Microbial communities living in the subsurface can affect the overall efficiency of underground hydrogen storage (UHS) systems. This happens because microbial activity can change the fluid composition and rock properties at the pore scale, which in turn impacts hydrogen injection and withdrawal processes at larger scales.
This project aims to understand how these microbially mediated pore-scale processes may affect hydrogen storage. Mainly, at the pore scale, hydrogen-induced microbial reactions can cause hydrogen loss and microbial growth, leading to bio-clogging and consequent changes in rock properties, such as wettability, pore geometry, and effective diffusivity. These pore-scale changes influence the two-phase flow of gas and water, multi-component transport, and microbial dynamics at larger scales.
To understand these effects, we will develop and apply pore- to core-scale numerical models that simulate the coupled processes of two-phase flow of gas and water, multi-component transport, and microbial dynamics triggered by hydrogen gas in the subsurface. Based on pore-scale model results, we aim to derive modified constitutive relationships due to microbial effects, enabling more accurate core-scale modeling. The resulting models will enhance predictability for hydrogen transport in the subsurface, contributing to the implementation and optimization of long-term underground hydrogen storage systems.
The conceptual illustration shows a H2 plume in an underground reservoir. The diagrams (A) and (B) show the fluid distribution in the pores at different locations. (A) Ideally, the H2 plume displaces most or all of the mobile formation water. (B) H2 bubbles are trapped and immobilised by capillary forces.
Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – Project number 575546287
Researcher: Dharam Unadkat; PI: Anozie Ebigbo
Project partners: Olaf A. Cirpka , Tao Yuan (The Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen)
Project publications:
Project-related presentations:
External link: https://gepris.dfg.de/project/575546287?lang=en
Letzte Änderung: 14. July 2026