Skoltech researchers have found a way to produce hydrogen from natural gas with 45% efficiency right in the gas field by injecting steam and a catalyst into a well and adding oxygen to ignite the gas. Catalyst-assisted combustion produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from which the lat...
The alternatives are the status quo or severely restricting natural gas extraction. I won't say the latter isn't doable, especially if we can ramp up nuclear power capacity, but there's a lot of baggage there. We should welcome a solution that effectively makes natural gas an emissions-free resource.
Keeping in mind I have zero knowledge of what you're telling me about, but these examples don't include anything about carbon monoxide.
If the similarities to the other gases are close enough to mean that it can be safely stored using the same techniques, then I'm inclined to feel a lot less worried about the whole thing.
But I don't really trust these sectors to act on our behalf, only to make profit line go up. Lying and bribing appears to be part of that, as can be seen all around us these days.
I'm unaware of any examples of subterranean carbon monoxide storage. However, underground helium storage has been done successfully for a while. Helium is one of the best gases at leaking because of its small size, which should provide some reassurance as to the storage of larger gases underground.
I agree that greed and corporate malfeasance are a thing, but it's kind of a separate problem. The government is either going to enforce environmental regulations and manage our resources properly or it's not.