Gold Hydrogen has achieved a milestone in its Ramsay Project on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, by completing Stage 1 well testing with exceptional purity levels of 17.5% helium and 95.8% natural hydrogen.
The well-testing program at Ramsay represents the first dedicated natural hydrogen and helium operation in Australia and one of the few globally. The Ramsay 1 and Ramsay 2 wells employed advanced techniques to achieve these results. Specifically, the Ramsay 1 well used an open hole approach to assess formation inflow, with nitrogen injection clearing residual downhole fluids, allowing natural hydrogen to be recovered at the surface.
Ramsay 2’s testing was comprehensive, covering seven individual zones identified through previous open hole logs and mud gas data. This detailed analysis provided critical insights into the formation’s potential for hydrogen and helium production.
The testing of the seven zones in Ramsay 2 (ranging from 250 to 1,000 meters) confirmed the extraction of natural hydrogen at the surface, supporting the high purity levels observed. Notably, the highest hydrogen purity was recorded at 95.8% (air corrected) at a depth of 531 meters. Additionally, helium was successfully extracted from a 180-meter thick pay zone within the Kulpara Dolomite section (612 to 777 meters), with significant helium spikes and air-corrected purity levels reaching up to 17.5%.
These results are among the highest purity levels ever recorded globally, underscoring the potential of the Ramsay Project. Despite formation water encroachment halting further flow testing, the confirmation of downhole pressure and successful flow of natural hydrogen and helium to the surface is a crucial finding as the project moves to Stage 2.
Encouraged by the promising outcomes of Stage 1, Gold Hydrogen Ltd plans to proceed with an extended exploration well testing program in Stage 2. This phase will include flow testing both Ramsay 1 (open hole) and Ramsay 2 (cased and perforated) to assess future well performance. A downhole pump will be installed to eliminate formation fluid while monitoring surface gas rates and composition.
Success in Stage 2 is critical as it will determine potential flow rates, optimize future well designs, and aid in developing a proof-of-concept natural hydrogen and helium pilot plant. Gold Hydrogen is optimistic about detecting free-flowing gas to the surface, which would significantly enhance the project’s viability, particularly since future wells will likely be drilled in more optimal locations.
Gold Hydrogen’s managing director, Neil McDonald, highlighted the significance of the Stage 1 results, stating, “To specifically test seven zones in Ramsay 2 from 200 meters to 1,000 meters and confirm that natural hydrogen can be extracted to the surface from all seven zones, plus confirming that helium can be extracted from a 180-meter gross thick pay zone, is a remarkable result. These results are believed to be amongst the highest ever recorded purities in the world for helium at 17.5% (air corrected) and for natural hydrogen at 95.8% (air corrected).”
McDonald also emphasized the company’s commitment to advancing the project, noting plans to finalize detailed plans and contractual arrangements for Stage 2 exploration well testing to commence in the third quarter of 2024. “We are well on the journey of aspiring to produce both natural hydrogen and helium at commercial levels as we ultimately progress. We have very large prospective resources for both gases, and that is only over a portion of the Ramsay Project permit,” he added.
