TY  - JOUR
AU  - Attar, Nabil
AU  - Tackie-Otoo, Bennet Nii
AU  - Raza, Arshad
AU  - Mahmoud, Mohamed
AU  - Alafnan, Saad
AU  - Kamal, Muhammad Shahzad
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/25
TI  - In-situ Hydrogen Production in Natural Gas Reservoirs: From Methane Conversion Mechanisms to Techno-economic and Environmental Feasibility
JO  - Reservoir Science
T2  - Reservoir Science
JF  - Reservoir Science
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
SP  - 324
EP  - 364
DO  - 10.62762/RS.2026.563836
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/RS.2026.563836
KW  - sustainability
KW  - climate action
KW  - in-situ hydrogen production
KW  - techno-economic analysis
KW  - energy transition
KW  - risk assessment
AB  - In-situ hydrogen production from natural gas reservoirs (IHP-NG) is an emerging pathway for low-carbon hydrogen by converting methane-rich subsurface resources while retaining carbon-bearing byproducts underground. This review critically evaluates the reaction mechanisms, experimental and modelling evidence, techno-economic position, life-cycle implications, and deployment challenges of IHP-NG. Unlike heavy-oil in-situ combustion gasification, IHP-NG is governed mainly by methane conversion reactions, including steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, autothermal reforming, methane cracking, dry reforming, and water--gas shift, alongside competing pathways such as methanation, reverse water--gas shift, and coking. Existing studies show that high temperature, adequate steam supply, controlled oxidant dosage, effective catalysis, and selective H2 recovery are essential for meaningful hydrogen generation. However, uncertainties remain around reservoir heterogeneity, heat management, catalyst stability, well integrity, H2 separation, and carbon retention. Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment indicates that IHP-NG is a process-integration concept, not an inherently cheaper or cleaner hydrogen route. Its competitiveness and carbon advantage depend on high H2 yield, reliable separation, infrastructure reuse, verifiable CO2 retention, low methane and H2 losses, and manageable monitoring and liability costs. Field-scale validation is therefore essential before IHP-NG can be deemed a credible low-carbon hydrogen pathway.
SN  - 3070-2356
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  - 

@article{Attar2026Insitu,
  author = {Nabil Attar and Bennet Nii Tackie-Otoo and Arshad Raza and Mohamed Mahmoud and Saad Alafnan and Muhammad Shahzad Kamal},
  title = {In-situ Hydrogen Production in Natural Gas Reservoirs: From Methane Conversion Mechanisms to Techno-economic and Environmental Feasibility},
  journal = {Reservoir Science},
  year = {2026},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {324-364},
  doi = {10.62762/RS.2026.563836},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/RS.2026.563836},
  abstract = {In-situ hydrogen production from natural gas reservoirs (IHP-NG) is an emerging pathway for low-carbon hydrogen by converting methane-rich subsurface resources while retaining carbon-bearing byproducts underground. This review critically evaluates the reaction mechanisms, experimental and modelling evidence, techno-economic position, life-cycle implications, and deployment challenges of IHP-NG. Unlike heavy-oil in-situ combustion gasification, IHP-NG is governed mainly by methane conversion reactions, including steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, autothermal reforming, methane cracking, dry reforming, and water--gas shift, alongside competing pathways such as methanation, reverse water--gas shift, and coking. Existing studies show that high temperature, adequate steam supply, controlled oxidant dosage, effective catalysis, and selective H2 recovery are essential for meaningful hydrogen generation. However, uncertainties remain around reservoir heterogeneity, heat management, catalyst stability, well integrity, H2 separation, and carbon retention. Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment indicates that IHP-NG is a process-integration concept, not an inherently cheaper or cleaner hydrogen route. Its competitiveness and carbon advantage depend on high H2 yield, reliable separation, infrastructure reuse, verifiable CO2 retention, low methane and H2 losses, and manageable monitoring and liability costs. Field-scale validation is therefore essential before IHP-NG can be deemed a credible low-carbon hydrogen pathway.},
  keywords = {sustainability, climate action, in-situ hydrogen production, techno-economic analysis, energy transition, risk assessment},
  issn = {3070-2356},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}