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Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity

  • Md Mofazzal Hossain
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Natural Hydrogen Systems
This chapter is in the book Natural Hydrogen Systems

Abstract

As global energy demand increases, transitioning from fossil fuels to sustainable green energy sources is becoming more critical. Hydrogen, a clean energy source, is expected to play a key role in accelerating this transition. Natural hydrogen presents a significant opportunity in the energy sector as a clean alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, developing natural hydrogen reservoirs poses unique challenges, particularly in subsurface exploration, drilling, well design, and construction for safe extraction and production operations. Hydrogen’s distinct physical and chemical properties, such as low molecular weight, high diffusivity, and flammability, necessitate advanced techniques in drilling and well design. These techniques must ensure containment and safe production processes with the highest level of integrity.

Drilling and completing hydrogen wells require special attention. Unlike conventional hydrocarbon wells, hydrogen wells must account for hydrogen’s chemical reactivity, its interaction with wellbore materials, completion hardware, and the surrounding formation (e.g., rock, cement). The impact of thermo-mechanical behavior, especially in dynamic situations during production operations with changing conditions (e.g., pressure, temperature), including the potential for leaks, must also be considered. Hydrogen can also cause metals to become brittle, posing challenges in selecting materials for wellbore construction and completion to maintain safe production operations. Innovations in drilling fluids, casing materials, and advanced completion techniques are essential for safely and economically extracting natural hydrogen from its reservoirs.

This chapter provides an overview of natural hydrogen, its reservoir characteristics, and the framework for drilling, constructing, and completing natural hydrogen exploration and production wells. It addresses the challenges of drilling exploration wells, and completing production wells, focusing on developing an engineering framework for designing and constructing these wells to ensure long-term well integrity. The chapter reviews and synthesizes wellbore integrity issues, detailing the causes of well integrity loss, the challenges encountered, and the associated risks. It proposes a 646comprehensive engineering framework for designing, drilling, completing, and constructing natural hydrogen exploration and production wells. This framework offers guidance on drilling techniques, material selection, cementing practices, and real-time monitoring systems. Through a thorough review, this work aims to provide insights into harnessing natural hydrogen as a sustainable green energy resource.

Abstract

As global energy demand increases, transitioning from fossil fuels to sustainable green energy sources is becoming more critical. Hydrogen, a clean energy source, is expected to play a key role in accelerating this transition. Natural hydrogen presents a significant opportunity in the energy sector as a clean alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, developing natural hydrogen reservoirs poses unique challenges, particularly in subsurface exploration, drilling, well design, and construction for safe extraction and production operations. Hydrogen’s distinct physical and chemical properties, such as low molecular weight, high diffusivity, and flammability, necessitate advanced techniques in drilling and well design. These techniques must ensure containment and safe production processes with the highest level of integrity.

Drilling and completing hydrogen wells require special attention. Unlike conventional hydrocarbon wells, hydrogen wells must account for hydrogen’s chemical reactivity, its interaction with wellbore materials, completion hardware, and the surrounding formation (e.g., rock, cement). The impact of thermo-mechanical behavior, especially in dynamic situations during production operations with changing conditions (e.g., pressure, temperature), including the potential for leaks, must also be considered. Hydrogen can also cause metals to become brittle, posing challenges in selecting materials for wellbore construction and completion to maintain safe production operations. Innovations in drilling fluids, casing materials, and advanced completion techniques are essential for safely and economically extracting natural hydrogen from its reservoirs.

This chapter provides an overview of natural hydrogen, its reservoir characteristics, and the framework for drilling, constructing, and completing natural hydrogen exploration and production wells. It addresses the challenges of drilling exploration wells, and completing production wells, focusing on developing an engineering framework for designing and constructing these wells to ensure long-term well integrity. The chapter reviews and synthesizes wellbore integrity issues, detailing the causes of well integrity loss, the challenges encountered, and the associated risks. It proposes a 646comprehensive engineering framework for designing, drilling, completing, and constructing natural hydrogen exploration and production wells. This framework offers guidance on drilling techniques, material selection, cementing practices, and real-time monitoring systems. Through a thorough review, this work aims to provide insights into harnessing natural hydrogen as a sustainable green energy resource.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Editorial note XI
  5. Contributing authors XIII
  6. Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
  7. Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
  8. Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
  9. Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
  10. Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
  11. Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
  12. Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
  13. Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
  14. Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
  15. Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
  16. Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
  17. Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
  18. Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
  19. Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
  20. Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
  21. Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
  22. Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
  23. Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
  24. Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
  25. Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
  26. Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
  27. Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
  28. Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
  29. Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
  30. Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
  31. Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
  32. Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
  33. Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
  34. Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
  35. Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
  36. Index 699
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111437040-024

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Editorial note XI
  5. Contributing authors XIII
  6. Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
  7. Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
  8. Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
  9. Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
  10. Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
  11. Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
  12. Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
  13. Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
  14. Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
  15. Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
  16. Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
  17. Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
  18. Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
  19. Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
  20. Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
  21. Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
  22. Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
  23. Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
  24. Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
  25. Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
  26. Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
  27. Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
  28. Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
  29. Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
  30. Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
  31. Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
  32. Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
  33. Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
  34. Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
  35. Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
  36. Index 699
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