Where does the helium we use come from?

However, the helium gas we can find on earth, which is then stored in helium gas tanks for usage in many critical applications, is limited. This type of helium gas, referred to as helum-4, is produced naturally underground through the radioactive decomposition and decay of certain elements such as uranium and thorium.

Where is the helium shortage occurring?

A big reason for the shortage is that about 75\% of all the helium comes from just three places: Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, ExxonMobil in Wyoming and the National Helium Reserve in Texas, according to gas-trade publication Gasworld.com.

Where can helium be found in the world?

Where on earth is helium found? Wherever large deposits of uranium are located, Helium will also be found. Most of the world’s Helium comes as a byproduct of decaying uranium and fossil fuels. Today, the world’s Helium supply relies on reserves in the United States, the Middle East, Russia and North Africa.

What state produces the most helium?

The most economical source of helium is natural gas, all of which contains some helium. Natural gas in the States of Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming is richer in helium than what has been recovered from other States. How is helium produced?

Is helium running out on Earth?

We’re not running out of helium; we’re depleting our helium reserves, because it’s so easy to obtain these days that we don’t need a stockpile. (And remember, balloons are only a small fraction of the total helium use — because they also contain oxygen and nitrogen, they actually use very little helium.)

Where is helium found in the US?

Helium occurs with other gasses in pockets beneath the Earth’s surface. The most economical source of helium is natural gas, all of which contains some helium. Natural gas in the States of Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming is richer in helium than what has been recovered from other States.

Is helium in short supply 2021?

And Helium, a gas critical to their manufacturing, is experiencing a supply squeeze that can’t be remedied without new exploration and development. It’s not just the demand explosion in the semiconductor industry that necessitates more Helium, either …

Who is the largest helium producer?

ExxonMobil is the largest liquid helium producer, with its crude feed coming from helium-rich CO2 and methane gas fields in Wyoming.

Who is the biggest consumer of helium in the world?

NASA
The biggest consumer of helium is NASA, using annually almost 75 million cubic feet, followed by the USA Department of Defense, which uses a significant quantity to cool liquid hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel.