The land, known as the Manyberries Helium trend, extends from south of Lethbridge to southwest Saskatchewan and down to the Canada-U.S. border. The goal is to drill a test well in the summer, and if all goes well to drill another one or two wells in 2023. This would lead to the construction of a helium purification unit in the area for production.Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Global Helium has focused mainly on drilling in Saskatchewan and Montana, but this will be their first foray into tapping what is believed to be a helium-rich reserve in Alberta. Helium reserves historically have been located in the same areas known for oil and gas and exist in large deposits deep underground.
Once a well is producing helium, it is then piped to a nearby purification unit to separate helium from natural gas and an additional process to purify it further. From there Griffith said it needs to be liquified for most end users. Building a purification facility can take between nine and 12 months.