Canada's QIMC Launches 78-Kilometer 2D Seismic Survey for Natural Hydrogen

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 8, Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC) launched a 2D Vibroseis seismic survey for natural hydrogen totaling approximately 78 kilometers, covering the Témiscamingue natural hydrogen project in Quebec and the natural hydrogen exploration area in Nova Scotia. Of this, the Quebec survey spans approximately 36 kilometers, and the Nova Scotia survey spans approximately 42 kilometers. The survey will be used to identify subsurface structures and determine priority targets for the next phase of drilling, pressure testing, flow testing, and characterization of natural hydrogen accumulations.

The Quebec survey uses road-style 2D Vibroseis seismic operations. The project is located in the Témiscamingue region, with the survey process supervised by the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and implemented in cooperation with the Témiscamingue First Nation. The survey aims to further resolve subsurface structures associated with natural hydrogen anomalies previously identified through soil gas surveys and drilling in the St-Bruno-de-Guigues area. This Vibroseis operation does not require shot-hole drilling, blasting, hydraulic fracturing, or reservoir stimulation.

The Nova Scotia survey covers QIMC's approximately 42-kilometer-long natural hydrogen discovery corridor. The company is integrating 2026 drilling data, ground magnetic surveys, and data from approximately 6,000 soil gas samples for 2D seismic interpretation to map the subsurface structural system in the area. QIMC had previously expanded its 2026 exploration area in the region to an approximately 43-kilometer continuous corridor from West Advocate to Kirkhill.

The Nova Scotia 2D seismic survey will focus on connecting two drilling centers approximately 15 kilometers apart and their surface natural hydrogen anomalies. Data from QIMC's Bennett Hill drill hole DDH-26-05, announced on September 1, showed a mud gas natural hydrogen reading of 30.0% at a depth of 413 meters; of the 12 sampling depths in the 380-meter to 413-meter interval, 11 showed at least one double-digit percentage hydrogen concentration reading, with 9 sampling depths exceeding 20%. The hole also observed pressurized free gas reaching the surface at approximately 413 meters to 416 meters.

After completing 2D seismic data acquisition and structural interpretation, QIMC plans to jointly analyze the results with existing drill hole, soil gas, and magnetic survey data, and to use this to determine priority locations for subsequent technical work. The next phase includes continued drilling, subsurface pressure measurements, natural hydrogen flow testing, and further characterization of potential accumulations; the company is also evaluating drilling equipment and pressure and flow testing devices suitable for pressurized gas conditions.

The Quebec project survey also connects to the local natural hydrogen pilot development pathway. Quebec passed Bill 17 in June 2026, establishing a regulatory framework for government-supported natural hydrogen pilot projects; QIMC's 36-kilometer 2D seismic survey is supervised with the participation of the provincial Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, and the subsequent survey results will serve as baseline data for further reservoir characterization and pilot production technical work for the project.