Helium Gas Show Confirmed and Delay to Tai-1
12 July 2021
Helium One Global Ltd
("Helium One" or "the Company")
Helium Gas Show Confirmed
Delay to Tai-1
Helium One (AIM: HE1), currently drilling at its 100% owned Rukwa Project In Tanzania, is pleased to announce a further helium gas show in drilling mud (a "Gas Show") in the Red Sandstone Group and sidetrack from Tai-1 well following loss of the drill string at 561 meters.
Highlights:
· Helium gas shows identified in stratigraphy above our primary targets from 552 metres to 561 metres as measured by the on-line gas chromatograph
· Gas show supported by indications of gas visually identified as bubbles in drilling mud returns at surface
· Helium shows continued to 561 metres, at which point drilling operations were suspended due to parting of drill pipe in the midst of drilling the gas show
· Mitchell Drilling has been unable to recover the lost drill pipe from the hole to date with subsequent delay to drilling operation resulting in the management decision to sidetrack drilling from above the lost pipe at 483 meters
David Minchin, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The identification of helium gas shows in the Red Sandstone Group between 552 and 561 metres is another unexpected, but positive result as this zone was previously considered to be of low prospectivity.
"This gas show, along with our earlier reported gas show announced on 22nd June, demonstrates a working helium system and supports helium prospectivity for additional gas shows throughout the stratigraphy.
"Visual identification of bubbles in mud returns also offers circumstantial evidence of free helium gas in the sub-surface. However, it is important to note that this interval needs to be logged with wireline before a pay zone can be determined.
"The delay caused by the loss of drill string in the midst of the drilling is unfortunate, however contingency plans have been implemented to sidetrack from above the lost pipe and continue drilling to test both the Red Sandstone gas show and priority target horizons beneath. This option allows us to utilise the existing 483 meters of already completed drilling rather relocating to a new location.
"With the above indicators already identified we look forward to a successful completion of drilling on this target location."
Details
Helium One has continued exploration drilling at Tai-1 well, with elevated helium levels encountered as connection gas. These transient peaks suggest the presence of helium saturated brine throughout the system with potential for free gas to form beneath sealing units. Drilling rates have been moderated to ensure consistency of mud composition in variable stratigraphy.
At a depth of 552 metres, the Helium One mudlogging crew detected elevated helium in mud that constitutes a gas show. The gas show continued to increase over a thickness of 9 meters, at which point drilling was halted due to parted drill-pipe. The drill-pipe parted above a fatigued joint, with 12 stands and drill bit currently sitting on well bottom.
The Red Sandstone Group sits above our primary targets and was previously considered to be of low prospectivity due to a lack of effective sealing units. The gas show occurred beneath a thin claystone unit and demonstrates a working helium system, whereby gas shows may also be identified beneath even marginal sealing units.
The gas show is supported visually by indications of increased levels of gas entrained as bubbles in return mud at surface. This offers circumstantial evidence of free gas in the subsurface, however we have no direct evidence and the bubbles may have entered the return drilling mud from other sources. Free gas containing helium will need to be confirmed by direct measurement via wireline logging and testing before a discovery can be confirmed.
With Mitchell Drilling unable to recover lost pipe down hole to date, Helium One has made the decision to sidetrack from above the lost pipe at 483 metres. Time spent in attempting to recover lost pipe, sidetracking operations and re-drilling from 483 meters will delay the completion of drilling at the Tai-1 well.
For further information please visit the Company's website: www.helium-one.com
Contact
|
Helium One Global Ltd David Minchin, CEO |
+44 20 7920 3150 |
|
|
|
|
Beaumont Cornish Ltd (Nominated Adviser) James Biddle Roland Cornish |
+44 20 7628 3396 |
|
|
|
|
Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker) Adam James |
+44 20 7523 8000 |
|
|
|
|
Peterhouse Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Lucy Williams |
+44 20 7220 9792 |
|
|
|
|
Pello Capital (Retail Broker) Callum Hill |
+44 20 3700 2500 |
|
|
|
|
Tavistock (Financial PR) Nick Elwes |
+44 20 7920 3150
|
Notes to Editors
Helium One has identified a globally unique, large-scale, high-grade, primary helium project in Tanzania with the potential to become a strategic asset in resolving a supply-constrained market.
Helium One's assets are located within the rift basins on the margin of the Tanzanian Craton. Through Helium One's subsidiary companies Gogota (Tz) Limited, Stahamili (Tz) Limited and Njozi (Tz) Limited, the Company has secured 18 Prospecting Licences covering more than 4,512 km² in three distinct project areas: the Rukwa, Balangida and Eyasi projects. These are located near surface seeps with helium concentrations ranging up to 10.5% He by volume.
The Rukwa Project is located within the Rukwa Rift Basin covering 3,448km2 in south-west Tanzania. The project is considered to be an advanced exploration project and the company has identified 4 prospects and 21 leads based on historical drilling, reprocessed seismic lines, high resolution gravity survey, and surface seep analyses.
SRK Consulting have reported a 'Best Estimate' Un-risked Prospective Resource of 138 Bcf (2U/P50) for the Company's Rukwa Project, meaning that the project has potentially strategic global implications with the ability to significantly resolve helium supply/demand issues.
All Helium One's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close proximity to the required infrastructure.
Helium One is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of HE1 and on the OTCQB in the United States with the ticker HOGLF.
Technical Glossary
Gas Chromatograph - A piece of analytical equipment that uses a carrier gas to separate the chemical components of a sample mixture to determine how much helium and other gasses are present
Mass Spectrometer - A piece of analytical equipment that is used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions in a sample. The results are presented as a mass spectrum from which gas composition is calculated
Faulted Three Way Dip Closure - A domal structural trap faulted along a single side
Stacked Targets - A target with multiple reservoir intervals that can be tested with a single vertical well
Helium Show - Elevated amounts of helium detected in mud logging on micro gas-chromatograph or mass spectrometer
Pay Zone - A zone identified in wireline logging as a gas saturated reservoir supported by strong helium shows in mud logging
Drill Stem Test - flow testing using inflatable packers to isolate a prospective reservoir horizon and attempt to flow helium to surface
Itumbula Helium Seeps - Location where helium macro seeps have been identified at up to 10.6%He at surface
Connection Gas - Elevated levels of helium detected in mud during recirculation following the addition of a drill pipe. Helium infiltrates the well while mud is stationary and shows a temporary peak when drilling recommences.
Sidetrack - A branch out from the main well drilled by deflecting off a wedge or cement plug
Technical Sign off
Lorna Blaisse, the Principal Geologist of the Company, who has over 15 years of relevant experience in the Oil and Gas Industry, has approved the information contained in this announcement. Lorna Blaisse is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 2 days ago City of London Investment Group
- 2 days ago Aberdeen Group plc
- 2 days ago NATWEST GROUP
- 2 days ago Ondo Insurtech
- 2 days ago Banco Santander S.A.