95-7 Assessing Hydrogen Geostorage in Natural Gas Reservoirs: Anadarko Basin

Session: Sustainable Subsurface Pore Space Utilization: Site Selection, Characterization, and Modeling

Presenting Author:

Nicholas Hayman

Authors:

Hayman, Nicholas W¹, Milad, Benmadi², Smith, Cori³, McGlannan, Austin⁴, Huerta, Nicolas J⁵, Aldana, Ivan⁶, Baek, Seunghwan⁷, Kwan, May⁸, McDonald, Zane⁹

(1) Oklahoma Geological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA, (2) Oklahoma Geological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA, (3) Oklahoma Geological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA, (4) Oklahoma Geologial Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA, (5) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA, (6) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA, (7) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA, (8) Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL, USA, (9) Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL, USA,

Abstract:

Hydrogen fuel (H2) is part of the current energy portfolio as an efficient energy carrier and power producer, and a role in decarbonization efforts. Surface storage of H2 is limited in volume, and currently quite expensive. In contrast, subsurface storage, a.k.a. geostorage, offers larger volume storage capacity. However, to date, most storage is in relatively geochemically benign and well-sealed salt formations. Here, we explore natural gas reservoirs as potential geostorage sites in order to widen the H2 geostorage options. We employ reservoir geology approaches for: (i) identifying potential reservoirs and seals in the context of their geological evolution and regional infrastructure, (ii) determining physical properties of the respective units by mining existing data and producing new laboratory measurements, and (iii) conducting geomodelling and flow simulations of the favored sites. We first applied this workflow to the Red Fork Group of the southern-central region of the Anadarko Basin. The Red Fork at first appeared to be a good target given its use elsewhere in Oklahoma as a natural gas storage system, and being relatively well sampled and characterized in the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) data and core collections. However, laboratory investigations subsequently found that the Red Fork in this part of the Anadarko Basin is likely too tight for an H2 geostorage project without resorting to unconventional approaches. An investigation into the deeper Simpson Group determined similar geologic barriers for this area. In contrast, Simpson-Group sections on the Anadarko shelf to the east-northeast appear to be well suited for H2 geostorage. Geomodelling of our selected reservoir areas largely depends on borehole intercepts, and allows for simplification of the model space to explore key parameters in simulations. In turn, we are currently focusing on pressure-dependencies in our simulations given the deep position of the Simpson Group in the Anadarko shelf stratigraphy. We also contrast H2 geostorage with more frequently modeled carbon-dioxide storage. H2 geostorage clearly confronts many other challenges, including its stability in the subsurface brine systems and sensitivity to the microbial environment. However, we have found that reservoir tightness can be an unexpected challenge though it  is well described in a stratigraphic and depositional-history framework.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-9383

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