Testing results of up to 36.9% purity 1 for Helium recorded at the well head/surface. Recent independent and in-house studies confirm Helium purity levels, additional flow data, and the identification of broad target zones for further drilling.
Highlights:
- Gold Hydrogen continues to evaluate the chemistry, geotechnical data and flow rates relating to the successful completion of the inaugural Ramsay Project drill program.
- Results achieved to date confirm that the Ramsay Project has significant potential to be a commercially attractive Natural Hydrogen and Helium producer.
- CSIRO reporting and data confirms the highest Helium purities ever sampled in groundwater in Australia by the CSIRO noble gas laboratory, ranging from purity levels of 20% to 25% [1] (50,000 times the concentration in the atmosphere).
- The Helium flow testing program has confirmed Helium to surface, with helium content increasing as the hole stabilized (refer Figure 1). World-leading Helium purity levels sampled up to 36.9% [1] at the well head during testing.
- Samples of Helium were successfully obtained for specialist composition and isotopic analysis in specialist laboratories in Australia, London and Paris, with final results expected shortly.
- Drill analysis identified potential 180m thick and extremely high-purity Kulpara Dolomite zone which featured positive Helium shows in the Stage 1 exploration well testing of Ramsay 2.
- 2D seismic survey results indicate further optimal locations across a regional play for future drilling in PEL 687, for both Natural Hydrogen and Helium. Current and historical evidence confirms the presence of both Natural Hydrogen and Helium in numerous locations across the permit (refer Figure 3).
- The Company is preparing new drilling and exploration designs to optimize the extraction of both Natural Hydrogen (1.3 billion Kg Best Estimate Prospective Resource) and Helium (41 BcF Best Estimate Prospective Resource) for its next drilling campaign. Refer Tables 4 and 5 for full details of Prospective Resources.
[1] All Helium sample results have been corrected for air contamination
- CSIRO reporting and data confirmed the highest Helium purities ever sampled in groundwater in Australia by the CSIRO noble gas laboratory ranging from 20% to 25% [2] – CSIRO reporting and data on samples taken during Stage 1 on groundwater samples of well testing from March and April in the granitic basement at 1005m and Kulpara dolomite at 712m depth consistently in a range from 20% to 25% 2 that these are the highest purities of Helium ever sampled in groundwater in Australia by the CSIRO noble gas laboratory.
- Samples and analysis undertaken by revealed Helium purity levels sampled up to 36.9% [2] at the well head which is believed to be world leading – Testing and analysis received to date for the exploration well testing of Ramsay 1 and Ramsay 2 showed up to 36.9% purity [2] for Helium recorded in the separator at the well head, on an air and nitrogen corrected basis. This is in addition to other pressurized downhole samples reporting 20% to 25% [2]. These results are believed to be currently the highest ever recorded purities for Helium in the world on an air-corrected basis.
- Exploration flow testing results – The testing program proved that Helium can be extracted to the surface, and the graph in Figure 1 confirms the ongoing increase in purity during testing as the well cleaned up. This location showed water ingress during testing but the analysis indicated that Ramsay 1 could flow up to 100 MScf/day with water on an unconstrained basis.
- Seismic survey results – Based on the review of the 575-line kilometer 2D seismic survey, the Company has identified several locations which are higher up the structure, and hence more suitable to test the flow potential of the prognosed Ramsay accumulations.
- Isotopic analysis – Samples of Helium were successfully obtained for specialist composition and isotopic analysis in world-leading laboratories in Australia, London and Paris. The Company is expecting the final reports from the analysis of these samples shortly.
- Testing and verification by Petrolab – The pressurised downhole samples have been tested and analysed by Petrolab in Adelaide for consistency. Two of the results from Stage 1 exploration well testing (12.6% [2] He, and 17.9% [2] He) are in addition to the 17.5% [2] He result disclosed by the Company in its 6 and 19 December 2023 and 25 March 2024 ASX releases.
- Potentially prolific 180m thick Kulpara Dolomite Helium zone – The Company has previously reported that multiple and significant Helium spikes and readings were recorded from the mud gas through the initial drilling phrase in the Kulpara Dolomite section. During the Stage 1 exploration well testing of Ramsay 2, the Company perforated five (5) individual sections in the Kulpara Dolomite formation and obtained downhole pressurised water samples confirming Helium concentrations in the separated gas of 12.6% [2] at 642m, and 17.9% [2] at 712m which is in addition to the Helium concentration of 17.5% [2] found in the MDT sample taken at 778m (Refer Figure 2 and Table 1 below).
[2] All Helium sample results have been corrected for air contamination
- Permeable formations – The formations tested in the Ramsay 1 and Ramsay 2 wells have resulted in both Natural Hydrogen and Helium being detected at surface after allowing a period of shut-in at each well site. The results from the well testing program received to date have demonstrated the permeability in the Natural Hydrogen and Helium reservoir sections, which was one of the key objectives of the well testing program, and represented a significant derisking milestone for the Company. The follow-up Stage 2 testing was conducted by installing a downhole pump to clean up the water out of the formation, and at the same time stripping the gas with separator at surface. A high productivity index up to 34 bbl/day/psi was calculated from Ramsay 1 with average gas-water-ratio (GWR) of 3.05 scf/bbl. The Company is now studying future development options to extract free Natural Hydrogen and Helium from new wells to be drilled in up-dip locations, coupled with stripping the gas at surface from water in a downdip location.