Geogenic hydrogen exploration

February 13th, 2024

Geologic hydrogen research combining field exploration with lab research.

Project lead

Dr Ema Frery, Emanuelle.frery@csiro.au

Leader researchers

Jelena Markov, jelena.markov@csiro.au

Claudio Delle Piane, claudio.dellepiane@csiro.au

Joel Sarout, joel.sarout@csiro.au

Melissa Duque Nogueira, melissa.duque@csiro.au

Julian Strand, julian.strand@csiro.au

Challenge

Hydrogen can be used in many different ways to decarbonise industries, but the two main production methods have challenges. Hydrogen produced using steam reforming of natural gas involves carbon emissions, while electrolysis is energy intensive and expensive.

Extracting hydrogen from the ground could potentially be cheaper than electrolysis and have lower emissions that steam reforming.

Exploration of geogenic hydrogen, also known as natural or geological hydrogen, involves two core challenges: understanding the intricate workings of the hydrogen system and unravelling the global hydrogen cycle, akin to our knowledge of the carbon cycle.

What we are doing

This project seeks to consolidate knowledge and strategic support for geologic hydrogen exploration, encompassing baseline studies and monitoring from two key perspectives:

  • Field Exploration: Investigating surface geogenic hydrogen seeps.
  • Laboratory Research: Employing multi-physical characterization to assess rocks that have the potential to generate or trap hydrogen.

To bridge existing knowledge gaps in the domain of hydrogen generation by natural sources, we are systematically exploring critical hydrogen generation processes. Our primary goal is to quantify the role of these processes within the crustal hydrogen cycle.

The laboratory research program is divided into two components: abiogenic and thermogenic hydrogen generation mechanisms. This approach encompasses various geological formations and includes hydrogen generation experiments and the analysis of potential paleo-migration indicators, such as fluid inclusions. These efforts are complemented by rigorous petrophysical, mineralogical, and petrological characterization of the rocks involved.

Simultaneously, the project is developing innovative workflows to identify potential hydrogen seeps in the field and to model hydrogen migration in the subsurface. These initiatives include the monitoring of hydrogen concentrations at a depth of one metre over a specified timeframe and at designated locations using advanced multi-gas sensing equipment. Field trials have been conducted in the Gingin Area within the North Perth Basin and on the Yilgarn Craton.

Outcomes to date

The work has grown to other capabilities across the Energy Business Unit as well as cross-CSIRO with research in microbiology, fluid inclusions, iron-rich rock characterisation and hydrogen generation trials in the lab.

CSIRO is now one of the world leading research institutes in the domain of natural hydrogen exploration and became a trusted advisor in this new frontier.

Project finish date

January 2025

Relevant project publications

Peer-reviewed articles

Aimar, L., Frery, E., Strand, J., Heath, C., Khan, S., Moretti, I., & Ong, C. (2023). Natural hydrogen seeps or salt lakes: how to make a difference? Grass Patch example, Western. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11, 1236673. Collaboration with UPPA & Sorbonne University (France)

Bourdet, J., Delle Piane, C., Wilske, C., Mallants, D., Suckow, A., Questiaux, D., Gerber, C., Crane, P., Deslandes, A., Martin, L. and Aleshin, M., 2023. Natural hydrogen in low temperature geofluids in a Precambrian granite, South Australia. Implications for hydrogen generation and movement in the upper crust. Chemical Geology, 638, p.121698.

Presentations

Goldschmidt, Lyon (France) July 23:

  • Session 7b – Hydrogen and helium: From natural hydrogen & helium occurences and fluxes, to exploration strategies for natural hydrogen & helium, to underground hydrogen storage. Proposed, convened and chaired by Christian Ostertag-Henning (BGR, Germany), Laurent Truche (Isterre, Grenoble), Min Song (university of Toronto) and Ema Frery (CSIRO)
  • Oral presentation: Natural hydrogen in low temperature geofluids in a Mesoproterozoic granite, South Australia. Julien Bourdet, Claudio Delle Piane, Cornelia Wilske, Dirk Mallants, Axel O. Suckow, Laure A.J. Martin, Matvei Aleshin, Christoph Gerber, Punjehl Crane and Alec Deslandes

‘Natural hydrogen: a new frontier for energy geoscience?’ The Geological Society of London:

  • Surface Circular Depressions: how are they formed? A Western Australian Example. Leo Aimar, Ema Frery, Shahbaz Khan, Julian Strand

2023 IERE-CSIRO Brisbane Hydrogen Workshop May 23 and SPE webinar August 23:

  • Natural hydrogen exploration: State of knowledge and focus on the Intra-cratonic systems.

HyResearch record

Geogenic hydrogen exploration – HyResearch: Australian Hydrogen R&D Portal (csiro.au)