Evolution of the Cliffside Helium Reserve
- AKAP
- Jul 5, 2024
- 2 min read
The Cliffside gas field in North Texas, discovered in 1924, has played a pivotal role in helium storage since 1945 when the US government began injecting helium to counteract shortages during wartime and periods of high demand. Over the decades, as federal needs waned and private demand surged, the US government released vast quantities of stored helium, destabilising the market and leading to industry shutdowns. Despite supplying a significant portion of domestic and global helium, the ageing facility, which is now sold to the Messer Group, may face a temporary closure for upgrades, potentially exacerbating the helium market's tightness and pushing prices higher.
