AI Hunts Hidden Hydrogen Beneath Wyoming Plains

AI-driven research scans old oil and gas data for natural hydrogen in Wyoming, but commercial proof remains elusive

13 Feb 2026

Something new may lie beneath Wyoming’s plains, not oil or gas, but naturally occurring hydrogen formed by geological processes and largely overlooked.

Researchers at the University of Wyoming are using artificial intelligence to search for so-called white hydrogen. Unlike hydrogen produced from natural gas or electricity, this variety forms underground through natural chemical reactions between water and certain rocks. If found in significant quantities, it could provide a lower-carbon domestic energy source without the emissions linked to conventional production.

The project begins with historical records. Decades of oil and gas well logs, geological surveys and archived gas readings have been digitised and fed into AI models. The system is trained to identify patterns that could indicate hydrogen accumulation, drawing on data that had long sat unused in state and industry archives.

Researchers say the aim is to narrow the search for potential deposits in a state long associated with fossil fuels.

Fieldwork remains central to the effort. Teams are collecting rock, gas and water samples from sites highlighted by the models. The results are then fed back into the system to refine future predictions, creating what researchers describe as a feedback loop between digital analysis and physical validation.

“This is exploratory and fundamental research,” said Sarah Buckhold, who leads the hydrogen initiative. “We don’t yet know the commercial viability, but we are building the technical foundation to answer that question.”

No commercially viable hydrogen reserves have yet been confirmed in Wyoming. The project is still in an early validation phase, as scientists test whether theoretical promise can withstand geological constraints.

Interest in natural hydrogen has grown as governments and companies seek alternatives that can scale without adding to carbon emissions. Questions remain over whether underground flows can be sustained, whether volumes justify drilling costs, and how regulators would oversee extraction.

Private investors are beginning to monitor developments. Hestia Energy has backed regional hydrogen efforts, reflecting cautious interest in AI-guided exploration as a way to reduce drilling risk.

For Wyoming, the initiative signals a potential shift, using digital tools to reassess the resources beneath its soil, even as commercial prospects remain uncertain.