Getech, a renowned global subsurface resource locator, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution to precisely identify locations rich in natural hydrogen.
By leveraging their expertise in genetic systems of natural hydrogen and utilising their proprietary data platform, products, and machine learning analysis, the company can accurately predict the whereabouts of natural hydrogen deposits in the subsurface.
This emerging low-carbon and cost-efficient energy source holds tremendous potential to support industrial decarbonisation efforts. Commonly known as white or gold hydrogen, natural hydrogen is a highly promising commodity, attracting substantial investments from new explorers like Denver-based Koloma, which has secured an impressive $91 million in funds from investors, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Getech’s innovative approach involves categorising sources, migration paths, reservoir traps, and seals, which are then integrated with their data tools, including the Globe digital platform. Through computational modelling and AI machine learning, this platform models the Earth’s subsurface and generates favorability maps, pinpointing the ideal locations for natural hydrogen development.
Richard Bennett, Executive Chairman of Getech said: “Natural hydrogen has huge potential as an efficient energy source as it has no greenhouse gas emissions on combustion and can therefore replace carbon intensive fuels in many applications as part of the energy transition.
We combine our deep understanding of the processes behind the formation of natural hydrogen resources with our global platform of geological, geophysical and past-climate data to identify the locations of potential new discoveries. These results can be invaluable during initial exploration screenings that help locate and quantify sites of interest and de-risk subsequent development phases.”
Evidence suggests there are vast reserves of clean, geologic hydrogen beneath the earth’s surface that can accelerate the energy transition. Hydrogen can produce clean energy with only water as a byproduct and the gas can be used as a carbon free fuel for vehicles, for power generation and in many other industrial applications.
Natural hydrogen can form in a variety of ways and Getech’s approach focuses on three primary sources: serpentinisation, which involves the hydration of iron-rich rocks/minerals, radiolysis- splitting water molecules during radioactive decay of uranium or thorium and thirdly, the decay of organic matter.
Getech has significant expertise in locating subsurface critical minerals and has already successfully deployed approaches to target sediment-hosted copper, zinc-lead and sedimentary lithium deposits and sees significant benefit in applying the proven genetic approach to target natural hydrogen.
