Hydrogen generation in crushed rocks saturated by crude oil and water using microwave heating

Fossil-based hydrogen (H2) production, such as steam methane reforming (SMR), typically occurs at surface facilities using hydrocarbons as a major feedstock. Such approach generates significant amount of byproduct carbon dioxide (CO2) and requires the costly carbon capture and geological storage. Here we propose a novel approach to generate hydrogen within petroleum reservoirs using the remaining/unrecovered oil and gas. To validate this scientific proof-of-concept, we use microwave (MW) heating to initiate the reactions of crude oil, water, and/or catalysts in crushed rock samples. A maximum of 63% ultimate hydrogen content is obtained in generated gas mixtures, while CO2 is always less than 1%. Besides hydrocarbon cracking, additional hydrogen is generated by water-gas shift reactions. Water-oil ratios in rocks also affect hydrogen yield, with 1:1 appearing as an optimal ratio. Furthermore, we find that iron catalysts can accelerate reaction rate but has limited effects on ultimate hydrogen yield. Metal minerals in rocks may act as natural catalysts to enhance hydrogen generation. Overall, this work demonstrates the technical feasibility of in-situ hydrogen generation directly from petroleum reservoirs. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study proposes a novel method to generate hydrogen within petroleum reservoirs using remaining/unrecovered oil and gas. By heating, catalyzing, and controlling water-oil ratio, the researchers achieved high hydrogen content in rock samples.