Exploration Methods and Rock Physics
Rock physics relationships for hydrogen exploration
This work establishes rock physics relationships that link the physical properties of ultramafic rocks to the degree of serpentinization—a key hydrogen-generating process. By compiling data from more than 1,000 samples across diverse geologic environments, the study demonstrates systematic changes in density, seismic velocities, elastic moduli, and magnetic susceptibility as serpentinization progresses. These relationships provide practical geophysical proxies for identifying hydrogen-generating source rocks and imaging subsurface hydrogen systems using seismic, magnetic, and gravity data. The study also introduces modeling approaches that enable real-time monitoring of stimulated hydrogen systems during water–rock reactions.
Physical property changes during serpentinization
This research analyzes how the physical properties of ultramafic rocks evolve as serpentinization progresses. By compiling and analyzing an extensive global dataset, the study demonstrates predictable trends including decreasing density and seismic velocities and increasing porosity and magnetic susceptibility. These relationships provide practical rock physics templates that can be used to interpret geophysical data during hydrogen exploration. The results help bridge the gap between laboratory measurements, geophysical observations, and hydrogen system modeling, providing tools that enable quantitative exploration of hydrogen source rocks.