Medical Field
Helium plays a crucial role in the operation of MRI machines. These machines rely on helium to cool the superconducting magnets, which are essential for producing high-quality, accurate imaging.
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Unlocking the Potential of Helium Reserves
Harnessing Helium’s Potential for a Brighter Tomorrow
About High Creek Energy
High Creek Energy LLC was formed to drill and exploit the helium reserves in one of the most prolific helium fields in the world. Our strategy is to aggressively acquire mineral leases in the Holbrook Basin, known as the “Saudi Arabia of Helium.” This region produces helium at concentrations of 4-8%, significantly higher than other areas. Many of these wells produce between 5,000-25,000 mcf per day of total gas, which can equate to 250-2,500 mcf per day of helium. With helium prices at all-time highs ($400-$2,000/mcf depending on purity).
Why Helium?
Helium is on everyone’s lips recently with prices climbing to astronomical levels. But why is helium so valuable? Here’s what you need to know:
- Scarcity and Demand: Despite being the second-most abundant element in the universe, helium is rare on Earth due to its tendency to escape into space.
- Critical Applications: Helium is essential in various fields, including medical technology, scientific research, and national defense.
- Market Stability: Helium prices have remained steady or risen over the last 19 years, with demand expected to continue growing.
The Essential Uses of Helium
Helium is a critical element with a diverse range of applications across various industries, owing to its unique properties that make it irreplaceable in many contexts. These unique characteristics include its inertness, low boiling point, and lightness, which make it suitable for applications that no other element can fulfill. Here are some of the most essential uses of helium:
National Defense
Helium inert nature and low density make it ideal for these high-precision applications, contributing to the effectiveness and reliability of defense systems.
Space Exploration
It is used extensively in rocket propulsion systems, where it serves to purge fuel systems and maintain pressure. Helium's low boiling point and inertness also make it ideal for cooling the liquid hydrogen and oxygen used in rocket fuel.
Manufacturing
In the fields of welding and metal fabrication, the result is stronger, more reliable metal joints, which are critical in construction, automotive, and many other industries. The use of helium in welding processes enhances the durability and longevity of the structures and products created.
For many of these applications, there is no substitute for helium.
At A Glance: The High Creek Play
High Creek Energy leverages advanced geoseismic surveying to identify prime drilling locations within the Holbrook Basin.
High Yield
Targeting areas with helium concentrations of 4-8%.
Accurate Mapping
Utilizing 3D seismic imaging to pinpoint the best drilling spots.
Environmental Responsibility
Minimal impact techniques that protect the natural landscape.
Why the Holbrook Basin?
Helium was historically extracted from the Texas Panhandle area as well as part of Oklahoma and Kansas, though those fields are now largely depleted. Helium in Arizona commenced on and off in about 1950, but prices back then, and the costs involved with processing, caused helium production to be largely ignored until the advent of the information era and the need for supercomputers and semiconductors.
As the above maps show, the Holbrook Basin sits on top of “hot spots” revealing high levels of both thorium and uranium. As the below map illustrates, almost all of the high-content helium fields in the country are located in this relatively small geographic area.
In fact, most areas of known helium deposits outside of the Four Corners area have less than 1% concentration. While the exact cause of this concentration is unknown, there is some unique geology to the area, which was once a massive inland sea. Layers of sediment were deposited along with further layers of organic matter, creating a massive field layer of shale a thousand feet thick which is then topped by a salt dome that combined serve as a natural trap for helium.
| NAVJO-CHAMBERS | 9.0% |
| PINTA DOME | 8.0% |
| RATTLESNAKE | 7.8% |
| HARLEY DOME | 7.0% |
| TABLE MESA | 5.7% |
| KEYES | 2.2% |
| CLIFFSIDE HELIUM STORAGE | 1.8% |
| RILEY RIDGE | 0.6% |
| HUGOTON/PANHANDLE | 0.5% |
| CHURCH BUTTES | 0.3% |
Seismic Surveying
At High Creek Energy, we are committed to selecting the best drilling locations by leveraging cutting-edge technology and extensive geological data. Our approach integrates existing geologic surveys, offsetting well production data, and the use of licensed GeoSeismic Tech 3D seismic imaging.
GeoSeismic Tech 3D Seismic Imaging
This advanced system generates a small acoustic event on the surface, typically created by a single shot from a .50 caliber rifle fired directly into the ground, producing P and S waves. As these waves travel down through the stratigraphic column, the formation is slightly compressed due to the electroseismic waves. This compression generates unique low energy signals, known as Biot Waves, for each substance present in the formation.
- Depth Accuracy: Given the right conditions, accurate readings can be made to a depth of 40,000 feet.
- Minimal Environmental Impact: All equipment can be fitted to a small ATV, ensuring minimal disruption to the environment.
- Comprehensive Analysis: The technology can determine the depth of a formation, its thickness, porosity, permeability, and chemical composition. It reveals how deep a formation lies, its thickness, the direction of any liquid or gas movement within the formation, and the elements present.
By taking multiple readings over a given area, we can piece together the underlying geologic topography with incredible accuracy. So far, High Creek has surveyed approximately 8,000 acres of its Holbrook Basin leases. This extensive survey has identified multiple locations with high helium concentrations, indicative of wells that produce over 20,000 mcf per day. These promising locations will be the first to undergo drilling.