Gross revenue9 Mar 2026 22:27
Helix Exploration’s current production at the Rudyard project (as of early March 2026) is in the early ramp-up phase following the successful start of helium gas production in late February 2026. They have three wells tied in initially, with input gas production starting around 1,500 Mcf/day (thousand cubic feet per day) of raw gas stream, containing approximately 1.2% helium (based on flow tests from the wells at 1.06–1.21% He).
This means the gross helium production rate is roughly:
• ~18 Mcf/day of contained helium (1,500 Mcf/day × 1.2% = 18 Mcf/day).
The company processes this via their PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plant to achieve high purity (99.999%, or five-nines), suitable for premium markets. They recently leased their first high-pressure tube trailer (capacity ~156,300 SCF, or about 156 Mcf per load) to enable commercial transport and sales, marking the transition to actual revenue generation. Production is expected to scale as more wells connect (targeting up to ~3,800 Mcf/day input from four wells, or potentially higher toward 6,000 Mcf/day in models), which would increase helium output accordingly.
Regarding revenue at the current spot price: Helium spot prices in March 2026 vary significantly by region, purity, volume, and contract vs. spot nature. For North America (relevant to a US producer like Helix):
• Recent indices show North American bulk helium around $59–$64 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet) in February 2026 data, with some softening but still elevated due to global supply disruptions (e.g., Qatar force majeure issues impacting LNG/helium co-production).
• Spot or import prices can be higher in tight markets—often cited in the $280–$450+ per Mcf range for industrial/Grade A helium, with end-user spot deals sometimes exceeding $1,000/Mcf in extreme shortages—but these are not uniform.
Using a conservative North American bulk figure of ~$60 per Mcf for contained/purified helium (aligning with recent regional indices):
• At ~18 Mcf/day helium: **~$1,080 per day** gross revenue potential.
• Weekly (7 days): ~$7,560 per week.
If using a higher spot range like $300–$450/Mcf (more reflective of premium or constrained market sales for high-purity helium):
• At $300/Mcf: ~$5,400/day → **~$37,800/week**.
• At $450/Mcf: ~$8,100/day → **~$56,700/week**.
These are gross estimates before costs (processing, transport, royalties, etc.), taxes, and any discounts for initial/off-take deals. Helix is just starting commercial sales (no exact revenue figures disclosed yet in March 2026 updates), so actual realized prices could differ based on contracts they secure amid the ongoing global helium tightness.