In a rapidly evolving energy landscape where fossil fuel dependence is increasingly scrutinized, the potential of naturally occurring hydrogen as a low-carbon energy resource offers a paradigm shift.
Unlike petroleum, hydrogen combustion produces only water, positioning it as a cleaner alternative. However, the exploration of geologic hydrogen is still nascent, with occurrences of high concentrations remaining rare.
Geologic hydrogen, also termed “white” or “gold” hydrogen, is primarily found within the Earth’s subsurface in a manner akin to petroleum. Current research focuses on mapping its prospectivity across the conterminous United States, leveraging decades of geoscientific exploration techniques. This initiative aims to identify regions where all necessary conditions — hydrogen generation, storage reservoirs, and effective seals — converge, which may facilitate significant accumulations.
The hydrogen system is defined by three primary components: source, reservoir, and seal. The source component involves natural processes generating hydrogen, notably through serpentinization and radiolysis, while the reservoir and seal components ensure storage and retention. Reservoir components largely rely on sedimentary rocks due to their porosity and permeability, crucial for storing gases. Seals, on the other hand, are necessary to prevent hydrogen’s diffusion, given its high diffusivity compared to other gases.
The chance of sufficiency (COS) method is applied to evaluate the prospectivity, which implies the likelihood of each component’s presence and functionality without guaranteeing discovery. This probabilistic approach has previously been effective in assessing other subsurface resources like petroleum and geothermal wells. By integrating 21 geological and geophysical layers, the methodology identifies prospective areas through a combination of serpentinization, radiolysis, and deep-source subcomponents.
The prospectivity map highlights regions with high potential for hydrogen accumulation, notably the midcontinent rift, including states like Kansas and Oklahoma, and the California coast. The map indicates the highest COS values where serpentinization sources coincide with ancient geological formations, providing multiple hydrogen generation mechanisms. Regions such as northeastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, and the central California coast demonstrate significant hydrogen potential.
Given the dynamic nature of geological processes, the methodologies underpinning this mapping are adaptable for further refinement as more data becomes available. Exploration efforts may eventually extend their reach to areas offshore or to smaller, more localized subsections with previously unrecognized potential, guided by this map’s findings.
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