Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 15, No. 1, p. 55, 1990. Printed in Great Britain.

0360-3199/90 $3.00 + 0.00 Pergamon Press plc.

International Association for Hydrogen Energy.

READER VIEW

DOES NATURAL HYDROGEN EXIST?.

(Received for publication 30 January 1989)

Gentlemen: As the fossil fuel resources are being depleted and the

environmental problems caused by them are growing, all indications are that hydrogen will prove to become an important fuel in the near future.

The natural source of "free" hydrogen was not known until it was found associated with other gases. Now that large scale use of hydrogen is being contemplated, test wells are being drilled for it. Companies drilling for hydrogen, can hold their findings secret for 25 years.

I have been an oil and gas prospector for over 65 years. When helium was found in the United States, in Kansas and Colorado, I began having gas samples tested. While having tests run for helium, some 57 years ago, I received a call from the laboratory. They said my

sample run 14% hydrogen. Then they took their own sample, which yielded 17% hydrogen.

Now highly secret wells are being drilled for hydrogen, and I have been to two, in Kansas, drilled by Texaco to depths of 13,500 and 15,000 feet. Texaco came back and asked for a change in the lease agreement to include minerals. Landowners refused as Texaco would not disclose their findings.

Two and a half years later Amoco moved a rig 200 miles northeast of the Texaco site, into Iowa, and drilled 17,500 feet. I was not allowed to get within ~ mile of that well. The state of Iowa has no oil fields. Could it be a search for hydrogen? 10985 West 66th Avenue H.C. PETERSEN Arvada, CO 80004, U.S.A.

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