Pure-play helium

Pure-play helium or primary helium is helium that is extracted from the earth as the main product. Normally helium is extracted from natural gas as part of the nitrogen rejection process. The motivation is the planned reduction in use of natural gas, and instabilities in the supply of helium.[1]

Occurrence

To accumulate to an exploitable reservoir, helium must be trapped by a non-porous rock. It is usually accompanied by a larger amount of nitrogen.[2]

Exploration

Some American helium explorers include American Helium, Energy Fuels Inc., Gran Tierra Energy Inc., Ring Energy Inc., and Yuma Energy Inc.[3]

Australian companies include Blue Star Helium, Renergen Ltd, Grand Gulf Energy.[4]

Resources

Exploration in Tanzania shows reserves of 138 billion cubic feet.[5]

Grand Gulf Energy is drilling in the Leadville Dolomite Formation in Utah.[6]


References
  1. Bettenhausen, Craig; Jansen, Kerri (24 March 2022). "Podcast: The helium shortage that wasn't supposed to be". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. "Rarefied Air: Drilling for Helium in North America". JPT. 1 September 2021.
  3. "Google and Netflix Buying up Massive Quantities of Helium". www.prnewswire.com.
  4. "First Look at GGE Helium Resource. How does it stack up?". Catalyst Hunter. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. "Tanzania to start helium production in 2025". The Citizen. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  6. "Maiden Potentially Company-making Pure-play Helium Well Jesse#1A Spudded" (PDF). 26 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
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