Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs
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Yongqiang Chen
Abstract
Rock salts widely exist in geological settings, such as sandstones, carbonates, and shales. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the wettability and gas interactions between hydrogen (H2), CO2, CH4, and clay impurities at the molecular scale on salt surfaces. Results reveal that water preferentially forms a sealing layer on rock salt surfaces. Compared with CO2, CH4 is less likely to mix with H2, minimizing hydrogen contamination in the reservoirs. Kaolinite prefers adsorbing CO2 impurities rather than H2, which indicates less polluted natural hydrogen with clays in the reservoirs. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding natural hydrogen behaviors as a function of rock salt properties. While this study highlights the importance of wettability in rock salt environments, future work is recommended to explore the influence of dynamic environmental factors and validate the results experimentally. effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs
Abstract
Rock salts widely exist in geological settings, such as sandstones, carbonates, and shales. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the wettability and gas interactions between hydrogen (H2), CO2, CH4, and clay impurities at the molecular scale on salt surfaces. Results reveal that water preferentially forms a sealing layer on rock salt surfaces. Compared with CO2, CH4 is less likely to mix with H2, minimizing hydrogen contamination in the reservoirs. Kaolinite prefers adsorbing CO2 impurities rather than H2, which indicates less polluted natural hydrogen with clays in the reservoirs. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding natural hydrogen behaviors as a function of rock salt properties. While this study highlights the importance of wettability in rock salt environments, future work is recommended to explore the influence of dynamic environmental factors and validate the results experimentally. effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Editorial note XI
- Contributing authors XIII
-
Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
- Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
- Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
- Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
- Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
-
Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
- Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
- Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
- Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
- Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
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Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
- Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
- Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
- Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
- Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
- Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
- Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
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Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
- Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
- Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
- Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
- Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
- Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
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Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
- Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
- Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
- Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
- Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
- Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
- Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
- Index 699
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Editorial note XI
- Contributing authors XIII
-
Part I: Geological foundations of natural hydrogen
- Chapter 1 Evaluating natural hydrogen systems through the lens of petroleum exploration 1
- Chapter 2 Subsurface natural H2 systems: some lessons from drilling results 47
- Chapter 3 Natural hydrogen exploration: some similarities and differences with oil and gas exploration 75
- Chapter 4 Geological and geochemical pathways of onshore natural hydrogen generation 105
-
Part II: Natural hydrogen generation mechanisms
- Chapter 5 Shallow peridotites at magma-poor rifted margins: occurrences, serpentinization, and H2 generation 131
- Chapter 6 Exploring natural hydrogen in the oldest nuclei of continents: why do cratons matter? 163
- Chapter 7 A possible origin of organic natural hydrogen 201
- Chapter 8 Natural hydrogen and the primordially hydridic earth concept 239
-
Part III: Hydrogen exploration and detection techniques
- Chapter 9 Rock physics for quantitative geophysical interpretation of natural hydrogen resources 267
- Chapter 10 The potential geophysical responses of trapped natural hydrogen gas 297
- Chapter 11 The development of an airborne, stand-off detection instrument for hydrogen gas 325
- Chapter 12 Surface gas geochemical exploration for natural hydrogen: uncertainties and holistic interpretation 347
- Chapter 13 Natural hydrogen favorability maps (NHFMs): a new concept for natural hydrogen exploration in different geological contexts 367
- Chapter 14 Numerical simulation of hydrogen phase equilibrium and migration at basin scale 385
-
Part IV: Global case studies and regional insights
- Chapter 15 Natural hydrogen exploration in Brazil: from theory to fieldwork case studies 417
- Chapter 16 Natural hydrogen in China: geological insights and exploration prospects 447
- Chapter 17 Potential occurrence and reservoirs of natural hydrogen based on the geological and tectonic setting of the Korean Peninsula 471
- Chapter 18 Natural hydrogen in Japan: general generation mechanisms, current work, and perspectives 491
- Chapter 19 Various elements of a potential hydrogen system in Saudi Arabia 513
-
Part V: Hydrogen storage, transportation, and environmental and technological challenges
- Chapter 20 Underground hydrogen storage lessons for natural hydrogen systems 537
- Chapter 21 Assessment of hydrogen storage in salt caverns in Oman 563
- Chapter 22 Advancements and challenges in the transportation of natural hydrogen 581
- Chapter 23 Environmental impacts of hydrogen production and usage 607
- Chapter 24 Drilling, construction, and completion of natural hydrogen exploration and production wells: emphasizing long-term well integrity 645
- Chapter 25 Effect of salt on rock wettability and gas interactions in natural hydrogen reservoirs 681
- Index 699