The Philippines has entered a new phase in its search for indigenous energy sources after the Department of Energy (DoE) launched a seismic survey to determine whether naturally occurring hydrogen deposits can be commercially developed to support the country’s long-term energy security.

The DoE said Koloma Inc., operator of Service Contract (SC)No. 84, has started a 132.6-line-kilometer two-dimensional seismic survey across parts of Pangasinan to map underground geological structures and identify formations that may contain native hydrogen.

Guide succeeding exploration

The seismic campaign follows aerial gravity and magnetic surveys completed from March to early June and is expected to produce detailed subsurface images that will guide succeeding exploration activities.

“This is the first time — not only in the Philippines, but the first time in the world — that a hydrogen project is being awarded through public bidding,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said during a media briefing on Monday.

Ahead of the survey launch, Garin conducted an aerial inspection of the Los Fuegos Eternos natural gas seep area, where geological sampling conducted in May yielded initial findings that the DoE said warrant further study.

Koloma had earlier completed 27,976.5 line-kilometers of aero-gravity and magnetic surveys to identify potential exploration targets.

The next challenge

While the presence of naturally occurring hydrogen has already been confirmed, Garin said the next challenge is determining whether the resource is large enough to justify commercial development.

“The question is: Do we have enough reserves? Do we have enough inventory? That’s what is difficult to study,” she said. “Right now, we still don’t know. All we know is that hydrogen is present.”

She said the ongoing seismic survey will help determine “whether we have large reserves, or if the hydrogen is scattered, where exactly it is located, how deep it is, and especially the volume.”

Unlike conventional hydrogen, which is produced through industrial processes, native hydrogen forms naturally beneath the Earth’s surface.