Summary
Highlights
Eric Gosser, CEO and leading geoscientist at Laier Hydrogen Consultant, introduces the concept of natural hydrogen as a viable and clean energy source. He highlights his extensive experience in water-rock-gas interactions and exploring natural hydrogen.
Eric explains three main ways hydrogen is produced in the Earth: primordial hydrogen stored during the Earth's formation, redox reactions with ferrous iron in minerals, and radiolysis caused by natural radioactivity (uranium, thorium, potassium-40) breaking down water molecules.
Natural hydrogen is generally not found in sedimentary basins rich in oil and gas. Instead, it's associated with iron-rich rocks or those with high natural radioactivity. The challenge is to identify both the 'kitchens' (where hydrogen is produced) and 'reservoirs' (where it's trapped), which can be conventional or unconventional like volcanic rocks.
Geological and geochemical models are crucial for predicting hydrogen presence and behavior. They help calculate hydrogen production kinetics based on rock types and water access, and model fluid flow and migration. Seismic imaging, gravimetry, and magnetism are used to delineate potential production and trapping zones, especially for magnetic rocks transformed during hydrogen production.
Microbial signatures are a promising research area. Certain microbes thrive in hydrogen-rich environments, and their presence in soil or water samples could indicate an underlying hydrogen system. While still in the research phase, this biological approach could offer a new way to detect hydrogen.
Soil gas analysis can directly detect hydrogen and associated gases like helium and radon, which indicate radioactive processes. However, it's crucial to distinguish natural hydrogen from artifacts, such as hydrogen produced by drilling operations or corrosion of metallic well parts. Careful analysis of associated gases helps validate the data.
While many tools from oil and gas exploration are applicable, they need adaptation for hydrogen due to its small molecular size and high diffusion rates. Geologists must change their mindset from slow-moving viscous oil to fast-moving hydrogen. The industry is currently on a steep learning curve.
Satellite imagery can detect 'fairy circles' – circular structures at the surface indicating hydrogen seeps, often found in old cratons and linked to radioactivity. However, many hydrogen sources, especially along faults, are not visible from space. Specialized geophysical methods like seismic imaging, gravimetry, and magnetism are combined to identify tectonic faults and delineate reservoirs.
Current drilling and extraction technologies leverage existing methods but require careful consideration of artifacts. While shallow wells can yield hydrogen, deeper wells reaching the 'kitchen' (source rock) offer potentially renewable resources due to continuous production, though at higher investment costs. Oil and gas companies have historical data showing hydrogen presence, often misattributed to corrosion.
Safety measures for natural hydrogen will largely adopt technologies from the established hydrogen industry to prevent leaks in tanks, pipes, and valves. The goal is to maximize value by preventing any loss of the product.
The Earth naturally emits significant amounts of hydrogen, contributing to atmospheric concentrations. However, the exact quantity from natural processes (volcanoes, faults, fairy circles) is not yet quantified. This baseline understanding is crucial to assess the environmental impact of human-induced leaks during exploration and production.
Promising regions include old cratons with fairy circles, areas where mantle rocks are close to the surface (mountains, mid-oceanic ridges), and borders of sedimentary basins where hydrogen-producing rocks meet trapping layers like salt or clay. Many countries aactively updating their mining laws to encourage exploration.
Investors need comprehensive geological, geophysical, and geochemical data, alongside proximity to markets and existing infrastructure (e.g., natural gas pipelines). Countries with flexible or adapted mining laws that explicitly mention natural hydrogen, and clear tax regimes, are more attractive. Drilling depth influences cost, but deeper wells often mean less microbial degradation. The consensus price for natural hydrogen is estimated to be below $1 per kilogram.
Policy makers need to acknowledge natural hydrogen alongside other renewable energy sources. Dedicated government funding and pilot programs are necessary to accelerate research and development. In the long term, all forms of hydrogen production will likely be needed to address the energy and climate crisis.
Historically, knowledge of natural hydrogen was confined to academia. Over the past 5-6 years, this knowledge has successfully transferred to industrial projects, attracting significant investment. Academics and industry are now collaborating actively, reading each other's research, and bridging the gap between scientific discovery and industrial application.
Future research needs to focus on deep drilling and open sharing of data from successful discoveries to calibrate geological and geophysical models. Another promising area is stimulating hydrogen production from rocks, potentially enhancing the Earth's natural output using catalysts and optimized conditions, with the US Department of Energy actively funding such initiatives.
An active international ecosystem exists for natural hydrogen, with dedicated conferences (like the forthcoming ASHAT Summit in Paris) and working groups (such as the International Energy Agency's Task 49). These platforms facilitate vital exchanges of ideas and results among industry, academia, and investors.
Eric's motivation comes from curiosity and a desire to contribute to solving the energy and climate crisis. He believes natural hydrogen offers a cheap, globally distributed solution, making it a challenging and rewarding field. His company assists clients by providing training, reviewing data, conducting geological modeling, and linking technical data to economic models.