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Prospects for searching for natural hydrogen deposits in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Перспективы поиска залежей природного водорода на территории Республики Узбекистан

T. Kh. Shoimurotov, O. A. Karshiev

  1. Institute of Geology and Exploration of Oil and Gas Fields (IGIRNIGM), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Publisher’s page

Geologiya fanlari universiteti xabarlari (Bulletin of the University of Geological Sciences), No. 3

Date2025

Issue2025, pp. 19–26

LanguageRussian (Uzbek and English abstracts)

LicenceNot stated

Highlights

  • Heat-flow isolines on the map: 60–110 mW/m²; point values 60–105 mW/m².
  • Areas of anomalously high heat flow: more than 100 mW/m².
  • Nine channels of deep heat and mass transfer in the western Bukhara–Khiva palaeorift.
  • 2006–2008 thermobarogeochemical survey, Beshtepa–Chukurkul area: 54 points plus 10 control points, 2 m holes, one point per 4 km², 472 gas determinations.
  • Hydrogen in the gas of tested wells in Bukhara–Khiva fields: 0.036–14.7% (highest at Yangi Karatepa well 9, 3,577–3,583 m).

Keywords

  • heat flow
  • geothermal survey
  • natural hydrogen
  • Bukhara–Khiva palaeorift
  • deep heat and mass transfer
  • Beshtepa

Summary

The authors, of the Institute of Geology and Exploration of Oil and Gas Fields (IGIRNIGM), review natural hydrogen as an energy source, the geological settings where it is found, and hydrogen in the gases of oil and gas fields of the Bukhara–Khiva region, where its share in tested intervals reaches 14.7%.

In 2006–2008 IGIRNIGM mapped geothermal and gas-chemical anomalies to pick out anomalous thermobarogeochemical zones in the Beshtepa–Chukurkul area of the Bukhara–Khiva oil and gas region. The field survey measured temperature and sampled gas from 2 m holes at 54 points, with 10 control points, one point per 4 km², and made 472 gas determinations. It found two anomalous zones, West Beshtepa and Beshtepa, which the authors link to channels of deep heat and mass transfer.

The paper's map, after Abidov, Dolgopolov and Kamalkhodzhaeva (2007), shows regional geothermal survey profiles, heat-flow isolines and measurement points, the boundaries of the Bukhara–Khiva palaeorift, areas of anomalously high heat flow (more than 100 mW/m²) and nine deep heat-and-mass-transfer channels: Tashkuduk, Guzhayli, West Beshtepa, West Kokchi, South Guzhayli, Muradkuduk, Atbakar, Tegermen and Beshtepa. The authors propose searching for hydrogen in oil and gas, ore and coal regions.

Figures (1)

Schematic map of the western Bukhara–Khiva region with grey heat-flow isolines from 60 to 110 mW/m², red numbered circles marking nine deep heat-transfer channels along survey profiles, coloured field outlines and two boxed survey areas, T and Б
Area of the field thermobarogeochemical survey (after Abidov, Dolgopolov and Kamalkhodzhaeva, 2007). 1 – regional geothermal survey profiles; 2 – heat-flow isolines, mW/m²; 3 – heat-flow measurement points; 4 – parametric wells; 5 – boundaries of the Bukhara–Khiva palaeorift; 6 – faults in the Palaeozoic complex; 7 – seismic profiles; 8 – gas fields; 9 – gas-oil fields; 10 – structures with negative drilling results; 11 – structures identified from geophysical data; 12 – structures prepared for drilling; 13 – areas with anomalously high heat flow (more than 100 mW/m²); 14 – channels of deep heat and mass transfer: I – Tashkuduk, II – Guzhayli, III – West Beshtepa, IV – West Kokchi, V – South Guzhayli, VI – Muradkuduk, VII – Atbakar, VIII – Tegermen, IX – Beshtepa; 15 – survey areas: T – Tegermen, Б – Beshtepe-Chukurkul. Source: T. Kh. Shoimurotov and O. A. Karshiev (2025), Shoimurotov and Karshiev (2025), after Abidov et al. (2007).

How to cite

T. Kh. Shoimurotov and O. A. Karshiev (2025). Prospects for searching for natural hydrogen deposits in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Geologiya fanlari universiteti xabarlari (Bulletin of the University of Geological Sciences), No. 3, 2025, pp. 19–26. https://files.uzgeouniver.uz/media/files/%D0%92%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_3_2025.pdf