Natural hydrogen represents a paradigm shift in our approach to how we view hydrogen today. Unlike hydrogen manufactured through energy-intensive steam methane reforming, naturally occurring hydrogen offers a potentially abundant, in-situ energy source that requires only discovery and extraction. The identified natural Hydrogen resource in the subsurface is so large that if we were to use 1% of the known resources, it would supply humanity with all the hydrogen needs for 100 years.
With over 600 industrial uses and an important part to the world’s food supply, the world uses over 50BCF/day of natural gas to create Hydrogen. (The USA uses 38bcf/day for electricity) . This presentation explores the geological mechanisms driving natural hydrogen formation across diverse environments—from Precambrian shields to sedimentary basins—and examines the emerging evidence for economically viable accumulations worldwide.
The presentation will start with a general overview of the activity of over 150 exploration companies worldwide in making natural hydrogen a new primary energy. Drawing on all the successes of hydrocarbon, geothermal and mining developments, natural hydrogen exploration is moving fast. We will examine exploration methodologies, critical technical challenges including geochemical and characterization, and the geologic factors that influence commercial viability. Additionally, we'll discuss how natural hydrogen fits into our long-term energy needs on the planet all while, creating a cleaner energy source.
Dion Lobreau is a professional geologist with over 25 years of experience in subsurface characterization and energy resource exploration. From the early years of his career working in the muskeg of northern Canada, to spending hours along the California coast analyzing geology to assist in drilling offshore California, his passion is energy. With much of his career in the oil and gas industry, searching for a cleaner energy such as natural hydrogen (without the carbon) attracted him as it is true exploration. From utilizing sequence stratigraphy, structural geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, microbiology, Dion continues to explore for energy in the western USA. Dion resides in Ventura, CA and spends his spare time trudging through the coast mountain ranges and other amazing parts of Western North America.
