The longer they are there.......1 Jun 2026 11:17
AI but shows how expensive EWT's can be and why if not successful flowing companies tend to pack it in relatively quickly. Certainly after perforation and acidization if wasn't flowing at good rates to test would pack it in.
An extended well flow test for helium in the US costs between $3,000 and $30,000 per day, depending primarily on the depth of the well, whether downhole pressure gauges are required, and the remoteness of the site.
Because helium is almost entirely co-produced with natural gas or nitrogen, the testing equipment and day rates align with standard onshore oil and gas well testing.
Cost Breakdown
Daily Rig/Equipment Rate: $3,000 to $10,000 per day for basic onshore flow, separator equipment, and flare stacks.
Specialized Downhole Gauges: Up to $10,000+ extra per day if running high-sensitivity downhole pressure and temperature gauges to model reservoir boundaries.
Lab & Analysis: $500 to $2,000 per day to frequently test the gas composition and determine precise helium volume percentages.
Do the Maths of how many days been going and be confident ;-)