The Ramsay Project is investigating naturally occurring hydrogen
Gold Hydrogen was one of the first companies in the world to prove that high levels of both natural hydrogen and helium exist underground.
This has been achieved at its Ramsay Project on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, a 100% owned exploration project covering 75,000 sq km of permitted tennement (PEL 687).
The two sites drilled so far were identified after South Australian State Department geologists’ reports were uncovered from the 1920s and 30s. These showed natural hydrogen, which they had no use for back then, had been found while exploring for oil.
More than a century later, we have looked at these results with a new understanding that naturally occurring hydrogen could be the key to unlocking a revolutionary low-cost fuel source with huge implications for net zero carbon goals.
With a town in Mali, Africa, being powered by natural hydrogen for some years, we went back to the original South Australia petroleum test sites and had phenomenal results.
In 2023/24, we reported finds of natural hydrogen up to 95.8% purity and helium up to 36.9% purity. In a major boost to the company, traces of the extremely rare and valuable variant Helium3 were found in the latest samples.
Data from the two test sites has been matched with seismic and other survey results to identify up to five new sites that will be test drilled in 2025. The data suggests the latest targets are likely to record higher hydrogen and helium levels.
Successful results will lead to completion of a pilot project with the aim of commercialising both gases.
Ramsay Project objectives include:
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Initially validate the natural hydrogen occurrences of the 1920s and 1930s and prove that natural hydrogen is present within our tenement. We drilled at two of those sites in late 2023, and they yielded high purity levels of up to 86% hydrogen, plus helium in high purity levels at up to 17.5% (air-corrected). These purities were verified by our well testing campaign during 2024, with hydrogen purity of 95.8% and helium at 36.9%.
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Demonstrate that natural hydrogen is present in sufficient volumes to be extracted for commercial use. This remains a critical focus of our ongoing exploration efforts as we aim to optimise our drilling locations as well as our drilling and extraction techniques.
Notifiable activities
2026: Ramsay Project exploration well testing activity
As a follow up to our 2025-26 exploration drilling campaign, we plan to commence exploration well flow testing in early July. The testing is planned for up to three wells and it will enable us to collect data on natural hydrogen and helium flow rates, concentrations and pressures. The groundwater that will come to the surface during exploration flow testing is planned to be transported through temporary surface-laid pipelines to the Ramsay 1 well site where it will be reinjected down the well into deep underground aquifers, much deeper than water bores used for agricultural activities.
Data collected during the reinjection program will provide valuable information about the hydrogeology and aquifer behaviour of the Southern Yorke Peninsula, adding to scientific knowledge.
2025-26: Ramsay Project exploration drilling activity
Following the success of our first two exploration wells drilled in 2023 (Ramsay 1 and 2), we are planning to drill further exploration / appraisal wells commencing in early November 2025. Our plans are to drill up to 3 wells in this program with up to 2 wells being completed by late December 2025, and subject to results from those wells, a potential additional well may be drilled in January 2026.
Prior to our initial drilling program in 2023, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining had approved Gold Hydrogen’s Environmental Impact Report and Statement of Environmental Objectives for exploration drilling activity on Yorke Peninsula Petroleum Exploration Licence 687. These documents continue for the life of the tenement.
The 2023 drill rig at night at the Ramsay Project in 2023.
The drill rig set-up at Ramsay 1 and 2 in 2023.
2024: Ramsay Project seismic survey activity
Gold Hydrogen continued its exploration program by undertaking a 2D seismic survey using public roads on the southern Yorke Peninsula from mid-June to mid-July 2024. There was a minimal requirement to access private land and Gold Hydrogen consulted with the small number of landowners where survey activities were undertaken on their properties.
Approval for the seismic survey was granted by the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining.
A fact sheet that has more information about the seismic survey can also be found below.
Typical onshore seismic survey outline. (Source: APPEA, 2019)
2023: Ramsay Project exploration drilling activity
The South Australian Department for Energy and Mining approved Gold Hydrogen’s Environmental Impact Report and Statement of Environmental Objectives for exploration drilling activity on Yorke Peninsula Petroleum Exploration Licence 687. Our first two exploration wells Ramsay 1 and 2 were drilled in late 2023 and further wells are being planned for late in 2024 or early 2025.
The 2023 drill rig at night at the Ramsay Project in 2023.
2023: Yorke Peninsula aerial survey
As part of its licensed exploration activities, GHY carried out an airborne gravity-magnetic survey to obtain geoscientific data within the Yorke Peninsula section of the licence area during March 2023.
A map of the aerial survey area.
2023: Soil gas survey
Gold Hydrogen carried out a non-invasive soil gas survey over the southern portion the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia within its granted licence area for approximately two weeks during mid-late April 2023. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation did the soil-gas survey for Gold Hydrogen.
Survey method: A: Handheld drill. B: Handheld multi-gas analyser device.