Where is helium found in Alberta?

Mainly over basement highs: the Peace River Arch (Worsley, in Leduc and Cambrian reservoirs) and the Sweetgrass Arch in the south-east (Steveville, Knappen). Helium forms from uranium and thorium decay in Precambrian basement and is carried up faults by nitrogen.

Which companies produce helium in Alberta?

First Helium (Worsley), Global Helium, Avanti Helium, Thor Resources and Weil Group are active; the Steveville plant built by Royal Helium is idle after the company's 2025 insolvency. Alberta produced about 42 Mcf/d of helium from two wells in 2025.

INTERACTIVE MAP · PUBLIC DATA

Helium in Alberta: map of gas analyses and projects

Helium concentrations from public natural gas analyses drawn over the Precambrian magnetic basement domains that source radiogenic helium, with the Peace River Arch and Sweetgrass Arch fairways and the Steveville, Worsley and Greater Knappen projects.

About 3,000 of Alberta's 190,000 public gas analyses exceed 0.4% helium. First Helium's Worsley discovery tested 1.3% helium in a nitrogen-rich Leduc gas.

Open the interactive map ↗All Alberta maps

QUESTIONS THIS MAP ANSWERS

Frequently asked

Where is helium found in Alberta?: Mainly over basement highs: the Peace River Arch (Worsley, in Leduc and Cambrian reservoirs) and the Sweetgrass Arch in the south-east (Steveville, Knappen). Helium forms from uranium and thorium decay in Precambrian basement and is carried up faults by nitrogen. More
Which companies produce helium in Alberta?: First Helium (Worsley), Global Helium, Avanti Helium, Thor Resources and Weil Group are active; the Steveville plant built by Royal Helium is idle after the company's 2025 insolvency. Alberta produced about 42 Mcf/d of helium from two wells in 2025. More

DATA BEHIND THIS MAP (4)

Official sources

Helium concentrations in natural gas analysesAlberta Geological Survey · Geochemistry · drawableDirect helium show map: filter above 0.3 % to find economic-interest wells.
Precambrian magnetic basement domains (AGS)Alberta Geological Survey · Aeromagnetics · drawableCraton architecture for diamonds (thick cold lithosphere), radiogenic basement for helium, and shear zones for uranium and gold.
3D Provincial Geological Framework: Precambrian subcrop zonesAlberta Geological Survey · Structure, depth & isopach · drawableEntry point to the provincial 3D framework: which Paleozoic zone sits on basement controls helium traps, brine aquifers and storage seals.
Petroleum & natural gas agreementsAlberta Energy and Minerals · Mineral tenure · drawableWho holds the hydrocarbon (and helium) rights; open Crown land shows where a posting is possible.

COMMODITY PROFILES

Reserves, value and feasibility

Helium Natural gas & condensate (Montney, Duvernay, Deep Basin)CO2 pore space (carbon storage)

Operations on this map

Steveville helium plantHelium · Keranic Industrial Gas (ex-Royal Helium)Idled
First Helium — Worsley 15-25Helium · First HeliumPermitting
Avanti Helium — Greater Knappen (Alberta)Helium · Avanti HeliumExploration
Quest CCS (Scotford)CCS hub · Shell (operator) / Canadian NaturalOperating
Alberta Carbon Trunk Line / CliveCCS hub · Wolf Midstream / Enhance EnergyOperating
Shell Polaris capture + Atlas storage hubCCS hub · Shell / ATCO EnPowerConstruction
Open Access Wabamun Carbon HubCCS hub · Enbridge / First Nations Capital Investment PartnershipPermitting
Pathways / Oil Sands Alliance CCS hub (Cold Lake)CCS hub · Oil Sands Alliance (CNRL, Cenovus, ConocoPhillips, Imperial, Suncor)Permitting

Frequently asked

Official sources

Reserves, value and feasibility

Operations on this map

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