US BLM is Up and Running Again at Reduced Throughput
- AKAP
- Apr 30, 2023
- 1 min read
After a maintenance shutdown, the US BLM's Cliffside plant has once again begun operations and is producing helium, albeit at reduced capacity. On day 8 of the shutdown (Monday 24th April) a leak was discovered and the plant was shutdown for repairs. Helium production restarted on Wednesday 26th April but as of 30th April production was only at 0.6mmcf/d versus the normal level of ~2mmcf/d. The pipeline pressure is only at 643 psia compared to average levels of ~1350 psia pre-shutdown. We estimate an impact of 25mmcf of helium production over the course of the shutdown, further tightening an already undersupplied market. Next up to watch out for is the summer shutdown of Exxon's Wyoming facility for a month's maintenance, which supplies >25% of global helium production.
