Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2024, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 1483-1501.doi: 10.11743/ogg20240519

• Methods and Technologies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Current status, advances, and prospects of research on natural hydrogen

Qingqiang MENG1,2(), Zhijun JIN1,3,4, Quanyou LIU3(), Dongsheng SUN1, Jianfang SUN1, Dongya ZHU1, Xiaowei HUANG5, Yuan ZHOU6, Qiang LI2, Yongbo WEI7, Yutong SU3, Lu WANG3, Pengpeng LI3, Runchao LIU3, Jiayi LIU1   

  1. 1.Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute,SINOPEC,Beijing 100083,China
    2.Shandong University of Science and Technology,Qingdao,Shandong 266590,China
    3.Peking University,Beijing 100085,China
    4.Ordos Research Institute of Energy,Peking University,Ordos,Inner Mongolia 017000,China
    5.China University of Geosciences (Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
    6.China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102206,China
    7.Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100026,China
  • Received:2024-04-27 Revised:2024-07-02 Online:2024-10-30 Published:2024-11-06
  • Contact: Quanyou LIU E-mail:mengqq2004@163.com;qyliu@sohu.com

Abstract:

Carbon emissions from fossil fuels pose tremendous challenges to environmental sustainability. Hence, exploring clean energy with low or even zero carbon emissions represents a major scientific issue and technical difficulty in energy research. Natural hydrogen gas (NHG) is considered the ideal clean energy for the future due to its high heating value (HHV), zero carbon emissions, and low price. In this study, we analyze the hydrogen production methods and their trends, the formation and enrichment mechanisms and distribution of NHG, and recent advances in the theories and technologies for determining the formation, tracing, transport, and preservation of NHG. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation of the novel methods and recent achievements in natural hydrogen exploration across the world lays the foundation to pinpoint critical scientific issues regarding the theory and technology of the formation, preservation, and accumulation of natural hydrogen. It can be concluded that natural hydrogen features substantial resources, various formation mechanisms, complex accumulation processes, and highly risky exploration and development. This necessitates intensified research on fundamental theories and proactive research and development of technologies and equipment for natural hydrogen exploration and development. To this end, we propose an innovative approach of identifying “fairy circles” using remote sensing, determining natural hydrogen sources through geophysical exploration, and delineating exploration targets using geochemical exploration. It is recommended that relevant government departments and industrial sectors actively push forward the study and exploration and development of natural hydrogen by means of supportive policies rolled out, and top-level design strengthened.

Key words: accumulation pattern, preservation mechanism, formation rate, natural hydrogen

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