Helium Natural Gas Field Found in Tanzania Using New Exploration Technique

Helium, known for making balloons float and one's voice squeaky, is a gas that is rather rare on Earth. But because it is important for industries like medicine, scientists have been trying to find ways to locate deposits and harvest it. A new method developed by researchers has resulted in their recent discovery of a helium gas field located in Tanzania, Africa.

The new approach was developed by researchers from Durham University and Oxford University, in cooperation with Norwegian helium exploration company Helium One. For the first time, they applied the new method in exploring for the second lightest element in the Tanzanian East African Rift Valley.

"This is an outstanding example of industry and academia working together closely to deliver real value to society," said Jon Gluyas, a professor in Durham University's Department of Earth Sciences, according to The Science Explorer. "The impact of this and expected future helium discoveries will secure supply for the medical scanning and other industries."

According to the report, there are ancient rocks that have helium in them, and due to the intense heat brought about by volcanoes, the gas is released from these rocks. The helium is then trapped in shallower gas fields.

"We show that volcanoes in the Rift play an important role in the formation of viable helium reserves," said Diveena Danabalan of the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University. "Volcanic activity likely provides the heat necessary to release the helium accumulated in ancient crustal rocks."

However, Danabalan explained, there is a possibility of volcanic gases like carbon dioxide diluting helium when the gas traps are too near a volcano.

"We are now working to identify the 'goldilocks-zone' between the ancient crust and the modern volcanoes where the balance between helium release and volcanic dilution is 'just right,' she said.

Helium is used for cryogenics, particularly for MRI scanners, as well as for growing silicon crystals, industrial leak detection, and other uses. Chris Ballentine, a professor at the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences, explained that globally, 8 billion cubic feet (BCf) of helium is used annually.

Based on the calculations of independent experts, what they found in Tanzania could possibility have around 54 BCf of gas in only one part of the valley, more than twice as much as the U.S. Federal Helium Reserve in Texas, which has 24.2 BCf.

"We're in a position where we could map the whole world and say these are the sorts of areas where you'd find high helium," said Jonathan Gluyas, geoenergy professor at Durham University, according to the New York Times.