On day 3 of CERAWeek by S&P Global 2023, Seta Afshordi, COO of Proton Technologies Canada, delivered a presentation titled “Repurposing oil and gas fields for clean H₂ production.” The presentation focused on injecting oxygen into hydrocarbon reservoirs to produce H₂.

Afshordi began the presentation with background information on the beginning of Proton Technologies Canada. According to Afshordi, in 1983, bp attempted to produce additional hydrocarbon oil from a reservoir in Alberta, Canada, by injecting steam and air cyclically. More oil was produced, but the company ignored data showing that H₂ was gathered. Afshordi continued, claiming that when oxygen is injected into hydrocarbon reservoirs, whether light or heavy oil, several reactions occur, such as partial oxidation, pyrolysis and gasification.

“All these reactions somehow produce H₂ in the reservoir,” said Afshordi. “In addition, you create an ambient in the formation with the temperatures and pH created.” The CO₂, created as a side effect, remains in the reservoir as salt, Afshordi said. “The majority of the CO₂ stays in the ground, and whatever comes to the surface, we push it back to the ground.”

To generate the oxygen injected into the reservoir, they use air separation units. According to Afshordi, when previous thermal projects in North America are examined, all produced H₂, and when separating the H₂, there are several methods to consider (e.g., pressure swing absorption and cryogenic separation). Since everything is pulled up without compression, the rest of the gases return to the well.

All steps of this process contain proven technologies, and to showcase the capabilities further, the company purchased an oilfield for demonstration purposes. Third-party CO₂ can be sequestered while the gases are being re-injected to increase profits further. Additionally, the surplus of nitrogen due to the air separation unit can be combined with the H₂ produced to create ammonia.

“We call ourselves clear because we think our carbon intensity is lower than zero,” Afshordi said. “Carbon intensity is important; colors shouldn’t be. We are clear because we hardly bring CO₂ to the surface, and when we do, we mix it with third-party CO₂, so the carbon intensity of the entire cycle becomes negative.”

According to Afshordi, since they inject air instead of oxygen, which is not as efficient, they are at about $1.5/kg, but once they acquire pure oxygen, the costs will be reduced to about $0.50/kg of H₂. Proton Technologies Canada has not yet matched the historical data they have researched but is confident they will reach them soon.

Story by: Tyler Campbell, Managing Editor, H2Tech