Trade News
Linde Engineering and Weil Group Resources, LLC announce commercial operation of helium purification technology in Saskatchewan
Mankota, Saskatchewan, August 3, 2016 – Linde Engineering, a Division of Munich based Linde Group, along with its customer, Richmond, VA based Weil Group Resources, announced today the formal commencement of operations in Mankota, Saskatchewan. This first-of-its-kind helium purification facility uses a hybrid process of Membrane and PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology and promises to revitalize the Canadian helium resource industry. Provincial government officials, as well as company and contractor personnel, staged a ribbon-cutting and flag-raising at the facility today to celebrate the formal opening.
Helium tube-trailer deliveries to customers began last month from the Linde designed and engineered plant, owned and operated by Weil Resources Group, which uses a unique process to enrich wellhead gas with a 1-2% helium concentration to high grade, industrial (99.999%) quality product. The project has been recognized by the Saskatchewan government as bringing new life to the helium industry in Saskatchewan, where the element was discovered in the early 1960s, but has been dormant ever since.
During the opening ceremony, Linde Engineering Executive Vice President Tobias Keller, stated, “Linde is proud and excited to play a role in providing its industrial gas purification expertise and technology to this important project. We appreciate the collaboration with Weil Group as pioneers in this field. It has required new and innovative design and process elements. It is always rewarding to see new concepts come to life with good success.”
Weil CEO, Jeff Vogt, said, “Weil has revitalized a 60 year old industry in Saskatchewan by our commissioning of the first high quality helium purification facility in Canada. The $12 million facility will process 10 million standard cubic feet of feed gas to high quality, purified helium (99.999%) for industrial customers in Canada and the western U.S. We are grateful for our alliance with Linde Engineering and appreciate their quality, technological leadership and reliability in this unique arena. The plant is an impressive result of collaboration between our teams, and we have appreciated the experience. We look to replicate that soon in our neighboring projects.”
About Weil Group Resources
Weil is a privately owned company which develops and operates niche energy and resource projects in North America and emerging markets. Weil has a portfolio of helium projects devoted to finding, drilling and developing reserves for, and producing industrial grade helium. It has several projects similar to the Mankota project throughout North America at various stages of development.
For more information, visit Weil Group online at www.weil-group.com
About The Linde Group
In the 2015 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 17.944 bn, making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 65,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com