Prospecting for underground natural hydrogen - new energy for the future

  • Nguyen Anh Duc Vietnam Oil and Gas Group
  • Phan Ngoc Trung Vietnam Petroleum Institute
Keywords: Natural hydrogen, hydrogen system, energy transition

Abstract

Hydrogen, accounting for 75% of ordinary matter by mass and over 90% by atomic number, is the third most abundant element on the Earth's surface, mainly in the form of chemical compounds such as water and hydrocarbons. When burned, hydrogen gas (H2) produces heat and water without causing environmental pollution, thus it is expected to be one of the clean energy sources for the future. Industrial hydrogen has so far been mainly produced by thermochemical processes of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, and insignificantly by electrolysis of water. Recent natural hydrogen discoveries recorded in the world, especially the exploration and discovery of relatively pure underground hydrogen which was extracted and used as fuel for a local power generator in Bourakebougou (Mali), show the possibility of prospecting for underground natural hydrogen. The article provides an overview of natural hydrogen discoveries over the world and gives recommendations on the prospecting for underground natural hydrogen in Vietnam.

References

Eric C. Gaucher, “New perspectives in the industrial exploration for native hydrogen”, Elements, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 8 - 9, 2020. DOI: 10.2138/gselements.16.1.8.

Viacheslav Zgonnik, “The occurrence and geoscience of natural hydrogen: A comprehensive review”, Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 203, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103140.

AFHYPAC, “Natural ressources research “L’Hydrogene naturel”. [Online]. Available: https://eosys.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/HYDROGENE-NATUREL.pdf.

Reza Rezaee, “Natural hydrogen system in Western Australia?”, Preprints, 2020. DOI: 10.20944/preprints 202010.0589.v1.

Alain Prinzhofer, Cheick Sidy Tahara Cissé, and Aliou Boubacar Diallo, “Discovery of a large accumulation of natural hydrogen in Bourakebougou (Mali)”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy; Vol. 43, No. 42, pp. 19315 - 19326, 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.08.193.

Isabelle Moretti and M.E. Webber, “Natural hydrogen: a geological curiosity or the primary source for a low-carbon future?”, Renewable Matter, 2021.

J. Guélard, V.Beaumont, V. Rouchon, F. Guyot, D. Pillot, D. Jézéquel, M. Ader, K.D. Newell, and E. Deville, “Natural H2 in Kansas: Deep or shallow origin?”, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 1841 - 1865, 2017. DOI: 10.1002/2016GC006544.

Barbara Sherwood Lollar, T.C. Onstott, G. Lacrampe-Couloume, and C.J. Ballentine, “The contribution of the Precambrian continental lithosphere to global H2 production”, Nature, Vol. 516, pp. 379 - 382, 2014. DOI: 10.1038/nature14017.

S.K. Johnsgard, “The fracture pattern of North-Cenntral Kansas and its relation to hydrogen soil gas anomalies over the Mid-continental Rift System”, Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) Open-file Report 88-25, 1988. https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/OFR/1988/OFR88_25/ofr88-25.pdf.

Nikolay V. Larin, Viacheslav Zgonnik, S.N. Rodina, Eric Philippe Deville, Alain Prinzhofer, and Vladimir N. Larin, “Natural molecular hydrogen seepage associated with surficial, rounded depressions on the European craton in Russia”, Natural Resources Research, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 369 - 383, 2014. DOI: 10.1007/ s11053-014-9257-5.

Viacheslav Zgonnik, Valérie Beaumont, Eric Deville, Nikolay Larin, Daniel Pillot, and Kathleen M.Farrell, “Evidence for natural molecular hydrogen seepage associated with Carolina bays (surficial, ovoid depressions on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Province of the USA)”, Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, Vol. 2, No. 31, 2015. DOI: 10.1186/s40645-015-0062-5.

Alain Prinzhofer, Isabelle Moretti, Joao Françolin, Cleuton Pacheco, Angélique D’Agostino, Julien Werly, and Fabian Rupin, “Natural hydrogen continuous emission from sedimentary basins: The example of a Brazilian H2-emitting structure”, International Journal Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 5676 - 5685, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.01.119.

Viacheslav Zgonnik, Beaumont Valérie, Nikolay V. Larin, Pillot Daniel, and Eric Philippe Deville, “Diffused flow of molecular hydrogen through the Western Hajar mountains, Northern Oman”, Arabian Journal Geosciences, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2019. DOI: 10.1007/s12517-019-4242-2.

Elza Dugamin, Laurent Truche, and Frederic Victor Donze, “Natural hydrogen exploration guide”, 2019.

V.T. Jones and R.J. Pirkle, “Helium and hydrogen soil gas anomalies associated with deep or active faults”, American Chemical Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 29 March - 3 April, 1981.

J.H. McCarthy and T.H. Kiilsgaard, “Soil gas studies along the Trans-Challis fault system near Idaho city, Boise county, Idaho”, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2064-LL, 2001. DOI: 10.3133/b2064LL.

E.A. Rogozhin, A.V. Gorbatikov, N.V. Larin, and M.Yu Stepanova, “Deep structure of the Moscow Aulacogene in the western part of Moscow”, Izvetstiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, Vol. 46, pp. 973 - 981, 2010. DOI: 10.1134/S0001433810080062.

A.V. Shcherbakov and N.D. Kozlova, “Occurrence of hydrogen in subsurface fluids and the relationship of anomalous concentrations to deep faults in the USSR”, Geotectonics, Vol. 20, pp. 120 - 128, 1986.

Li-Hung Lin, James Hall, Johanna Lippmann-Pipke, Julie A. Ward, Barbara Sherwood Lollar, Mary F. Deflaun, Randi Rothmel, Duane P. Moser, Thomas M. Gihring, Bianca Mislowack, and T.C. Onstott, “Radiolytic H2 in continental crust: nuclear power for deep subsurface microbial communities”, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, Vol. 6, No. 7, pp. 1 - 13, 2005. DOI: 10.1029/2004GC000907.

Văn Đức Chương, Văn Đức Tùng và Trần Văn Thắng, “Các thành tạo mafic - siêu mafic trong các đai ophiolit ở Việt Nam”, Tạp chí các khoa học về trái đất, Tập 23, Số 3, trang 231 - 238, 2001. DOI: 10.15625/0866-7187/23/3/11336.

Hai Thanh Tran, KhinZaw, Jacqueline A. Halpin, Takayuki Manaka, Sebastien Meffre, Chun-KitLai, Youjin Lee, Hai Van Le, and Sang Dinh, “The Tam Ky - Phuoc Son shear zone in Central Vietnam: Tectonic and metallogenic implications”, Goldwana Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 144 - 164, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2013.04.008.

Published
2021-12-28
How to Cite
Nguyen , A. D., & Phan, N. T. (2021). Prospecting for underground natural hydrogen - new energy for the future . Petrovietnam Journal, 12, 4 - 14. https://doi.org/10.47800/PVJ.2021.12-01
Section
Articles