JOURNAL: Coupled hysteresis and variogram-controlled heterogeneity effects on underground hydrogen storage in saline aquifers
Summary
Authors:
Abdolali Mosallanezhad
Amir Jahanbakhsh
Azim Kalantariasl
M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
Heriot-Watt University
Shiraz University
Coupled hysteresis and variogram-controlled heterogeneity effects on underground hydrogen storage in saline aquifers
Energy Fuels
February 2026
This research looks at how much hydrogen can realistically be recovered from underground storage in saline aquifers, which is a major focus for balancing supply and demand in low-carbon energy grids. Using detailed simulations, the researchers demonstrate that older assessment methods relying on fixed rock properties tend to overestimate how much gas can actually be extracted. When factoring in more realistic underground behaviour, such as gas getting trapped in the rock, initial recovery drops by nearly 30%. On the bright side, the study also shows that fine-tuning extraction rates can improve recovery by about 10% and cut excess water production by 20%, proving that successful large-scale hydrogen storage requires carefully tailored, site-specific strategies.