New exploration technique by Oxford and Durham universities finds significant Helium reserves
A new approach to gas exploration has discovered a huge helium gas field, which could address the increasingly critical shortage of this vital yet rare element.
Helium doesn’t just make your voice squeaky – it is critical to many things we take for granted, including MRI scanners in medicine, welding, industrial leak detection and nuclear energy. However, known reserves are quickly running out. Until now helium has never been found intentionally – being accidentally discovered in small quantities during oil and gas drilling.
Now, a research group from Oxford and Durham universities, working with Helium One, a helium exploration company headquartered in Norway, has developed a brand new exploration approach. The first use of this method has resulted in the discovery of a world-class helium gas field in Tanzania.
Their research shows that volcanic activity provides the intense heat necessary to release the gas from ancient, helium-bearing rocks. Within the Tanzanian East African Rift Valley, volcanoes have released helium from ancient deep rocks and have trapped this helium in shallower gas fields. The research is being presented by Durham University PhD student Diveena Danabalan at the Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Yokohama, Japan.
Diveena Danabalan, of Durham University’s Department of Earth Sciences, said: ‘We show that volcanoes in the Rift play an important role in the formation of viable helium reserves. Volcanic activity likely provides the heat necessary to release the helium accumulated in ancient crustal rocks. However, if gas traps are located too close to a given volcano, they run the risk of helium being heavily diluted by volcanic gases such as carbon dioxide, just as we see in thermal springs from the region. We are now working to identify the ‘goldilocks-zone’ between the ancient crust and the modern volcanoes where the balance between helium release and volcanic dilution is ‘just right’.’
Professor Chris Ballentine, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, said: ‘We sampled helium gas (and nitrogen) just bubbling out of the ground in the Tanzanian East African Rift valley. By combining our understanding of helium geochemistry with seismic images of gas trapping structures, independent experts have calculated a probable resource of 54 Billion Cubic Feet (BCf) in just one part of the rift valley. This is enough to fill over 1.2 million medical MRI scanners. To put this discovery into perspective, global consumption of helium is about 8 BCf per year and the United States Federal Helium Reserve, which is the world’s largest supplier, has a current reserve of just 24.2 BCf. Total known reserves in the USA are around 153 BCf. This is a game changer for the future security of society’s helium needs and similar finds in the future may not be far away.’
Professor Jon Gluyas, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, said: ‘This is an outstanding example of industry and academia working together closely to deliver real value to society. The impact of this and expected future helium discoveries will secure supply for the medical scanning and other industries.’
Dr Pete Barry, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, who sampled the gases, added: ‘We can apply this same strategy to other parts of the world with a similar geological history to find new helium resources. Excitingly, we have linked the importance of volcanic activity for helium release with the presence of potential trapping structures and this study represents another step towards creating a viable model for helium exploration. This is badly needed given the current demand for helium.’
Learn more:Â Huge helium discovery ‘a life-saving find’
The Latest on: Helium
[google_news title=”” keyword=”helium” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Helium
- Helium Gas Market Set to Expand: Expected to Reach US$ 4.6 Billion by 2032on April 21, 2024 at 9:14 pm
The global helium gas market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 2.8 Billion in 2022. With demand growing at a 5.1% CAGR, the market size will reach US$ 4.6 Billion by 2032. Helium is ...
- This space tourism company wants to take people to the stratosphere with a helium balloon for $150kon April 21, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Halo Space is a space-tourism company that uses helium balloons instead of rockets or jets. CEO Carlos Mira plans to launch commercial flights in 2026, and take 10,000 people to the stratosphere by ...
- After helium discovery, lawmakers and state agencies eye regulationson April 20, 2024 at 10:10 am
A bill at the Minnesota Legislature would require permits for production, ensure royalties are paid if gas is pulled from beneath state land and begin the rulemaking process for regulations.
- Bluejay to broaden into helium and industrial gaseson April 19, 2024 at 12:07 am
Bluejay Mining announced a strategic decision to broaden its corporate scope, expanding into the exploration and development of helium, industrial gases, and hydrocarbons, on Friday.
- PSRHF Pulsar Helium Inc.on April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Pulsar Helium Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of helium properties in the United States and Greenland. Its flagship project is the Topaz Project covering an area of ...
- Astronomers discover the most metal-poor extreme helium staron April 17, 2024 at 5:53 am
Using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), astronomers have performed high-resolution observations of a recently detected extreme helium star designated EC 19529–4430. It turned out that EC ...
- Global Helium Corp. Confirms Second Helium Discovery on Manyberries Helium Trendon April 16, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Global Helium Corp. ("HECO" or the "Company") (CSE: HECO, OTC: HECOF) is pleased to provide an operational update on the Company’s exploratory well at 10-08-012-04W4/00 (“10-08”) situated on the ...
- Pulsar Helium Announces DTCC Eligibilityon April 16, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Pulsar Helium Inc. (TSXV:PLSR) & (OTCQB:PSRHF) (”Pulsar” or the “Company”) reports that the Company’s common shares are eligible for delivery and depository services with the Depository Trust and ...
- Royal Helium and Sparrow Hawk finalise $25m JV funding agreementon April 16, 2024 at 9:17 am
Helium exploration and production firm Royal Helium will collaborate with Sparrow Hawk Developments (Sparrow Hawk) after earmarking $25m for the Val Marie helium project located in Saskatchewan, ...
- Top Crypto Gainers Today Apr 11 – JUST, JasmyCoin, Helium, Basic Attention Tokenon April 11, 2024 at 5:10 am
Gain valuable insight into today's top crypto gainers like JUST, JasmyCoin, Helium, and Basic Attention Token. Each presents distinct investment prospects across different sectors within the crypto ...
via Bing News