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Numerical Modelling of Microbial Activity During Underground Hydrogen Storage in Depleted Gas Reservoirs
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, Sixth EAGE Global Energy Transition Conference & Exhibition (GET 2025), Oct 2025, Volume 2025, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Summary
Integrating microbial reactions into fluid flow models is essential for accurately predicting microbial behavior in underground hydrogen storage (UHS) reservoirs. This study demonstrates that simplified mathematical models, which allow for analytical solutions, provide a solid foundation for understanding and improving more complex modeling approaches. The research reveals that microbial consumption of hydrogen is most intense near the wellbore and before the displacement front, increasing with longer injection times. Byproducts of microbial reactions, e.g. hydrogen sulfide, tend to accumulate near this front, offering a practical tool for predicting areas where hazardous substances might accumulate - information vital for production planning and monitoring. The study also finds that environments rich in carbon dioxide accelerate methanogenesis, resulting in greater hydrogen losses and suggesting that carbon dioxide may not be an ideal cushion gas for UHS. While competition among microbial species for hydrogen does not significantly reduce overall consumption in the model, real-world microbial interactions are more complex and influenced by factors like substrate abundance and nutrient availability. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating site-specific parameters, such as temperature, pH, and water chemistry, into future models, signifying the need for ongoing field sampling and laboratory testing to enhance prediction accuracy.
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