GUHLEN

Towards local helium production in Germany!

PROJECT OVERVIEW

45-8 ENERGY scored a deal with Central European Petroleum (CEP) in July 2022 and acquired 100% of the Guhlen production licence. This deal will be fully finalized once the approval of the mining authorities of Brandenburg Landesamt für Bergbau, Geologie und Rohstoffe (LBGR) has been received. The licence, located 70km southeast of Berlin, hosts a gas accumulation discovered in 2012 by the company CEP. The gas mix, which consists mainly of nitrogen with a high helium content, also contains a minor fraction of natural gas, which 45-8 ENERGY intends to use in an innovative way through the on-site production of blue hydrogen.

This project is therefore a substantial opportunity to supply strategic resources to an area of high demand such as eastern part of Germany, while contributing to the energy and environmental transition.

Beyond this first project in the region, it is also a first step towards the development of the promising helium potential of this particular geological region where high helium contents have been widely reported in the past but without ever giving rise to significant production, due to lack of use at the time.

To find out more about the project and follow its progress, please visit the dedicated website (in German and English) :

Our activities in

GERMANY

THE GUHLEN LICENCE

The Guhlen licence covers an area of 330 km² in Brandenburg, located 70 km southeast of Berlin, 100 km north of Dresden and 150 km northeast of Leipzig.

The licence was awarded in 2017 for 30 years (valid until 2047) by the regulator (Landesamt für Bergbau, Geologie und Rohstoffe - LBGR) and transfer approval is in progress.
Various geological and geophysical acquisitions have also revealed other potential structures in similar geological formations at higher depths.
45-8 ENERGY's ambition is therefore to deploy, in parallel with the development of the existing discovery, exploration work to secure additional resources for future production.

VALORISATION PROJECT FOR THE DISCOVERY OF GUHLEN

THE GAS COMPOSITION

AND ITS VALORISATION

<h4><strong>HELIUM</strong></h4>

HELIUM

Its extreme scarcity on earth and its unique properties make it a highly sought-after and vital resource for many industries.
The extraction and purification of helium from the Guhlen project would represent a major production of helium in Germany, enabling a local supply of a strategic resource that is currently 100% imported from abroad and subject to regular shortages.
Due to the geological context of the eastern part of Germany being particularly favourable for helium generation and accumulation, 45-8 ENERGY's ambition goes beyond the boundaries of the Guhlen permit and a real exploratory strategy is being implemented to develop this promising potential.

<h4><strong>METHANE</strong></h4>

METHANE

The limited fraction of natural gas in the Guhlen field (about 25%) is seen as an innovation opportunity for 45-8 ENERGY.
We plan to produce hydrogen on site using a steam methane reforming process.
The carbon dioxide generated by this process will be captured and purified to supply local industries (breweries, cryogenics, firefighting), another tight market that currently imports the resource over long distances.
This approach is a real answer to the challenges of hydrogen supply in Europe, contributing to the energy and ecological transition.

<h4><strong>NITROGEN</strong></h4>

NITROGEN

Guhlen gas is composed mainly of nitrogen, the most abundant element in the earth's atmosphere (about 78% of its composition).
Because of the abundance of nitrogen in the air, its attractiveness is limited and its economic use unlikely.
On the other hand, its release into the atmosphere does not represent any risk for people (inert, odourless, invisible) or the environment (does not contribute to the greenhouse effect and is already present in high concentrations in the earth's atmosphere).

THE WORK PROGRAM

The work program considered by 45-8 ENERGY has two objectives :

  • The first is to confirm the helium production potential of the existing discovery and to implement a first production unit.

  • The second is to evaluate the exploration potential within the perimeter of the licence in order to consider carrying out additional exploration drilling. If the results are positive, these would represent production relays.

This work program will be carried out in such a way as to reconcile industrial activity with respect for the environment and local residents thanks to innovative technologies and methodologies developed and tested on our French projects, as well as by drastically reducing the footprint of our activity.

