Abstract
Large-scale hydrogen (H2) geologic storage presents a viable alternative to surface storage that is both safer and more economical. One option being considered by DOE is H2 storage in salt formations. These formations have been successfully used for gas storage for decades due to their extremely low permeability and may see significant investment as the US ramps up its R&D efforts in this field. New Mexico has a unique advantage in that bedded salt formations are located strategically in areas where excess energy production can be harnessed for hydrogen production. However, bedded salt is more permeable than domal salt, necessitating sensor deployment to monitor H2 containment. Robust sensors that can provide early leakage detection will be an essential component of the safety of H2 operating facilities. In a LANL-funded Mission Foundations Research (MFR) project, we prepared several zirconia-based mixed potential hydrogen sensors utilizing a tin-doped indium oxide electrode for H2 leak detection to test its stability in subsurface environments. Previous electrochemical sensor work has shown this type of sensor in a hydrogen safety sensor role represents a significant improvement over currently available sensors as it has an extremely stable baseline and limited cross sensitivity to other gaseous compounds.1 The feasibility of this technology will be demonstrated through a hydrogen permeation experiment to measure rates of underground hydrogen permeation between boreholes drilled underground at the DOE Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site. This experiment will (1) establish the use of this novel sensor in geologic H2 storage applications and (2) investigate the feasibility of H2 storage in bedded rock salt. Acknowledgement This research is supported by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Office, Missions Foundation Research Charter (Debora Wagner Program Manager). References E. L. Brosha, C. J. Romero, D. Poppe, T. L. Williamson, C. R. Kreller, R. Mukundan, R. S. Glass, and A. S. Wu, “Field Trials Testing of Mixed Potential Electrochemical Hydrogen Safety Sensors at Commercial California Hydrogen Filling Stations,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society 164 (13) B681-B689 (2017).
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