Conférenciers invités

1. Philipp Blum (KIT, Germany)

2. Ryan Haagenson & Hadi Hajibeygi (TU Delft, Netherlands)

UHS in porous reservoirs: Important considerations and recent findings

Global demand for hydrogen is expected to grow considerably in the coming decades, with anticipated applications including seasonal energy storage to balance mismatches between energy demand and renewable supply, as well as use as a carbon-free liquid fuel for hard-to-abate sectors (e.g., long-distance maritime shipping). To support this growth, efficient large-scale storage solutions are essential. Among the available options, underground hydrogen storage (UHS) has emerged as particularly attractive due to its ability to accommodate vast energy volumes compared to aboveground alternatives. While salt cavern storage of hydrogen is a relatively mature technology, storage in porous reservoirs still faces technical challenges that must be addressed before deployment at scale. In this presentation, we highlight recent studies aimed at tackling some of the most pressing questions related to UHS in porous reservoirs. Topics include understanding fluid properties and flow behavior in the presence of hydrogen, a comparative study of hydrogen and CO₂ storage operations using reservoir simulation, and the management of reservoir dynamics in depleted gas fields. These challenges are critical to resolve in order to enable effective implementation of the technology. Although key uncertainties remain, recent advances provide increasing confidence in the feasibility of hydrogen storage in porous subsurface systems.

3. Hussein Hoteit (KAUST, Saudi Arabia)

 Assessment of Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns in Saudi Arabia

As Saudi Arabia advances toward net-zero by 2060, underground hydrogen storage in solution-mined salt caverns offers a practical path to balance renewable generation and secure industrial supply. This talk provides a concise overview focused on three themes. First, capacity assessment, estimating working gas from cavern size and safe pressure ranges, with clear allowances for cushion gas and deliverability needs. Second, thermal dynamics managing temperature swings during rapid injection and withdrawal to protect cavern integrity, maintain pressures, and sustain reliable cycling. Third, modeling and planning using fit-for-purpose simulations and streamlined planning tools, calibrated to field measurements, to set operating envelopes, compressor requirements, and daily swing. With significant salt deposits and world-class solar, Saudi Arabia is well positioned to deploy this at scale.

4. Isabelle Moretti (E2S UPPA, France)

The H2 systems of South America

Exploration for natural H2 has begun in South America. Brazil and Colombia are the most advanced countries in this field, as the law allowing exploration is expected to be published shortly. These countries are rich in resources, so there is a lot of subsurface data available, which allows for faster progresses. H2 has been already found in wells in the Llanos (Colombia) and in the Sao Francisco Basin (Brazil). In Colombia, two sedimentary basins, the Cauca Valley and the Llanos, show surface emissions. The presence of reservoirs and seals allows us to be optimistic about the presence of accumulations. Regarding the H2_generating rocks, ophiolites and coal have been already proposed for the Cauca Paita Valley but alternatives exist for the LLanos. In Brazil and Uruguay, the system is more classicaly archean and good quality reservoirs still need to be found.