Well Integrity in Salt Cavern Hydrogen Storage

Omid Ahmad Mahmoudi Zamani and Dariusz Knez ()
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Omid Ahmad Mahmoudi Zamani: Department of Drilling and Geoengineering, Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Dariusz Knez: Department of Drilling and Geoengineering, Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns is a sustainable energy solution to reduce global warming. Salt rocks provide an exceptional insulator to store natural hydrogen, as they have low porosity and permeability. Nevertheless, the salt creeping nature and hydrogen-induced impact on the operational infrastructure threaten the integrity of the injection/production wells. Furthermore, the scarcity of global UHS initiatives indicates that investigations on well integrity remain insufficient. This study strives to profoundly detect the research gap and imperative considerations for well integrity preservation in UHS projects. The research integrates the salt critical characteristics, the geomechanical and geochemical risks, and the necessary measurements to maintain well integrity. The casing mechanical failure was found as the most challenging threat. Furthermore, the corrosive and erosive effects of hydrogen atoms on cement and casing may critically put the well integrity at risk. The research also indicated that the simultaneous impact of temperature on the salt creep behavior and hydrogen-induced corrosion is an unexplored area that has scope for further research. This inclusive research is an up-to-date source for analysis of the previous advancements, current shortcomings, and future requirements to preserve well integrity in UHS initiatives implemented within salt caverns.

Keywords: subsurface hydrogen storage; salt dome; hydrogen-induced impact; well stability; hydrogen corrosion; renewable energy; salt creep; geomechanics; casing failure; solution mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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