Thor Energy is advancing the HY-Range natural hydrogen and helium project in South Australia towards a more technically defined stage following the completion of its Phase 2 soil-air geochemistry survey. The company is now preparing a substantial seismic programme intended to connect the project’s surface hydrogen readings with the geological structures beneath the licence area.
The Phase 2 survey recorded natural hydrogen concentrations of up to 3%, equivalent to 30,000 parts per million and approximately 60,000 times the reported background level. The results validated three priority exploration areas at Mallala, Lochiel and Crystal, where repeated anomalies ranged from several hundred to several thousand times background.
These readings represent an important step in reducing the geological uncertainty surrounding HY-Range. Surface geochemistry alone cannot establish whether commercially recoverable accumulations are present, but the consistency of the anomalies provides Thor with a stronger basis for committing capital to subsurface investigation.
The company also tested sampling depth, duration and material variables alongside control samples. This methodology was designed to reduce the risk of measurement errors or contamination from human activity. Thor believes the results support the presence of active natural hydrogen generation and align with its existing geological model, including the basement architecture, fault systems and potential migration pathways within the project area.
Thor has awarded Velseis Pty Ltd a programme covering approximately 464 line kilometres of two-dimensional seismic acquisition across RSEL 802. The work will focus on the company’s highest-priority areas within the Torrens Hinge Zone and is expected to be undertaken during the third and fourth quarters of 2026, subject to final approvals and detailed planning.
The seismic programme is intended to provide depth control, improve the interpretation of the basement rocks believed to generate hydrogen and helium, and map the faults that may influence the movement and concentration of gases. The resulting data will be integrated with Thor’s existing gravity, magnetic, passive seismic and geochemical datasets.
Thor Energy PLC (LON:THR) is a leading exploration company focused on natural hydrogen and helium, with a significant footprint in the highly prospective South Australian region.
