Ann: Mbelele-2 results point to prolific new helium province, page-245

From AI:

Has there been success in similar approaches for other companies?DetailseventToday at 12:33 AMappsBardchatYes, there have been successful applications of depressurization for helium extraction from saturated water formations. In the coal gas industry, depressurization is a well-established method for producing natural gas from coal seams. The same principle can be applied to extract helium from water-saturated formations, as long as the helium concentration is high enough and the reservoir characteristics allow for efficient fluid flow.One example of a successful depressurization application is the White Mesa helium field in Utah, USA. This field produces helium from a sandstone reservoir that contains saturated water with a helium concentration of approximately 0.3%. Depressurization has been used to extract helium from this reservoir for over 50 years.Another example is the Maryborough helium field in Queensland, Australia. This field produces helium from a quartzite reservoir that contains saturated water with a helium concentration of approximately 0.5%. Depressurization has been used to extract helium from this reservoir since the early 1990s.These examples demonstrate that depressurization can be a viable method for extracting helium from saturated water formations. However, it is important to note that the success of depressurization depends on a number of factors, including the helium concentration, fluid flow rates, reservoir characteristics, and wellbore design.In the case of North Rukwa, the gas cap portion of the project appears to be straightforward, with conventional methods expected to be successful. However, the saturated water portion is the more uncertain aspect, and the success of depressurization will depend on the factors mentioned earlier.The ongoing flow testing and the development of a theoretical production model will provide valuable insights into the viability of depressurization at North Rukwa's specific conditions. If the testing confirms that there is sufficient helium concentration and fluid flow rates, depressurization could prove to be a promising approach for long-term helium extraction.