Civil construction is mostly complete at the Sweetgrass site as work shifts to the processing building, system equipment and commissioning preparations.
Avanti Helium Corp., a Calgary-based helium developer, stated Oct. 26 that civil construction at its Sweetgrass venture in Montana is mostly complete, with construction of the processing building underway and major helium recovery equipment scheduled for shipping within the coming weeks.
The collecting pipelines linking two wells to the processing facility are complete. The company anticipates the building to be finished in early November, at the same time as an inlet separator is scheduled to deliver from its fabrication yard during the first week of November.
The next phase will include installing and integrating the helium recovery unit, related piping, mechanical systems, electrical equipment and instrumentation before testing and commissioning. Avanti is working with Quantum Technology, which designed and fabricated the processing plant.
The construction update follows the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oct. 23 designation of helium as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020. The department mentioned helium’s vital role in semiconductor production and advanced technologies, together with developing exposure to supply-chain risks.
Why it Matters
Helium is used in semiconductor production, leak detection, medical imaging, research and different applications needing its distinctive physical properties. The Energy Department stated increasing global demand for, limited refining capacity and lengthy allowing timelines constrain U.S. Manufacturing in spite of the country’s domestic resources.
The designation could make additional federal financing available to helium manufacturers, as per the Associated Press. New manufacturing capacity is relevant to industrial users looking for reliable supplies of the gas for specialised production and technical applications.
Avanti’s project is designed to process helium-bearing natural gas from two wells and produce helium for commercial markets. The company did not offer a revised goal date for commissioning or commercial manufacturing in its Oct. 26 update.
