The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve (2000) / Chapter Skim
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4 Helium Supply, Present and Future
4 Helium Supply, Present and Future
Pages 40-48
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From page 40... ...
Generally, natural gas containing more than 0.3 percent helium is considered economic for helium extraction in the United States, although the economics of helium extraction often depend on the other products in a natural gas stream. This chapter will examine the separation technologies used to produce purified helium, the helium reserves and resources currently identified, and the potential supply and availability of helium over the next 50 years.
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From page 41... ...
Crude Helium Extraction from Natural Gas Helium is often separated from natural gases in the course of removing nitrogen to improve heating value. in the United States the lowest practical helium concentration that can economically justify extraction is typically around 0.3 percent by volume.
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From page 42... ...
helium sales over the last four decades. The two most important sources of helium in the United States are the Hugoton-panhandle field complex, which is located in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and ExxonMobil's LaBarge field, which is located in the Riley Ridge area of southwestern Wyoming.
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From page 43... ...
BEM categorizes helium reserves using a United States Geological Survey classification system that considers both physical uncertainty and economic viability. Physical uncertainty is conveyed by dividing resources into those that are "identified" and those that are "undiscovered." identified resources are estimated from specific geological evidence, while undiscovered resources are postulated to occur in unexplored areas.
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From page 44... ...
However, if it is assumed that the gas currently available at Cliffside (private storage plus public storage plus native gas) is eventually made available, then the lifetime of the helium processing facilities would suggest that production at current rates of around 3 billion scf (83 million scary)
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From page 45... ...
However, because helium availability is tied to natural gas production and processing, analysis of the natural gas situation may be a useful means of gauging the possibility of future helium supplies. As of December 3 I, ~ 997, proved reserves of natural gas in the United States were estimated to be 167 trillion scf (4.6 trillion scary)
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From page 46... ...
Part (b) depicts the total and privately owned helium reserves assuming the growth scenarios indicated in part (a)
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From page 47... ...
As a result, the geological characteristics and processes that form helium-rich gas deposits are not well known, making deliberate exploration for helium difficult. Natural gas producers and operators of natural gas processing plants are becoming increasingly aware of the economic rewards of helium extraction, however.
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From page 48... ...
In addition, the Riley Ridge area of Wyoming is estimated to contain a nondepleting resource of helium of approximately 47 billion scf (~.3 billion scary) (Gage and Driskill, 1998~.
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