Eclipse Energy’s microbes can turn idle oil wells into hydrogen factories

The United States is home to an estimated 3 million abandoned oil and gas wells, many of which still hold untapped resources. Despite the potential, many owners have opted not to extract the remaining oil or gas due to economic factors. "They’ve tried everything," stated Prab Sekhon, the CEO of Eclipse Energy, in a recent conversation with TechCrunch. Although they can't recover the oil directly, Eclipse Energy has developed an innovative method to harness the energy trapped within these wells. Instead of traditional extraction techniques, Eclipse introduces microbes that consume the residual oil molecules, effectively releasing hydrogen gas. This approach simplifies the extraction process, as Sekhon noted, "Hydrogen flows a lot easier," making it more manageable to retrieve from the well. Based in Houston and spun out from Cemvita, Eclipse Energy showcased its groundbreaking technology last summer at an oilfield located in California’s San Joaquin Basin. The company is now collaborating with Weatherford International, a prominent oilfield services provider, to launch this innovative solution globally. The initial projects are set to kick off in January, with Sekhon describing Weatherford as an integral extension of their team, acting as their operational arm. Eclipse, previously known as Gold H2, has spent years refining its microbial technology. The team has been isolating naturally occurring microbes found at the oil-water interface within aquifers, seeking those most effective for oil breakdown. As these microbes metabolize the oil, they produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide, both of which eventually rise to the surface. Eclipse plans to separate these gases, likely retaining half of the carbon dioxide in the reservoir while the other half could be captured for storage or repurposing. Sekhon highlighted the ambitious goal of generating low-carbon hydrogen at approximately 50 cents per kilogram, matching the cost of hydrogen derived from natural gas, a method that emits significantly more carbon dioxide. The hydrogen produced could serve various applications, including fueling petrochemical plants or generating energy. "It’s taking a liability and turning it into a clean energy asset," Sekhon remarked, emphasizing the transformative potential of this technology.