Helium One Global, the primary helium explorer in Tanzania with a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Colorado, USA, has provided an update following an independent competent person's report ('CPR') on the contingent and prospective resources at southern Rukwa Helium Project, Tanzania. The evaluation of helium resources and the subsequent completion of the CPR has been carried out and issued by leading international reserves auditors Sproule ERCE.
The evaluation of these helium resources in the southern Rukwa Helium Project are solely within the recently accepted 480km2 Mining Licence ('ML') area (see fig.1). These resources are also broadly in line with those of the internal Company estimates which went into the Feasibility Study ('FS') and which formed the basis of the ML application for the southern Rukwa Helium Project in September 2024.
Highlights
- Deterministic sum of 2C Gross Helium Contingent Resources1 for the Itumbula development have been evaluated by Sproule ERCE as 295,797 thousand standard cubic feet ("Mscf") and a 3C case of 1,345,591 Mscf Gross Helium Contingent Resources1
- Additional Prospective Resources2 within the remainder of the Mining Licence ("ML") area, excluding resources assigned to the Itumbula discovery, have been evaluated by Sproule ERCE as 709,239 Mscf (2U) and 3,227,556 Mscf (3U) (Unrisked)
- Contingent Resources1 have been assessed by developing type curves and a well schedule for an Early Production System ("EPS"), followed by a further development with a Central Processing Facility ("CPF")
- Sproule ERCE have assigned Contingent Resources1, sub-classified as 'Development on Hold' to the EPS for the first period of the ML. Further production beyond this point is assigned to the sub-class 'Development Unclarified', as a standard license extension will be required at the end of the initial 10-year term
- Based on a phased development; initially with a 5-well and an EPS, which will serve to further appraise the area with a 15-well programme followed by a further phased 46 wells for the full field development
James Smith, Non-Executive Chairman of Helium One, commented:
'The completion of this Independent CPR further endorses what we have always believed, and that our project at Southern Rukwa has the potential to be a unique and strategic helium development in Africa.
'e now look forward to finalising the execution of the Mining Licence and working with the Government of Tanzania, as well as the communities where we operate, to successfully deliver this project.'
Lorna Blaisse, CEO of Helium One, commented:
'We are delighted that the results of the CPR endorse the work that the team have carried out following successful drilling at ITW-1 and the subsequent extended well test last year, whilst also providing further confidence that we have a unique, unconventional helium play through a resource with capacity to make a material difference in a supply constrained market.
This is the first helium contingent resources CPR in Tanzania covering a definitive licence area, and which can now be developed pursuant to the mining legislation under the Ministry of Minerals. This allows us to assign a greater proportion of Contingent Resources to the project, and therefore a greater degree of certainty on the quality of the resource.
The results of this CPR, combined with the vast amount of work required in order to complete and present the Company's Feasibility Study, demonstrate alignment in our modelling and evaluation of the play, and we are on track to advance the project towards development with confidence.'
CPR Details
Sproule ERCE have determined that, unlike conventional gas discoveries, the helium in the southern Rukwa Project is accumulated, transported and stored in water aquifers and as such, no specific trap is defined. It is possible that gas-water ratio and helium concentrations will change with water production over time. However, it is hard to estimate if and how this will occur at present.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers ('SPE') has recently acknowledged the application of the PRMS principles for the assessment of helium resources (https://www.spe.org/en/industry/reserves/non-hydrocarbons/). Accordingly, Sproule ERCE has applied these principles to the estimation of total gas and helium Contingent and Prospective Resources.
Contingent Resources
Sproule ERCE has assessed Contingent Resources1 by developing type curves and a well schedule for the EPS and the later development, the CPF. Sproule ERCE has assigned Contingent Resources1, sub-class Development on Hold to the EPS for the first period of the mining licence (ten years). Further production beyond this period is assigned to the sub-class Development Unclarified (see PRMS figure above), as a licence extension will be required to continue, on the same terms.
Sproule ERCE has assigned Contingent Resources1, sub-class Development on Hold to the EPS for production within the ten-year mining licence period. Sproule ERCE has attributed Contingent Resources1, sub class Development Unclarified, to the CPF for the first mining licence period, as well as to production from the EPS and CPF after the initial ten-year period of the licence, upon grant of the relevant licence extensions.
Fig.1 Map illustrating the red ML outline (ML 0795/2025) of 480km2 in the southern Rukwa Helium Project, with wells drilled and associated helium measurements.
Sproule ERCE has generated type curves for a typical well by first determining water production forecasts. The average liquid rates from these are then probabilistically multiplied by the GWR and He% ranges to determine P90-P50-P10 ranges for a type well. Sproule ERCE then uses this type well to generate a multi-well development production profile. The resultant profile is then constrained to the facility's capacity.
Prospective Resources
In addition to the Contingent Resources1, Sproule ERCE have also calculated Prospective Resources2 of helium within the awarded ML area not covered by and included in the Itumbula discovery. These estimated volumes are potentially recoverable from a future development.
Sproule ERCE has assigned Prospective Resources2 to the mapped basement fault areas that are not currently targeted by the EPS or the CPF development. Prospective Resources2 are estimated in a similar method to Contingent Resources1, using Sproule ERCE's type well by determining water production forecasts and assigning further drilling in the prospective areas. Well spacing has been derived using Helium One's reservoir simulator as an average spacing, avoiding well interference in the model.
Sproule ERCE has evaluated the geological chance of success ("COS") of the Prospective Resources2 and assigns a COS of 50%. The relevant risking parameters for Helium resources are source (generation and migration) and reservoir (presence and efficacy), with reservoir efficacy being the greatest risk.
Proposed Development Plan
Sproule ERCE has reviewed the proposed development plans for Itumbula West. Helium One has provided development plans for a full-scale development of the concession, and for an EPS. In this development plan, wells are located proximal to the Basement faults as mapped, as Helium One prognose an increase in reservoir quality within the Basement rock close to these faults, within the fault damage zone.
The EPS is conceptually similar to the full development, but with lower initial capital investment. Production wells will be tied back to a central early production facility, where produced fluids will be processed into sales helium for export, and wastewater for disposal, with waste gases vented on site. The EPS is assumed to operate for six months before the full development project is commenced.
Feasibility Study
This CPR supports the Company's understanding of the project and utilises the same dataset from the helium discovery at ITW-1 well last year, integrating the extended well test ("EWT") data which was used to produce a detailed dynamic volumetric model. Outputs from this model were used to define the Company's internal resource estimates and formed the primary input to the detailed FS as per the ML application in September 2024.
The Company will be in a position to release details of the FS upon formal award of the ML and execution of all associated agreements.
Source: Helium One Global
