Hydrogen application technologies and environmentally friendly smart energy system

Climate change and fossil fuel depletion are the main reasons for many countries around the world to develop and implement energy transition strategies. Being a very clean burning fuel (generating steam only), hydrogen will play an important role in the transition from fossil energy to CO2-free energy. The paper introduces recent advances of hydrogen technology applied in transportation, industry, and power generation in the world; challenges regarding hydrogen safety and technology; barriers in social perception; and some recommendations for the development of hydrogen technology and environmentally friendly smart energy systems in Vietnam.

Objective factors and policies of countries affecting hydrogen market development

By 2050, blue hydrogen (produced by SMR method using CCS technology to capture CO2) will make up about 18% of hydrogen supply, whilst green hydrogen from solar power will account for 16%, from onshore wind power 16% and offshore wind power 9%. Global hydrogen demand is forecasted to increase to about 150 million tons by 2040 [1]. The article analyses the objective factors (i.e. size and structure of the economy, technological and social barriers) and policies of countries that affect hydrogen market development.

Potential market and impact of clean hydrogen development to 2050 in Vietnam

Hydrogen plays an important role in the energy transition towards a zero-carbon economy. Blue hydrogen and green hydrogen are potential sources to replace fossil materials and fuels in the fields of refining - petrochemical, production of fertiliser, steel, cement, electricity, and transportation. The potential demand for clean hydrogen in these areas has been evaluated along with the impacts and benefits of hydrogen development. Accordingly, the potential hydrogen market can reach an output of 22 million tons/year by 2050. The development of hydrogen in the fields will create new markets with a total value of USD 100 billion in 2035 and USD 1,200 billion in 2050. In terms of the environment, replacing fossil materials and fuels with hydrogen reduces the total national CO2 emissions by 5.4%. In order to develop and complete the hydrogen value chain in Vietnam, it is necessary to set goals and roadmaps along with appropriate policies. Recognising the importance of hydrogen to the operation of the oil and gas and energy sectors in general, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) has developed a scientific research programme on the development of production, storage, transportation, distribution, and efficient use of hydrogen in Vietnam in the 2021 - 2025 period.

Hydrogen supply chain and production technology

Hydrogen is forecasted as an energy solution for the future thanks to its advantages of cleanliness, abundance and high energy conversion efficiency. The paper briefly introduces the hydrogen supply chain, hydrogen production technologies prevailing or expected in the future, as well as challenges that need to be addressed for a successful transition to a hydrogen-based economy.

Experiences in long-term operation of a green hydrogen production plant using wind power in Germany - a possible model for Vietnam

Hydrogen is considered as "the green fuel of the 21st century" and forecasted to play a leading role in the energy transition. The article introduces the processes of green hydrogen production in Energiepark Mainz, the first wind power hydrogen production plant with a capacity of 6 MW in Germany. The article describes the production, storage, transportation, and consumption (gas, fuel for bus and industries) of green hydrogen through the continuous operation of the plant. Based on that, the author analyses opportunities and challenges when applying Energiepark Mainz's model to the green hydrogen production strategy in Vietnam.

Prospecting for underground natural hydrogen - new energy for the future

Hydrogen, accounting for 75% of ordinary matter by mass and over 90% by atomic number, is the third most abundant element on the Earth's surface, mainly in the form of chemical compounds such as water and hydrocarbons. When burned, hydrogen gas (H2) produces heat and water without causing environmental pollution, thus it is expected to be one of the clean energy sources for the future. Industrial hydrogen has so far been mainly produced by thermochemical processes of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, and insignificantly by electrolysis of water. Recent natural hydrogen discoveries recorded in the world, especially the exploration and discovery of relatively pure underground hydrogen which was extracted and used as fuel for a local power generator in Bourakebougou (Mali), show the possibility of prospecting for underground natural hydrogen. The article provides an overview of natural hydrogen discoveries over the world and gives recommendations on the prospecting for underground natural hydrogen in Vietnam.

