What seemed like a drilling error ended up revealing one of the most intriguing energy discoveries of the century. Instead of natural gas, a well released… virtually pure hydrogen, emerging from the underground continuouslyThe phenomenon didn’t last hours or days. has been active for years with purity above 95%, significant volumes and a geological mechanism that indicates continuous production over thousands of yearsThe most well-known case occurs in Bourakébougouin Mali, but today it is known that it is not unique; it is merely the first to be observed in detail.
A gas that erupts spontaneously: what the numbers show.
Independent measurements indicate natural hydrogen (also called “white hydrogen”) with purity greater than 95%, something rare even for industrial hydrogen. Flow estimates suggest tens of millions of cubic meters per year in comparable systems when considered on a regional scale. Unlike oil and gas, this is not just a static reserve: there is continuous generation.
In terms of energy, each 1 m³ of H₂ contains approximately 3 kWh. This means that tens of millions of m³/year are equivalent to hundreds of GWh annual, sufficient to support regional power gridsIn scenarios of accumulation and production sustained over centuries, the potential rises to… supplying entire countries, carbon-free in end use.
The geological factory: how hydrogen is produced
The engine of this system is a set of reactions. rock-water known as serpentinizationAt depth, iron-rich minerals come into contact with water under heat and pressure, releasing H₂ as a chemical byproduct. It’s a process. natural, continuous and self-sustaining As long as there is water, reactive rock, and a thermal gradient.
This detail changes everything: unlike fossil fuels, white hydrogen It doesn’t need to have “been formed” in the distant past., he It is being formed now..
Depth, pressure and purity: why the gas arrives “clean”
Reservoirs are typically found hundreds at depths of over 1.000 meterswhere the pressure keeps the gas concentrated. Since the process does not involve organic matter, There is no sulfur, CO₂ or hydrocarbons. associates.
The result is hydrogen that emerges. almost ready for usedrastically reducing expensive purification steps.
This high purity is one of the factors that makes natural hydrogen as direct competitor of “green” (electrolytic) hydrogen, especially in terms of cost.
Why this could be cheaper than green hydrogen
Producing green hydrogen requires renewable electricity, treated water, electrolyzers, and heavy infrastructure. In natural hydrogen, Nature has already done the chemical work.The operation is getting closer to intake and flow control more so than industrial synthesis.
Preliminary studies indicate potential costs. significantly lower to green hydrogen in favorable regions, with the added advantage of continuous production (non-intermittent).
Global scale: it’s not an isolated case.
After Mali, evidence and measurements confirmed natural exudates of H₂ across several continents: Africa, Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania.
In many places, the gas was ignored or confused with leaks from other systems. Today, geophysical and geochemical mapping is being redone with a specific focus on hydrogen.
The emerging conclusion is clear: The phenomenon is global.But only now is it being measured with the correct lens.
Hydrogen is light and flammable, but non-toxicIn natural reservoirs, the challenge is… control flow ratesAvoid mixing with oxygen on the surface and maintain safe collection systems. The experience in Bourakébougou showed that Simple and robust operations. They are sufficient for continuous local use — including stable electricity generation for years.
Climate impact: zero carbon in end use
In its end use, hydrogen emits just water vaporIf captured with proper environmental control, natural hydrogen offers zero-emission energy e without the impacts of intensive mining associated with other routes. The surface footprint is relatively small, especially when compared to large industrial parks.
The big open question is as these systems function as closed reservoirs and as operate as continuous flow sourcesEvidence in Mali and elsewhere indicates active replacement, which redefines classic concepts of “reservation”.
If confirmed on a large scale, natural hydrogen would not just be a fuel—it would be… a new category of energy resource.
What is missing to become an energy matrix?
Three fronts are advancing in parallel:
- Global mapping with specific sensors for H₂
- Regulatory standardization (Gas does not fit within the oil/gas framework)
- Industrial scaling collection, compression and use
With these steps, the transition from “curious find” to energy infrastructure It can be quick.
If regional volumes are confirmed, countries without oil or large rivers could become strategic hydrogen producersReducing dependencies and redesigning supply chains. Energy local, clean and continuous It’s a rare and powerful combination.
Because it brings together, in a single resource, purity above 95%, continuous production for thousands of years, volumes in the tens of millions of cubic meters per year e Zero emissions at end use.It’s not a distant promise: It’s already happening..
If the 20th century was shaped by oil and gas, the 21st century may be opening an unexpected route — not created in a laboratory, but deep within the Earth’s crust..
