OUR PROJECTS

Our Exploration follows 2 approaches :

A "NEAR SURFACE" EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION

We aim to valorise natural helium leaks and/or natural hydrogen at surface or near the surface, in fault areas or associated with natural springs.

This innovative approach makes it possible to take advantage of the naturally escaping resources from the Earth into the atmosphere, without having to carry out deep drilling (equivalent to water boreholes).

After multiple studies and various geological and geophysical acquisitions, 45-8 ENERGY has confirmed that France has multiple geologically favourable areas in this context, such as the FONTS-BOUILLANTS PROJECT, whose purpose is to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of this concept by 2023; it would then represent the first production of helium in Western Europe.

Other high-potential areas have also already been identified in Europe and for which permit applications are in the process of being matured and submitted.

Our objective : start-up a pilot production in the "Fonts-Bouillants" exploration license by 2023 and secure high graded high potential areas.

A "DEEP" EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION

This is a more traditional approach which consists in exploring, discovering and producing natural helium and/or hydrogen deposits present in the subsurface but at greater depths, ranging from several hundred to thousands of meters.
Drilling a well is then necessary, requiring multidisciplinary studies prior to select a geological target offering a high probability of success.

This is the case, for example, of the "AVANT-MONTS FRANC-COMTOIS" PROJECT located in France in an area near Besançon, for which an exploration license was awarded in August 2022 and currently being evaluated or the exploration work underway in Germany.

Our objective : Evaluate the exploration potentiel of the "Avant-Monts Franc-Comtois" exploration license and secure mining rights in an area with high potential such as Germany before the end of 2022.

AN exploration supported by R&D projects :

2021-2022

CO2 MONITORING

Objective : map and quantify the natural CO2 seeps around the Saint-Parize fault and associated to the helium rich natural springs on our “Fonts-Bouillants” exploration license.
Partners:
Géoressources (UMR CNRS - Lorraine University)
2020-2023

PROMET-Hé

Objective : develop an improved surface gas separation technique using membranes, which is more efficient and more environmentally friendly than the solutions currently on the market.
The project has been labeled by the "Materalia" competitiveness cluster and was selected by the French National Investment Plan for Industry - Strategic Sectors (supported by a 1.6M€ grant).
Partners :
LRGP
2021-2024

H2NA

Objective : funded by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the project aims to carry out a technical and economic study of the natural hydrogen potential in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in order to stimulate interest for exploration / investigations in the area.
The project has been labeled by the AVENIA cluster.
Partners:
CVA, Pau University, BRGM, Engie
2021-2024

HELIUM PHD

Objective : characterize helium geological systems (generation, migration, trapping) in Continental Europe and assess the exploratory potential of the resource.
The PHD is co-directed by 45-8 ENERGY and two Universities enabling an access to state of the arts laboratories for noble gases isotopic measurements.
Partners:
CRPG, Géoressources
2022-2023

NAMIB-Hy

Objective : evaluate the natural hydrogen potential of the "Banded Iron Formations" (BIF), very old and specific rocks which are iron rich.
Post-doctoral co-funded by the French National Investment Plan and co-directed by 45-8 ENERGY and Pau University (Isabelle Moretti).
Partners:
Pau University
2022

PASSIVE SEISMIC

Objective : innovative passive seismic acquisition (recording of ambient noise over a period of several months from a network of nearly one hundred geophones) with the aim of indirectly imaging natural gas leaks along the Saint -Parize, under our “Fonts-Bouillants” exploration permit.
This project is carried out within the framework of the CITEPH program and sponsored by TotalEnergies and Schlumberger.
Partners:
Geolinks, TotalEnergies, Schlumberger
2019-2022

C-GROUND

Objective : develop a robust and compact gas sensor capable of measuring natural hydrogen flows underground over long periods and transmitting data in real time.
The project is partly funded by the CAPTRONIC program and the "AMI Numérique" program (FEDER & Grand-Est Region).
Partners:
Institut Lafayette, GeoRessources,
Université de Lorraine, CNRS, Solexperts
2022-2023

IMAGHyN

Objective : characterize natural hydrogen seepages in the French Pyrenean foreland through soil gas sampling and long term monitoring with our C-Ground autonomous sensor.
Partners:
Observatoire Midi Pyrénées
2020-2022

HY-BE

Objective : characterize a geological context favorable to the production and diffusion of natural hydrogen at surface. This research project, carried out in a selected area of interest in France, is supported by two proprietary gas sensor technologies.
Partners :
Engie, CVA Group
2020-2023

GEFISS

Objective : consolidate the knowledge regarding the governance of subsurface engineering projects.
Partnership :
7 research institutes, 4 industrial companies, 4 universities,
2 EPIC, 2 consulting companies, 1 EPST
2019-2023

IMPACT DEEPSURF

Objective : extend the C-Ground project and increase the range of gases that sensor can measure to adapt it to other uses.
Partnership :
Institut Lafayette, GeoRessources, Solexperts
2021-2022 (completed)

DHyNARIDES

Objective : assess the occurrences of helium and natural hydrogen in the Dinarides region (Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania), understand their origins and assess the exploratory potential.
Post-doctoral co-funded by the French National Investment Plan and co-directed by 45-8 ENERGY and Pau University (Isabelle Moretti).
Partners:
Université de Pau
2020-2021 (completed)

HELIUM LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

Objective : compare the life cycle and carbon impact of a European helium, produced locally, with the conventional helium, entirely imported from the United States, Qatar or Algeria in liquid form.
Partnership :
Mines d'Alès
2020-2021 (completed)

R&D GEOPHYSICS

Objectives : better characterize helium fields through multiple geophysical and geochemical methods. This program greatly supported us in the geological model understanding of the Fonts-Bouillant exploration area.
Partners :
BRGM
2018-2019 (Completed)

H-EDGE

Objective : integration of complementary and multi-scale technologies (from satellite imagery to rock sample analysis in the laboratory) to develop an exploratory methodology specific to helium and hydrogen.
Partnership :
INGEN, InfoGeo, GeoEspace, Total