Prominence Energy Maps 203 Bscf Hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf Helium at Eyre
Key Takeaways
- RISC Advisory has independently quantified 202.8 Bscf of hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf of helium on a 2U unrisked basis across 15 leads at Prominence Energy's Eyre Project in South Australia, with 3U upside extending to 491.6 Bscf hydrogen and 32.3 Bscf helium.
- The resource is distributed across four distinct geological play types — Eocene channel, Eocene sandstone, fractured granite, and fractured sandstone — with six of the 15 leads containing stacked objectives testable from a single drill location.
- Preliminary costings indicate approximately A$5 million could fund three shallow exploration wells, with a farm-out process set to commence in October 2026 that could reduce Prominence's direct capital exposure and provide third-party project validation.
- The Northern Hinge Prospective Resources Review is targeted for September 2026, which will add a second independently quantified resource view across Prominence's approximately 64,000 km² South Australian portfolio.
- A multi-well helium and natural hydrogen drilling program is targeted to commence in mid-2027, with a structured milestone sequence running through October–December 2026 to define the program ahead of drilling.
Prominence Energy’s maiden resource estimate puts 203 Bscf of hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf of helium on the map
Prominence Energy has completed its first independently quantified prospective resources assessment for the Eyre Project in South Australia, with RISC Advisory estimating 202.8 Bscf of hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf of helium on a 2U (P50) unrisked basis across 15 independently assessed leads. The 3U (high estimate) upside extends to 491.6 Bscf hydrogen and 32.3 Bscf helium, reflecting the scale of the portfolio potential.
This is not a single-target play. The prospective resource is distributed across multiple geological plays, with several leads offering stacked objectives that could test more than one target within a single drilling location. For investors, the milestone transitions Prominence from exploration identification into a quantified, rankable drilling pipeline with a defined pathway to mid-2027.
Dr Krista Davies, Chief Operating Officer
“We have moved from identifying a broad hydrogen and helium opportunity to having a quantified portfolio of 15 exploration leads containing a best-estimate unrisked prospective resources of 202.8 Bscf of hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf of helium. …”
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Breaking down the Eyre resource: 15 leads, multiple plays, and standout individual targets
The Eyre portfolio spans several play types, including Eocene channel, Eocene sandstone, fractured granite, and fractured sandstone. That geological diversity matters because it means the resource estimate is not dependent on a single geological assumption holding true. Six of the 15 leads contain stacked objectives, where different prospective horizons occur within the same broader lead area, giving the company the option to test more than one target per drill location.
Among the larger 2U unrisked targets assessed by RISC are:
- Lead 2_15: 33.0 Bscf H2 / 1.50 Bscf He
- Lead 3_2: 24.2 Bscf H2 / 1.11 Bscf He
- Lead 2_7 Eocene Sandstone: 20.1 Bscf H2 / 0.89 Bscf He
- Lead 2_2 Eocene Sandstone: 19.1 Bscf H2 / 0.84 Bscf He
- Lead 3_1: 17.2 Bscf H2 / 0.78 Bscf He
Together, these five targets represent approximately 56% of the aggregate P50 hydrogen and helium resource, with the balance distributed across the broader portfolio. RISC applied a geological probability of success (gPOS) range of 8–12% across the leads, reflecting the current frontier nature of natural hydrogen exploration.
The resource summary across the full aggregate estimate is presented below:
| Resource Estimate | 1U (Low) H2 Bscf | 2U (Best) H2 Bscf | 3U (High) H2 Bscf | Helium 2U Bscf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Unrisked | 70.1 | 202.8 | 491.6 | 9.2 |
| Gross Risked | 7.1 | 20.4 | 49.1 | 0.9 |
Source: RISC Advisory Independent Prospective Resources Assessment, 11 September 2026. Prospective Resources are estimates of quantities associated with undiscovered accumulations. They are not reserves or contingent resources and should not be interpreted as evidence of a discovery.
What are natural hydrogen and helium, and why do investors care?
