Texas A&M University researchers are advancing subsurface energy storage solutions through two seed-funded projects under the university’s Targeted Proposal Teams (TPT) program.
Underground Hydrogen Storage
Led by Rita Esuru Okoroafor, SPE, and Yinou Yao, “Quantifying the Impact of Biofilm Formation on Underground Hydrogen Storage” studies how microbial biofilm formation affects underground hydrogen storage—investigating whether microbes help seal hydrogen or hinder its recovery.
Through controlled lab experiments, they aim to understand how these microbial interactions impact the efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage underground.
“We know that there are some microbes that can consume hydrogen as a source of food,” Okoroafor said. “When they converge on the hydrogen, they create biofilms that fill the pores in rocks. What we are trying to figure out with this project is the effect that these microbes have on our ability to store hydrogen. Will they help or hinder?”
Geologic Energy Storage
Led by Kiseok Kim, SPE, and Rami Younis, SPE, “Engineered Geo-Barriers for Geologic Energy Storage" is developing engineered “geo-barriers” to safely contain injected fluids like hydrogen, CO2, and wastewater by using chemical precipitation to create underground mineral seals. Their method involves injecting two separate fluid streams, one of sulfate ions and the other of barium, into the subsurface. When the two streams meet at a potential leak site, the barium and sulfate ions would mix to form a new mineral, barite.
“The barite acts as a seal for the leak, creating what we call a flow barrier,” Kim said. “With this method, we could essentially create natural underground storage tanks.”