China extracts 'golden gas' from underground for the first time
In the Earth's atmosphere, there is a gas known as the "golden gas". It acCounts for only a few millionth of the atmosphere. This ishelium.
Recently, Sinopec Xinxing Company's Xianyang Medium-Deep Geothermal Energy Power Generation Demonstration Project obtained access permission from the Xianyang power grid and was officially connected to the grid for power generation. According to reports, the project integrates low-temperature power generation, water-soluble helium extraction, and heating. It is Sinopec's first geothermal power generation demonstration project and my China's first "thermoelectric helium" integrated pilot test project, which has positive significance for expanding the geothermal energy industry chain and optimizing the energy structure.
The "Thermoelectric Helium" project is located in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, which belongs to the Guanzhong region. The project selected a geothermal well located in the Baoshijiayuan community, with a depth of 3,000 meters and a water temperature of about 102°C at the wellhead. During the heating season, geothermal water is taken up to generate low-load electricity, and helium is extracted from the geothermal water simultaneously. The geothermal water after power generation is then used for heating through heat exchange. During the non-heating season, the project generates electricity at full load throughout the entire period and extracts helium simultaneously. After use, the geothermal water is injected back into the original thermal reservoir through the reinjection well for reheating. The project has a heating capacity of 170,000 square meters and an annual power generation of approximately 700,000 kWh.
Helium is an important strategic resource, known as the "golden gas", and is widely used in aerospace, scientific research, medical, industrial and other fields. As a major manufacturing country, China has a large demand for helium, but has long relied heavily on imports. At present, helium extraction mainly comes from helium-containing natural gas, coalbed methane, and by-products of air separation devices.
The Weihe River Basin where the project is located has water-soluble helium, free helium and associated gas resources. After analysis, the expert team found that the helium content in most geothermal wells in the area is rarely seen at home and abroad.
In recent years, Sinopec has continued to carry out water-soluble helium separation and purification experiments and key technology research in Xianyang City, and has successfully applied them to this project. Through membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption coupling process, helium with a purity of more than 99% has been obtained, accumulating valuable technical experience for the further industrialization of geothermal water-soluble helium.