Helium and Carbon Dioxide — What and Where is the Potential?

While this gasworld supplement is primarily dedicated to the subject of helium, I am describing opportunities in the carbon dioxide (CO2) industry, with insight into the Air Products helium recovery operation from a natural CO2 stream located in Colorado.

Generally speaking, methane rich streams are the usual source for the recovery of helium, not carbon dioxide, at least with respect to sources which are commercially operating. In general terms, on a global scale, the location, recovery and production of helium supplies are a challenge, and the presence of helium is very small…