Systems and methods for enhanced natural hydrogen exploration

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for hydrogen production. Systems and methods provided herein may include obtaining one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more hydrogen prospects selected based on one or more parameters. Systems and methods provided herein may include constructing one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more fracture networks each having a source rock area value. Systems and methods provided herein may include, based on the source rock area value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects, generating a source rock exposure value for each of the one or more prospects. Systems and methods provided herein may include outputting a production prediction based on the source rock exposure value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for hydrogen exploration, comprising:
 obtaining one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more hydrogen prospects selected based on one or more parameters;   constructing one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more fracture networks each having a source rock area value;   based on the source rock area value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects, generating a source rock exposure value for each of the one or more prospects; and   outputting a production prediction based on the source rock exposure value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydrogen prospects are selected based on at least one of rock characteristics of the one or more hydrogen prospects, fault characteristics of the one or more hydrogen prospects, and earthquake catalog data of the one or more hydrogen prospects. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 defining a set of subsurface fault parameters for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects, the set subsurface fault parameters characterizing an active seismic zone; and   delineating, based on a comparison of the set of subsurface fault parameters and the active seismic zone, an active fault volume.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 identifying a set of connections between the active fault volume and at least one water source; and   identifying, based on the set of connection, water source flux.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 forming a source rock exposure surface; and   generating an area of the source rock exposure surface based on a framework model of the active fault volume.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein outputting the production prediction based on the source rock exposure value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects comprises calculating the production prediction based on at least one of the area of the source rock exposure surface and the water source flux. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein forming the source rock exposure surface comprises:
 comparing the active fault volume to a source rock volume; and   identifying exposure points on the active fault volume to generate the source rock exposure surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the framework model is generated using at least a statistical distribution of earthquakes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the framework model is generated using a discrete fracture network (DFN) model. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the DFN model is constructed based on geological data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the framework model is generated using equivalent volume data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting, based on the production prediction, natural hydrogen from a fractured subsurface reservoir represented by at least one of the one or more hydrogen prospects. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydrogen prospects represent fractured subsurface reservoirs connected to active fault systems. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the production prediction estimates a natural hydrogen gas volume accumulated in the one or more hydrogen prospects. 
     
     
         15 . A system for hydrogen exploration comprising a memory and one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to cause the system to:
 obtain one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more hydrogen prospects selected based on one or more parameters;   construct one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects, the one or more fracture networks each having a source rock area value;   based on the source rock area value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects, generate a source rock exposure value for each of the one or more prospects; and   output a production prediction based on the source rock exposure value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 defining a set of subsurface fault parameters for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects, the set subsurface fault parameters characterizing an active seismic zone; and   delineating, based on a comparison of the set of subsurface fault parameters and the active seismic zone, an active fault volume.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 identifying a set of connections between the active fault volume and at least one water source; and   identifying, based on the set of connection, water source flux.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein constructing the one or more fracture networks based on the one or more hydrogen prospects further comprises:
 forming a source rock exposure surface; and   generating an area of the source rock exposure surface based on a framework model of the active fault volume.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein outputting a production prediction based on the source rock exposure value for each of the one or more hydrogen prospects comprises calculating the production prediction based on at least one of the area of the source rock exposure surface and the water source flux. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein forming the source rock exposure surface comprises:
 comparing the active fault volume to a source rock volume; and   identifying exposure points on the active fault volume to generate the source rock exposure surface.