Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pulsar do?
Pulsar is a dedicated explorer and developer of helium projects, focussing on assets where the primary economic driver is helium, meaning it is not a by-product and not associated with significant hydrocarbons. It is worth noting that helium occurs naturally in the ground and can be brought to surface using conventional drilling techniques. Helium is an element that is non-toxic, not radioactive, and cannot be synthetically manufactured.
Where is Pulsar registered?
Pulsar Helium Inc is registered in British Columbia, Canada.
When was Pulsar formed?
Pulsar Helium Inc was incorporated on June 30, 2022.
What is helium?
Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and inert gas that is the first noble gas on the periodic table. Helium is the second-lightest element after hydrogen and is the second-most abundant element in the observable universe. Helium comprises about 24% of the total elemental abundance, which is more than 12 times the mass of all heavier elements combined. On Earth, however, Helium is extremely rare, readily escaping the atmosphere into space and can only be obtained on Earth via extraction from the subsurface.
What is helium used for?
Helium has a number of important uses due to its unique properties, including: - Cryogenics: Helium is used as a coolant in cryogenics because of its low boiling point and high thermal conductivity. It is used to cool superconducting magnets in medical imaging equipment such as MRI machines, and to cool the detectors in particle physics experiments. - Welding: Helium is used as a shielding gas in welding to protect against oxidation and to improve the quality of the weld. - Balloon and airship lifting gas: Helium is lighter than air, making it an ideal lifting gas for balloons and airships. - Breathing gas: Helium is used as a component in breathing gases for deep-sea divers to prevent nitrogen narcosis, a life-threatening condition that can occur when diving at great depths. - Leak detection: Helium's high thermal conductivity and low molecular weight make it an ideal gas for detecting leaks, particularly in high-pressure systems such as pipelines. - Spacecraft propulsion: Helium is used as a pressurant to direct liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel into the rocket engines. - Semiconductor manufacturing: Helium is used as a coolant and in the production of semiconductors that does not react with the other materials used in semiconductor manufacturing. - Research: Helium is used in a variety of scientific and research applications, including spectroscopy, nuclear physics, and materials science.
How is helium separated from the raw gas?
There are three typical techniques to separate helium from raw gas: - Membrane separation: High-pressure membranes can enhance or refine the helium composition of a gas by employing microscopic pores within the medium to selectively diffuse smaller gas molecules, thereby either concentrating or purifying helium. - Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA): Selective adsorption of gas molecules of varying sizes into a medium with uniform pore spaces is achieved through PSA. This well-established and dependable technology utilizes pressure manipulation and boasts a large surface area in the medium. PSA can be implemented on a small scale, yet its efficiency falls short compared to cryogenic separation in terms of both energy consumption and product losses throughout the process. - Cryogenic separation: This technology is extensively utilized in the global industrial gas industry, it employs low temperatures to induce the condensation of various gases within a fractionation tower, transforming them into liquid form. Helium, with its remarkably low condensation point, is particularly well-suited for this process.
Is helium toxic or dangerous?
No, helium is a non-toxic, odourless, tasteless, and non-flammable gas that is considered safe for human exposure.
Is helium associated with hydrocarbons?
Helium is a noble gas, produced by the decay of naturally-occuring radiogenic material present in granitic rocks within the Earth’s crust. Hydrocarbons on the other hand are expelled from organic material which has been subjected to heat and pressure over a period of time. Similar to conventional oil and gas, accumulations of helium may be found in geological traps within porous and permeable reservoirs. Hydrocarbons and helium may migrate into the same reservoir, however, this is not ubiquitous.
Where is Minnesota?
Minnesota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian province of Manitoba to the north, the states of North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, the state of Iowa to the south, and Lake Superior and the state of Wisconsin to the east. Minnesota is known for its rolling hills, vast forests, and thousands of lakes. Minnesota is rich in cultural heritage, which is deeply tied to the state's history as a center for the fur trade, lumber industry, and iron mining central to the industrial development of the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. The state capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul, and the largest city is Minneapolis.
Where is Greenland?
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark located in the northern Atlantic Ocean and is a part of the North American tectonic plate. It is the largest island in the world, covering an area of over 2.1 million square kilometers. Greenland is located between the Arctic Ocean to the north and the North Atlantic Ocean to the south and is bordered by Canada to the west and the island of Iceland to the southeast. The capital and largest city of Greenland, with a population of about 19,000, is Nuuk. Greenland is known for its stunning natural beauty, including glaciers, fjords, and rugged coastal landscapes. The island is also home to a rich cultural heritage, with a strong Inuit community that has lived in the region for thousands of years.