While this gasworld supplement is primarily dedicated to the subject of helium, I am describing opportunities in the carbon dioxide (CO2) industry, with insight into the Air Products helium recovery operation from a natural CO2 stream located in Colorado.
Generally speaking, methane rich streams are the usual source for the recovery of helium, not carbon dioxide, at least with respect to sources which are commercially operating. In general terms, on a global scale, the location, recovery and production of helium supplies are a challenge, and the presence of helium is very small.
This precludes (natural) gas processing facilities which often employ MEA (monoethanolamine) or other amine solvents for the recovery or separation of CO2 from methane; in this specific case, this is a CO2 source type which has applications for both captive (like EOR) and merchant market destinations. The specific natural gas processing source for CO2 in the markets would require the correct feedgas chemistry and market economics to make sense.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