Technologies for production of green hydrogen and hydrogen based synthetic fuels

Hydrogen is an essential material/fuel for industry and energy conversion. The processes for producing hydrogen depend on the raw materials and energy source used. In terms of climate impacts, the most promising hydrogen production method is water electrolysis. The regenerative electrolysis process depends on the carbon intensity of the electricity and the efficiency of converting that electricity into hydrogen. The development of technologies to extract hydrogen (from conventional and renewable resources) tends to optimise the water electrolysis process using renewable energies by extending material durability, increasing performance efficiency, and reducing precious metal contents in catalysts, thereby lowering the production costs. The article introduces the latest advances in green hydrogen production technologies using renewable energies, particularly focusing on water and seawater electrolysis, combining electrolysis and solar energy as well as hydrogen-based synthetic fuel production, hydrogen production from biomass and biogas.

A practical method for planning large number of horizontal wells with a reservoir model for a field development plan

The most advanced technique to evaluate different solutions proposed for a field development plan consists of building a numerical model to simulate the production performance of each alternative. Fields covering hundreds of square kilometres frequently require a large number of wells. There are studies and software concerning optimal planning of vertical wells for the development of a field. However, only few studies cover planning of a large number of horizontal wells seeking full population on a regular pattern. One of the criteria for horizontal well planning is selecting the well positions that have the best reservoir properties and certain standoffs from oil/water contact. The wells are then ranked according to their performances. Other criteria include the geometry and spacing of the wells. Placing hundreds of well individually according to these criteria is highly time consuming and can become impossible under time restraints. A method for planning a large number of horizontal wells in a regular pattern in a simulation model significantly reduces the time required for a reservoir production forecast using simulation software. The proposed method is implemented by a computer script and takes into account not only the aforementioned criteria, but also new well requirements concerning existing wells, development area boundaries, and reservoir geological structure features. Some of the conclusions drawn from a study on this method are (1) the new method saves a significant amount of working hours and avoids human errors, especially when many development scenarios need to be considered; (2) a large reservoir with hundreds of wells may have infinite possible solutions, and this approach has the aim of giving the most significant one; and (3) a horizontal well planning module would be a useful tool for commercial simulation software to ease engineers' tasks.

Development of HFU-based permeability prediction models using core data for characterisation of a heterogeneous Oligocene sand in the Nam Con Son basin

Core data by both routine and special core analysis are required to understand and predict reservoir petrophysical characteristics. In this research, a total number of 50 core plugs taken from an Oligocene sand (T30) in the Nam Con Son basin, offshore southern Vietnam, were tested in the core laboratory of the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI). The results of routine core analysis (RCA) including porosity and permeability measurements were employed to divide the study reservoir into hydraulic flow units (HFUs) using the global hydraulic elements (GHEs) approach. Based on five classified HFUs, 16 samples were selected for special core analysis, i.e., mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and grain size analyses for establishing non-linear porosity-permeability model of each HFU based on Kozeny-Carman equation, which provides an improved prediction of permeability (R2 = 0.846) comparing to that by the empirical poro-perm relationship (R2 = 0.633). In addition, another permeability model, namely the Winland R35 method, was applied and gave very satisfactory results (R2 = 0.919). Finally, by integrating the results from MICP and grain size analyses, a good trendline of pore size distribution index (λ) and grain sorting was successfully obtained to help characterise the study reservoir. High λ came with poor sorting, and vice versa, the low λ corresponded to good sorting of grain size.

Energy integration: Green future for late-life offshore oil and gas assets

In recent years, the oil and gas industry has been facing objections from a public greatly concerned with the severe environmental impact caused by fossil fuels and their infrastructures, and strong demands from policy makers seeking to meet decarbonisation goals. Amidst a global energy transition, the future demand, finance, and social responsibilities of oil and gas companies are increasingly in question. One of the biggest problems of the industry is what are the “green” solutions for the late-life offshore oil and gas assets. Energy integration with reusing or repurposing oil and gas assets for new technologies could be a worthwhile investment strategy helping reduce carbon emission from oil and gas production as well as accelerating carbon capture and storage (CCS) and green hydrogen development to support the global decarbonisation. According to research, the late-life offshore oil and gas assets play an important role in energy integration while helping to have more opportunities to develop the new technologies that are in the early stages of development with high capex, necessary to make them more economically attractive and facilitate maximum energy integration. Reusing or repurposing oil and gas infrastructure can lead to 30% capex saving and million tons of CO2 pa emission reductions. In this paper, potential concepts of energy integration for offshore oil and gas assets are introduced, and some lessons learned and implications for reusing or repurposing late-life offshore assets for Vietnam are also presented.