Helium

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

New Mexico



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Helium

Photo of Helium Tank

Helium is cool. It has amazing uses, and it’s not just about that “Donald Duck” voice thing you can do with helium balloons—although that may be the neatest part of it for some. Most people don't realize that inhaling helium can prove fatal. So, what’s cool about helium and what does BLM New Mexico have to do with it?

What is it?

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe and was discovered on the sun before it was found on the earth. It has been detected in great abundance in hotter stars and it is an important component in both the proton-proton reaction and the carbon cycle, which accounts for the energy of the sun and stars.

Where does it come from?

Helium is commercially recovered from natural gas deposits mostly from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. That’s where BLM New Mexico comes in. We operate and maintain the only government helium storage reservoir and pipeline system in the country. The Amarillo Field Office is responsible for the conservation and sale of helium for government use.

What is it used for?

Helium is used as an inert shield for arc welding to pressurize the fuel tanks of liquid fueled rockets and in supersonic wind tunnels. Helium is combined with oxygen to create a nitrogen free atmosphere for deep sea divers so that they will not suffer from a condition known as nitrogen narcosis. Liquid helium is an important cryogenic material and is used to study superconductivity and to create superconductive magnets.

Liquid helium's use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to increase as the medical profession accepts and develops new uses for the equipment.

The most readily recognized use for helium gas is to inflate blimps, scientific balloons and party balloons.

Helium is truly amazing and we are proud to provide this valuable resource to the nation. For more information about the Federal Helium program, click here.

Energy Links

More Information on the BLM's Helium Program
Helium Articles from CryoGas International
Up, Up, and Away ... Where Has All the Helium Gone?
The US Government's Role in Providing Helium to Worldwide Markets
Helium Facts
Federal Helium Program
NAS Helium Study (The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve)
Helium Operator Information
Federal Helium Facilities
Helium Statistics and Information (USGS)
Helium Resources of the U.S.
2001 | 2003 | 2007
Analyses of Natural Gases
1998-2001 | 2002-2004 | 2005-2007
Historical Architectural Engineering Report (HAER) Drawings for the Amarillo and Exell Helium Plants
Amarillo Field Office

Helium Trivia
1. Helium was the cause of the Hindenburg explosion. (True or False)
2. In 1915, helium cost $2500 per cubic foot. How much did it cost in 1940 (per cubic foot)?
1.5 cents
$100
$3000
$20
3. Inhaled helium causes your vocal cords to constrict, giving you a voice much higher in pitch. (True or False)
4. In order of abundance in the universe, where is helium ranked among elements?
1st
2nd
4th
30th
5. What does helium mean?
male
floating
sun
weird

Answers to Helium Trivia