Study Reviews Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Geologic Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: July 2024

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper IPTC 23943, “Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Geologic Hydrogen Storage,” by Johannes F. Bauer, Mohd M. Amro, SPE, and Taofik Nassan, SPE, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2024 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

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Safe and effective large-scale storage of hydrogen (H2) is one of the greatest challenges of the global energy transition and can be realized only through storage in geological formations. The aim of the study detailed in the complete paper is to address and discuss the reservoir engineering aspects of geological H2 storage (GHS). The study is based on two sources: first, a comprehensive literature review and, second, experimental and numerical work performed by the authors’ institute.

H2 Pressure/Volume/Temperature (PVT)/Phase Behavior

The definition of the PVT/phase behavior of reservoir fluids is crucial in GHS because thermodynamic properties significantly affect safety and effectiveness. The properties of H2 are widely known and modeled, but its reaction with other gases, such as in-situ gases like natural gas in depleted gas reservoirs (DGR), currently is under investigation. Although the ideal gas law can account for H2 behavior at low pressure, accurate depiction of its thermodynamic properties requires more-sophisticated equations of state (EOS), especially when it is mixed with other gases such as methane. Most commercial reservoir simulators use EOS packages that can model the complex properties of these mixtures, mostly within required reliability. In most instances, calibration is still required if experimental PVT data are available.

Reservoir Engineering of GHS.

GHS projects must meet three crucial technical benchmarks for underground storage: capacity (storage volume), injectivity/productivity (rate of injection/withdrawal in relation to wellhead pressure), and containment integrity (prevention of leakage). Economic sustainability requires that projects must adhere to these standards, which may vary according to the selected geological formations. Although various subsurface structures can store H2, only specific formations such as salt caverns (SCs), saline aquifers (SAs), and depleted gas/oil reservoirs (DGRs and DORs), fulfill the requirements. While the complete paper discusses all three of these formation types in detail, this synopsis will concentrate on SCs.

GHS in SCs.

SC storage typically involves up to three wells for one cavern with a volume of up to 500,000 std m3, providing a delivery rate of 8,500–17,000 std m3/day. Working gas accounts for up to 65% of the total gas, while water should be kept to a minimum. SCs usually allow between six and 12 operating cycles per year, each lasting approximately 10 days for withdrawal periods. SCs offer high H2 purity and sealed storage.

The storage capacity of caverns in Germany is determined by their volume and pressure limitations while avoiding any negative geomechanical effects. These caverns can range in depth from 500 to 2000 m, with heights of up to 400 m. Approximately 30 to 50% of the total stored volume is used as cushion gas to maintain production pressure. Estimating the capacity of these caverns relies on their geometry and thermodynamics, resulting in relatively lower uncertainties when compared with storages in porous media.