Process for generating hydrogen
A process for the production of hydrogen in a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, is provided. The process may comprise the steps of introducing a metal-based catalyst into a hydrocarbon-containing zone in said reservoir, raising the temperature in said zone to a temperature at which catalyzed conversion of hydrocarbon to hydrogen occurs, and, optionally but preferably, recovering hydrogen from an extraction section of a production well located above said zone.
1. A process for producing hydrogen in a subterranean hydrocarbon gas reservoir, said process comprising: introducing a metal-based catalyst into a hydrocarbon gas-containing zone in said reservoir; and raising the temperature in said zone to a temperature at which catalyzed conversion of hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen occurs.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalyst is introduced as a solution of a metal compound thermally decomposable to a catalytically active form.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalyst is a nickel-based catalyst.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalyst is injected into the formation surrounding a borehole.
5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature in said zone is raised by injection of an oxygen-containing gas and combustion of endogenous hydrocarbon gas.
6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , comprising injecting steam into said reservoir.
7. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reservoir is a tight gas reservoir.
8. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises recovering hydrogen from an extraction section of a production well located above said zone.