Electricity + Control June 2016

PRESSURE + LEVEL MEASUREMENT

ROUND UP

Commercialisation of South Africa’s first onshore Helium and Natural Gas field On 4 May 2016,The Linde Group , gases and engineering company, itsAfrican subsidiary African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) and alterna- tive energy company Renergen Limited, through its subsidiary TETRA 4 (Pty) Lim- ited, signed an historic agreement for the commercialisation of the Free State Helium and Natural Gas (NG) field. enjoys concentrations of up to 3 - 4% by volume. and well-heads are being interconnected underground via an intricate network of pipes.These pipes will feed directly into the Linde engineered Helium processing plant.

Linde’s high-tech extraction technology will separate Helium fromNG through a sin- gle system utilising a patented processing plant which purifies, compresses, liquefies and stores the Helium, ready for distribution to customers. The Helium plant will be de- signed and delivered by Linde Engineering and is expected to commence operations in 2018/19. The Linde plant reduces the energy need- ed and cuts CO 2 emissions of traditional Helium from NG extraction processes and represents the latest in engineering tech- nology advances. The plant is of modular design and will be precision manufactured in Europe before being shipped to the Free State for fast and efficient construction. Commercialisation of Helium Nick Haines, Head of The Linde Group’s Global Source Development, Global Helium & Rare Gases, said: “Linde has worked

Social regeneration As part of TETRA 4’s commitment to social regeneration, the company has created a number of bursaries for local students in the Virginia/Welkom area and has refitted the local Stilte Primary School with class- rooms, furniture, a solar borehole pump, and upgraded the children’s play area. TETRA 4 also plans to supply the local operations of MegaBus with compressed natural gas, (CNG) as ‘green’ fuel for its local bus services. Renergen Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Marani, said: “Today is indeed an important milestone as we embark on the beneficia- tion of this important Helium deposit for the benefit of all our stakeholders.” Enquiries: Email simon.miller@afrox.linde.com

The 187 000 hectare Helium/NG field in Virginia, nearWelkom, has proven reserves of 25 billion cubic feet of Natural Gas and Helium and is the first and only onshore petroleum (and natural gas) right in South Africa capable of supplying Helium to nu- merous specialised and industrial markets. Under the agreement signed, TETRA 4 has contracted the Helium under an offtake agreement with The Linde Group, via its Global Helium business, being assigned distribution rights for substantial reserves of Helium. JSE listed Afrox, a member of The Linde Group, will operate the plant and market the Helium. “The signing of this agreement marks an historic moment in bolstering South Africa’s self-sufficiency in terms of Helium production,”said Afrox Managing Director, Schalk Venter. Relatively scarce on earth Helium, although the secondmost abundant gas in the universe, is relatively scarce on earth and tends to be found trapped with NG in relatively low concentrations typically up to 1% by volume of the gas released. The Free State Helium and NG field, however,

diligently to commercialise this unique Helium resource together with TETRA4 and looks forward to receiving Helium upon com- mencement of plant operations.” Utilising the latest in land pres- ervation techniques, TETRA 4 has drilled wells, thousands of feet deep to tap the NG source dome, while ensuring minimal visual and environmental impact on the gas field’s landscape. Wells

Virginia site.

Above: Nick Haines (Head, Linde Global Helium & Rare Gases Source Development), Stefano Marani (Renergen Chief Executive), Dr. Alexander Brandl (Head of Business Development Linde Engineering), and Schalk Venter (Afrox Chief Executive).

Electricity+Control June ‘16

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