Dallas-based IACX Energy has had a unique history and approach in the helium industry since its first helium recovery unit (HRU) was placed online near Otis, Kansas in 2009.
Originally formed in 2006 with a focus on nitrogen rejection from natural gas, the company evolved as the rapid development of shale gas resources depressed hydrocarbon prices. Amid “Helium Shortage 1.0” in the early 2010s, IACX had the opportunity to begin serving regional gas distributors with the market-ready helium produced at its Otis facility. Given natural gas prices at the time, the incremental value captured by bypassing several steps in the conventional helium supply chain was material for IACX and its upstream natural gas producers as the company was concurrently able to serve helium customers that were on severe allocations.
With this stroke of fortune began the solidifying of IACX’s model: maximizing the value of a resource; sharing said value with upstream partners; and providing distributors and consumers of helium with new sources. IACX has not looked back, continuing to develop non-traditional sources of helium, while transforming into a significant and leading player in the North American helium market.
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