IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i7p1666-d1367704.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Underground Gas Storage in Saline Aquifers: Geological Aspects

Author

Listed:
  • Barbara Uliasz-Misiak

    (Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

  • Jacek Misiak

    (Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

Abstract

Energy, gases, and solids in underground sites are stored in mining excavations, natural caverns, salt caverns, and in the pore spaces of rock formations. Aquifer formations are mainly isolated aquifers with significant spreading, permeability, and thickness, possessing highly mineralized non-potable waters. This study discusses the most important aspects that determine the storage of natural gas, hydrogen, or carbon dioxide in deep aquifers. In particular, the selection and characterization of the structure chosen for underground storage, the storage capacity, and the safety of the process are considered. The choice of underground sites is made on the basis of the following factors and criteria: geological, technical, economic, environmental, social, political, or administrative–legal. The geological and dynamic model of the storage site is then drawn based on the characteristics of the structure. Another important factor in choosing a structure for the storage of natural gas, hydrogen, or carbon dioxide is its capacity. In addition to the type and dimensions of the structure and the petrophysical parameters of the reservoir rock, the storage capacity is influenced by the properties of the stored gases and the operating parameters of the storage facility. Underground gas storage is a process fraught with natural and technical hazards. Therefore, the geological integrity of the structure under consideration should be documented and verified. This article also presents an analysis of the location and the basic parameters of gas storage and carbon dioxide storage facilities currently operating in underground aquifers. To date, there have been no successful attempts to store hydrogen under analogous conditions. This is mainly due to the parameters of this gas, which are associated with high requirements for its storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Uliasz-Misiak & Jacek Misiak, 2024. "Underground Gas Storage in Saline Aquifers: Geological Aspects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:7:p:1666-:d:1367704
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1666/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1666/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chai, Maojie & Chen, Zhangxin & Nourozieh, Hossein & Yang, Min, 2023. "Numerical simulation of large-scale seasonal hydrogen storage in an anticline aquifer: A case study capturing hydrogen interactions and cushion gas injection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    2. Wei, Liu & Jie, Chen & Deyi, Jiang & Xilin, Shi & Yinping, Li & Daemen, J.J.K. & Chunhe, Yang, 2016. "Tightness and suitability evaluation of abandoned salt caverns served as hydrocarbon energies storage under adverse geological conditions (AGC)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 703-720.
    3. Holloway, S., 2005. "Underground sequestration of carbon dioxide—a viable greenhouse gas mitigation option," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2318-2333.
    4. Ismail Ismail & Vassilis Gaganis, 2023. "Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage in Saline Aquifers: Subsurface Policies, Development Plans, Well Control Strategies and Optimization Approaches—A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Aminu, Mohammed D. & Nabavi, Seyed Ali & Rochelle, Christopher A. & Manovic, Vasilije, 2017. "A review of developments in carbon dioxide storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1389-1419.
    6. Bradshaw, J & Allinson, G & Bradshaw, B.E & Nguyen, V & Rigg, A.J & Spencer, L & Wilson, P, 2004. "Australia’s CO2 geological storage potential and matching of emission sources to potential sinks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1623-1631.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Davoodi, Shadfar & Al-Shargabi, Mohammed & Wood, David A. & Longe, Promise O. & Mehrad, Mohammad & Rukavishnikov, Valeriy S., 2025. "Underground hydrogen storage: A review of technological developments, challenges, and opportunities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    2. Kwamena Opoku Duartey & William Ampomah & Hamid Rahnema & Mohamed Mehana, 2025. "Underground Hydrogen Storage: Transforming Subsurface Science into Sustainable Energy Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-32, February.
    3. Si Huang & Yinping Li & Xilin Shi & Weizheng Bai & Yashuai Huang & Yang Hong & Xiaoyi Liu & Hongling Ma & Peng Li & Mingnan Xu & Tianfu Xue, 2024. "The Role of Underground Salt Caverns in Renewable Energy Peaking: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Barbara Uliasz-Misiak & Jacek Misiak & Radosław Tarkowski, 2025. "Research Trends in Underground Hydrogen Storage: A Bibliometric Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-23, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Buttinelli, M. & Procesi, M. & Cantucci, B. & Quattrocchi, F. & Boschi, E., 2011. "The geo-database of caprock quality and deep saline aquifers distribution for geological storage of CO2 in Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2968-2983.
