Meeting the challenges of large-scale carbon storage and hydrogen production

Abstract

There is a pressing need to rapidly, and massively, scale up negative carbon strategies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). At the same time, large-scale CCS can enable ramp-up of large-scale hydrogen production, a key component of decarbonized energy systems. We argue here that the safest, and most practical strategy for dramatically increasing CO 2 storage in the subsurface is to focus on regions where there are multiple partially depleted oil and gas reservoirs. Many of these reservoirs have adequate storage capacity, are geologically and hydrodynamically well understood and are less prone to injection-induced seismicity than saline aquifers. Once a CO 2 storage facility is up and running, it can be used to store CO 2 from multiple sources. Integration of CCS with hydrogen production appears to be an economically viable strategy for dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, particularly in oil- and gas-producing countries where there are numerous depleted reservoirs that are potentially suitable for large-scale carbon storage.

Reconfiguring European industry for net-zero: a qualitative review of hydrogen and carbon capture utilization and storage benefits and implementation challenges

“…184–186 Similarly, others argue that the potential contribution of hydrogen leakage to climate change could contest its overall benefits. 187,188 A more comprehensive understanding of hydrogen systems and the impacts of leakage could therefore aid in developing not only more appropriate hydrogen deployment targets but also more appropriate policies and regulations.…”

Laboratory Observation of Fluid Flow in Depleted Shale Gas Reservoir: Coupling Effect of Sorbing and Non-sorbing Gas on Stress, Slippage, Flow Regime in Anisotropic and Fractured Shales

“…The depleted reservoirs possess a comprehensive understanding of their hydrodynamics and offer significant storage capacity for CO 2 over extended periods, thus providing a secure and practical solution for large-scale subsurface carbon capture and storage (CCS) (Figure ). , This approach contributes significantly to addressing global climate change as the world transitions toward carbon neutrality.…”

“…Therefore, understanding the flow behavior requires considering all these factors, including the permeability-effective stress law and evaluating Klinkenberg slip flow. Recent findings suggest that depleted reservoir conditions are suitable for long-term and feasible carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites because they provide sufficient open space to store large amounts of CO 2 . To develop improved strategies for recovery and CCS that meet global energy demands while mitigating climate change, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of fluid flow behavior and storage mechanisms in depleted reservoir conditions.…”

“…Recent findings suggest that depleted reservoir conditions are suitable for long-term and feasible carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites because they provide sufficient open space to store large amounts of CO 2 . 35 To develop improved strategies for recovery and CCS that meet global energy demands while mitigating climate change, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of fluid flow behavior and storage mechanisms in depleted reservoir conditions. It is noteworthy that the coupling effect of these variables on the fluid flow dynamics in anisotropic and naturally fractured shale reservoirs is also underexplored.…”

Acceleration of Deep Subsurface Fluid Fluxes in the Anthropocene

“…Although some of the injected CO 2 may be quickly mineralized in rock or dissolved in fluids (Benson & Cole, 2008), if sequestered as a separate phase, 2,000 Gt of CO 2 is equivalent to a volume of ∼3,300 km 3 . This assumes a density of 600 kg/m 3 is assumed for supercritical CO 2 (Zoback & Smit, 2023), which is a typical value for the temperatures and pressure found at depths greater than 800 m (Benson & Cole, 2008). This volume of fluid is an order of magnitude larger than cumulative historical global oil production.…”