First Atlas Resources' (CSE: HHE / OTC: BTKRF) technical partner, Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC / OTC: QIMCF), has now encountered hydrogen in all five drill holes during its 2026 Nova Scotia drilling program.

The latest results come from DDH-26-05 at Bennett Hill, approximately 15 km from QIMC’s first three drill holes at West Advocate. Within the first 300 metres of drilling, preliminary mud-gas measurements reached 23.5% H₂ at 170 metres. QIMC also reported drilling observations consistent with free gas entering the borehole at approximately 164 metres.

The results are particularly relevant to First Atlas because QIMC is also conducting exploration directly on First Atlas' natural hydrogen licences in Cumberland County as the company works toward defining targets for its planned drilling program.

Hydrogen Results Across Five Drill Holes

  • DDH-26-01: Intersected multiple hydrogen-bearing structural zones, including a persistent hydrogen-bearing system from approximately 505 metres to the end of the 711-metre hole.

  • DDH-26-02: Intersected two hydrogen-bearing intervals, with a hydrogen reading of 8,249 ppmV at 434 metres.

  • DDH-26-03: Returned a peak mud-gas reading of 10.77% H₂ at 848 metres, with five readings at or above 5% H₂ across the 69-metre interval from 779 to 848 metres.

  • DDH-26-04: Returned a peak mud-gas reading of 24.3% H₂ at 707 metres, the highest hydrogen concentration reported by QIMC during the program to date.

  • DDH-26-05: The ongoing second hole at Bennett Hill has returned a preliminary peak mud-gas reading of 23.5% H₂ at 170 metres.

DDH-26-05 at Bennett Hill

Within the first 300 metres of DDH-26-05, QIMC reported multiple hydrogen readings, including:

  • 20.8% H₂ at 158 metres

  • 23.5% H₂ at 170 metres

  • 17.6% H₂ at 176 metres

  • 16.0% H₂ at 179 metres

QIMC identified a 54-metre hydrogen-bearing interval from approximately 143 to 197 metres. For comparison, DDH-26-04 reached 24.3% H₂ at 707 metres, while DDH-26-05 reached 23.5% H₂ at 170 metres.

Drilling at DDH-26-05 is ongoing, with a planned depth of approximately 900 metres.

Exploration on First Atlas' Land Package

QIMC is currently carrying out First Atlas' 2026 field exploration program across the company's natural hydrogen licences in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Three field teams are conducting soil-gas sampling and ground magnetic surveying. The soil-gas work includes infill sampling over previously identified hydrogen anomalies.

The soil-gas and magnetic data will be integrated into QIMC's R2G2 targeting framework to help identify drill targets for First Atlas' planned drilling program.