Distinguishing drilling-induced artifacts from naturally occurring hydrogen in soil gas surveys: Insights from sub-circular depressions

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Volume

109

First Page

1230

Last Page

1240

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Engineering

Funders

CSIRO iPhD Scholarship / Gold Hydrogen Ltd / Australian Research Council / Gehyra Flux Pty Ltd (G1006788)

Grant Number

ARC Number : DP220102907

Comments

Davies, K., Josse, R., Frery, E., Esteban, L., Keshavarz, A., & Iglauer, S. (2025). Distinguishing drilling-induced artifacts from naturally occurring hydrogen in soil gas surveys: Insights from sub-circular depressions. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 109, 1230-1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.094

Abstract

Natural hydrogen is emerging as a promising low-carbon energy source. However, its detection remains challenging due to the difficulty of distinguishing naturally occurring hydrogen from drilling-induced artifacts. This challenge is particularly evident in sub-circular depressions (SCDs), which are often the focus of exploration. This study investigates whether SCDs exhibit consistent areal patterns in soil properties and how they influence drilling-induced hydrogen artifacts in soil gas surveys. Soil properties were measured across 24 SCDs in the Yilgarn Craton and Perth Basin, Western Australia. In total, 83 holes were drilled for hydrogen soil gas analysis, with repeated measurements performed without redrilling. Drilling induced hydrogen artifacts were measured at up to 464 ppm in 85% of locations, primarily in high-strength, low-moisture soils, while only 15% represented naturally occurring hydrogen. Consistent patterns in soil properties correlated with artifact generation. Refined sampling techniques, including repeated measurements and expanded soil property analysis, are essential for distinguishing genuine hydrogen seepage from artifacts, enhancing exploration accuracy.

DOI

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.094

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