Helium, Hydrogen Confirm Up at Prominence's SA Permit

Prominence Energy (ASX:PRM) has independent lab results backing the helium and hydrogen potential of its PEL 803 permit on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Atherium ran gas chromatography on 63 soil gas samples collected during the company's recent survey. The highest hydrogen anomaly hit 3,427 parts per million. Helium readings reached 63 ppm.

COO Dr Krista Davies called the independent validation a "significant de-risking milestone." The samples were taken under recharge conditions roughly 24 hours after probe installation. That timing matters. Recharge conditions mean the gases were migrating naturally from depth, not trapped in disturbed near-surface soil. "The results strengthen our geological model and provide a robust dataset for defining and ranking drillable targets," Davies said.

The numbers support the claim. Forty of the 63 samples – 64% – returned hydrogen values above atmospheric background. That coverage points to a widespread system, not a localized pocket. A single high reading could be a surface anomaly. Consistent elevation across most of the grid suggests the gas is moving through a connected subsurface structure.

Prominence now needs to integrate these results with geophysical data to rank priority locations for seismic acquisition and drilling. Davies said the focus is on identifying the highest priority spots for the next field program. The company has not set a timeline for seismic or a drill program.

The distinction between a soil gas anomaly and a commercial accumulation is wide. Surface concentration at 3,427 ppm hydrogen means the gas is migrating upward. It does not tell you flow rate, reservoir porosity, or the areal extent of the trap. Those come from seismic imaging and then the drill bit. What the lab work does is narrow the search: instead of a 2,000-square-kilometer permit with no data, the technical team now has ranked anomalies to target with geophysics.

Helium at 63 ppm is a secondary data point. Commercial helium production typically requires concentrations above 0.3% (3,000 ppm) in a flowing well. At these levels, helium works as a value-add co-product with hydrogen if the hydrogen system proves commercial. Alone, it does not drive the project.

The next catalyst for Prominence is the geophysical work that turns these coordinates into drill-ready targets. The company has not said when that work will happen or how long permitting for seismic will take. A drill program is the real test. Until then, the lab results remove one layer of technical risk. The structural risk – can geophysics confirmed elevated hydrogen and helium soil gas concentrations in Prominence Energy's PEL 803 permit, with 64% of samples above atmospheric background and a top hydrogen reading of 3,427 ppm. The next step is geophysical integration to rank drill targets.