Natural hydrogen: the zero-carbon fuel forming underground
Natural hydrogen, also known as white or geologic hydrogen, forms through natural processes within the earth and accumulates underground — it is not manufactured. When combusted, it produces only water vapour, giving it a zero-carbon emissions profile. For investors, it represents a potentially low-cost pathway into the emerging hydrogen economy without the energy-intensive production costs associated with manufactured green or blue hydrogen.
Helium: a high-value, non-renewable critical resource
Helium is generated through the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium within ancient crustal rocks, particularly Archean granites. It has no viable synthetic substitute and is consumed across essential end-use applications including medical imaging (MRI scanners), semiconductor manufacturing, space technologies, and cryogenics. Global supply constraints have reinforced its commercial value and strategic importance. For Prominence, the dual-commodity nature of the Eyre Project means potential exposure to two separate demand drivers and revenue streams from a single exploration portfolio.
Clear pathway to mid-2027 drilling as farm-out preparation begins
Completion of the Eyre Prospective Resources Review is a planned milestone within a staged sequence designed to build technical definition and potential strategic value before significant drilling capital is committed. The near-term catalyst pathway is as follows:
- Completed: Gravity and magnetic interpretation plus Eyre Prospective Resources Review
- September 2026 (Next): Northern Hinge Prospective Resources Review
- October 2026 (Planned): Updated drilling engineering and cost assessment; commence farm-out process
- November–December 2026 (Planned): Detailed design and planning of the 2027 drilling program
- Mid-2027 (Target): Commence multi-well helium and natural hydrogen drilling program
On the capital side, preliminary company costings indicate approximately A$5 million could potentially fund three exploration wells, or two wells plus additional seismic. That relatively modest figure is enabled by the shallow nature of the Eyre targets, which avoids the exploration expenditure typically associated with deep conventional oil and gas drilling. Updated drilling engineering and costings scheduled for October are expected to refine the proposed program.
Prominence also intends to prepare for a potential farm-out process in October, assessing strategic partnership or other funding structures ahead of drilling. A successful partnering process could provide third-party validation of the project opportunity, reduce Prominence’s direct capital exposure, and allow the company to retain meaningful participation in exploration success.
The next near-term catalyst is the Northern Hinge Prospective Resources Review, targeted for the end of September 2026. That review is expected to provide a second independently quantified view of potential scale across Prominence’s approximately 64,000 km² South Australian portfolio.
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The investment case: a quantified resource base, modest capital, and a defined catalyst pipeline
The completion of RISC Advisory’s independent assessment represents a material step forward for Prominence. The company now holds a quantified, multi-lead portfolio with dual-commodity exposure to both natural hydrogen and helium, distributed across four distinct geological play types with several stacked drilling opportunities.
Eyre is the first of two project areas within Prominence’s approximately 64,000 km² South Australian portfolio to reach independent prospective resource definition. Northern Hinge is expected to follow shortly, adding a second independent resource view and further expanding the quantified opportunity set.
Prominence assembled its strategic position in the Gawler through a deliberate acquisition process that consolidated tenure across the craton, establishing the approximately 64,000 square kilometre South Australian footprint that now underpins both the Eyre and Northern Hinge project areas.
The structured milestone pathway gives investors a clear sequence of near-term catalysts to monitor: the Northern Hinge resource review targeted for September 2026, the farm-out process commencement planned for October 2026, and the multi-well drilling program targeted for mid-2027. Investors should note that Prospective Resources relate to undiscovered accumulations and are subject to both discovery and development risk. Further exploration, appraisal, and evaluation will be required to confirm whether significant quantities of potentially recoverable natural hydrogen and helium exist.
Ready to Explore Prominence Energy’s Eyre Project Resource Potential?
Prominence Energy has taken a significant step forward with an independently quantified estimate of 202.8 Bscf of hydrogen and 9.2 Bscf of helium across 15 leads at the Eyre Project, with a structured catalyst pathway running through to a multi-well drilling programme targeted for mid-2027. The dual-commodity exposure to both natural hydrogen and helium, spread across four distinct geological play types, positions the portfolio as a rare frontier opportunity on the ASX.
To dig deeper into the prospective resource breakdown, the farm-out strategy, and the upcoming Northern Hinge review, explore Prominence Energy’s full project profile on Discovery Alert and stay across every milestone as it unfolds.