DOE finalizes circular on hydrogen exploration

By Alena Mae S. Flores – November 22, 2023, 7:40 pm
from manilastandard.net

The Department of Energy said Wednesday it finalized the circular providing for the guidelines on the awarding of service contracts for the exploration, development and production of native hydrogen.

Department Circular 2023-11-0031 signed by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla on Nov. 9, 2023 refers to native hydrogen as naturally occurring hydrogen gas in geologic formulations, which can be considered as mineral gas.

The circular states that the exploration, development and production of naturally occurring native hydrogen should  be governed by President Decree 87 and implemented under the rules, regulations, issuances and procedure issued by the DOE relevant to the conduct of petroleum exploration, development and production.

The DOE said there is a need to provide guidelines to accelerate the exploration, development and production of native hydrogen to contribute to the country’s energy  security, create jobs, and generate wealth.

It said Section 3 of PD 87 provides that petroleum should include any mineral oil hydrocarbon gas, bitumen, asphalt, mineral gas, and all other similar or naturally  associated substances with the exception of coal, peat, bituminous shale and/or other  stratified mineral fuel deposits.

It said various studies documented several observations of seeps of native hydrogen, together with abiotic methane on the seafloor and on the continents in the last three decades, proving the natural occurrence of hydrogen as gas in the environment formed through a number of mechanisms and may be considered as mineral gas.

The DOE said the exploration, development, and production of native hydrogen found in  geological formations are the same with “natural gas” as provided under Section 3 of PD 87, which are obtained from boreholes and wells and consisting primarily hydrocarbons.