Exploitation and Commercialization Potential of Natural Hydrogen

Course Description

“Natural” or “Geological” Hydrogen is highlighted as a potential low-cost alternative source for the Energy Transition. Research suggesting substantial but highly speculative Exploration Potential has received prominent Media Attention.
Existing seminars and papers on natural hydrogen typically focus on the exploration aspects especially the understanding of hydrogen source-mechanisms and generation rates in the subsurface. However, to assign a commercial value to natural hydrogen exploration potential, one needs to start considering what possible exploitation projects might look like and what challenges (technical, commercial, environmental) these may face.

This seminar therefore takes a different approach. Assuming that exploration/research has successfully identified hydrogen sources in an area or province we then analyze, based on a combination of asset examples and analogue petroleum-exploitation concepts:
• How much hydrogen could concentrate or accumulate in the subsurface, in different settings and geological sites;
• How much hydrogen could be recovered from a subsurface site, what rates of hydrogen production might be achievable and for what duration could such production possibly be sustained;
• What development projects of such sites might look like. What kind of sites and projects could meet industrial supply. What would it take to mature a project from exploration through appraisal to eventual development and commercialization.

The main objective of the course is to provide participants with an understanding of the commercial exploitation potential of natural-hydrogen prospects in different settings (geological, geographical, industrial-supply opportunities)

Upon completion of the course, participants will understand the differences between the three basic forms of natural hydrogen storage in the subsurface (aqueous hydrogen, adsorbed hydrogen and trapped hydrogen gas) and why exploitation potential is very different depending on play type. Participants will understand some of the key factors that control attractiveness of different prospects and plays:
• Pressure and Phase of Hydrogen in the Subsurface
• Reservoir Quality and Resource Density of Hydrogen In-Place
• Applicable Drive Mechanisms and indicative Recovery Efficiency
• Potential well Production Rates

Participants will be guided through the assessment of hydrogen Unit Technical Cost (UTC) based on actual case studies. They will get to appreciate that for full, comprehensive analysis of the potential value of natural hydrogen exploration-prospects it is important not only assess prospective hydrogen resource-volumes but also estimate, based on data from the prospect or relevant analogues, at what rates this hydrogen could be extracted, what such extraction would involve in terms of drilling, gas processing and evacuation facilities and what by-products (e.g., water, other gases) may be co-produced. Synergy options with other resource exploitation (e.g., helium, geothermal) will be discussed. Finally, participants will gain an understanding of the steps involved in maturing a natural hydrogen project, from exploration through appraisal to eventual development and commercialization and again based on actual case-examples.