Lithologic Reservoirs ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 1-11.doi: 10.12108/yxyqc.20250501

• NEW ENERGY AND ASSOCIATED RESOURCES • Previous Articles    

Research progress and key techniques of exploration and development of helium resource in Weihe Basin

CAI Xinlei, LI Qianyi, LI Zheng, ZHANG Yang, ZHANG Guoqiang, FAN Mingpu, LI Mengyao   

  1. Shaanxi Gas Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an 710016, China
  • Received:2024-11-22 Revised:2025-01-20 Published:2025-09-06

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Abstract: Helium resource in Weihe Basin is abundant and holds great potential for exploration and development. Based on the research process related to helium resource in Weihe Basin，the exploration history，helium source rock，helium carrier and groundwater system，theoretical models of helium accumulation，resource quantity forecast，and prospect priority were summarized，and the existing issues and countermeasures for key techniques in helium exploration and development were discussed. Research findings show that：（1）Helium resource in Weihe Basin was discovered in 1970s，including methods of gravity，magnetics，geochemistry，seismics，and drilling，as well as the latest deployed five helium exclusive exploration wells. However，the exploration level remains low.（2）Helium source rocks widely distributed in the basement and south margin of Weihe Basin show significant potential for helium generation. The effectiveness is closely related to key factors，such as the content of radioactive elements of Th and U，formation age and characteristics of geological structure. The Late Paleozoic coal-bearing strata may remain in the deep basin，providing a carrier gas source for the upward migration of deep helium. Helium-rich natural gas is closely associated with groundwater，and the carrier gas and formation pore-pore water are important carriers for helium migration and enrichment. Based on the genetic method，the effective helium resources in Weihe Basin are estimated to be 33.8×108 m3. Considering the overlapping characteristics of geothermal energy，biogenic gas and helium resource in Weihe Basin，Huazhou-Tongguan area is identified as an important target area for comprehensive exploration and development of multiple resources.（3）The helium exploration well drilled into Archean metamorphic rock basement and IndosinianYanshannian granite. Formation conditions of helium-rich natural gas in Huazhou exploration area are controlled by various factors，such as helium source rock，deep faults，and effective sealing conditions.（4）The exploration and development of helium resource in Weihe Basin still faces several problems and challenges，such as inability to accurately assess helium reserve，significant difficulties in exploration，need for improvement in key engineering technologies，and the requirement for further study of economic sustainability. In response，the related countermeasures have been proposed，including strengthening seismic data processing and technology research of helium downhole engineering，optimizing the matching technique of safe drilling，and trying to carry out the related work about extraction and concentration of helium at wellhead.

Key words: helium, helium source rock, coal-bearing strata, deep fault, sealing conditions, helium extraction technology, Huazhou-Tongguan area, Weihe Basin

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