Assessment of the potential for underground hydrogen storage in salt domes

Lankof, Leszek; Urbańczyk, Kazimierz; Tarkowski, Radosław

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2022.112309

Cited by 81 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…21,22 These bacteria can produce hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in the presence of H 2 . 15,23 During geological H 2 storage, these microorganisms can obtain energy via oxidation of H 2 (electron donor) and reduce sulfate (aq) (SO 4 2 ) (electron acceptor) to sulfide (S 2− ), leading to H 2 S generation and H 2 loss. 24,25 H 2 S could trigger hydrogen embrittlement problems in the wellbore.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

et al. 2023

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In this study, quartz substrates were incubated in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) culture for 21 days at room temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to quantify the bacterium effect, i.e., organic metabolite acids on the wetting behavior of the mineral surface. We examined the wettability of the quartz substrate before and after microorganism effects under reservoir conditions, i.e., 0 to 27 MPa pressures and 50 °C temperature. Nevertheless, there is no study reported to date for real geologic conditions, including for hydrogen–bacteria–rock wettability, which is proven to determine storage capacities, withdrawal rates, and containment security. Our findings reveal that the pH value of quartz dipped in the nutrient solution without SRB did not change meaningfully for 21 days. However, it significantly reduced from 7.58 to 5.98 with SRB. These microorganisms produce H2S, release the organic metabolite acids, and change the wettability of the mineral. The wettability of quartz surface changes from 4.2° to 14.4°, i.e., a 10.2% increase at 27 MPa and 50 °C after the bacterium effect. FTIR indicates the hydroxyl, amine, and carboxyl group (i.e., acetic acid) spectra in the microorganism solution. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) shows that the concentrations of sulfate ( normalS normalO 4 2 − ), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) have significantly reduced after the SRB effect. Overall, strong water-wet quartz shifted to less water-wet quartz after the microorganism effect under the reservoir conditions. SRB slightly reduce the residual trapping effect. Hence, this process might have enhanced the withdrawing efficiency of H2 in high brine-saturated sandstone reservoir rock under the microbial activity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

et al. 2023

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“…Hydrogen produced by any of these methods can be stored and used for energy generation later, or as chemical feedstock. However, the low density of hydrogen (0.089 kg/m 3 at standard temperature and pressure) and the significantly lower energy potential per unit volume of hydrogen when compared to natural gas (about one-third), means that to store energy at a scale sufficient to meet demands (terawatt-hour range) requires large volumes of hydrogen, and a vast upscaling of subsurface storage availability (e.g., Hashemi et al, 2021;Shuster et al, 2021;Crotogino, 2022;Lankof et al, 2022;Muhammed et al, 2022).…”

Section: Salt Caverns and The Emerging Hydrogen Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current ambitions to decarbonize energy systems to reduce the harmful effects of anthropogenic global warming will require a combination of reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, along with the ambitiously technological goal of capturing and sequestering as much carbon dioxide as possible (Figure 2). Within this framework, a number of technologies have been proposed to help the transition to a stable, safe, low carbon energy economy, these include, but are not limited to: (i) widespread use of carbon capture from industrial processes and subsequent sequestration within the subsurface; (ii) upscaling of hydrogen production and usage requiring upscaling of subsurface hydrogen storage; (iii) wider use of geothermal energy (e.g., Ringrose and Meckel, 2019;Stephenson et al, 2019;Hashemi et al, 2021;Shuster et al, 2021;Tester et al, 2021;Crotogino, 2022;Lankof et al, 2022;Muhammed et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

