I was talking to a scientist in eastern PA who said it was getting harder to find helium these days for his labs and wondered at the reason for what seems like a shortage to him.
The troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply. Article,https://www.gasworld.com/qatar-blockade-impacting-global-helium-supply/2012946.article
Quote from: docmordrid on 06/29/2017 04:41 amThe troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply. Article,https://www.gasworld.com/qatar-blockade-impacting-global-helium-supply/2012946.articleWe've had helium shortages before, but one thing is for sure - prices are going to go up. Maybe significantly. Not a good time to be depending on helium for your party balloons...
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 06/29/2017 06:28 amQuote from: docmordrid on 06/29/2017 04:41 amThe troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply. Article,https://www.gasworld.com/qatar-blockade-impacting-global-helium-supply/2012946.articleWe've had helium shortages before, but one thing is for sure - prices are going to go up. Maybe significantly. Not a good time to be depending on helium for your party balloons... The various fusion testbeds should sell their spent helium on the open market.
Quote from: docmordrid on 06/29/2017 04:41 amThe troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply. Article,https://www.gasworld.com/qatar-blockade-impacting-global-helium-supply/2012946.articleShould give SpaceX the nudge in the back to cancel FH and retire F9 and replace them with a Raptor based LV which does away with the helium system.
They described the two fields as some of the richest in the world in terms of percentages of helium in the reservoir. In most situations, 1% helium is considered economic. In the Arizona fields, helium accounts for ~8% with the remainder almost entirely nitrogen, according to the Ranger presentation. They said Arizona is the "Saudi Arabia of helium."
Apparently the Holbrook Basin in AZ has enormous He reserveshttp://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2016/04/hunt-for-helium-ramps-up-in-arizona.htmlQuoteThey described the two fields as some of the richest in the world in terms of percentages of helium in the reservoir. In most situations, 1% helium is considered economic. In the Arizona fields, helium accounts for ~8% with the remainder almost entirely nitrogen, according to the Ranger presentation. They said Arizona is the "Saudi Arabia of helium."
Quote from: DJPledger on 06/30/2017 08:07 amQuote from: docmordrid on 06/29/2017 04:41 amThe troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply. Article,https://www.gasworld.com/qatar-blockade-impacting-global-helium-supply/2012946.articleShould give SpaceX the nudge in the back to cancel FH and retire F9 and replace them with a Raptor based LV which does away with the helium system.I wonder, do fuel (not LOX) tanks need specifically He press? Hydrogen should work too...
Quote from: docmordrid on 06/30/2017 06:44 pmApparently the Holbrook Basin in AZ has enormous He reserveshttp://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2016/04/hunt-for-helium-ramps-up-in-arizona.htmlQuoteThey described the two fields as some of the richest in the world in terms of percentages of helium in the reservoir. In most situations, 1% helium is considered economic. In the Arizona fields, helium accounts for ~8% with the remainder almost entirely nitrogen, according to the Ranger presentation. They said Arizona is the "Saudi Arabia of helium."Sounds like the Helium shortage problem is solved.
Quote from: john smith 19 on 07/01/2017 07:42 pmQuote from: docmordrid on 06/30/2017 06:44 pmApparently the Holbrook Basin in AZ has enormous He reserveshttp://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2016/04/hunt-for-helium-ramps-up-in-arizona.htmlQuoteThey described the two fields as some of the richest in the world in terms of percentages of helium in the reservoir. In most situations, 1% helium is considered economic. In the Arizona fields, helium accounts for ~8% with the remainder almost entirely nitrogen, according to the Ranger presentation. They said Arizona is the "Saudi Arabia of helium."Sounds like the Helium shortage problem is solved.I wonder if there's active production that is making its way into the reservoirs, or are depleting a limited resource.
You are right about helium, it is limited. Fossil fuels can be made by using algae oils. To grow and produce algae oil is about twice the cost of fracking so going nowhere for now. However, greenhouses covering an area the size of Rhode Island can produce all the oil the US consumes with algae production, and it is carbon neutral. Helium can be produced by fusion, but we haven't mastered fusion yet.
Quote from: meekGee on 07/02/2017 03:34 amQuote from: john smith 19 on 07/01/2017 07:42 pmQuote from: docmordrid on 06/30/2017 06:44 pmApparently the Holbrook Basin in AZ has enormous He reserveshttp://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2016/04/hunt-for-helium-ramps-up-in-arizona.htmlQuoteThey described the two fields as some of the richest in the world in terms of percentages of helium in the reservoir. In most situations, 1% helium is considered economic. In the Arizona fields, helium accounts for ~8% with the remainder almost entirely nitrogen, according to the Ranger presentation. They said Arizona is the "Saudi Arabia of helium."Sounds like the Helium shortage problem is solved.I wonder if there's active production that is making its way into the reservoirs, or are depleting a limited resource.Some geologists think geologic helium is primordial, but many others believe much results from alpha decay (uranium and thorium) in radioactive black shales or granite-like basement rock.
