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42 min ago 2 min read
Helium exploration company Quantum Helium has commenced a major fracture stimulation programme at the Sagebrush-1 well in Colorado, US.
It comes after the firm commercial helium concentrations of approximately 2.5% at the Sagebrush project.
The planned treatment incorporates a nitrogen-assisted gelled foam system and proppant. This will create and maintain conductive pathways within the reservoir and support subsequent well clean-up and flow testing.
Quantum previously told gasworld that the flow and reservoir information that comes from the larger-volume stimulation programme will feed into development engineering, surface processing and the pathway towards commercial helium production.
It said a successful stimulation programme could see it begin production within 18 months.
At the same time, the company will continue permitting and well planning across the wider drilling portfolio, with initial drilling targeted during the second half of 2027 and commercial helium production planned to follow in early 2028.
Quantum holds a 90% working interest in Sagebrush and has 100% ownership of Coyote Wash, with 134 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) and 970 mmscf of independently assessed 2U gross helium resources at each prospect, respectively.
This comes after the US Department of Energy (DOE) helium as a critical material, citing growing supply risks and its importance to domestic semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technologies.
Howard McLaughlin, CEO of Quantum Helium, said, “With helium recently designated a critical material by the US Government, and the increasing importance of securing domestic supply, the timing of this programme is particularly exciting.”
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