SURF'HY: Applications of Surface Technologies to Natural Hydrogen Exploration

SAVE THE DATE! This workshop will take place in Rueil -Malmaison, a town steeped in Napoleonic history, located in the outskirts of Paris.

Theme :

Natural hydrogen resource exploration is now underway, with over 40 companies active in the field and more than a dozen wells drilled globally to date.  Although the subject is still quite nascent, concepts for a natural hydrogen system (or systems) that can generate hydrogen resources are maturing.  These concepts are readily applied to mappable geologic features that can be utilized to identify prospective locations for natural hydrogen resource exploration.  A logical next step in an exploration program is to acquire data that can indicate the possible presence of a viable hydrogen system in the subsurface at a prospective site.  Just as the identification of surface seeps was an important tool in early petroleum exploration, this approach will almost certainly be an important component of initial hydrogen exploration strategies as well.  This is demonstrated by the growing number of research groups that are starting to conduct field sampling of soil gases in search of natural hydrogen.  While measurements of hydrogen gas concentrations in soils, in and of themselves, can be informative, there are challenges and complexities.  Furthermore, given the large number of potential sources of natural hydrogen in soils, concentration data on their own have limited applicability in guiding natural hydrogen resource exploration.  Additional geochemical parameters, such as the molecular and isotopic (bulk and clumped) composition of hydrocarbon gases, carbon dioxide, and noble gases, have the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of the source of hydrogen in soils and possible connections to subsurface resources.  Studies of water chemistry and soil microbiology have the potential to further enhance our understanding of surface observations and the relation to subsurface resources.  Moreover, remote sensing techniques have can survey large areas efficiently to identify locations for further detailed studies.

This workshop will bring together experts in the fields of geology, geochemistry, analytical chemistry, microbiology, and remote sensing to discuss the challenges and opportunities for research and development of surface technologies that can effectively be applied to natural hydrogen exploration.  The objective is to develop a series of recommendations for best practices and research priorities that will advance the science of natural hydrogen exploration and promote the development of this promising low-carbon energy resource.

Organization Info

Registration is now open. To register, select TICKETS above. Attendance is open to in-person (limited to 80) or virtual

Options for Poster or Oral presentations are available to participants, if they wish to make one.

Breakfast, coffee breaks and Lunches will be provided on IFPEN's grounds, above the auditorium. A cocktail dinner will be organized in the heart of Rueil-Malmaison, at a 10 mn walking distance from IFPEN.

Scientific Comitee :

Geoffrey Ellis, Chris Ballentine, Tom Darrah, Giuseppe Etiope,  Barbara Sherwood-Lollar, Olivier Sissmann

Abstract submission :

Deadline for abstract submission is October 25th.

If you wish to present a talk or a poster, please submit your presentation details through :

Forms Office for abstract