Prominence Energy Ltd (ASX:PRM) has started its first on-ground exploration program at the Gawler Helium and Hydrogen Project in South Australia, marking the company’s move from early-stage concept work into field-based assessment.
The campaign is centred on a targeted soil gas survey across Petroleum Exploration Licence 803 within the Eyre Project, where Prominence is measuring helium, hydrogen and methane concentrations to identify active subsurface gas systems. The work is a key step in progressing exploration across the company’s roughly 64,000 square kilometre Gawler project portfolio.
The Gawler Craton is regarded as highly prospective for helium and natural hydrogen because of its ancient radiogenic granites, iron-rich rocks and deep crustal structures. These geological features are considered favourable for generating helium and hydrogen and may also provide migration pathways along major structural corridors.
Helium producing Hiltaba Granite source rocks: distribution across PEL 803 Soil Gas Survey Area and Yorke Peninsula over discoveries.
Low-cost survey to help define drill targets
The initial program has been designed as a rapid, low-cost screening tool to assess large areas efficiently and generate high-resolution geochemical datasets. Results will be combined with structural and geophysical models to help prioritise areas for follow-up seismic work and drilling.
The soil gas survey is being carried out using a mix of manual sampling and autonomous monitoring technologies, allowing both spatial mapping and time-based analysis of gas concentrations. The program is expected to run over the coming weeks, with results to feed into the next phase of exploration.
Chief operating officer Dr Krista Davies said the field survey represented a significant milestone for the company.
“The commencement of our first field survey at the Gawler Hydrogen and Helium Project is a significant and exciting step forward for Prominence. This program marks the transition from concept to execution, as we begin systematically evaluating one of the most prospective helium and natural hydrogen provinces globally.
"Importantly, the timing of this work aligns with increasing global supply constraints for helium, following the loss of key production sources (approximately 30% of global production has recently ceased) and growing demand from critical industries such as semiconductors, medical imaging and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, natural hydrogen is emerging as a potentially transformative low-cost, low-carbon energy source. By deploying low-impact, data-driven exploration techniques, we will rapidly assess large areas and build a robust technical understanding of these systems. We look forward to integrating the results from this program into our broader exploration workflow and advancing the Gawler Hydrogen and Helium Project towards drill-ready targets.”
The timing of the survey aligns with tightening global helium supply and rising demand from industries such as semiconductors, medical imaging and advanced manufacturing. It also points to natural hydrogen as an emerging low-cost, low-carbon energy source.
The company aims to use low-impact, data-driven exploration techniques to rapidly assess large areas and build a stronger technical understanding of the Gawler systems as it advances the project toward drill-ready targets.