Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have built a detailed database of nearly 400 underground natural gas storage facilities across the United States. The database goes beyond basic facility data to include geological characterizations, reservoir engineering parameters, and operational performance metrics. This allows stakeholders to assess sites for expansion or repurposing for hydrogen storage and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The study, published in Earth Energy Science, covers depleted oil and gas fields, saline aquifers, and salt caverns that together hold about 9.2 trillion cubic feet of gas. One key finding is that roughly half of stored gas is cushion gas used to maintain pressure. The researchers propose replacing cushion gas with CO2, which could free up natural gas for use while providing a geologically secure method for carbon sequestration. For anyone tracking grid decarbonization or energy storage economics, this database is a practical tool. It goes beyond basic facility data to include geological and engineering parameters that matter for repurposing sites for hydrogen or CCS. The question is whether the regulatory and economic incentives will align to make that transition happen at scale.
