Why is there a shortage of helium?

The gas, which is formed by the decay of radioactive rocks in the earth’s crust, accumulates in natural gas deposits and is collected as a by-product of the gas industry. Separating the helium from the natural gas and storing the helium is expensive, time-consuming and difficult and therefore relatively rare.

Is there a helium shortage 2021?

The sale of crude helium to private industry has been discontinued and the remaining stockpile is earmarked for Federal users only. The sale deadline has since then been extended to 30 September 2022, but privatization likely won’t be completed until at least 2023.

Why is there a helium shortage 2021?

The recent helium shortage is due to a number of factors: declining production at the world’s largest helium source – the US Government’s BLM facility in Amarillo Texas; the embargo of Qatar by its neighbours, plus long outages at other large helium production facilities in the US and Algeria.

How can we solve the shortage of helium?

Last year, Priceonomics.com reported that the US National Helium Reserve would be depleted by 2020. However, Air Products, a world-leading industrial gas company, just filled its 100th helium ISO container at their Doe Canyon Helium plant.

What happens if helium runs out?

If our supply ran out, it could spell the end of MRI testing, LCD screens and birthday-party balloons. Or it could make all of those things much more expensive. Although argon — another inert gas — can be substituted for helium for welding purposes, no other element can do what helium can do in supercold applications.

Can helium be made by man?

Helium is all over the universe—it’s the second-most abundant element. But on Earth, it’s much less common. It can’t be artificially produced and must be extracted from natural gas wells. Over time, helium forms from the decaying uranium and is trapped beneath Earth’s surface, but it takes its sweet time.

What happens if we run out of helium?

But unlike hydrogen, it doesn’t readily combine with other elements. So, once helium reaches the surface, it can easily escape the Earth’s gravitational pull. Other resources, such as oil and gas, may turn into pollution or be difficult to recycle.

Is there a shortage on helium?

Helium shortage 3.0 is winding down. But 2021 is likely to bring more changes to the global market for this critical, nonrenewable gas. And even if there isn’t another crunch, scientists who use helium are tired of unstable supply of a material they need to keep their instruments running.

Is there a replacement for helium?

Argon can be used instead of Helium and is preferred for certain types of metal. Helium is used for lots of lighter than air applications and Hydrogen is a suitable replacement for many where the flammable nature of Hydrogen is not an issue.

Why does NASA use so much helium?

NASA uses helium as an inert purge gas for hydrogen systems and a pressurizing agent for ground and flight fluid systems. Helium is required to support the Space Launch System, Orion spacecraft, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), International Space Station, and various other programs.

Is helium really running out?

It’s bordered by water on its sides, which, owing to helium’s low solubility in water, keeps it from escaping. The Helium Reserve, however, is scheduled to be closed permanently on September 30, 2021.

Is there a substitute for helium?