Vol. 337 No. 5 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/5/5519
Technologies of searching for natural hydrogen
The current situation is driven by the urgent need to study natural hydrogen exploration technology. The time has come for scientists and industrialists to answer the questions of where, how, and what technological methods can be used to search for natural hydrogen deposits. Studies of natural hydrogen deposits in Mali, near the village of Barakebugu (Kati District), in the Voronezh Region, and in the village of Tiksi (Yakutia), have not fully answered these questions. The wells in Mali, where hydrogen concentrations exceeding 90%, triggered a hydrogen boom, are well known. One of the key challenges in modern society is the complete greening of industrial energy. The most accessible solution to this problem is the use of hydrogen, as the lightest, most energy-intensive, and environmentally friendly raw material. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future and will soon become a new energy source for the global economy. The goal is to develop an innovative technology for natural hydrogen exploration. It has been established that the most promising approach is the geochemical method of natural hydrogen exploration. Hydrogen's diffusion and chemical properties complicate its detection, as it is the lightest of all gases, with the smallest atomic size, and diffuses rapidly through air and other materials, including minerals and metals. Methods. For natural hydrogen exploration, it is recommended to use geological, hydrochemical, and geophysical surveys, as well as detailed soil, water, and air sampling studies, and conduct electromagnetic surveys. Results and conclusions. A properly formulated exploration forecast will allow us to move on to researching technologies for the exploration and development of natural hydrogen resources. The natural hydrogen exploration methods recommended in this article allow us to construct a map of gas anomalies and, by studying it, plan future drilling operations. A hydrogen deposit can be discovered by drilling a well along a deep fault.
For citation: Tretyak A.Ya., Nenakhov V.M., Kraynov A.V., Sidorova E.V. Chumakov, A.A., Korabelnikov N.A. Technologies of searching for natural hydrogen. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 5, pp. 74-82. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/5/5519
Keywords:
natural hydrogen, hydrogen forecasting, hydrogen exploration, well drilling, hydrogen production
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