A flow testing program by Gold Hydrogen Ltd (ASX:GHY) has confirmed helium to surface at its Ramsay Project on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and sampled helium purity levels up to 36.9% at the wellhead.
The primary objective of the Ramsay 1 and Ramsay 2 well testing program — to obtain gas and fluid samples for compositional and isotopic analysis — has been achieved and samples have been sent to third-party laboratories in Australia and Europe for analysis.
The secondary objective was the recovery of natural hydrogen and helium at surface from reservoir fluid and gas with pressure measurements. This objective has also been achieved and recovered samples dispatched to the same international labs.
Various data points indicating the presence of natural hydrogen and helium in PEL 687.
“Significant potential to be commercially attractive”
The helium flow testing program has confirmed helium to surface and that the helium content increased as the hole stabilised. The results suggest that the project has significant potential to be a commercially attractive natural hydrogen and helium producer.
Recent independent and in-house studies have confirmed these world-leading helium purity levels along with additional flow data and identification of broad target zones for further drilling at the project.
Additionally, drill analysis has identified a potential 180-metre thick and extremely high-purity Kulpara Dolomite zone which featured positive helium shows in the Stage 1 exploration well testing of Ramsay 2.
CSIRO reporting and data has also confirmed the highest helium purities ever sampled in groundwater in Australia by its noble gas laboratory range from 20% to 25%. These groundwater samples were taken from the project during Stage 1 well testing in March and April.
The company continues to evaluate the chemistry, geotechnical data and flow rates relating to the successful completion of the inaugural Ramsay Project drill program.
“180-metre thick helium-bearing section”
Gold Hydrogen managing director Neil McDonald said: “The results that we continue to receive are highly encouraging.
“As an overview of our achievements to date, we have identified a potentially prolific 180-metre thick helium-bearing section of the Kulpara Dolomite formation.
“We have recorded helium at surface in the separator at world-leading purities of 36.9%, in addition to the CSIRO dissolved gas in water results of 20% to 25% purity, as well as three pressurised and verified samples of 17.9%, 12.6% and 17.5% purity for helium at different depths ranging from 642 metres through to 778 metres during Stage 1 testing at Ramsay 2.
“As there has been extremely limited exploration for helium in a non-petroleum system undertaken to date, it remains open as to where the final limits will eventually be.
“We have very large prospective resources for both natural hydrogen and helium, covering only a portion of the Ramsay Project permit.
“We look forward to receiving further results of the international isotopic analysis, and planning for future commercialisation of this rare and potentially large world-class natural hydrogen and helium project.”
Drilling ahead
For its next drilling campaign, the company is preparing new drilling and exploration designs to optimise the extraction of both natural hydrogen (1.3-billion kilogram best estimate prospective resource) and helium (41-billion cubic feet best estimate prospective resource).