cycle of producing and storing hydrogen, underground storing of hydrogen (UHS) in geological formations is a crucial factor in storing large volumes of energy for a theoretically longer, or an indefinite period. The paper presents possibilities of using the stated technology in Croatia by using a small standard underground gas storage facility (UGS). The article presents technical-technological process of producing and underground storing of hydrogen: from generating electricity through renewable energy sources or other industrial processes generating waste energy, the production of hydrogen and its compression, transport and storage in underground geological formations. In this paper, the authors will also elaborate on the status of the EU States´ regulations, which present the main factor for the previously mentioned activities, as well as on the necessary changes that the relevant regulations need to undergo.
Energy Procedia, 2013
The H2STORE collaborative project investigates potential geohydraulic, petrophysical, mineralogical, microbiological and geochemical interactions induced by the injection of hydrogen into depleted gas reservoirs and CO 2-and town gas storage sites. In this context the University of Jena performs mineralogical and geochemical investigations on reservoir and cap rocks to evaluate the relevance of preferential sedimentological features, which will control fluid (hydrogen) pathways, thus provoking fluid-rock interactions and related variations in porosity and permeability. Thereby reservoir sand-and sealing mudstones of different composition, sampled from distinct depths (different: pressure/temperature conditions) of five German locations are analysed. In combination with laboratory experiments the results will enable the characterization of specific mineral reactions at different physico-chemical conditions and geological settings.
Hydrogen Storage in Geological Formations—The Potential of Salt Caverns
Energies
Hydrogen-based technologies are among the most promising solutions to fulfill the zero-emission scenario and ensure the energy independence of many countries. Hydrogen is considered a green energy carrier, which can be utilized in the energy, transport, and chemical sectors. However, efficient and safe large-scale hydrogen storage is still challenging. The most frequently used hydrogen storage solutions in industry, i.e., compression and liquefaction, are highly energy-consuming. Underground hydrogen storage is considered the most economical and safe option for large-scale utilization at various time scales. Among underground geological formations, salt caverns are the most promising for hydrogen storage, due to their suitable physicochemical and mechanical properties that ensure safe and efficient storage even at high pressures. In this paper, recent advances in underground storage with a particular emphasis on salt cavern utilization in Europe are presented. The initial experience...