RE: Five Nines from HEX plant25 Feb 2026 13:51
I have no idea why MC's fake AI generated information gets so many recommendations, is it some kind of team tagging?
In the US market 'crude helium' could be anywhere from 50-99% purity (e.g. biproduct from natural gas) and high grade helium above that. Purity is denoted by the number of 9s, for example Grade 6.0 helium would have six 9s = 99.9999% (semiconductor manufacture, scientific research, lasers, MRI machines). For comparison...
Grade 5.5 (99.9995%) - chromatography, spectrometry, lab research
Grade 5 - as above, also weather balloons, but widely used for lower grade applications, including balloons (it's just the industry standard grade)
Grade 4.8 to 4.7 (99.998%) - high grade industrial, military, cryogenics, welding, diving, etc
Grade 4.5 - common industrial uses, sometimes healthcare
Grade 4 (99.99% and below) = “balloon grade" (which BNL call the "lift market"), also leak detection, air bags.
BNL's Pinon plant is intended to produce 94-98% pure helium initially. In the future they might stretch to purifying their gas further onsite. The liquefiers for higher grades buy lots of balloon grade gas, preferably above 98%.