Primary Hydrogen Corp. has launched Phase 2 of its natural hydrogen exploration program across its Atlantic Canada projects, marking a focused effort to uncover viable natural hydrogen accumulations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Spanning 8,550 hectares across the Mary’s Harbour and Point Rosie sites, the field sampling campaign is a critical step in the company’s phased strategy to delineate subsurface hydrogen resources.
The initiative, conducted in collaboration with Eastern Geo Services and supervised by Primary’s Vice President of Exploration, Peter Lauder, incorporates specialized methodologies designed in partnership with Quebec-based research institute INRS. These techniques aim to eliminate the risk of false positives caused by artificially generated hydrogen during sampling. According to Lauder, the goal is to “refine priority exploration targets” and strengthen the company’s understanding of hydrogen migration pathways and accumulation zones.
Unlike earlier generative surveys, this phase integrates portable gas detectors with conventional geological tools such as prospecting, soil sampling, and geological mapping. By combining surface soil gas analysis with immediate in-field measurements, the company is attempting to fast-track the identification of geologic signatures that could indicate naturally occurring hydrogen seeps.
Soil gas sampling—a methodology increasingly adopted in hydrogen exploration—detects gas compositions in shallow pore spaces. When deployed systematically, it can reveal subtle anomalies that may point to deeper accumulations, especially in tectonically active zones or ultramafic rock formations where serpentinization processes can release hydrogen.
Despite rising industry interest, the economics and geophysics of natural hydrogen remain speculative. Only a few pilot projects globally—most notably in Mali, the United States, and Eastern Europe—have demonstrated stable flows. In this context, Primary Hydrogen’s methodical, data-driven approach to its Atlantic Canada assets may offer a template for others navigating a high-uncertainty but potentially high-reward segment of the hydrogen value chain.
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