Our approach
Natural or native hydrogen (H2), also known as "white" or even “gold” hydrogen, is currently considered as a possible energy resource for the development of a carbon-free society. For more than a century, many natural geological fluids carrying H2 have been discovered, but to date, there is no exploration strategy or resource assessment as operational guidelines for hydrogen targeting are still lacking. The goal for academics is now to move forward methodically to reasonably assess the recovery potential of this primary natural production and thus the associated flow rates.
We are exploring the subsurface by conducting sampling campaigns using our mobile laboratory. From geophysical, geological and geochemical data sets we develop models to understand the origin, migration and potential storage of natural hydrogen.
At-a-glance overview
World geological map showing the location of some well-documented occurrences of fluids enriched in H2 and putative abiotic hydrocarbons in the Earth’s crust. The color code of the symbols is a first-order classification based on the geological context. Sources of H2 in intracratonic basins are currently poorly constrained. Also shown are locations where large quantities of gaseous H2, mostly produced by steam reforming of natural gas, have been stored in salts caverns such as Beaumont (Texas, USA) and Teesside (UK) and in aquifers such as at Beynes (France). Map courtesy of the US GeoloGical survey, (Truche and Bazarkina, 2019).
News
Posts
8 Feb 2024: Hydrogène naturel : l’énergie décarbonée de demain ? Observatoire Environnement (...)
Contacts: Professor Frederic Victor Donzé and/or Professor Laurent Truche
