MSGID: 1:317/3 63f59a7a   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Salt could play key role in energy transition    
      
     Date:   
         February 21, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Texas at Austin   
     Summary:   
         A common ingredient -- salt -- could have a big role to play in   
         the energy transition to lower carbon energy sources. A study   
         describes how large underground salt deposits could serve as   
         hydrogen holding tanks, conduct heat to geothermal plants, and   
         influence CO2 storage. It also highlights how industries with   
         existing salt expertise, such as solution mining, salt mining,   
         and oil and gas exploration, could help.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   A common ingredient -- salt -- could have a big role to play in the   
   energy transition to lower carbon energy sources. That's according to   
   a new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin's   
   Bureau of Economic Geology.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   The study describes how large underground salt deposits could serve   
   as hydrogen holding tanks, conduct heat to geothermal plants, and   
   influence CO2 storage. It also highlights how industries with existing   
   salt expertise, such as solution mining, salt mining, and oil and gas   
   exploration, could help.   
      
   "We see potential in applying knowledge and data gained from many   
   decades of research, hydrocarbon exploration, and mining in salt basins   
   to energy transition technologies," said lead author Oliver Duffy, a   
   research scientist at the bureau. "Ultimately, a deeper understanding   
   of how salt behaves will help us optimize design, reduce risk, and   
   improve the efficiency of a range of energy transition technologies."   
   The study was published in the journal Tektonika.   
      
   Salt has an influential role in shaping Earth's subsurface layers. It is   
   easily squeezed by geologic forces into complex and massive deposits,   
   with some subsurface salt structures taller than Mount Everest. These   
   structures and their surrounding geology offer a number of opportunities   
   for energy development and emissions management, said study co-author   
   Lorena Moscardelli, the director of the bureau's State of Texas Advanced   
   Resource Recovery (STARR) program.   
      
   "The co-location of surface infrastructure, renewable energy potential,   
   favorable subsurface conditions and proximity to markets is key to plan   
   for subsurface hydrogen storage," she said. "STARR is currently engaged   
   with emerging energy opportunities in West Texas that involve hydrogen   
   and carbon capture, utilization and storage potential for the region."   
   Salt domes are proven containers for hydrogen used by oil refineries   
   and the petrochemical industry. According to the paper, these salt   
   formations could also be put to use as holding pens for hydrogen bound   
   for energy production.   
      
   What's more, the porous rock surrounding them could be used as a permanent   
   storage spot for CO2 emissions. The study describes the potential benefits   
   of co-locating hydrogen production from natural gas called "blue hydrogen"   
   and CO2 storage. While the hydrogen is sent to salt caverns, the CO2   
   emissions generated by production could be kept from the atmosphere by   
   diverting them to the surrounding rock for permanent storage.   
      
   With its numerous salt domes surrounded by porous sedimentary rock, the   
   Texas Gulf Coast is particularly well suited for this type of combined   
   production and storage, according to the researchers.   
      
   The study also touches on how salt can aid in the adoption of   
   next-generation geothermal technology. Although the industry is still   
   in its early stages, the researchers show how it can make use of salt's   
   ability to easily conduct heat from warmer underlying rocks to produce   
   geothermal power.   
      
   Bureau Director Scott Tinker said that because salt has a role to play   
   in developing new energy resources, it's important that multiple avenues   
   are thoroughly explored. He said that researchers at the bureau are   
   playing a critical role in doing just that.   
      
   "Bureau researchers have been studying subsurface salt formations for   
   many decades. For their role in hydrocarbon exploration, as part of   
   the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, for storage of natural gas, and now   
   for their potential to store hydrogen," he said. "That's the remarkable   
   thing about great research. It just keeps evolving, improving and finding   
   new applications."  Additional co-authors include current and former   
   bureau researchers Michael Hudec, Frank Peel, Gillian Apps, Alex Bump,   
   Tim Dooley, Naiara Fernandez, Shuvajit Bhattacharya, Ken Wisian and   
   Mark Shuster.   
      
   STARR funded the research. Their work complements research of other   
   bureau research groups focused on the energy transition, such as GeoH2,   
   AGL and HotRock.   
      
   The bureau is a research unit of the UT Jackson School of Geosciences.   
      
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   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Texas_at_Austin. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Oliver Duffy et al. The Role of Salt Tectonics in the Energy   
      Transition:   
         An Overview and Future Challenges. Tektonika, 2023 DOI: 10.55575/   
         tektonika2023.1.1.11   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230221180104.htm   
      
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