Hydrogen in Georeservoirs: Underground Storage, In Situ Production, and Coupled CO₂ Storage & Mineralization

Hydrogen georeservoir research is accelerating as hydrogen transitions from an industrial niche toward a pivotal role in the global clean energy transition. At the same time, geological CO₂ storage and mineralization are being scaled up in support of ambitious net-zero strategies, and many of the most promising hydrogen value chains—such as blue hydrogen production and CCUS hubs—are tightly linked to CO₂ management. This evolution places georeservoirs, including salt caverns, depleted oil and gas fields, and deep saline aquifers, at the center of integrated subsurface operations. However, current deployments face complex challenges related to multi-scale geological heterogeneity, coupled behaviors between flow, geomechanics, and geochemistry, and the need for effective long-term monitoring and operational assurance. While significant progress has been made through pilot studies and theoretical models, translating these lessons into scalable, risk-mitigated commercial operations remains a critical gap—particularly when it comes to combining hydrogen and CO₂ workflows in the same geological setting.This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance the emerging science and engineering of integrated hydrogen-ready georeservoirs, focusing on bringing together underground hydrogen storage, in situ hydrogen generation, and the coupling of CO₂ storage and mineralization in realistic, commercial contexts. Key open questions include how cyclic pressure and temperature regimes associated with hydrogen operations impact reservoir and caprock integrity; the fate and transport of hydrogen during in situ production, including interactions with rock, brine, and subsurface microbiology; identification and management of leakage pathways and monitoring their evolution over operational timescales; and strategies to harness reactive transport for permanent CO₂ immobilization through mineralization. We encourage the submission of multidisciplinary research combining laboratory and field data, advanced modeling (including uncertainty quantification, machine learning, and digital twin approaches), and state-of-the-art monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) workflows to support risk-based design and operational decision-making for commercial deployment.This collection is focused on studies that explicitly address the integration of hydrogen and CO₂ technologies in the subsurface, especially where their workflows, risks, and monitoring strategies intersect. Surface infrastructure, transport (e.g., pipelines), or purely surface-based technologies are out of scope.We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Screening and characterization of georeservoirs for integrated hydrogen and CO₂ deployment (salt caverns, depleted reservoirs, aquifers)• Effects of cyclic injection and withdrawal (pressure/temperature) on reservoir and caprock integrity, seal performance, and fault stability• Hydrogen and CO₂ migration, loss pathways, and their interaction with subsurface minerals, fluids, and microbiology• Integrated approaches for CO₂ storage, EOR, hybrid injection strategies, and enhancement of mineralization for permanent storage• Development and implementation of advanced MRV workflows, leveraging technologies like seismic, fiber optic, satellite, and geochemical sensing•Quantification and management of uncertainty, digital twin frameworks, and risk-informed operational design• Data from field pilots, demonstrations, and regulatory frameworks that facilitate the safe, commercial-scale integration of hydrogen and CO₂ georeservoir operationsAppendix: We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, and Data/Technology Reports. Topic editors: Bennet Nii Tackie-Otoo, Isah Mohammed, Daniel Asante Otchere, Ph.D., Mohamed Rezk Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79171/hydrogen-in-georeservoirs-underground-storage-in-situ-production-and-coupled-co-storage-mineralization