Thor Energy has awarded a major onshore 2D seismic acquisition contract to Australian contractor Velseis Pty Ltd. for its HY-Range Project in South Australia, marking an important milestone in the company's exploration programme for natural hydrogen and helium. The survey will acquire approximately 464 line kilometres of 2D seismic data, with acquisition scheduled between the third and fourth quarters of 2026.
The seismic programme targets Thor's highest-priority exploration areas within the Torrens Hinge Zone, a structurally complex region considered prospective for naturally occurring hydrogen and helium. The new seismic dataset will be integrated with existing geological models, gravity, magnetic and passive geophysical datasets, together with recent surface geochemistry results that recorded hydrogen concentrations of up to 3%, to build a comprehensive subsurface model ahead of drilling.
According to Thor Energy, the survey is designed to improve depth control, image basement structures believed to generate hydrogen and helium, map fault systems that may control fluid migration, validate existing exploration leads and identify new drilling prospects. The resulting integrated dataset will form the final stage of the company's pre-drill exploration workflow.
The project also illustrates how exploration workflows developed in the hydrocarbon sector are increasingly being applied to emerging natural hydrogen plays. By combining seismic interpretation with geochemistry, gravity and magnetic data, Thor aims to reduce geological uncertainty and improve prospect definition before committing to exploration drilling.
The project highlights the growing role of conventional geophysical techniques in the search for naturally occurring hydrogen. As interest in natural hydrogen accelerates worldwide, seismic imaging and integrated subsurface interpretation are expected to play an increasingly important role in understanding basement architecture, migration pathways and potential trapping configurations.
Image: Thor Energy PLC (ASX Announcement)
