Khaberni - In a forgotten corner of the Chinese desert, Chinese researchers have discovered the country's first giant gas field rich in helium.
The Hetiankhe field is located deep in the Tarim Basin and contains industrial-scale concentrations, originating from ancient crustal rocks estimated to be over a billion years old.
According to a study published in the Journal of Petroleum Science, the discovery of this field enables China to reduce its reliance on helium imports and highlights a rare geological formation occurring in shallow gas systems with low pressure, according to Daily Galaxy.
This discovery has attracted the attention of geologists and strategic experts around the world, particularly due to its unusual origin and potential as a long-term local reserve.
Most of the world's helium is extracted as a byproduct of natural gas, particularly from a few countries, and prices have seen sharp increases whenever production is disrupted.
This new field, discovered through precise analysis conducted by a team led by Jia Hao Liv from the Northwest Institute of Environment and Resources, introduces a significant new player into this equation.
The Hetiankhe field is located on the southern edge of the Batchu highlands and contains concentrations ranging from 0.27% to 0.42%, based on gas samples taken from dozens of wells.
These values are within the range considered suitable for industrial extraction of the lightest noble gases.
The gas is currently being extracted from Carboniferous and Ordovician reservoirs at depths ranging from 4,800 to 9,100 feet. These medium depths allow for economically viable production, and stable pressure and temperature conditions are an operational advantage.
The field is classified as a helium-rich resource based on Chinese assessment criteria, which are consistent with global standards for rare gas industries.
Granite a billion years old beneath the basin
This hidden giant at Hetiankhe field wholly originates from crustal sources, specifically from Paleoproterozoic granite located beneath the gas reservoirs.
According to a study published in the Journal of Petroleum Science, isotope analysis revealed that about 99% of the helium comes from the Earth’s crust, while the mantle contributes less than 1%. The granite itself dates back to over a billion years and contains natural concentrations of uranium and thorium, elements that produce this weightless element through radioactive decay over geological time.
Water and nitrogen in structural containment systems
The helium rising from the deep crustal rocks does not migrate alone; it easily dissolves in groundwater that transports it upwards over long distances.
In Hetiankhe, helium concentrations increase concurrently with neon, indicating a shared migration path linked to groundwater flow.
As we approach the reservoirs, the natural gas rich in nitrogen becomes the main carrier, and the wells that continuously have high nitrogen content contain larger amounts of helium, with the highest concentrations found in shallow structural highs.
This combination of shallow depth, low pressure, and strong structural height creates ideal conditions for trapping gas that never reacts.
