Systems and methods for generation of hydrogen by in-situ (subsurface) serpentinization and carbonization of mafic or ultramafic rock
AssigneeOhio State Innovation Foundation
InventorsThomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for producing and liberating hydrogen gas and sequestering carbon dioxide through sequential serpentinization and carbonation (mineralization) reactions conducted in situ via one or more wellbores that at least partially traverse subterranean geological formations having large concentrations of mafic igneous rock, ultramafic igneous rock, or a combination thereof.
Claims20
A method of producing hydrogen gas from a geological formation comprising mafic igneous rock, ultramafic igneous rock, or a combination thereof, the method comprising:
- providing a wellbore that at least partially traverses the geological formation, the wellbore providing a pathway for injection of fluids into the geological formation and recovery of fluids therefrom;
- injecting a water-based stimulant through the pathway provided by the wellbore and into contact with reactive surfaces of the geological formation;
- and
- recovering a fluid composition comprising hydrogen gas from the wellbore via the pathway.
An apparatus for producing hydrogen gas from a geological formation comprising mafic igneous rock, ultramafic igneous rock, or a combination thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- means for providing a pathway for injection of fluids into the geological formation and recovery of fluids therefrom;
- means for injecting a water-based stimulant through the pathway and into contact with reactive surfaces of the geological formation;
- and
- means for recovering a fluid composition comprising hydrogen gas via the pathway.
A system to produce hydrogen gas from a geological formation comprising mafic igneous rock, ultramafic igneous rock, or a combination thereof or to sequester carbon dioxide in situ in the geological formation, the system comprising:
- a wellbore that at least partially traverses the geological formation;
- a source of water-based stimulant configurable to be in fluid communication with the wellbore to allow the water-based stimulant to pass to the geological formation through a pathway defined at least partially by the wellbore;
- a fluid containment device positioned about an upper portion of the wellbore, the fluid containment device having one or more outlets through which a fluid composition containing hydrogen gas may be recovered from the wellbore;
- and
- a source of carbon dioxide configurable to be in fluid communication with the wellbore to allow the carbon dioxide to pass to the geological formation through the pathway defined at least partially by the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.