White Hydrogen Exploration: A Geologic Roadmap to Scalable Decarbonization

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a comprehensive review of white hydrogen exploration methods and geological indicators, with a case study on Pakistan's potential.

🏢実務担当者:Energy companies can use the proposed roadmap as a template for white hydrogen exploration in analogous geological settings.

🏛政策担当者:Highlights the need for regulatory frameworks and infrastructure to support white hydrogen development as part of national energy strategies.

Abstract This paper investigates the emerging promise of the naturally occurring White Hydrogen as a low-cost energy source compared to other forms of hydrogen, offering competitive advantage. It can act as a catalyst to the pace of energy transition towards low-carbon energy solutions. The paper also covers global efforts towards natural hydrogen exploration while referring to Pakistan's unexplored geological settings. The approach integrates a comprehensive review of recent global exploration data, case studies and scientific literature on the genesis of geological hydrogen. Geophysical and geochemical indicators for white hydrogen accumulation are analyzed, with particular emphasis on serpentinization. For Pakistan, a geological analogue model is employed - comparing known hydrogen-hosting regions with local ophiolitic zones, sedimentary traps, and tectonic boundaries. The paper proposes a phased roadmap for exploration including surface gas mapping, subsurface imaging, and exploratory drilling. Initial results from global exploration confirm that naturally occurring hydrogen exists in significant accumulations. Notable examples include new discoveries in France's Lorraine Basin, large-scale exploration efforts in Spain's Aragón region, high-purity yields from the Ramsay Project in Australia, and the small-scale yet continuously recharging hydrogen supply from the Bourakebougou field in Mali. Recent interest from Oman, China, Canada and USA is also a strong indicator of the potential of white hydrogen that it holds towards the pace of energy transition. Compared to green hydrogen (~$4/kg), white hydrogen could be produced for less than $1/kg, offering an unprecedented combination of cleanliness, cost-efficiency, and scalability. This economic edge may help overcome the long-standing cost-carbon-volume dilemma that hampers hydrogen adoption. For Pakistan, early indicators show promising potential. The Indus Suture Zone and several ophiolitic belts mirror successful international analogues in structure and mineralogy. If proven viable, white hydrogen could position Pakistan as a key player in a transformative global energy trend. However, challenges remain in subsurface detection, regulatory readiness, and infrastructure adaptation. The study concludes that white hydrogen is not merely speculative; it is a disruptive opportunity worth pursuing with urgency.

• crossref https://doi.org/10.2118/232709-msfirst seen 2026-05-18 05:27:47 · last seen 2026-05-20 05:48:56