A drilling in Pontpierre, in Lorraine, confirms the existence of a major natural hydrogen deposit, a discovery could transform the future of low-carbon energy.
In the heart of Lorraine, a small village of 800 inhabitants has become the scene of a major energy discovery: in Pontpierrea 41-meter drilling platform pierced the depths of the basement in order to confirm the presence of natural hydrogenthis low carbon resource which could revolutionize the French and European energy transition.
A monumental drilling platform
In Pontpierre, a small village of 800 inhabitants about forty kilometers east of Metz, an imposing 41 meter high drilling platform was installed this winter. Coming from Austria, it was deployed to dig up to 3,655 meters deep. The objective: probe the groundwater of the Lorraine basin in search of natural hydrogenalso called white hydrogen or native. Discovered three years ago, this deposit could represent “the largest reserve of natural hydrogen in the world“, according to the researchers. The presence of this gas has been confirmed over numerous intervals, extending the discovery made in 2023 in Folschviller, just six kilometers from the site.
An in-depth scientific investigation
During drilling, 58 samples were taken. They made it possible to locate several areas of presence of natural hydrogen and to constitute a complete set of geological data. The aim was to better understand the mechanisms of formation and migration of this low-carbon energy.
The work is now continuing under the aegis of the Regalor II project – Lorraine gas resources –, with the support of:
– from the GeoRessources laboratory of the University of Lorraine,
– and the CNRS.
Researchers must measure dissolved hydrogen concentrations And test in situ water and hydrogen separation toolsdeveloped in partnership with the Solexperts company and the GeoRessources laboratory, with the support of Saint-Gobain.
A deposit with international dimensions
According to CNRS estimates, the Lorraine deposit could contain almost 34 million tons of hydrogenextending beyond the French borders into Belgian, Luxembourg and German areas.
At the same time, the FDE is preparing other evaluation wells on its exclusive permits covering more than 300 municipalities in Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, over 2,254 km2. The company has also launched an evaluation program across the Atlantic, in the state of Kansas, to explore the potential of its permits in a particularly promising area.
/ © Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / AFP
