ENERGY TRANSITIONCanada critical mineralAlberta priority
Helium
Basement-sourced helium in nitrogen-rich gas over the Peace River and Sweetgrass arches.
Alberta has more than 190,000 public gas analyses, about 3,000 of which exceed 0.4 % helium. Production fell to 42 Mcf/d from two wells in 2025 after producer insolvencies, but the AER base case rises five-fold by 2034. First Helium's Worsley discovery (1.3 % He, 26 % N2) and the Sweetgrass Arch programs are the leading plays. Helium wells compete with CCS for the same Devonian pore space.
1 subsurface asset priced by the Atlas engine: economic value $903M. Move the Scenario Laboratory sliders on the map to reprice.
Arbuckle / Elkton Aquifer (Helium)8.6 Bcf in place · recoverable $903M · economic $903M (100% clears break-even)
GEOLOGY: WHAT MAKES A DEPOSIT MORE LIKELY
Radiogenic helium from U–Th decay in Precambrian basement migrates up faults into traps draped over basement highs, carried by nitrogen.
Host formations
Leduc on the Peace River Arch · Basal Cambrian Sandstone / Granite Wash · Wabamun / Winterburn · Milk River, Bow Island
Depth range
1K–3K m
Favourable conditions
Felsic basement with heat production 2–6 µW/m³ (e.g. Taltson zone) beneath thin cover
Basement highs (Peace River Arch, Sweetgrass Arch) with Cambrian–Devonian closures and evaporite / shale seals
Nitrogen-dominant, methane-poor gas — He-rich samples lie on the N2 axis
Economic cut-off ≈0.3 % He with by-product gas revenue lowering supply cost
Prospectivity envelopes on the map (2)
Peace River Arch / Worsley helium fairwayHighly favourable
Basement-sourced helium trapped in Devonian / Cambrian reservoirs on a basement high · 2K–3K m
Uplifted Precambrian basement (Peace River Arch) rich in U–Th radiogenic source
Thin Paleozoic cover with Cambrian Basal Sandstone and Granite Wash reservoirs
Nitrogen-rich, methane-poor gas composition; Prairie Evaporite / shale seals
Historic wells with He > 0.5 % logged
Source: First Helium Worsley discovery; Alberta helium inventory (AGS).
Sweetgrass Arch / Steveville–KnappenFavourable
Helium in Cambrian–Devonian traps over a basement high (Montana–Saskatchewan analogue) · 1K–2K m
Sweetgrass Arch basement uplift, shallow Precambrian (< 2,000 m)
Cambrian Deadwood / Devonian Souris River traps with evaporite seals
Nitrogen-dominant gas with 0.3–1.0 % helium in offset Saskatchewan wells
Source: Royal Helium Steveville, Avanti Helium Greater Knappen programs.
DATASETS THAT TEST THE TARGET
Stack these layers on the integrated map
Discriminating datasets first, then every catalogued public dataset tagged to this commodity. Verified endpoints draw directly; link-only entries open the publisher page.
Precambrian magnetic basement domains (AGS)Alberta Geological Survey · Aeromagnetics · drawable · verifiedCraton architecture for diamonds (thick cold lithosphere), radiogenic basement for helium, and shear zones for uranium and gold.Source ↗
Canadian gravity anomaly grids (GDR WMS, offline during sweep)Natural Resources Canada – Geoscience Data Repository · Gravity · link onlyDense basement blocks and mafic intrusions (Ni-Cu-PGE), evaporite thickness lows, and arch geometry for helium traps.Source ↗
3D Provincial Geological Framework: Precambrian subcrop zonesAlberta Geological Survey · Structure, depth & isopach · drawable · verifiedEntry point to the provincial 3D framework: which Paleozoic zone sits on basement controls helium traps, brine aquifers and storage seals.Source ↗
Subsurface temperature points (BHT-derived)Alberta Geological Survey · Geothermal · drawable · verifiedThermal gradient for geothermal doublets and for DLE kinetics in lithium brines; basement temperature grids exist as LERC tiles.Source ↗
Active producing wells (Alberta Energy Geoview)Alberta Energy and Minerals · Wells · link only · verifiedWhere hydrocarbons are flowing today: live reservoir pressure, produced-water (brine) access, helium-bearing gas streams and infrastructure for re-entry.Source ↗
Petroleum & natural gas agreementsAlberta Energy and Minerals · Mineral tenure · drawable · verifiedWho holds the hydrocarbon (and helium) rights; open Crown land shows where a posting is possible.Source ↗
Helium is produced under petroleum & natural gas agreements (exact statutory wording unverified); AER licenses helium wells.
Royalty
4.25 % (5 % less a 0.75 % adjustment, IL 2020-22) under the Natural Gas Royalty Regulation; five-year review due 2025 (outcome unverified).
Lead time
1–2 years from discovery to modular production
Permitting path
AER well licence (Directive 056)
Facility approval for purification
Gas analysis reporting
Infrastructure needs
PSA / membrane purification skids
ISO-container logistics
Access to gas sales for by-product credit
Active players
First HeliumGlobal HeliumAvanti HeliumThor ResourcesWeil GroupRoyal Helium (insolvent 2025)
Recommended next steps
Screen the 3,000 high-He analyses against basement heat production and structure
Prioritise N2-rich traps over the Peace River Arch
Resolve pore-space priority between helium and sequestration agreements
MINES, PILOTS & PROJECTS (3)
Who is already working this commodity in Alberta
Steveville helium plantHelium · Keranic Industrial Gas (ex-Royal Helium) · Design 22 MMcf/yr 99.999 % He from 15 MMcf/d raw gasIdled (2026)Alberta's first commercial helium plant; non-operational since fall 2024; CCAA Feb 2025, Keranic acquisition 2025; restart status unverified.Source ↗
First Helium — Worsley 15-25Helium · First Helium · 1.3 % He, 26 % N2; 2 MMcf/d test; 323 MMcf He contingentPermitting (2026)Discovery well awaiting facility financing; second exploration well licensed 2026.Source ↗
Avanti Helium — Greater Knappen (Alberta)Helium · Avanti Helium · Historic Cambrian show 2.18 % He / 96 % N2Exploration (2026)First production on the Montana (Sweetgrass) side in 2026.Source ↗