Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
14:11
Quantification of Hydrogen Concentrations in Surface and Interface Layers and Bulk Materials through Depth Profiling with Nuclear Reaction Analysis
Published on: March 29, 2016
Understanding hydrogen reactivity with anhydrite in underground hydrogen storage
Muhammad Hammad Malik1, Ahmed Al-Yaseri2,3, Khalid Al-Ramadan4,5
1Department of Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia. muhammad.malik.1@kfupm.edu.sa.
Scientific Reports
|May 12, 2026
Summary
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in anhydrite-rich geological formations is viable at low temperatures (<120°C). Higher temperatures (>200°C) risk hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contamination, hydrogen loss, and reduced reservoir integrity due to mineral reactions.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Energy Storage
- Materials Science
Background:
- Global demand for sustainable energy drives interest in hydrogen.
- Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) offers a large-scale solution for renewable energy integration.
- Reactivity of hydrogen with geological minerals is a key concern for UHS safety and efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate geochemical reactions between hydrogen and anhydrite (CaSO4) in the presence of calcite (CaCO3).
- To evaluate temperature and mineral-dependent hazards under simulated UHS conditions (120-500°C, 500 psi).
- To assess the impact of calcite concentration on these reactions.
Main Methods:
- Batch reactor experiments using brine with variable calcite concentrations (1%, 5%, 50%).
- Simulated Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) conditions.
- Analysis of gas phase composition and solid residues using X-ray diffraction.
Main Results:
- No toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced at 120°C, indicating low reactivity in shallow reservoirs.
- Significant H2S production (18-45%) at 250°C and 500°C, suggesting thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) or abiotic sulfate reduction (ASR).
- High calcite (50%) at 120°C induced anhydrite-to-gypsum hydration (40% conversion), compromising reservoir integrity.
Conclusions:
- Anhydrite-bearing geological formations are suitable for UHS below 120°C.
- High-temperature UHS (>200°C) poses risks of H2S contamination, hydrogen loss, and reservoir integrity issues.
- Calcite presence can influence mineral hydration and reservoir stability at lower temperatures.
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