Whitebark Energy Confirms Hydrogen, Helium, and Methane Presence at Rickerscote Prospect Following Soil Gas Survey

Whitebark Energy Limited (ASX: WBE) (“Whitebark” or the “Company”) has confirmed the presence of hydrogen, helium, and methane across its Rickerscote Prospect in South Australia’s Officer Basin, following completion and interpretation of a soil gas survey conducted over Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) 81 and 253.

The survey, executed between 23 September and 26 October 2025, deployed ten autonomous IVY multi-gas sensors across the Rickerscote structure and adjacent areas to assess near-surface gas flux and evaluate sealing integrity along key faults.

Key findings include:

• Hydrogen: Elevated readings of 25–30 ppm recorded at IVY 2 and IVY 9, confirming the presence of natural hydrogen and suggesting localised micro-seepage zones.
• Methane: A single transient spike reaching 5,600 ppm at IVY 10, interpreted as a deep-sourced gas pulse, provides supportive evidence for active subsurface charge.
• Helium: Spot sampling at water bore OMVB8 returned concentrations up to 11 ppm (local background ~1.6 ppm), representing a significant helium anomaly near the Rickerscote structure.
• Fault seal integrity: No hydrogen or methane flux was detected along the main southern bounding fault, confirming its role as an effective geologic seal.

Cryptid Energy Consultants, specialists in natural hydrogen systems, conducted the survey interpretation. The results collectively indicate that the Rickerscote sub-salt closure remains geologically tight, consistent with containment within the Pindyin–Alinya reservoir–seal system, while providing strong evidence of an active hydrogen–helium–hydrocarbon system operating within the structure.

“These results add to the growing body of evidence pointing to an active hydrogen and helium system at Rickerscote,” said Nik Sykiotis, CEO of Whitebark Energy. “They reinforce our confidence in the subsurface model and strengthen the case for securing a farm-in partner to progress and drill Rickerscote-1 in 2026.”

The Rickerscote Prospect—spanning over 180 km² (and up to 400 km² of closure)—is the largest structure in Whitebark’s Alinya Project, with previously reported prospective resources of approximately 710 million kilograms of hydrogen, 97 billion cubic feet of helium, and 153 million barrels of oil equivalent hydrocarbons. A successful exploration well would represent a major play-opener for the Officer Basin and a transformative event for the Company.

Full press release can be found in the link below.