Pure-play helium
Pure-play helium, also known as primary helium or green helium is helium that is extracted from the earth as the main product. Since the early 20th century, most of the world's helium supply has been extracted from natural gas as part of the nitrogen rejection process. The preference for primary helium is driven by the planned reduction in use of natural gas, and instabilities in the supply of helium.{{cite web |last1=Bettenhausen |first1=Craig |last2=Jansen |first2=Kerri |title=Podcast: The helium shortage that wasn't supposed to be |url=https://cen.acs.org/business/specialty-chemicals/Podcast-helium-shortage-wasnt-supposed/100/web/2022/03 |website=cen.acs.org |access-date=29 April 2022 |date=24 March 2022}}
Occurrence
To accumulate to an exploitable reservoir, helium must be trapped by a non-porous rock. It is usually accompanied by a larger amount of nitrogen.{{cite journal |title=Rarefied Air: Drilling for Helium in North America |journal=JPT |date=1 September 2021 |url=https://jpt.spe.org/rarefied-air-drilling-for-helium-in-north-america |language=en}}
Exploration
In North America, most exploration activity centres on the Four Corners region, where the borders of the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah intersect. {{Cite web|title = When a Rush Begins: A Field Guide to the Helium Hopefuls of the United States|url = https://www.goldandrevolution.com/when-a-rush-begins-a-field-guide-to-the-helium-hopefuls-of-the-usa/|website = Gold and Revolution|access-date = 2023-10-26|date = 2023-07-23|last = Fresne|first = Patrick}}{{cite press release |title=Google and Netflix Buying up Massive Quantities of Helium |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/google-and-netflix-buying-up-massive-quantities-of-helium-684158091.html |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}{{cite web |title=First Look at GGE Helium Resource. How does it stack up? |url=https://catalysthunter.com/mining/gge/first-look-gge-helium-resource-how-does-it-stack/ |website=Catalyst Hunter |access-date=28 April 2022 |date=8 December 2021}}
Resources
Exploration in Tanzania shows reserves of 138 billion cubic feet.{{cite news |title=Tanzania to start helium production in 2025 |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/tanzania-to-start-helium-production-in-2025-3772132 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=The Citizen |date=5 April 2022 |language=en}}
Grand Gulf Energy is drilling in the Leadville Dolomite Formation in Utah.{{cite web |title=Maiden Potentially Company-making Pure-play Helium Well Jesse#1A Spudded |url=https://www.61financial.com.au/news/eng-pdf/12865883.pdf |access-date=28 April 2022 |date=26 April 2022}}