We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Read our policy.
Stay at the forefront of the industrial gas industry with a gasworld subscription and get access to:
Stay at the forefront of the industrial gas industry with a gasworld subscription and get access to:
Issue 207 July 2022 - Gas Analysis & Control
Gasworld US Edition, Vol 60, No 07 (July) - Packaged Gases
By Anthony Wright 2022-05-26T09:58:00+01:00
Indian industrial gas supplier AirLife Gases has started up a liquid helium transfill facility in Pune, India, which will intake containers capable of holding 11,000 gallons of bulk liquid helium mainly from sources in Qatar and North America.
Announced yesterday, 25th May, the facility will enable AirLife Gases to fill high pressure cylinders, tube trailers, quads, and liquid helium dewars for customers throughout Pan India.
In addition to its helium export plans for its customers in Asian Markets, AirLife Gases supplies the North American market through its subsidiary AirLife Gases USA.
Under a long-term agreement with North American Helium, Inc, the company is supplied with bulk liquid helium from the Battle Creek Plant in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Three of the specialised 11,000 gallon cryogenic containers used to transport the liquid gas are owned by AirLife Gases, with an additional three containers on order for July 2022 delivery.
Commenting on the new facility, Kiran Karnawat, Founder, CEO, Managing Director, AirLife, said, “I am already excited to launch our new state-of-the-art transfill facility in Pune and to re-enter the Helium Business after an absence of several years”
“We plan to build AirLife into one of the leading suppliers of helium throughout India during the coming years”
AirLife Gases’ re-entry into the helium supply market has come during a lengthy shortage period, labelled by expert Phil Kornbluth as ‘Helium Shortage 4.0’.
Following the four-month maintenance outage of the US Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) crude helium enrichment unit, it was anticipated that Gazprom’s Amur Project would begin to satiate the high demand for helium.
However, shortly after production began, the plant was taken down to complete construction punch-list items and – while out of commission – the Amur plant experienced a fire on 8th October 2021, followed by a second explosion/fire on 5th January 2022.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February could also cause long-term consequences upon the global helium supply.
Read more: Russian invasion of Ukraine will impact future helium supply
Helium supply is expected to improve later this year, with signs indicating that the BLM’s Crude Helium Enrichment Unit (CHEU) is set to reopen within the next month or so, an event that could increase the world’s helium supply by greater than 10% compared to recent levels, according to Kornbluth.
Other positive developments include the cancellation of a planned maintenance outage at ExxonMobil’s Shute Creek, Wyoming plant – the largest US source of helium, and Air Products’ soon-to-be complete Arzew Expansion Project.
Blue Star Helium has reported helium concentrations of 2.14% from its JXSN#3 well, located in Las Animas County, Colorado.
Desert Mountain Energy has received permits for its next two helium well in Arizona.
When Bronwyn Eyre, Minister of Energy and Resources for the Saskatchewan Government, spoke on the eve of gasworld’s Helium Super Summit 2021, she told delates that the province has the fifth-largest helium resource in the world, with significant underground reserves showcasing attractive geology, and a goal to surpass 150 producing ...
Month on month, the gasworld website is the market-leading news portal for the global industrial gas sector, growing at an unprecedented rate and keeping its readers at the forefront of breaking news, insightful analysis and must-see features across the industry. Launched in 2003 and continually evolving, it is the only independent online news, views and intelligence portal for the global industrial gas community and the larger end-user markets – and home to the ever-increasing range of gasworld platforms.
To find out more about gasworld's advertising opportunities click here.
Whether it's web-based or the printed product, gasworld subscriptions have the value-added solutions for you.
Find out more... gasworld Magazine gasworld (US edition) Subscribe today
Site powered by Webvision Cloud