Air Products and MATHESON Break Ground for New Wyoming Helium Plant
Air Products and MATHESON, a member of the Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC) group, announced that on-site construction has commenced on a new, jointly-owned liquid helium production plant near Big Piney, Wyoming. The plant, designed to produce 200 million standard cubic feet per year at start-up, with expectations for future expansion to 400 million standard cubic feet per year, would process crude helium produced by a natural gas processing facility that would be operated by Cimarex Energy Co.
The Cimarex facility, which is currently under construction, will process natural gas from the Riley Ridge Field in Wyoming, one of the largest helium-rich natural gas fields in the United States. The Riley Ridge field is believed to contain sufficient helium reserves to support production for decades. Production at the new Wyoming plant is anticipated to commence in 2011.
Upon completion, the Wyoming helium production plant will be the 10th liquid helium plant operating in the United States, and the first new U.S. facility constructed in over a decade. It is expected to employ 8-10 people after start-up.
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