Most helium production in 2024 comes from natural gas – but that is starting to change in a world targeting Net Zero. Christian Annesley assesses the state of play
Today, helium production and fossil fuels still go hand in hand, in that most commercial helium is extracted from natural gas streams, such as those found in Qatar, Russia, and the US. Even low concentrations of helium, constituting well below 1% of a natural gas source, are viable for extraction and purification, because helium is such a valuable molecule – and there are many high-volume natural gas sites where helium can be collected and purified to create an important additional revenue stream.
But the dial on helium and fossil fuels is starting to move, and it is something worth exploring. That’s because it points to a different kind of future for the geologically sourced gas molecule in a world where fossil fuel use will soon be falling, meaning that helium production from this quarter will also dwindle.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
