Ex-solving the Helium

I asked myself, I wonder what would Chat GPT would suggest.

So here it is.

What would be the best way to ex-solve helium gas saturated in underground water trapped in permeable sandstone with a porosity of 20%?

To extract helium gas from underground water trapped in permeable sandstone with a porosity of 20%, you can follow these steps:

1. Drilling and Well Construction
Locate the Helium Source:
Use geological surveys and helium concentration measurements to identify the most promising areas.Drill Wells: Drill wells into the permeable sandstone formation where the helium-saturated water is trapped.
2. Water Extraction
Pump the Water: Use submersible pumps to extract the helium-saturated water from the wells.
3. Gas Separation
Pressure Reduction: Reduce the pressure of the extracted water to release the dissolved helium gas. This can be done using a degasser or a flash separator.
Stripper Columns: Use gas stripping columns where an inert gas, such as nitrogen, is bubbled through the water to strip out the dissolved helium.
4. Gas Collection
Collect the Gas: The released helium gas is collected at the top of the degasser or stripper column.Compress the Gas: Compress the collected helium gas for storage and transport.
5. Water Re-injection or Treatment
Re-inject Water: The degassed water can be re-injected into the sandstone formation or treated and disposed of according to environmental regulations.

Key Considerations

Porosity and Permeability:

The porosity of 20% is favorable for fluid flow, but permeability also plays a crucial role in how easily the water can be extracted.

Gas Solubility:

The solubility of helium in water decreases with decreasing pressure, which helps in its separation.

Environmental Impact:

Ensure that water extraction and re-injection processes comply with environmental regulations to avoid contamination and other ecological issues.

Example Methods

Vacuum Degassing:
Using vacuum degassing units can enhance the release of helium from the water by lowering the pressure significantly.

Membrane Technology:
Advanced membrane separation techniques can selectively remove helium from water, but this might be costlier and more complex.

Safety and Monitoring
Monitoring:
Continuously monitor helium concentration and pressure to optimize the extraction process.

Safety Measures:
Implement safety measures to handle high-pressure systems and ensure that the released helium is collected safely.

By following these steps and considerations, you can effectively ex solve helium gas from the saturated underground water in permeable sandstone formations.

Simple but not simple