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ARTICLE · 05 DECEMBER 2023

Helium – More Than Just Hot Air

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Helium is a colourless, odourless inert gas that is non-toxic and non-flammable.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Thomas Collopy
Thomas Collopy
Erin Eccleston
Erin Eccleston
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Helium is a colourless, odourless inert gas that is non-toxic and non-flammable. It is a dynamic element with a wide array of uses – ranging from acting as a cooling agent in MRI units to functioning as a pressurizing agent in rocket propulsion.

There are two primary ways to produce helium: (1) capturing it as a by-product of natural gas production; or (2) extracting it through dedicated helium wells.

The global helium market currently relies on major natural gas-producing countries such as Qatar, Algeria, Russia and the United States for helium production. Overall concentrations of helium captured as a by-product of natural gas production are low in these countries in comparison to the concentration of helium being produced by certain Canadian provinces.

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