What's next for helium
Capping nearly 3 yr of court battling, the Nixon Administration shook the government free late last year of what the Administration saw as an expensive millstone; continued conservation of helium found in natural gas. Three of the 4 companies involved in the conservation program have appealed the action to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, an unsettled and controversial helium picture is left in the wake. Now, helium demand is rising after having bottomed out in 1971. Total U.S. sales of high purity products for 1977 were 489 million cu ft, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines expects the 1973 figure to be higher still when the final data are assembled. The rise is attributed to a stabilization of the aerospace program after its decline, plus increased helium usage on a broad range of other fronts. Other markets include (1) protective atmospheres for fabrication of titanium, zirconium, and several other metals, or growing of transistor crystals; (2) shielding-gas for welding; (3) leak detection; and (4) cryogenic applications.
- OSTI ID:
- 6539527
- Journal Information:
- Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 81:12
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HELIUM
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
LEGAL ASPECTS
MARKET
NATURAL GAS
RECOVERY
SALES
US BUREAU OF MINES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
030400* - Natural Gas- Products & By-Products