NATURAL GAS AND HYDROGEN STORAGE EXPERIENCE
Natural gas has been stored successfully in underground aquifers and depleted natural gas fields and solution mined salt caverns since the early 1950s. The design and operation of an underground air storage system is based first on the concept of multiple barriers to airflow, and second on reservoir engineering hydraulic principles. An additional principle is that air pressures must not compromise the stability or integrity of the vessel by creating potential pathways (fractures) for air migration, and/or the loss of storage space due to collapse or chemical reactions.
Hydrodynamics’ Principals have long careers in the natural gas storage industry with years of gas storage field siting, development, and reservoir operation and management experience. Hydrodynamics was selected to find candidate sites and design natural gas reservoirs for:
- USTDA Republic of Georgia International Oil Co.
- Trinidad & Tobago National Gas Co. Project
- USAID Republic of Georgia Oil Shale Project
- Two Expert Witness Cases in Illinois
- Reservoir Engineer at the Natural Gas Pipeline Co. in Chicago
These studies required the analysis of complex subsurface geological structures, and reservoir simulation modeling to determine both feasibility and economic merits.
HYDROGEN STORAGE EXPERTISE
Because of recent technical advances, hydrogen has the potential to provide carbon-free fuel for transportation, supplement natural gas supplies, and generate power. It is the smallest known molecule and is highly flammable and corrosive. These issues complicate the ability to store hydrogen.
Hydrodynamics has evaluated salt beds in Delta, Utah and Arizona for large scale hydrogen storage. The focus of our studies was to determine the required storage capacity of caverns, and to evaluate the thermodynamics storage issue for highly pressurized hydrogen.