Duffy

Hudec

Peel

et al. 2023

tekt

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In this paper we examine the role salt tectonics can play in a number of key energy transition technologies, namely, energy storage as gas in salt caverns (e.g. hydrogen and compressed air), CO2 storage, and geothermal energy. For each of these technologies we explore: i) fundamental concepts and driving forces; ii) how and why the properties of salt are of importance; and iii) the key salt-related technical challenges, potential future research directions, and technical approaches needed for large-scale development. We highlight how salt-bearing basins offer vast potential for development throughout the energy transition including, but not limited to: i) the likely demand for thousands of new hydrogen storage caverns inside salt bodies by 2050; ii) a likely early focus for porous media CO2 storage sites in basins strongly influenced by salt tectonics; and iii) enhanced geothermal energy potential in and around salt bodies. Effective exploitation of these resources will require a deeper understanding of the internal composition, geometry, and evolution of salt structures and their surrounding sediments, and potentially the development of more predictive models of salt tectonic behaviour. Critically, we see the need to integrate learnings of salt tectonics gained in the academic, mining, solution mining, and oil and gas communities, and apply a fresh perspective to answer research questions of relevance to the energy transition. Developing this new understanding will help optimise design, reduce geotechnical risk, and improve efficiency for energy transition technologies, thus indicating a strong future demand for salt tectonic research.

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“…However, the low density of hydrogen (0.089 kg/m 3 at standard temperature and pressure) and the significantly lower energy potential per unit volume of hydrogen when compared to natural gas (about one-third), means that to store energy at a scale sufficient to meet demands (terawatt-hour range) requires large volumes of hydrogen, and a vast upscaling of subsurface storage availability (e.g. Hashemi et al, 2021;Shuster et al, 2021;Crotogino, 2022;Lankof et al, 2022;Muhammed et al, 2022).…”

Section: Salt Caverns and The Emerging Hydrogen Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within this framework, a number of technologies have been proposed to help the transition to a stable, safe, low carbon energy economy, these include, but are not limited to: i) widespread use of carbon capture from industrial processes and subsequent sequestration within the subsurface; ii) upscaling of hydrogen production and usage requiring upscaling of subsurface hydrogen storage; and iii) wider use of geothermal energy (e.g. Ringrose and Meckel., 2019;Stephenson et al, 2019;Hashemi et al, 2021;Shuster et al, 2021;Tester et al, 2021;Crotogino, 2022;Lankof et al, 2022;Muhammed et al, 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

Duffy¹,

Hudec²,

Peel³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The fundamental properties of salt have long been exploited in the search for hydrocarbons, as they influence many of the hydrocarbon play elements. This industrial application has driven the pursuit of salt tectonic knowledge over the last century and led to major conceptual advances in the field. However, the current need, and social-political demand, to decarbonize suggests that the applicability of salt tectonic knowledge will expand to other aspects of the subsurface that are relevant to the energy transition. The pace of this change leaves the field of salt tectonics grappling with a fundamental question – what role does salt tectonics have as part of the energy transition? Here, we discuss the role salt tectonics can play in a number of key energy transition technologies, namely, energy storage as gas in salt caverns (e.g. hydrogen and compressed air), CO2 storage, and geothermal energy. For each of these technologies we explore: i) fundamental concepts and driving forces; ii) how and why the properties of salt are of importance; and iii) the key salt-related technical challenges, potential future research directions, and technical approaches needed for large-scale development. We highlight how salt basins offer vast potential for development throughout the energy transition including, but not limited to: i) the likely demand for thousands of new hydrogen storage caverns inside salt bodies by 2050; ii) a likely early focus for porous media CO2 storage sites in basins strongly influenced by salt tectonics; and iii) enhanced geothermal energy potential in and around salt bodies. Effective exploitation of these resources will require a deeper understanding of the internal composition, geometry, and evolution of salt structures and their surrounding sediments, and potentially the development of more predictive models of salt tectonic behaviour. Critically, we see the need to integrate learnings of salt tectonics gained in the academic, mining, solution mining, and oil and gas communities, and apply a fresh perspective to answer research questions of relevance to the energy transition. Developing this new understanding will help optimise design, reduce geotechnical risk, and improve efficiency for energy transition technologies, thus indicating a strong future demand for salt tectonic research.

show abstract

Assessment of the potential for underground hydrogen storage in salt domes

Cited by 81 publications

References 46 publications

Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

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Assessment of the potential for underground hydrogen storage in salt domes

Cited by 81 publications

References 46 publications

Quartz–H2–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

Quartz–H2–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy Transition: An Overview and Future Challenges

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Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage

Quartz–H₂–Brine Bacterium Wettability under Realistic Geo-Conditions: Towards Geological Hydrogen Storage