Constellation Resources Ltd is in receipt of initial results for both Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Thermal Maturity (TM) analysis of shale samples from its Edmund-Collier Natural Hydrogen Project.
The Edmund-Collier Project is part of the company’s wider Natural Hydrogen Project which currently spans a sizeable 87,602 square kilometres across Western Australia.
The project presents what the company calls a first-mover, basin-scale opportunity to explore for natural hydrogen, potentially generated from overmature and organic-rich shale units that are laterally extensive, 300-kilometre east–west and 40-kilometre north–south, with targets never tested by drilling.
Analysis of core samples by Core Laboratories Pty Ltd, which has occurred over regular intervals from organic-rich shales units, has delivered high TOC values over large widths in the first batch of results from three of eleven diamond drillholes, with eight still pending.
Analysis highlights
Some of the best results include:
- 17BBDD002: TOC values ranging from 0.91% to 10.10% (average 3.59%) from eleven core samples over a 339-metre down hole interval through the Blue Billy Formation (127 metres to 466 metres);
- E044/0051: TOC values ranging from 1.40% to 4.76% (average 3.08%) from five core samples over a 159-metre down hole interval through the Blue Billy Formation (60 metres to 219 metres); and
- DD97BC14: TOC values ranging from 3.06% to 7.75% (average 5.76%) from four core samples over a 59-metre down hole interval through the Discovery Formation (62 metres to 121 metres).
Based on paleo-temperature gradient estimates, the organic rich units within the Wanna Syncline are likely to have been within the optimum range for thermogenic hydrogen generation.
TM analysis of bitumen within core samples by the CSIRO taken over selected intervals from organic-rich shales indicate they are overmature.
The CSIRO test work is analysing the composition of trapped gases withint any fluid inclusions and/or the gases liberated from fluid inclusions from crushed core samples.
If hydrogen and associated gases are detected, it could indicate the likely origin and processes to produce these generated gases.
Additional potential sources for hydrogen and helium includes gases generated from heat-producing radiogenic Paleoproterozoic granites that sit under the Edmund-Collier Basin.
Demand to skyrocket
Global hydrogen demand is projected to grow fivefold by 2050. Current consumption is mainly sourced from grey hydrogen, which is produced by heating natural gas up to 800°C-900°C with steam.
The initial results have confirmed that basin-wide shale units are organic-rich and are prospective for thermogenic hydrogen generation, one of the potential sources for natural hydrogen.
These organic-rich units are hosted in two stratigraphic units (Blue Billy and Discovery Formations) within the Edmund-Collier Basin and are laterally extensive over the project area.
The project covers a structurally complex Proterozoic basin system with potential for hydrogen traps, including anticlines, fault-bound structures, and dolerite intrusions.
The deepest part of the basin – the Wanna Syncline – has not yet been drill tested, but modelling suggests that it could host thicker and more thermally mature shale intervals.