Pure-play helium also known as primary helium or green 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

In North America, most exploration activity centres on the 'Four Corners' region, where the borders of the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah intersect. [3]

North American helium explorers include American Helium, Avanti Helium, Desert Mountain Energy, Energy Fuels Inc., Gran Tierra Energy Inc., Ring Energy Inc.,Yuma Energy Inc.,Blue Star Helium, and Grand Gulf Energy.[4][5]

Resources

Exploration in Tanzania shows reserves of 138 billion cubic feet.[6]

Grand Gulf Energy is drilling in the Leadville Dolomite Formation in Utah.[7]


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. ↑ Fresne, Patrick (2023-07-23). "When a Rush Begins: A Field Guide to the Helium Hopefuls of the United States". Gold and Revolution. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  4. ↑ "Google and Netflix Buying up Massive Quantities of Helium". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
  5. ↑ "First Look at GGE Helium Resource. How does it stack up?". Catalyst Hunter. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Tanzania to start helium production in 2025". The Citizen. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Maiden Potentially Company-making Pure-play Helium Well Jesse#1A Spudded" (PDF). 26 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
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