HyTerra Ltd (ASX:HYT) has kicked off the first phase of testing operations at its Hoarty NE3 hydrogen exploration well at Project Geneva in Nebraska.
"A pivotal moment"
“This is a pivotal moment for HyTerra to demonstrate the hydrogen production potential of the Hoarty NE3 well and gain first-hand operational experience in natural hydrogen resource development,” executive director and chief technical officer Avon McIntyre said.
SOS Well Services mobilised completion rig #21 to the Hoarty NE3 well site on Friday, March 3.
The rig crew is preparing to run the production tubing and an electrical submersible pump. The process is expected to take until mid-March – once complete, the rig will demobilise.
A pump is being installed to dewater the well, to remove the hydrostatic pressure on subsurface hydrogen-enriched gases and allow them to flow freely from two prospective zones.
Elevated hydrogen concentrations
These zones are associated with elevated hydrogen concentrations detected during drilling and swabbing operations and were further defined by petrophysical analysis as having increased porosity and gas saturation.
The company will then move to the second phase of the operation – extended flow testing – which involves measuring the gas flow data over several months.
Well data will be continuously measured on location and gas samples will be captured for independent laboratory analysis.
HyTerra can then establish the hydrogen production potential of the well and measure key parameters that include gas composition, pressure and flow rate.
These analyses will focus on the concentrations of hydrogen and other commercially significant non-hydrocarbon gases (for example, helium) that may coexist in the gas stream.
“We look forward to providing further updates to shareholders during March,” McIntyre said.