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42 min ago 2 min read
Preliminary gas analysis at Kansas helium producer Mendell Helium’s Rost 2-26 twin well at the Fort Dodge site indicates helium concentrations of up to 10.9%.
At this early stage, this shows a materially higher helium concentration than its flagship Rost 1-26 well, which reportedly for 5.1% helium composition and yielded a maximum flow rate of around 2,900 thousand cubic feet (mcf) per day.
At the Rost 2-26 well, the water extraction rate is currently at around 1,100 barrels of water per day.
Following initial water evacuation, the well began producing gas-bearing ‘foamy water’ to the surface, similar to the early-stage response at Rost 1-26.
The company believes the Rost 2-26 helium concentrations are exceptionally high compared to producing wells in North America and worldwide.
Two gas analyses of the initial gas-bearing fluids have shown very high helium levels of 10.7% and 10.9%. However, the gas mix may change at higher flow volumes and produced gas volumes at Rost 2 remain low, pending further de-watering.
Nick Tulloch, CEO of Mendell Helium, said, “A helium composition north of 10% is highly encouraging… [however] with flow rates at Rost 2 currently low pending further de-watering, we need to temper our excitement at this early stage.
The firm will monitor production, gas-to-water ratio, intake pressure and composition over the coming weeks in preparation for Rost 2-26 production.
“These results provide further support for our hypothesis that our de-watering methodology is repeatable across multiple wells in Fort Dodge,” Tulloch added.
After scheduled downhole maintenance and tubing replacement work, water and gas production at Rost 1-26 has resumed at elevated rates.
In May, Mendell Helium its acquisition of UK helium exploration company M3 Helium, adding the company’s Fort Dodge site to its helium exploration portfolio.
