Revealed is a schematic description of operational activities and essential processes being explored in the SHASTA (Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage, and Technology Acceleration) project. Hydrogen reservoirs could display complex flow, transport, microbial and geochemical procedures. These interactions will be studied utilizing lab experiments, simulations and unique monitoring approaches. Graphic thanks to National Energy Technology Laboratory multimedia team. Component secret: H2 = hydrogen; CH4 = methane; CO2 = co2; H+ = hydrogen cation; H2S = hydrogen sulfide; H2O = water. Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
A group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers, in collaboration with two other national laboratories, has introduced a job studying the viability of large-scale hydrogen storage in geologic formations.
Researchers from LLNL, Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNNL) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will get as much as $6.75 million over the next three years from the Department of Energys Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM).
” This is an interesting project for us due to the fact that it resolves a timely and critical element of a low-carbon energy future,” stated LLNL reservoir engineer and primary private investigator Joshua White.
” At the exact same time, the required proficiency constructs on LLNLs decades of experience working in the subsurface on related innovations such as geologic carbon storage, gas storage, and geothermal energy.”
Called the SHASTA Project (Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage, and Technology Acceleration), a crucial element of the effort involves studying the security and effectiveness of keeping blended mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas in subsurface tanks.
White and fellow LLNL tank engineer Nicola Castelletto will concentrate on conducting subsurface modeling work, while Lab geochemist Megan Smith will study high-pressure, high-temperature experimental opportunities.
Hydrogen is emerging as a low-carbon fuel alternative for transportation, electrical power generation, producing applications, and tidy energy innovations that will accelerate the United States transition to a low-carbon economy.
However, an essential challenge is to guarantee the effective and safe storage of hydrogen. Massive hydrogen storage will be needed as the nation shifts to an essentially carbon- and emissions-free tidy energy economy. Domestically, nevertheless, large-volume underground hydrogen storage has been demonstrated as safe and effective only in salt dome structures or caverns.
Not all areas have the appropriate geological requirements for salt cavity storage; nevertheless, FECM is exploring storage opportunities in these areas, including in porous media, which are comparable to underground gas storage reservoirs.
The just recently announced task will identify the technical feasibility of hydrogen storage in subsurface systems and quantify the operational dangers associated with storage in those systems.
It likewise will establish technologies and tools that will minimize those dangers. At the same time, the research study effort will establish the technical basis for using the much larger capabilities available in permeable media storage, as well as the capability to re-use existing gas storage facilities for the hydrogen economy.
The project might help speed up and broaden the usage of hydrogen by leveraging existing centers (e.g., existing natural gas storage reservoirs) at storage websites across the United States.
It will deal with critical technological difficulties; conduct research to demonstrate the feasibility of emerging innovation; and establish tools and technologies to support industry and allow the improvement of subsurface hydrogen storage.
Secret concerns researchers will attend to include:
How can the technical and operational dangers associated with subsurface hydrogen storage be reduced so that operations are protective of human beings and the environment?
How can emerging technologies be leveraged to make it possible for a wise, effective and safe hydrogen subsurface storage system (e.g., sensing units, reservoir simulators and screening tools)?
What technical, functional and economic insights are required to allow large-scale subsurface storage for pure hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends?
Revealed is a schematic description of operational activities and essential procedures being checked out in the SHASTA (Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage, and Technology Acceleration) project. Component key: H2 = hydrogen; CH4 = methane; CO2 = carbon dioxide; H+ = hydrogen cation; H2S = hydrogen sulfide; H2O = water. A crucial difficulty is to make sure the safe and effective storage of hydrogen. Massive hydrogen storage will be needed as the country transitions to a virtually carbon- and emissions-free clean energy economy. Locally, however, large-volume underground hydrogen storage has actually been shown as efficient and safe just in salt dome structures or caverns.
Both field experiments and simulations will be carried out to study pure hydrogen and mixed hydrogen effect on underground storage systems. The research will concentrate on quantifying materials compatibility, investigating core- and reservoir-scale performance and characterizing microbial interactions.