Hydrogen Exploration: A 21st-Century Gold Rush
Drilling underground to find materials that can be burned to generate energy may seem like something from the 19th century, but it’s actually one of the most innovative industries in energy today. The difference is that this time, the competition is to locate natural hydrogen resources rather than fossil fuels.
The Role of Hydrogen in a Sustainable Future
In addition to being a vital component of the chemical industry, hydrogen has the potential to be a more environmentally friendly fuel for steel, aviation, and transoceanic transportation. Although the gas must now be produced, there is some indication that there are substantial subterranean deposits.
Discovering Underground Hydrogen
Hydrogen rarely appears in oil and gas operations, and for many years, it was believed that there were no significant subterranean hydrogen resources. It was assumed that even if the gas was formed there, it would just seep away because hydrogen molecules are so small.
Nonetheless, over the years, hydrogen has been found in certain unintentional places, such as new well locations or abandoned mines. There have been accounts of flames that burned gold or wells that emitted colorless gas. Additionally, individuals have begun to discover hydrogen as they have started to search for it more deliberately.
The Science Behind Natural Hydrogen Formation
It turns out that rocks that host deposits of gas and oil are not the same as those where hydrogen tends to accumulate. Hydrogen appears to be most abundant in iron-rich rocks like olivine, whereas mining for fossil fuels often concentrates on softer rocks like organic-rich shale. The gas is created when water is pulled apart by chemical reactions occurring beneath at high temperatures and pressures.
Radiolysis, a process where radioactive elements release radiation that can split water, is probably another mechanism that creates hydrogen underground. According to some studies, there might be a trillion tons of hydrogen available, which would be more than enough to meet our needs for millennia even if we increase our consumption of the gas.
Emerging Hydrogen Ventures and Global Interest
In recent years, businesses have sprung up all over the world in an attempt to find and use these resources. Australia is experiencing a surge, particularly in the southern region, which appears to have favorable circumstances for producing hydrogen. To support its geologic hydrogen investigation, one business, Koloma, has raised more than $350 million.
Challenges in Hydrogen Extraction and Transportation
This sector has a lot of unanswered questions, one of which is how much hydrogen will be economically and practically available to extract. The ideal way to search for gas is still unclear; corporations and researchers are using methods and equipment from the oil and gas sector, but there may be more effective approaches.
Transportation is another problem because hydrogen isn’t very dense and can be challenging to carry and store. Deposits located distant from the eventual consumers may incur significant expenses, rendering the entire undertaking unfeasible.
Environmental Implications of Hydrogen Extraction
The potential impact of this on climate change is likewise unknown. Although hydrogen doesn’t directly cause global warming, it can indirectly cause it by prolonging the half-life of other greenhouse gases. Methane, a very potent greenhouse gas that could cause serious damage if it leaks out of operations at a considerable level, is also frequently found with it.
Innovations in Hydrogen Production
However, this field is quite fascinating, and scientists are trying to learn more about it. By injecting water underground to encourage the generation of hydrogen from rocks that wouldn’t normally produce the gas, some are hoping to increase the possible pool of resources.
The Future of Hydrogen Energy
I find it intriguing to use the oil and gas industry’s blueprint to create an energy source that can genuinely aid in the fight against climate change. Given the wealth of knowledge that has been gathered throughout the approximately 150 years that humans have been extracting fossil fuels, it might be a calculated step to meet the need for energy.
After all, emissions, not excavation, are the issue.
