Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 790-808.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250307

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Current status and future trends of global research on natural hydrogen

Shuangbiao HAN1(), Jin WANG1, Jie HUANG1, Chengshan WANG2   

  1. 1.College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering,China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
    2.School of Earth Sciences and Resources,China University of Geosciences (Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
  • Received:2024-11-18 Revised:2025-05-06 Online:2025-06-30 Published:2025-06-26

Abstract:

Low-carbon or even zero-carbon energy will become an integral part in future energy landscape, with natural hydrogen emerging as a particularly promising resource. In the context of the global surge in natural hydrogen exploration, reviewing the history and advances in research on natural hydrogen, as well as assessing current challenges and predicting future trends in the research, will provide a reference for determining the subsequent exploration directions and research schemes. In this study, we systematically retrieve global academic articles on natural hydrogen from databases such as CNKI and Web of Science. By analyzing the distribution of over 200 articles, we identify the research institutions, scientific communities, and funding sources involved. Furthermore, we assess the status quo of global research on natural hydrogen and explore the challenges faced at the present stage and future directions. The results of this study indicate that compared to international publications on natural hydrogen, domestic articles are fewer in number and exhibit theoretical systems poorly-established. However, the proportion of state-funded research projects involved in the domestic articles has significantly increased, indicating that the domestic research is typically entering a rapid development stage. For a prolonged period in the future, constructing a comprehensive natural hydrogen system and developing theoretical methods for scientific resource evaluation will remain a central focus of natural hydrogen research. Fundamental geological research on natural hydrogen centered around dedicated natural hydrogen exploration wells, will be undoubtedly valued. Furthermore, research on key topics, such as hydrogen source potential, the occurrence state of natural hydrogen, and the sealing performance of natural hydrogen reservoirs, will be undertaken systematically. Interdisciplinary integration will be essential for advancing the natural hydrogen field. Furthermore, the rapid advancement in natural hydrogen research and exploration in China will require national-level policies and financial support, technological breakthroughs, and international cooperation.

Key words: research progress, trend and prospect, enrichment and accumulation, hydrogen system, natural hydrogen

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