'Game Changer': Giant Helium Field Found in Tanzania

Newser ^ | Jun 28, 2016 | Jenn Gidman

[sparklite2]

What scientists are calling a "game changer" for society has been discovered deep in Tanzania's Rift Valley: a massive helium gas field with enough of the precious commodity to fill more than 1.2 million MRI scanners, Phys.org reports.

Besides the sheer amount of gas, the discovery is notable because it appears to be the first time that stores of helium have been purposely found (they're usually stumbled upon during oil and gas drilling). And the find, which will be presented Tuesday by Durham University PhD student Diveena Danabalan at a Japanese geochemistry conference, could help restock nearly depleted stockpiles. Researchers figure there's about 54 billion cubic feet of helium in just one section of the valley. To put that in context, the Federal Helium Reserve in Texas, which supplies more than 40% of domestic helium needs and contains about 30% of the world's total helium supply, right now holds about 24.2 billion cubic feet, per Live Science.

[ClearCase_guy]

They better tie the place down or we’ll lose it all.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Isn’t helium a greenhouse gas? ;-P

[BenLurkin]

Good news for Tanzania. Red China investing there?

[Red Badger]

[umgud]

I hear the drillers sound real funny.

[Celtic Conservative]

Scientist 1(to scientist 2 in high piched voice): I think we found it, mate!”

CC

[euram]

How many balloons can if fill?

[VanDeKoik]

Tanzania will make sure it gets squandered.

[BBB333]

Congressman Hank Johnson will be very pleased!

[wally_bert]

A pen and phone can declare it so. It’s better in the ground instead of being used for evil MRI machines that can help keep tax slaves healthy past their supposed shelf life.

[headstamp 2]

“One clue as to the extent of the helium reserve was when researchers found the people living in the area all had high pitched voices.”

[newfreep]

Helium is only good for talking funny...like Munchkins.

[headstamp 2]

“Tanzania will make sure it gets squandered.”

Sadly yes.

[Osage Orange]

http://www.eccchistory.org/DexterHelium.htm

[Osage Orange]

Actually you are wrong....but..hey...we’ve all been wrong.

[wally_bert]

My Lutheran Church sends people and stuff there, maybe they can get some helium in return?

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

E. Pluribus Unum :" Isn’t helium a greenhouse gas? ;-P"

Don't let one of those 'radicalized' members of the religion of Peace go near it with a cigarette.
You know how much they like to see things go " BOOM "!

[shotgun]

I’m sure the Clintons and their cronies will have some way to make money off of this.

[lacrew]

54 billion cubic feet...that fills 1.2 million mri scanners?

How much helium does one scanner take?