Union (U)
Session Sub-category Union
Session IDU-05
Title Natural Hydrogen, Understanding its Subsurface System and Production Engineering
Short Title Natural Hydrogen
Main Convener Name Shin'ichi Kuramoto
Affiliation Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Co-Convener 1 Name Ayumi Kosugi
Affiliation Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security
Co-Convener 2 Name Haru-Hisa Uchida
Affiliation Tokai University
Co-Convener 3 Name Qingwang Yuan
Affiliation Texas Tech University
Co-Convener 4 Name Jean-Marc Fleury
Affiliation Terrensis
Session Language E
Scope Natural hydrogen, recognized as a zero-emission energy source with substantial potential as a next-generation resource, has recently garnered increasing global attention. Its generation is primarily attributed to water-rock reactions involving iron-bearing lithologies at elevated temperatures (on the order of several hundred degrees Celsius), most notably through the serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. To date, exploration has been conducted predominantly in continental settings. On land, hydrogen seepage is occasionally expressed as ring-shaped surface depressions, commonly referred to as "fairy circles", which may serve as geomorphological indicators of subsurface hydrogen accumulations. Occurrences associated with interactions between meteoric water and mantle-derived ultramafic rocks, such as those documented in the Oman ophiolite and Alpine suture zones, have been reported worldwide. Collectively, these findings underscore the growing recognition of natural hydrogen as a viable energy resource, supported by favorable economic prospects including comparatively low extraction costs. In addition, stimulated hydrogen production has been proposed as a means of enhancing natural yields. Research into natural hydrogen is also closely linked to studies on the origin of life on early Earth and is increasingly considered a valuable analogue for potential extraterrestrial habitats. This session will address diverse aspects of natural hydrogen in both onshore and offshore environments, with particular emphasis on 1) its geological, geophysical, microbiological, and geochemical generation processes, 2) migration, accumulation and consumption mechanisms, 3) effective method and workflow of exploration, 4) thechno-economic analysis of the natural and stimulated hydrogen, and 5) the engineering approaches of production and recovery. We invite contributions from researchers, engineers, and industry professionals offering multidisciplinary perspectives on natural hydrogen.
Session Format Orals and Posters session