PNNL

Abstract

With its abundant renewable energy resources, high-traffic air transportation hub, and isolated electrical grid, Alaska’s Cook Inlet area could greatly benefit from underground hydrogen (H2) storage. We estimate the amount of H2 that can be stored in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs using a static, produced gas volume method. We find that depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Cook Inlet could theoretically store a total of 286 TWh (8.6 million tonnes (Mt)) H2 working gas in 109 pools. We identified seven pools that may be especially prospective for H2 storage based on 1) the ability to store a specific amount of H2, 2) the ability to physically contain the stored H2, and 3) the ability to limit biogeochemical activity in the presence of H2. Broadly, this work demonstrates a framework for regional H2 storage resource assessments. On a finer scale, this work enables the next steps for H2 storage, site characterization and development, to proceed in the Cook Inlet, Alaska.