The coupling action of helium and nitrogen enrichment and its significance

Abstract

Helium, a critical rare strategic resource primarily sourced from natural gas, is currently a subject of intense research regarding its enrichment processes within gas reservoirs. Investigating the enrichment of helium is urgent and vital for advancing helium exploration. This study involved the collection of natural gas samples from the Qaidam, Sichuan, and Junggar basins for helium and nitrogen content testing and analysis. The findings were combined with studies on natural gas fractions and helium content in local and international major helium-rich fields. The investigation revealed a strong correlation between helium content and nitrogen presence in helium-rich fields, a phenomenon that also extends to some helium-poor fields. Accordingly, this study proposes a coupling relationship between helium and nitrogen, suggesting that both elements are simultaneously enriched in natural gas. Furthermore, both are associated with groundwater and may share a common origin in source rocks. This proposed coupling relationship holds the potential to unveil the mystery of helium enrichment, offering a new perspective for the exploration of helium-rich resources and providing a foundational framework for helium enrichment theory.