Brief description of the organization
The Earth and Environmental Sciences department at the University of Waterloo is home to a welcoming community of dedicated students and world-class faculty connected by their passion for the natural world.
Problem area
The discovery and utilization of oil, often referred to as "black gold," has been a cornerstone of the energy industry for the past century. Over the years, a comprehensive understanding of the petroleum system has been developed, enabling efficient exploration and production.
With the growing global demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, a new era of energy production is emerging, with hydrogen positioned as the "new white gold."
Natural hydrogen has the potential to become a viable clean energy source. To fully realize this potential, it is essential to understand hydrogen systems—including production, migration, and accumulation in various rock types and geological contexts. Developing this understanding is crucial for identifying and exploiting natural hydrogen resources.
Main objectives
The challenge is to develop a method to identify the hydrogen system, similar to the framework used for the petroleum system.
Scope of work
- Source or origin of H₂(g)
- Migration in different rocks and trapping mechanisms
- Different types of reservoirs
- Extraction or generation methods
- Transportation between reservoirs and consumers
- Sustainability of processes
- Impact on aquifers and on the surface environment
- Innovation potential
Deliverables
The solution should address the entire chain and present current approaches, problems, methods, and an innovative solution to selected issues.
This project includes the opportunity to send up to three teams to Saudi Arabia to present their work and visit the Aramco technology incubator (November 15–21, 2026).
Team Meeting Frequency
Weekly
Skills and Training Required
Interdisciplinary expertise between Science and Engineering is recommended.
Resources required
- Computing resources and software.
- Subject matter experts
- Datasets
- Research