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Pinedale Online > News > September 2010 > Cimarex helium-methane project moves forward

Gas plant. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Gas plant
The gas plant will separate the methane and helium from the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

Groundbreaking. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Groundbreaking
The new helium liquefaction plant is being built and run jointly by Air Products and Matheson. The plant will be located south of Big Piney. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 30th. Construction will begin immediately. Pictured from left to right are: Jason Zakotnik–WLC Engineering, Mike Carberry–Air Products, Joel Bousmann–Sublette County Commissioner, John Van Sloun–Air Products, Ben Jenkins–Big Piney Town Council, Phil Kornbluth–Matheson, Del Edwards (hidden)–Rocky Mountain Power, John Linn–Sublette County Commissioner, Scott Stinson–Cimarex, Alexis Berg–Sublette County Economic Resource Council, Bob Lein–Matheson, Wally Nelson–Air Products, Sue Hoefer-Marbleton Town Council, Rick Hessinger–CryoTechnologies, Brad Beckley–Air Products, Bart Myers–Sublette County Planning & Zoning
Cimarex helium-methane project moves forward
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
September 30, 2010

Cimarex Energy Co. hosted a media tour of their new helium-methane project on Thursday, September 30th.

The Rands Butte Methane and Helium Recovery Facility project area is located on the southern end of the Wyoming Range in Sublette County, west of Big Piney. The plant site covers 34 acres with additional temporary disturbance to install the powerlines and pipelines.

The project involves drilling four gas supply wells and one injection well and involves state, federal (BLM) and private land.

Cimarex is partnering with two other companies, Air Products and Matheson, to handle the helium product produced from this operation. Part of Thursday’s tour included a ground-breaking ceremony for their new helium liquefaction plant which will be located south of Big Piney. There are only 15 liquid helium plants in the world, with this new plant becoming #16. With this new plant, ten of the helium plants are located in the U.S.

Both the Cimarex project facilities and helium processing plant are expected to be operational and online by October of 2011. Combined, both projects will bring from 34 to 44 new jobs to the county. The life of the project is expected to be 40 years.

For mitigation, Cimarex has contributed $1.5 million for an elk data gathering wildlife project and will construct an air quality monitoring station near the site.

For more information about Cimarex:
Corporate Headquarters
1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 1800
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-295-3995



Related Links
  • Update on Cimarex Helium-Methane project - Pinedale Online, 8/27/09
  • Cimarex Energy proposes helium/methane project near Big Piney - Pinedale Online, 10/9/08
  • Rand’s Butte Project Scoping Notice - (14 page PDF)
  • www.cimarex.com - Cimarex Energy
  • www.mathesongas.com - Matheson
  • www.airproducts.com - Air Products

  • Drill rig. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Drill rig
    The wells are drilled to 17,000-18,500 feet in depth (appx. 3+ miles deep) to reach the methane gas producing formation.

    Scott and Dan. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Scott and Dan
    Project Manager Scott Stinson talks with rancher Dan Budd during the tour. The Cimarex project crosses the Budd ranch and the property of two other private landowners. Cimarex is compensating landowners for the impacts from the project disturbance on their land.

    Air Quality site. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Air Quality site
    An air quality monitoring station will be installed near the wellpad. It will be part of a larger network of stations monitoring the qualify of air coming into Sublette County from the west over the Wyoming Range mountains.

    Air quality. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Air quality
    The air qualify monitoring station will be located just west of the well pad. The drill rig will be removed once the wells are drilled.

    Wind sock. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Wind sock
    Wind is monitored at this well site as part of the Hydrogen Sulfide safety program.

    Crane. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Crane
    The gas plant is still under construction. The 17-mile methane and helium pipeline is visible in the distance between the crane and line.

    Gas plant. Photo by Cimarex.
    Gas plant
    Construction of the gas plant is expected to be finished by fall 2011. Photo courtesy of Cimarex.

    Power substation. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Power substation
    The facility includes a high voltage 230-kV electrical transmission line and substation for power. The electric bill will run in the neighborhood of a million dollars a month for the site.

    Helium Plant site. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Helium Plant site
    The new helium liquefaction plant will be located south of Big Piney near US 189. Trucks leaving the plant will deliver liquid helium to customers and distribution points across the nation.

    Groundbreaking Ceremony. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Groundbreaking Ceremony
    Company representatives spoke during the helium plant groundbreaking ceremony.

    Groundbreaking. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
    Groundbreaking
    Pictured from left to right are: Phil Kornbluth–Matheson, John Van Sloun–Air Products, Scott Stinson–Cimarex, Wally Nelson–Air Products, Bob Lein–Matheson

    Cimarex Energy. Photo by Cimarex Energy.
    Cimarex Energy
    www.Cimarex.com Cimarex Energy NYSE: XEC

    Pinedale Online > News > September 2010 > Cimarex helium-methane project moves forward

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