Assessment of existing helium production technologies and prospects for their development in Russia

The article gives a brief characteristic of helium, analyzes the current state of helium on the world market of production and consumption. A comparative assessment of the world helium producers is given. A study of the state of cryogenic technology used in Russia and the current problems of its use is carried out, and the choice of an alternative innovative method of helium extraction in Russia is proposed. The use of a membrane unit for helium concentrate production at the Markovskoye OGCF instead of the cryogenic method was proposed. Depending on the purpose of using the obtained permeate, when choosing to inject it into a long-term helium storage facility, a variant with the use of linear two-stage membrane separation to obtain a target product containing 38-40% helium is proposed. To obtain marketable helium, the membrane two-stage unit is proposed to be supplemented with a fine purification section for tail gases (hydrogen, carbon dioxide, neon, etc.). A recommendation was given to send helium concentrate to the helium preparation and liquefaction unit of the Yarakta OGCF for its sale as marketable liquid helium. The considered technological solution will ensure rapid development of technological sovereignty and increase the country's import-independence in the conditions of growing sankion pressure from a number of countries, which corresponds to the new strategy of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation.