In-Situ Hydrogen Production from Petroleum Reservoirs using Electromagnetic-Assisted Catalytic Heating

To address the escalating global hydrogen demands and reduce carbon emissions in the petroleum industry, a groundbreaking technology known as in-situ hydrogen (H2) production from petroleum reservoirs through electromagnetic (EM)-assisted catalytic heating has been proposed and successfully validated. This systematic study investigates H2 generation and the fundamental mechanisms behind the in-situ conversion of hydrocarbon to H2 in the presence of natural reservoir rocks using EM method. The findings reveal that reservoir rocks such as shale and sandstone exhibit a notable natural catalytic effect in enhancing hydrocarbon conversion to H2, resulting in a maximum H2 concentration of 91% and 77% generated from methane and shale oil, respectively, at around 700°C. The reaction mechanism under various scenarios is thoroughly investigated by a combination of experiments and simulations. The results show water not only serves as a H2 donor in the process but also generates hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which further enhance the chemical reactivity of the conversion reactions. Throughout the experiments, negligible CO2 and minor CO emissions are observed, highlighting the potential for carbon-zero hydrogen technology, especially with the assistance of downhole membrane separators. Additionally, the Thermal Runaway (TR) phenomenon has been discovered in reservoir rocks under EM irradiation, resulting in at least a 50% reduction in energy consumption associated with EM heating. Based on the above findings, a techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment are conducted using reservoir-scale subsurface process modeling. The results suggest that the cost of in-situ hydrogen from natural gas reservoirs could be as low as $0.86/kg H2. Electricity consumption for EM heating and membrane costs are identified as the primary cost drivers in the process. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of in-situ hydrogen production and extraction from petroleum reservoirs using EM-assisted catalytic heating, offering a viable pathway for clean energy supply from hydrocarbon reservoirs.