Our Mission

Our mission is to explore and commercialise natural hydrogen, by applying science-led play-based exploration, as shown to be successful in the oil & gas and mining industries. 

Leveraging experience gained from the oil & gas and mineral sectors, we are investigating how well-established, science-led exploration techniques can be applied to a play-based screening and evaluation approach to locate natural hydrogen occurrences.

Members of our team previously carried out work in Mali for oil & gas exploration companies, through which they gained unique geological knowledge in the areas where hydrogen occurs.

H2Au, and its research partner NHSG, has access to geoscience data that is vital to developing predictive models for natural hydrogen. These models can be used to delineate ‘hydrogen play fairways’ globally.

If proven in commercial volumes, natural hydrogen could become the ‘green’ successor to petroleum.

How is natural hydrogen formed?

Natural ‘free’ hydrogen gas is known to escape from rocks in several regions of the world, both as surface seepages and in wells drilled for water or oil & gas. Wells drilled recently in Mali specifically for natural hydrogen have proved that the gas can be produced as an energy resource. 

Natural Hydrogen can be generated by a process known as serpentinization, the action of water on olivine-bearing rocks (called ultrabasic) at optimum temperatures of 200-350°C. 

Where was the occurrence of natural hydrogen proven?

Hydrogen is produced at Mid-Oceanic ridges and escapes through black and white smokers (Oceanic Settings). Hydrogen has been found to occur in a ‘free state’ in the sub-surface in Africa, Brazil, Australia, Spain & France. Recently, the focus has been on the discovery of potentially commercial volumes in Mali. At Bourakebougou hydrogen has accumulated (is accumulating) in the gas phase like hydrocarbons in reservoirs. Drilling in the USA (Nebraska) has also shown promising signs of discovering natural hydrogen gas, and testing is underway to demonstrate the potential of this new discovery.

Using this understanding we are seeking to identify areas to target for hydrogen exploration in the USA & Canada, South America and Africa, by targeting hydrogen source areas based on play mapping developed in the petroleum industry.  Following screening, we will conduct more localised, detailed studies in these areas in order to identify mature hydrogen prospects.