CONSUL — In the spring of 2020, the Government of Saskatchewan announced the province would soon be home to the largest helium purification operation in Canada. At the time, Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said the purification facility would be built by North American Helium and that it fit well with Saskatchewan’s Plan for Growth.
Today, North American Helium is the most active helium driller in Saskatchewan and has built and operates a $32-million helium plant near Consul, Sask. The company website says this project demonstrates that reliable long-term production of helium can be created from non-hydrocarbon sources, which means a smaller environmental footprint, while still benefiting from the expertise developed in Saskatchewan's oil service industry.
Nowadays, helium exports from the Southwest part of the province are well underway, and benefiting not only the province, but the local community.
Don Smith of Happy Valley Farms, located 50 kilometres south of Cypress Hills Regional Park near Consul, says his operation is home to the helium plant that sits on about 15 acres of land. He says the land rental fees from helium wells and the plant are similar to oil well revenues and provide a good supplement to the farm income. Add to that, the drilling process is clean compared to oil. Oil uses salty water that affects the land.
Smith says there’s very little soil disturbance with helium. In fact, it’s environmentally friendly. The pipes that deliver the helium gas to the plant are bored six feet under the ground for a half a kilometre so the native grass coulee is not disturbed.
Once the wells have been drilled, there are no spill concerns. Helium wells do not need containment provisions around the wells since the gas coming out of them is made up of 98% nitrogen and 2% helium. That means there are no environmental concerns. Once a well has been drilled it uses the footprint of two standard size houses. When a well is complete the land is returned to active farmland within a year.
North American Helium has three full time workers at its automated plant on Happy Valley Farms. Two of those workers came back home to live in Consul because the plant offers good paying jobs. The company ships one truckload of helium, under very high pressure, per day to Oklahoma in the United States.
Smith says one thing he found really interesting is that the truck weighs the same empty as when it is full because the helium causes the trailer to float.
There are ten wells in the area; four producing on Smith’s land. Other wells are being drilled around Eastend, Mankota and Swift Current.
The community, as well as farmers, benefit from the helium activity.
North American Helium looks after roadways that lead to the wells. The company will grade a road if they are working in the area and even bury a rock pile for a farmer.
Smith says, with the helium development, farmers have good trails to haul out grain. The company looks after snow clearance all winter. And rather than haul unused materials away, things like steel pipe are given to farmers, and excess landscaping material is passed along to farmers for use under grain bins to help with weed control.
North American Helium has become part of the community. The company supports the local rink financially every year, and helped out by giving an extra $15,000 when a new ice plant was needed.
Helium is used in various applications, including medical research and diagnostic testing, digital technologies, semiconductors, fibre optics, nuclear power facilities, rocket systems, welding and balloons.
Canada has the fifth-largest helium resources in the world, with significant underground reserves in Saskatchewan.
