Speaker
Description
Underground gas storage is increasingly considered for renewable-based
hydrogen as part of the energy transition. However, hydrogen has a much lower
energy density than methane, requiring significantly larger injected volumes to
deliver the same stored energy. The geomechanical consequences of this
difference remain largely unexplored.
We investigate the impact of replacing methane with hydrogen on subsurface
stress conditions and caprock integrity using a coupled two-phase flow and
geomechanical model of a dome-shaped aquifer in northern Spain. Five years of
seasonal storage cycles are simulated for both gases under equivalent energy
storage conditions. Changes in pore pressure and stress are evaluated using the
Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion.
Results show that hydrogen storage induces larger pore-pressure increases,
leading to a stronger reduction in effective stress and higher mobilized friction
coefficients compared to methane. In several areas, hydrogen storage
approaches commonly adopted stability thresholds, whereas methane storage
remains mechanically stable. These findings emphasize the need for dedicated
geomechanical assessments when transitioning from methane to underground
hydrogen storage.
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Green Housing & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Green Housing |
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