Helium Evolution, Inc. recently announced the successful spudding of their joint well on its Hogan ranch in Montana. Located close to the town of Cutrock, the well is expected to yield a large amount of helium, a rare and increasingly sought after resource.
Helium plays many vital roles in modern industry. It is used as a lift gas for balloons, as an inert atmosphere in special welding and welding, and is used to cool electronic components and fuel supersonic aircraft. Its light atomic weight and non-flammable nature make it an invaluable scientific tool, as it allows researchers to reach extremely low temperatures and explore regions researchers ordinarily would not be able to access. It is also used in MRI scans and in liquid breathing systems which help divers hold their breath underwater for a longer duration.
Helium is non-renewable and is primarily formed through the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium, making it hard to find in large quantities. Vacuum tubes of solidified helium are expensive to produce, hence its availability and prices are documented by scarce sources. Even so, helium has been found in natural-gas deposits in pockets which can be harnessed through drilling.
Helium Evolution’s joint well has been hailed as an important step forward in the production of helium. With the successful spudding, the team is now commencing drill tests and other tests to determine the proliferation of the helium gas, as well as its potential as a major source.
The Hogan Ranch well isn’t the first helium well drilled in Montana, with a nearby helium site having recently been tested by ExxonMobil. This discovery could be a major boost for the helium industry, especially since the global demand for helium is increasing. With Helium as an important resource for a growing range of industries, there is surely more to look forward to from the Hogan Ranch project.
In any event, the spudding of the joint well is a major milestone for Helium Evolution and a step closer to making the Hogan Ranch well the largest source of helium in Montana. Along with the well, the project will also include a cryogenic cooling system which will help generate a liquid helium product to meet the demands of the booming energy industry.
“Helium’s Unstoppable Evolution – Joint Well Spudding Kicks Off!
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