New research focuses on safely transporting hydrogen through natural gas pipelines
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
A new research partnership between the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering and utility Peoples Natural Gas is focusing on how to safely and securely transport hydrogen through natural gas pipelines, according to Natural Gas Intelligence.
“Hydrogen has the potential to transform the way we heat our homes and power our businesses, using the existing natural gas distribution system,” said Peoples’ Mike Huwar, president. “Pitt and the Swanson School have the expertise we need to test and study its feasibility as a transformative energy resource.”
The collaboration of engineers plan to benchmark and research existing information and data on hydrogen distribution, focusing on technical issues tied to shipping hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends in gas pipelines in hopes of eventually testing hydrogen’s impacts on Peoples’ natural gas distribution infrastructure.
Learn more: Natural Gas Intelligence > Appalachian Basin Engineers Studying Hydrogen Transport in Natural Gas Pipelines
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What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.