Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage

Replacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen has been recognized as the most feasible approach of implementing CO2-free hydrogen economy globally. However, large-scale storage of hydrogen is a critical component of hydrogen economy value chain because hydrogen is the lightest molecule and has mod...

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Main Authors: Hani Al-Mukainah, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Nurudeen Yekeen, Jafar Al Hamad, Mohamed Mahmoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-11-01
Series:Energy Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722012690
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author Hani Al-Mukainah
Ahmed Al-Yaseri
Nurudeen Yekeen
Jafar Al Hamad
Mohamed Mahmoud
author_facet Hani Al-Mukainah
Ahmed Al-Yaseri
Nurudeen Yekeen
Jafar Al Hamad
Mohamed Mahmoud
author_sort Hani Al-Mukainah
collection DOAJ
description Replacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen has been recognized as the most feasible approach of implementing CO2-free hydrogen economy globally. However, large-scale storage of hydrogen is a critical component of hydrogen economy value chain because hydrogen is the lightest molecule and has moderately low volumetric energy content. To achieve successful storage of buoyant hydrogen at the subsurface and convenient withdrawal during the period of critical energy demand, the integrity of the underground storage rock and overlying seal (caprock) must be assured. Presently, there is paucity of information on hydrogen wettability of shale and the interfacial properties of H2/brine system. In this research, contact angles of shale/H2/brine system and hydrogen/brine interfacial tension (IFT) were measured using Krüss drop shape analyzer (DSA 100) at 50 °C and varying pressure (14.7–1000 psi). A modified form of sessile drop approach was used for the contact angles measurement, whereas the H2-brine IFT was measured through the pendant drop method. H2-brine IFT values decreased slightly with increasing pressure, ranging between 63.68° at 14.7 psia and 51.29° at 1000 psia. The Eagle-ford shale with moderate total organic carbon (TOC) of 3.83% attained fully hydrogen-wet (contact angle of 99.9°) and intermediate-wet condition (contact angle of 89.7°) at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. Likewise, the Wolf-camp shale with low TOC (0.30%) attained weakly water-wet conditions, with contact angles of 58.8° and 62.9°, at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. The maximum height of hydrogen that can be securely trapped by the Wolf-camp shale was approximately 325 meters whereas the value was merely 100 meters for the Eagle-ford shale. Results of this study will aid in assessment of hydrogen storage capacity of organic-rich shale (adsorption trapping), as well as evaluation of the sealing potentials of low TOC shale (caprock) during underground hydrogen storage.
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spelling doaj.art-64e2e61829ad4266a21c4fa03884337b2023-04-18T09:29:47ZengElsevierEnergy Reports2352-48472022-11-01888308843Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storageHani Al-Mukainah0Ahmed Al-Yaseri1Nurudeen Yekeen2Jafar Al Hamad3Mohamed Mahmoud4Center of Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR), College of Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi ArabiaCenter of Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR), College of Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author.Department of Petroleum Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, MalaysiaCollege of Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi ArabiaReplacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen has been recognized as the most feasible approach of implementing CO2-free hydrogen economy globally. However, large-scale storage of hydrogen is a critical component of hydrogen economy value chain because hydrogen is the lightest molecule and has moderately low volumetric energy content. To achieve successful storage of buoyant hydrogen at the subsurface and convenient withdrawal during the period of critical energy demand, the integrity of the underground storage rock and overlying seal (caprock) must be assured. Presently, there is paucity of information on hydrogen wettability of shale and the interfacial properties of H2/brine system. In this research, contact angles of shale/H2/brine system and hydrogen/brine interfacial tension (IFT) were measured using Krüss drop shape analyzer (DSA 100) at 50 °C and varying pressure (14.7–1000 psi). A modified form of sessile drop approach was used for the contact angles measurement, whereas the H2-brine IFT was measured through the pendant drop method. H2-brine IFT values decreased slightly with increasing pressure, ranging between 63.68° at 14.7 psia and 51.29° at 1000 psia. The Eagle-ford shale with moderate total organic carbon (TOC) of 3.83% attained fully hydrogen-wet (contact angle of 99.9°) and intermediate-wet condition (contact angle of 89.7°) at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. Likewise, the Wolf-camp shale with low TOC (0.30%) attained weakly water-wet conditions, with contact angles of 58.8° and 62.9°, at 14.7 psi and 200 psi respectively. The maximum height of hydrogen that can be securely trapped by the Wolf-camp shale was approximately 325 meters whereas the value was merely 100 meters for the Eagle-ford shale. Results of this study will aid in assessment of hydrogen storage capacity of organic-rich shale (adsorption trapping), as well as evaluation of the sealing potentials of low TOC shale (caprock) during underground hydrogen storage.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722012690HydrogenCaprocksWettabilityCapillary pressureUnderground storageShales
spellingShingle Hani Al-Mukainah
Ahmed Al-Yaseri
Nurudeen Yekeen
Jafar Al Hamad
Mohamed Mahmoud
Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
Energy Reports
Hydrogen
Caprocks
Wettability
Capillary pressure
Underground storage
Shales
title Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
title_full Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
title_fullStr Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
title_full_unstemmed Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
title_short Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
title_sort wettability of shale brine h2 system and h2 brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage
topic Hydrogen
Caprocks
Wettability
Capillary pressure
Underground storage
Shales
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722012690
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