Evaluating the hydrogen storage potential of shut down oil and gas fields along the Norwegian continental shelf

The underground hydrogen storage (UHS) capacities of shut down oil and gas (O & G) fields along the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) are evaluated based on the publicly available geological and hydrocarbon production data. Thermodynamic equilibrium and geochemical models are used to describe contamination of hydrogen, loss of hydrogen and changes in the mineralogy. The contamination spectrum of black oil fields and retrograde gas fields are remarkably similar. Geochemical models suggest limited reactive mineral phases and meter-scale hydrogen diffusion into the caprock. However, geochemical reactions between residual oil, reservoir brine, host rock and hydrogen are not yet studied in detail. For 23 shut down O & G fields, a theoretical maximum UHS capacity of ca. 642 TWh is estimated. We conclude with Frigg, Nordost Frigg, and Odin as the best-suited shut down fields for UHS, having a maximum UHS capacity of ca. 414 TWh. The estimates require verification by site-specific dynamic reservoir models. & COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

The underground hydrogen storage capacities of shut down oil and gas fields along the Norwegian continental shelf are evaluated based on available geological and hydrocarbon production data. Geochemical models suggest limited reactive mineral phases and meter-scale hydrogen diffusion into the caprock. For 23 shut down fields, a theoretical maximum UHS capacity of approximately 642 TWh is estimated. Frigg, Nordost Frigg, and Odin are identified as the best-suited shut down fields for UHS, with a maximum UHS capacity of approximately 414 TWh. Verification by site-specific dynamic reservoir models is needed.