Geochemical Integrity of Wellbore Cements during Geological Hydrogen Storage

Area of Science:

• Geochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Rising greenhouse gas emissions necessitate climate change mitigation strategies.
• Geological hydrogen storage in salt caverns and porous rocks offers sustainable energy solutions.
• Well integrity is crucial for safe geological hydrogen storage, requiring assessment of hydrogen-cement-rock interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of hydrogen on wellbore cement integrity under simulated geological storage conditions.
• To address knowledge gaps concerning hydrogen-cement interactions and their effect on storage security.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory batch reaction experiments were conducted.
• Cement samples were exposed to hydrogen under simulated North Sea reservoir conditions (temperature, pressure, salinity).
• Geochemical and structural analyses were performed on the cement samples.

Main Results:

• Hydrogen did not induce significant geochemical alterations in the tested wellbore cements.
• No structural degradation of cement samples was observed under experimental conditions.
• Findings indicate cement stability in the presence of hydrogen.

Conclusions:

• The tested wellbore cements demonstrate integrity when exposed to hydrogen under simulated geological storage conditions.
• This research supports the feasibility of secure subsurface hydrogen storage.
• Further investigation into hydrogen-cement interactions is vital for long-term storage safety.