Giant reserves of 'gold' hydrogen may be lurking beneath at least 30 US states, 1st-of-its-kind map reveals
A groundbreaking map of the United States has disclosed the probable sites of substantial, naturally occurring hydrogen reservoirs.
The new map is the first of its kind to reveal potential locations for hydrogen on such a massive scale, pinpointing areas where substantial amounts of hydrogen gas are believed to be hidden beneath the surface, sufficient for extraction.
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Steve Sonke, associate director of the USGS's energy and mineral resources department, commented in a statement. "This map sheds new light, as it reveals that several regions within the US may possess substantial underground hydrogen reserves."
Related:
Massive helium reserve discovered in Minnesota may alleviate nationwide helium shortage.
In the alleyway of southwestern Minnesota lie "sizeable underground reservoirs" consisting of helium-rich natural gas, which "could supplement and potentially alleviate a national helium shortage in the near future," according to Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources.
The brainchild of geologist, Richard Selby, this helium reserve "potentially has enough helium to provide 10% of America's annual needs."
Scientists tempered their optimism, stating "it takes billions of decades to refill such reserves," and forecasters say they will do anything to speed along helium extraction to reduce the market pressure caused by the shortage.
Using well data and science modeling, researchers uncovered the location beneath Lake Traverse, which connected the states of Minnesota and South Dakota. Currently, "less than 5% of the estimated helium supply" is being accessed due to the struggles of extraction, but "90% of the world's helium supply" is used in party balloons, lasers, cooling super computers that uses, unfortunately, this vital substance for operation.
Finding and accessing "underground reserves of naturally occurring helium" is considerable difficult, and "most helium is produced as a by-product" from other mining.
The map uses a colour-coding scheme, ranging from white to dark blue, where dark blue regions signify places that are likely to have vast hydrogen reserves, and white denotes those that do not. The areas most likely to have significant hydrogen reserves include parts of Michigan, eastern sections of Kentucky and southern areas of North Dakota, in addition to parts of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa and Oklahoma.
Whether a region is suitable for potential hydrogen production depends on three key conditions being met: an adequate supply of hydrogen, suitable underground rock formations, and layers of natural sealants to confine the gas beneath the ground. Naturally occurring hydrogen, also referred to as "white" or "gold" hydrogen, originates as a result of chemical reactions within rocks, with the simplest of these processes breaking down water into its constituent elements: hydrogen and oxygen.
A map indicates that at least 30 US states possess the prerequisites for hydrogen to build up beneath the surface. There is a considerable possibility of the gas being discovered in vast areas of the American Midwest, as well as along the Californian coast and the Eastern Seaboard, as stated.
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It could be equivalent to 6.2 trillion tons (5.6 trillion metric tonnes) of gas. Just 2% of that quantity would supply all the power needed to sustain the world for 200 years, they claimed.
One of the geologists from the United States Geological Survey Central Energy Resources Science Centre speaking in support of the latest research commented, "The obvious next step was to identify where it might be located in the United States."
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