A Houston startup plans to convert abandoned oil wells into hydrogen producers beginning in January by deploying microbes that break down leftover oil, aiming to cut emissions and tap a vast unused resource.
Microbes Unlock Hydrogen From Abandoned Wells
Up to 3 million abandoned oil and gas wells remain scattered across the United States, many still holding trapped oil and natural gas that operators stopped pumping because extraction was no longer economical. Eclipse Energy CEO Prab Sekhon said the missed opportunity is substantial. “They’ve tried everything,” he told TechCrunch. “There’s still a ton of oil left behind.”
Eclipse Energy uses naturally occurring microbes to consume oil molecules underground and convert them into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The approach removes the need for high-pressure pumping or chemical injections. “Hydrogen flows a lot easier,” Sekhon said, noting that the gas moves to the surface more efficiently than viscous oil.
The technology was tested last summer in California’s San Joaquin Basin, where Eclipse demonstrated that microbial activity could steadily generate hydrogen from old wells.
Global Deployment Begins With Weatherford Partnership
Eclipse Energy, spun out of biotech firm Cemvita, has been refining its microbial process for several years. Its research team sampled native microorganisms that thrive at the oil-water interface inside aquifers, identifying strains best suited to break down hydrocarbons efficiently and withstand harsh well conditions.
The company will launch its first commercial projects in January through a new partnership with Weatherford International, a major oilfield services provider. Sekhon described the collaboration as essential to scaling operations. “They’re an extension of our team,” he said. “They’ll be our operational arm.”
Weatherford’s network will allow deployments across multiple regions as Eclipse looks to adapt the process to a variety of well types, depths, and aging conditions.
Aiming for Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production
As microbes digest oil, hydrogen and carbon dioxide rise through the wellbore. Eclipse Energy and its partners plan to separate the gases at the surface. Sekhon said about half of the carbon dioxide is expected to remain trapped in the reservoir, while the remainder could be captured using standard equipment for sequestration or industrial use.
The company aims to produce hydrogen at roughly fifty cents per kilogram, matching the cost of hydrogen made by breaking down natural gas in industrial facilities — a process that emits significantly more carbon dioxide. The hydrogen could be routed to petrochemical plants or used as a combustion fuel.
“It’s taking a liability and turning it into a clean energy asset,” Sekhon said, emphasizing the potential to transform dormant wells into productive, lower-emission energy sources.
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