Skoltech researchers have found a way to produce hydrogen from natural gas with 45% efficiency right in the gas field by injecting steam and a catalyst into a well and adding oxygen to ignite the gas. Catalyst-assisted combustion produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from which the latter can be easily extracted. This technology will help accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean hydrogen power. The study was published in Fuel.
    • CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.workOPEnglish
      9·
      11 months ago

      This worst case scenario is probably the same as with any reservoir of natural gas (a massive leak and explosion), which is all the more reason to convert it to hydrogen and sequester the weaker, non-flammable GHG byproduct in situ.

    • Wispy2891@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      I imagine that suddenly all the co2 stored as gas underground could suddenly come out and being odorless, kills the whole neighboring town

      • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        11 months ago

        Natural gas is also odorless and able to displace oxygen so I don’t see how it being CO2 underground instead of natural gas changes anything from a risk perspective. Maybe because the molecules are smaller and thus more prone to leaks? I’m admittedly way out of my depth here.

        • Wispy2891@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          11 months ago

          Methane is lighter than air and goes up while co2 is heavier than oxygen and stays down. I don’t know maybe in case of some disaster where water leaks in the well and then pushes out the co2

          I wouldn’t want to live nearby in both cases anyway

    • Sewer_King@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      I’d be worried about the now excess co2 levels disrupting the normal saturation levels in the groundwater.