US helium may be gone in 30 years

Journal Article · Mon Jun 08 04:00:00 EDT 1970 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6816062

Helium available from natural gas in the nation's primary reservoir could dip to zero by the year 2000, the U.S. Bureau of Mines predicts. The estimated volume of helium in rich natural gas from proved reserves this year is 10 billion cu ft. Increasing scientific advances are increasing the demand, according to the director of the Bureau of Mines. It is hoped the irreplaceable gas can be conserved, since the supply is limited, and the nation in time will exhaust all its reserves. Although the U.S. has by far the world's largest known helium reserves, other potential sources are The Netherlands, Canada, and Africa. Another possible supply is from atomic fusion. The U.S., it is estimated, vents 3.6 billion cu ft of helium every year. The total since 1960 is around 47 billion cu ft. Currently, nearly 1 billion cu ft of helium is being lost annually in association with the burning of natural gas as fuel. Showing that small concentrations of helium can be economically removed from natural gas is Gaz de France, which recovers helium from Groningen supplies at its plant near Paris. Helium content of the gas is only .05%. Helium remains vital to the space program, cryogenics, superconductivity, cooling of nuclear reactors, and exploration of the sea bed.

• OSTI ID: 6816062
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 68:23; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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03 NATURAL GAS
030400* -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
BY-PRODUCTS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HELIUM
INDUSTRY
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
RARE GASES
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
USA
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