New database for subsurface energy storage could be boon for natural gas industry

• The database ranks storage facilities by performance metrics to identify promising locations for expansion, addressing growing demand as the U.S. consumes approximately 92 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily
• The system includes three storage types: depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, and engineered salt caverns, representing the world's largest underground natural gas storage network
• The research could enable replacing 'cushion gas' (half of stored natural gas used to maintain pressure) with CO2, freeing up more natural gas for use while permanently trapping greenhouse gases underground

Summary: New Database for Underground Energy Storage Supports Natural Gas Industry Expansion

Key Development:

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a comprehensive database analyzing underground natural gas storage sites across the United States, published in *Earth Energy Science* on July 2, 2026. The database integrates geological assessments, reservoir engineering, and operational data for the nation's storage network.

Current Infrastructure:

The U.S. operates the world's largest underground natural gas storage system, comprising nearly 400 facilities with a total capacity of approximately 9.2 trillion cubic feet. Storage occurs in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, and solution-mined salt caverns. Daily U.S. natural gas consumption reaches about 92 billion cubic feet.

Database Capabilities:

The new resource expands on existing databases from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. It ranks facilities using performance metrics to identify optimal candidates for expansion or new development, enabling analyses previously impossible with public datasets alone.

Market Implications:

The database supports natural gas industry expansion as demand and production are expected to increase. It provides a framework for screening suitable storage locations and optimizing existing facilities, critical for maintaining reliable supply to industrial, commercial, and residential users.

Broader Applications:

Beyond natural gas, the database applies to emerging hydrogen storage and carbon capture industries. Researchers are exploring hydrogen integration with natural gas storage and using alternative gases like CO2 as "cushion gas" (approximately half of stored gas that maintains reservoir pressure). This could free additional natural gas for use while sequestering CO2 underground.

The research received support from Texas's Advanced Resource Recovery program.