Prominence Energy (ASX:PRM) has outlined a series of technical and commercial work programs aimed at supporting helium and natural hydrogen drilling in South Australia in June or July 2027.
The company is undertaking gravity and magnetic data inversion and interpretation across its approximately 64,000km² portfolio. Results will be combined with existing geological, geochemical, laboratory, and satellite datasets to define exploration leads and prospects.
Independent prospective resource reviews are scheduled for the Eyre Project by the end of August and the Northern Hinge Project by the end of September. Prominence says the reviews will assess the potential scale of identified exploration opportunities and inform subsequent technical, commercial, and funding decisions.
The company says revised drilling engineering and cost review is planned for October, followed by detailed design and planning for the proposed drilling program in November and December.
Preliminary estimates indicate three shallow exploration wells could cost approximately $5 million. An alternative program could comprise two wells and seismic data acquisition, although the estimates remain subject to the October review.
COO Krista Davies says the staged program is intended to turn the company’s existing technical evidence into defined drilling opportunities.
“This is a disciplined approach. We are using relatively low-cost work to build the strongest possible technical and commercial case before finalising our 2027 drilling program,” Davies says.
At petroleum exploration licence 803, Prominence has previously reported helium and natural hydrogen anomalies identified through field surveys, laboratory analysis, and satellite data. The current interpretation work will help determine which areas warrant further exploration, according to the company.
Prominence says it also intends to consider farm-out, strategic partnership, and other funding options before drilling. It notes a partnership could reduce its direct funding requirement, but no agreement has been announced.
Prominence says its existing cash position is sufficient to fund the planned 2026 technical work and drill planning.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Prominence Energy
