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EP-4735730-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATION OF HYDROGEN BY IN-SITU SUBSURFACE SERPENTINIZATION AND CARBONIZATION OF MAFIC OR ULTRAMAFIC ROCK

EP4735730A1EP 4735730 A1EP4735730 A1EP 4735730A1EP-4735730-A1

Abstract

A method for stimulating hydrogen production (200) from an injection formation (102). This method includes the steps of providing a well system (106) traversing subsurface formations (104) into an injection formation (102) containing hydrocarbons. Carbon dioxide, water, steam, and combustion gas are introduced into the injection formation (102) via the well system (106). Further, the injection formation (102) is stimulated using one or more of infrasonic, sonic, and ultrasonic stimulation (225). The injection formation (102) is monitored (230) via one or more sensors located in the injection formation (102) to determine one or more properties of reactions in the injection formation (102) and the flow back effluent. Flowback operations (240) are conducted to retrieve flowback effluent.

Inventors

  • AL-QASIM, Abdulaziz, S.
  • WANG, YUGUO

Assignees

  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method for stimulating hydrogen production from an inj ection formation, the method comprising: providing a well traversing a subsurface into an injection formation containing hydrocarbons; introducing carbon dioxide into the injection formation via the well; introducing water into the injection formation via the well; introducing combustion gas into the injection formation via the well; stimulating the injection formation using one or more of infrasonic, sonic, and ultrasonic stimulation; monitoring the injection formation via one or more sensors located in the injection formation to determine one or more properties of reactions in the injection formation; flow back effluent; and conducting well flowback operations.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein carbon dioxide and water are injected sequentially.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein carbon dioxide and water are injected concurrently.
  4. 4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein additional carbon dioxide and water are introduced into the injection formation after introducing combustion gas into the injection formation via the well.
  5. 5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein nitrogen is introduced into the injection formation after introducing combustion gas into the injection formation via the well.
  6. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the combustion gas is introduced by high pressure air injection.
  7. 7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the combustion gas is introduced by light air injection.
  8. 8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, , wherein a catalyst is introduced into the inj ection formation.
  9. 9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein a membrane is placed in the well.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the membrane is removed from the injection formation after flowback.
  11. 11. A method for stimulating H2 production from an injection formation, the method comprising: providing a well traversing a subsurface into the injection formation containing hydrocarbons; introducing carbon dioxide and combustion gas and into the injection formation via the well; introducing water into the injection formation via the well; introducing steam into the injection formation via the well; stimulating the injection formation using one or more of infrasonic, sonic, and ultrasonic stimulation; monitoring the injection formation via one or more sensors located in the injection formation to determine one or more properties of reactions in the injection formation; flow back effluent; and conducting well flowback operations.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein introducing carbon dioxide and combustion gas into the injection formation comprises sequentially injecting carbon dioxide into the injection formation via the well, then injecting combustion gas into the injection formation via the well.
  13. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein carbon dioxide and combustion gas are injected concurrently into the injection formation via the well.
  14. 14. The method of any one of claims 11-13, wherein additional carbon dioxide and water are introduced into the injection formation after introducing steam into the injection formation via the well.
  15. 15. The method of any one of claims 11-14, wherein nitrogen is introduced into the injection formation after introducing steam into the injection formation via the well.
  16. 16. The method of any one of claims 11-15, wherein the combustion gas is introduced by high pressure air injection.
  17. 17. The method of any one of claims 11-16, wherein the combustion gas is introduced by light air injection.
  18. 18. The method of any one of claims 11-17, wherein a catalyst is introduced into the injection formation.
  19. 19. The method of any one of claims 11-18, wherein a membrane is placed in the injection formation.
  20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the membrane is removed from the injection formation after flowback.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATION OF HYDROGEN BY IN-SITU SUBSURFACE SERPENTINIZATION AND CARBONIZATION OF MAFIC OR ULTRAMAFIC ROCK BACKGROUND [0001] Conventional well stimulation and fracturing (fracking) techniques in hydrocarbons reservoirs use large amounts of water (H2O) and energy. Carbon dioxide fracking or carbon dioxide assisted stimulation techniques are often used as an alternate to the conventional techniques. [0002] In fracking, carbon dioxide (CO2) may be injected into a formation under pressure. Fracking with CO2 is useful because of improved productivity and the availability of CO2 for reuse. However, a disadvantage of CO2 fracking is that injected CO2 gas, buoyant liquid, or supercritical fluid usually flows back during post-fracking cleanup operations. The injected CO2 may pool in an upper portion of the formation and surface capture of the pooled CO2 may be expensive, especially in remote areas. Further, an added cost is required to monitor the formation for leaks of the pooled CO2. Thus, the CO2 that flows back is often vented into the environment. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and the vented CO2 gas may lead to an increase in global climate change. Effort to eliminate or reduce CO2 emissions include enhanced CO2 fracking operations. [0003] As an alternative, enhanced CO2 fracking operations that increase the production of hydrogen while lowering the production of CO2 may be beneficial in reducing the global greenhouse effect. Hydrogen production may also promote sustainable development because H2 is useful for power generation and is applied to energy -intensive industries. Accordingly, there exists a need for a method that reduces the pooled CO2 and CO2 emissions into the environment and for a method that increases H2 production. SUMMARY [0004] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0005] In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for stimulating hydrogen production from an injection formation. This method includes the steps of providing a well traversing a subsurface into an injection formation containing hydrocarbons and introducing carbon dioxide, water and combustion gas into the injection formation via the well. The injection formation is stimulated using one or more of infrasonic, sonic, and ultrasonic stimulation. The injection formation is monitored via one or more sensors located in the injection formation to determine one or more properties of reactions in the injection formation and the flowback effluent. Further, flowback operations are conducted to retrieve flowback effluent. [0006] In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for stimulating hydrogen production from an injection formation. This method includes the steps of providing a well traversing a subsurface into an injection formation containing hydrocarbons. Carbon dioxide and combustion gas are introduced into the injection formation via the well. Water and steam are also introduced into the injection formation via the well. Further, the injection formation is stimulated using one or more of infrasonic, sonic, and ultrasonic stimulation. The injection formation is monitored via one or more sensors located in the injection formation to determine one or more properties of reactions in the injection formation and the flowback effluent. Further, flowback operations are conducted to retrieve flowback effluent. [0007] Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. [0008] While the subject matter disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosed subject matter to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter as defined by the appended claims. [0009] Typically, down is toward or at the bottom and up is toward or at the top of the figure. “Up” and “down” are oriented relative to a local vertical direction. However, in the oil and gas industry, one or more activities may take place in deviated or horizontal wells. Therefore, one or more figures may represent an activity in vertical, approximately vertical, deviated, approximately horizontal, or horizontal wellbore configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0010] Figure l is a diagram that illustrates a well environment with an enhanced CO2 fracking operation syst