The work program in a nutshell :

A large amount of geological and geophysical data has been acquired in the Guhlen area. 45-8 ENERGY will integrate these data and reprocess some of them, in particular the 3D seismic reflection data, in order to confirm the geometry and the volumes of the discovery.
In order to confirm the extension and characteristics of the field, drilling to a depth of about 2500 meters is required. The following well tests will make assess the flow rate capacity of the wells and to predict the long-term behaviour of the field. These results will be decisive in confirming the technical and economic viability of the project, which will enable a final investment decision to be made.
If the drilling and well tests results confirm the technical and economic viability of the helium production project and its associated resources, a production unit will be implemented. This unit will be designed to meet the technical constraints of the project and to conciliate industrial activity with respect of the environment and the local residents. This will be achieved by reducing the project's footprint, using innovative technologies to optimize the unit's energy use, recycling the generated heat and reducing its carbon footprint.
The study of existing seismic data, possibly supplemented by additional acquisitions, will allow us to reveal all the prospective structures which, if confirmed positive after drilling, could constitute a production relay.
  • A large amount of geological and geophysical data has been acquired in the Guhlen area. 45-8 ENERGY will integrate these data and reprocess some of them, in particular the 3D seismic reflection data, in order to confirm the geometry and the volumes of the discovery.
  • In order to confirm the extension and characteristics of the field, drilling to a depth of about 2500 meters is required. The following well tests will make assess the flow rate capacity of the wells and to predict the long-term behaviour of the field. These results will be decisive in confirming the technical and economic viability of the project, which will enable a final investment decision to be made.
  • If the drilling and well tests results confirm the technical and economic viability of the helium production project and its associated resources, a production unit will be implemented. This unit will be designed to meet the technical constraints of the project and to conciliate industrial activity with respect of the environment and the local residents. This will be achieved by reducing the project's footprint, using innovative technologies to optimize the unit's energy use, recycling the generated heat and reducing its carbon footprint.
  • The study of existing seismic data, possibly supplemented by additional acquisitions, will allow us to reveal all the prospective structures which, if confirmed positive after drilling, could constitute a production relay.

SOME GUHLEN FIGURES

This is the expiry date of the Guhlen production license.

This is the number of wells needed to bring Guhlen into production.

This is the depth of Guhlen's discovery.


PROJECT MILESTONES

A LOCAL AND STRATEGIC PROJECT

The 45-8 ENERGY project, beyond Guhlen, represents a real means of securing the local supply of helium for a whole region of Germany, which is currently in high demand and subject to regular risks of shortages.

Helium

Germany uses 9.5 million m3 of helium each year, making it the world's fifth largest consumer, and is also largely dependent on imports. Silicon Saxony, which covers Dresden and the surrounding area, is the largest microelectronics site in Europe and the fifth largest in the world.
This type of industry requires large volumes of helium to operate. Electronics accounts for 25% of the world's use of helium. Since the Guhlen project is located 100 km from Dresden and, more specifically, from Silicon Saxony, the helium produced will be distributed directly to microelectronics companies in this major competitive cluster. In addition, INTEL is planning to build two semiconductor production facilities in Magdeburg, located 230km away from the project, by the end of the decade.
Part of our helium production could thus be dedicated to supplying these units, which consume large amounts of helium but are essential to meet the needs of New Tech.


Hydrogen

The eastern part of Germany is an important industrial region with many major consumers of hydrogen (green mobility, steel industry, chemical industry).
As part of the energy and ecological transition, projects using hydrogen are multiplying and the consumption of this resource should double by 2030, from 55 TWh (in 2020) to 110 TWh (in 2030). The hydrogen produced from the methane fraction of the Guhlen project will therefore contribute to the decarbonisation of local industries, in search of a secure and more environmentally friendly supply.
For example, part of the hydrogen from the Guhlen project could be sent to the ArcelorMittal steel plant, located 50 km away, which is planning to produce eco-responsible steel, powered by hydrogen.


CARBON DIOXIDE

Germany is both the largest producer and the largest consumer of industrial carbon dioxide in Western Europe.
However, the production of the resource is mostly concentrated in the west of Germany. And, carbon dioxide from the eastern part of Germany is mainly generated by the seasonal production of ammonia.
Carbon dioxide produced on the Guhlen project will thus ensure a local, reliable and secure supply to numerous consumer companies in the region.  These companies are very diversified and involve the carbonated beverage industry (beer, soft drinks, water, etc.), the chemical industry and the cryogenic industry.