Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC) reported that its latest tests in shallow monitoring wells at the St-Bruno-de-Guigues hydrogen project exceeded expectations, with one hydrogen concentration measurement reaching a high of 7119 parts per million (ppm) and plateauing at 2886 ppm and five other measurements above 550 ppm including one of more than 2400 ppm, one of more than 1000 ppm and one of more than 900 ppm.

These results, recorded at shallow depths of up to 50 meters, are located in new fault zones inferred from electrical tomography imagery performed by partner INRS (Institute Nationale de Researche Scientifique, the research-oriented constituent university of the Université du Québec system) during fall 2024.

QIMC said that the observation of high concentrations of hydrogen in the fissured rocks and/or under the soil horizons confirms its previous observations that hydrogen originates from deep geological sources and not from biogenic fermentation processes involving soil organic matter. Furthermore, the near absence of carbon dioxide (cO₂) and methane (CH₄) (concentrations in trace amounts) in the samples highlights the purity of this deep-seated hydrogen, reinforcing the environmental benefits of this resource.

Recently, QIMC conducted a campaign to install shallow monitoring wells in anomalous areas previously identified during the 2024 hydrogen soil gas surveys or the fall 2024 electrical tomographic surveys. These surface wells, drilled by Multi-Drilling of Rouyn-Noranda, were installed along public roads in St-Bruno-de-Guigues and on private land. The first two wells were drilled along chemin des deuxième et troisième rangs (ranks) (line 7), wells 3 and 4 along chemin de l’ancienne mine Aiguebelle, wells 5 and 6 north of chemin du Quai (line 3). Further drilling is planned for well 7 west of chemin des deuxième et troisième rangs (line 7), for well 8 north of chemin du Quai (Line 3) and finally wells 9 and 10 along chemin du rang IV (line 1) in St-Bruno-de-Guigues.

The objectives of the campaign to install monitoring wells are several. First, to explain the spatio-temporal dynamics of hydrogen rise in the soils of the region. QIMC needed several monitoring wells to sample below the soil horizon and in places in the shallow fractured rock. In addition, the silty-clay nature of the Quaternary deposits in the St-Bruno-de-Guigues area and the regional meteorological context meant that shallow groundwater was likely to interfere with hydrogen deposition. The wells allow sampling of hydrogen dissolved in water and also of the gas accumulated at the head of the wells (head space gas).

When the wells were drilled, rock cores were systematically taken in order to characterize the petrophysical, petrographic and geochemical properties of the Proterozoic rocks of the Cobalt Group and, locally, the Ordovician dolomitic limestones of the New Liskeard Group. The rocks of the Cobalt Group are ancient sedimentary rocks, slightly metamorphosed but only weakly deformed, and unconformably overlying the belt of Archean volcanic and intrusive rocks of the Baby Group. According to QIMC’s exploration model, this very low-permeability unit is ubiquitous in the region and could act as a low-permeability blanket limiting the ascent of hydrogen to zones fractured late by the extensional faulting related to the Lake Témiscamingue graben.

Concurrently with this work, INRS carried out a geoelectric tomography (ERT) survey (2 km section) and an audiomagnetotelluric survey over agricultural fields bordering chemins des deuxième et troisième rang (line 7) and chemin du Quai (line 3) in St-Bruno-de-Guigues. The main objective of the Line 7 ERT section was to obtain geoelectric data from the Cobalt Group sandstones, in order to verify the homogeneity and integrity of this unit, considered by INRS as a low-gas-permeability barrier. The survey also aimed to document the presence of glacial-lacustrine thickening pits (local thickening of the overburden).

In Spring 2025, QIMC will commence a 15-hole geotechnical drilling program designed to provide critical subsurface data. This initiative will enhance the understanding of the site conditions and ensure the integrity of future infrastructure development.