Hugoton fields

The principal source of helium is certain natural gas fields. The helium contents of more than 10,000 natural gases in various parts of the world have been measured (9). Helium concentrations of a few are Hsted in Table 2. In the United States, recovery of helium is economical only for helium-rich gases containing more than about 0.3 vol % belium. Most of the United States helium resources are located in the midcontinent and Rocky Mountain regions, and about 89% of the known United States supply is in the Hugoton field in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas the Keyes field in Oklahoma the Panhandle and Cliffside fields in Texas and the Riley Ridge area in Wyoming (11). 

The Satanta plant went online in September 1993, processing natural gas from some 1,000 wells drilled in the Hugoton fields of southern Kansas. A day s production yields 13,000 bbl of liquified natural gas (LNG), 5.1 million Nm (190 MMscf) of residue natural gas, and 21,600 Nm (800,000 scf) of helium. 

Certainly the optimal techniques depend on the type of reservoir. Reports that compare the techniques in a related environment are available. In the Kansas Hugoton field (Mesa Limited Partnership), several hydraulic fracturing methods were tested [403]. A method in which a complexed gelled water fracture was applied was the most successful when compared with a foam technique and with older and simpler techniques. The study covers some 56 wells where such techniques were applied. 

The origin of He-associated N2 in the Hugoton-Panhandle giant gas field, USA. 

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