    2. Shuo Yang & Hailong Tian, 2024. "Evolution of the Caprock Sealing Capacity Induced by CO 2 Intrusion: A Simulation of the Dezhou Dongying Formation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Mariusz Chromik & Waldemar Korzeniowski, 2025. "The Impact of Design Modifications on the Effectiveness of Energy Storage Construction in a Salt Cavern According to Enhanced Technology Based on Laboratory Tests," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-33, February.
    4. Emad A. Al‐Khdheeawi & Stephanie Vialle & Ahmed Barifcani & Mohammad Sarmadivaleh & Stefan Iglauer, 2017. "Influence of CO 2 ‐wettability on CO 2 migration and trapping capacity in deep saline aquifers," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 7(2), pages 328-338, April.
    5. Valentina Bosetti & Laurent Gilotte, 2005. "Carbon Capture and Sequestration: How Much Does this Uncertain Option Affect Near-Term Policy Choices?," Working Papers 2005.86, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    6. Shanling Zhang & Sheng Jiang & Hongda Li & Peiran Li & Xiuping Zhong & Chen Chen & Guigang Tu & Xiang Liu & Zhenhua Xu, 2025. "Current Status and Reflections on Ocean CO 2 Sequestration: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-28, February.
    7. Anita Punia, 2021. "Carbon dioxide sequestration by mines: implications for climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Nicolò Santi Vasile, 2024. "A Comprehensive Review of Biogeochemical Modeling of Underground Hydrogen Storage: A Step Forward in Achieving a Multi-Scale Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-31, December.
    9. Bi, Zhenhui & Guo, Yintong & Yang, Chunhe & Yang, Hanzhi & Wang, Lei & He, Yuting & Guo, Wuhao, 2025. "Numerical investigation of fluid dynamics in aquifers for seasonal large-scale hydrogen storage using compositional simulations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    10. Haval Kukha Hawez & Taimoor Asim, 2024. "Impact of Regional Pressure Dissipation on Carbon Capture and Storage Projects: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-31, April.
    11. Hu, Haixiang & Li, Xiaochun & Fang, Zhiming & Wei, Ning & Li, Qianshu, 2010. "Small-molecule gas sorption and diffusion in coal: Molecular simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 2939-2944.
    12. Li, Gang & Englezos, Peter & Sun, Duo & Li, Xiao-Sen & Lv, Qiu-Nan & Weng, Yi-Fan, 2024. "Simulation of CO2 hydrate formation in porous medium and comparison with laboratory trial data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    13. Piotr Słomski & Maria Mastalerz & Jacek Szczepański & Arkadiusz Derkowski & Tomasz Topór & Marcin Lutyński, 2020. "Experimental and numerical investigation of CO2–brine–rock interactions in the early Palaeozoic mudstones from the Polish part of the Baltic Basin at simulatedin situ conditions," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 10(3), pages 567-590, June.
    14. Labus, Krzysztof & Bujok, Petr, 2011. "CO2 mineral sequestration mechanisms and capacity of saline aquifers of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Central Europe) - Modeling and experimental verification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 4974-4982.
    15. Nassabeh, Mehdi & You, Zhenjiang & Keshavarz, Alireza & Iglauer, Stefan, 2024. "Sub-surface geospatial intelligence in carbon capture, utilization and storage: A machine learning approach for offshore storage site selection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    16. Alshammari, Yousef M. & Sarathy, S. Mani, 2017. "Achieving 80% greenhouse gas reduction target in Saudi Arabia under low and medium oil prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 502-511.
    17. Zhao, Guojun & Zheng, Jia-nan & Gong, Guangjun & Chen, Bingbing & Yang, Mingjun & Song, Yongchen, 2023. "Formation characteristics and leakage termination effects of CO2 hydrate cap in case of geological sequestration leakage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    18. Wei, Xinxing & Shi, Xilin & Li, Yinping & Li, Peng & Ban, Shengnan & Zhao, Kai & Ma, Hongling & Liu, Hejuan & Yang, Chunhe, 2023. "A comprehensive feasibility evaluation of salt cavern oil energy storage system in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    19. Lyu, Cheng & Dai, Hangyu & Ma, Chao & Zhou, Ping & Zhao, Chengxing & Xu, Deng & Zhang, Liangquan & Liang, Chao, 2024. "Prediction model for three-dimensional surface subsidence of salt cavern storage with different shapes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    20. Procesi, M. & Cantucci, B. & Buttinelli, M. & Armezzani, G. & Quattrocchi, F. & Boschi, E., 2013. "Strategic use of the underground in an energy mix plan: Synergies among CO2, CH4 geological storage and geothermal energy. Latium Region case study (Central Italy)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 104-131.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:7:p:1666-:d:1367704. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.