Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Doha – UK-based Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc has reported a potential helium gas discovery at its Guercif exploration area in northwestern Morocco.
The company announced that helium gas was detected in the MOU-5 well, generating significant interest due to the strategic importance of helium in various industrial and scientific applications.
In a statement released on the London Stock Exchange on Monday, Predator Oil & Gas revealed that an independent report by ScorpionGeoscience Limited estimates potential in-place helium resources ranging from 104.31 to 598.88 billion cubic feet (BCF) for the MOU-5 prospect.
These estimates are based on global average helium concentrations of 1.298% and 4.066%, respectively, in the P50 and P10 upside cases.
The report draws on analogues from diverse geological settings worldwide to investigate the distribution and scale of naturally occurring helium resources.
Examples cited include the supergiant Hassi R’Mel gas field in Algeria, known to contain helium as a byproduct of methane production, and the Hugoton field complex in the United States.
According to the company, the geological setting of Guercif suggests that helium could potentially be sourced from crystalline basement rocks, granitic intrusions, or radiogenic volcaniclastic sediments.
The MOU-5 structure has several potential migration pathways, reservoirs sealed by impermeable rocks, and adequate trapping in the form of a large structural closure.
Predator Oil & Gas CEO Paul Griffiths commented, “Given the potential size of the MOU-5 structure and its geological setting, this independent report on He potential enhances the case for the evaluation of potential helium presence in MOU-5.”
“Although at an early stage of evaluation, the opportunity to assess the ability to add value to an area development should not be missed,” he added.
Helium, considered one of the most valuable gases, is used in many fields, including high-tech industries and scientific research. Its physical properties—inertness, low density, conductivity, and non-toxicity—make it a valuable resource in these sectors.
Globally, natural gas-producing countries dominate the helium market, with Qatar leading, followed by the United States and Algeria.
The potential discovery could significantly boost Morocco’s energy and natural resource sector, opening up new avenues for investment and development in the region.
However, Predator Oil & Gas has yet to provide a detailed assessment of the helium potential, which will be necessary to decide whether to exploit the field.
According to the Spanish news outlet Atalayar, if the company proceeds with helium production, it would be a notable development, as helium is a non-renewable resource at risk of depletion in the coming decades without efficient alternatives.
Several nations, such as Canada and Australia, have classified helium as a “critical resource” due to its importance and scarcity.
Previously, exploration work by Predator Oil & Gas revealed four oil spaces in the Guercif area that could contain an estimated 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas.
The drilling of the MOU-5 well aims to assess the feasibility of establishing a helium project alongside a gas-fired power generation project adjacent to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline.
Read also: SDX Energy Announces New Exploration Operations in Morocco
