Reinventing Oil Reservoirs: A Subsurface Pathway to Hydrogen and Cleaner Hydrocarbons

Aysylu Askarova; Alexey Cheremisin; Renbao Zhao; Chengdong Yuan

doi:10.62762/JCERF.2025.908199

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Volume 1, Issue 1, Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels

Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025

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Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025: 9-14

Open Access | Perspective | 29 August 2025

Reinventing Oil Reservoirs: A Subsurface Pathway to Hydrogen and Cleaner Hydrocarbons

Aysylu Askarova 1 *

Alexey Cheremisin 1

Renbao Zhao 2

Chengdong Yuan 1

1 Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 143026, Russia

2 College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

* Corresponding Author: Aysylu Askarova, [email protected]

DOI: 10.62762/JCERF.2025.908199

Received: 31 July 2025, Accepted: 11 August 2025, Published: 29 August 2025

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Abstract

This article explores the emerging concept of in situ hydrogen generation (ISHG) within oil reservoirs as a transformative pathway toward clean energy and hydrocarbon upgrading. With the global energy sector facing decarbonization pressures and limitations of conventional hydrogen production, ISHG offers a promising alternative by turning mature or depleted oil fields into subsurface reactors for hydrogen and upgraded oil co-production. Through thermochemical processes such as in situ combustion (ISC), steam methane reforming (SMR), coke gasification and water-gas shift reactions (WGSR), hydrogen is produced underground while carbon dioxide and by-products remain trapped, minimizing surface emissions. Drawing on recent experimental, modeling, and pilot studies, we discuss advances in reaction mechanisms, numerical simulation, and techno-economic assessments, highlighting both technical opportunities and outstanding challenges. The article provides a forward-looking perspective on how ISHG can repurpose legacy oil infrastructure for a cleaner energy future.

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Reinventing Oil Reservoirs: A Subsurface Pathway to Hydrogen and Cleaner Hydrocarbons

Keywords

in situ hydrogen generation

heavy oil

steam methane reforming

oil upgrading

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Funding

This work was supported without any funding.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

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APA Style

Askarova, A., Cheremisin, A., Zhao, R., & Yuan, C. (2025). Reinventing Oil Reservoirs: A Subsurface Pathway to Hydrogen and Cleaner Hydrocarbons. Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels, 1(1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.62762/JCERF.2025.908199

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