Article

2017-06-30 Arabia

Blockade of Qatar starting to have a major impact on the global helium supply

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Posted by 3dc 2017-06-30 00:12|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Qatar (MB)

#1 The troubles in Qatar hit almost 1/3 of the world's supply.

Posted by 3dc 2017-06-30 00:29|| 2017-06-30 00:29|| Front Page Top

#2 So, right now some frackers check if they've helium in their gas?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2017-06-30 03:23|| 2017-06-30 03:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Yup. Helium is a by-product of nuclear decay. Every few years the 'helium is a scarce resource that will run out' crowd floats this balloon. (unintentional pun). It is a cost of separation issue, not a 'we are using it all up, it is going to vanish, and we're all gonna die' kind of issue. Helium is undoubtably available in fracking streams (it is a btu-reducing contaminant) but I haven't noticed any frackers making mention of separating it from the main gas stream. Yet.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2017-06-30 07:14|| 2017-06-30 07:14|| Front Page Top

#4 At the time of the Hindenburg disaster (1938, and no - I was *not* there) the US had 98% of the world's helium supply and we would not sell to Hitler's Germany, so Germany had to use the much more combustible hydrogen. The rest, as they say, is history.

Posted by Bobby 2017-06-30 07:27|| 2017-06-30 07:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Some background.

Posted by Procopius2k 2017-06-30 07:36|| 2017-06-30 07:36|| Front Page Top

#6 Children and clowns hardest hit.

Posted by Chesney Prince of the Visigoths3595 2017-06-30 09:26|| 2017-06-30 09:26|| Front Page Top

#7 Just hook Nancy Pelosi up to the pipeline and our problems should be solved.

Posted by gorb 2017-06-30 10:05|| 2017-06-30 10:05|| Front Page Top

#8 Children and clowns hardest hit

That and Fiber Optics production, cooling for MRI and other radiology equipment, cooling for nuke plants, high-temperature welding, combining with oxygen for the treatment of asthma, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, detecting leaks in the hulls of ships and, of course, the high squeaky voice.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2017-06-30 10:05|| 2017-06-30 10:05|| Front Page Top

#9 So the second most abundant element in the universe is running out?

Posted by Lowspark 2017-06-30 10:48|| 2017-06-30 10:48|| Front Page Top

#10 The joys of a global economy.

That why there's a US Helium Reserve, which often gets laughed at, or called a boondoggle...

Posted by Pappy 2017-06-30 11:41|| 2017-06-30 11:41|| Front Page Top

#11 I've never made light of it.

Posted by swksvolFF 2017-06-30 12:20|| 2017-06-30 12:20|| Front Page Top

#12 Ha! Until now.

Posted by Skidmark 2017-06-30 13:01|| 2017-06-30 13:01|| Front Page Top

#13 OK, periodically; thought everyone needed a lift, He He.

Posted by swksvolFF 2017-06-30 14:31|| 2017-06-30 14:31|| Front Page Top

#14 gorb, I think you are confusing helium with methane.

Posted by rjschwarz 2017-06-30 15:47|| 2017-06-30 15:47|| Front Page Top

#15 I'd say 'go to your room' but I've already committed the same transgression elsewhere.

Posted by Pappy 2017-06-30 15:47|| 2017-06-30 15:47|| Front Page Top

#16 Frankie Valley is panicking.

Posted by Shipman 2017-06-30 17:26|| 2017-06-30 17:26|| Front Page Top

#17 Already went Pappy. I'm noble like that.

Posted by swksvolFF 2017-06-30 17:50|| 2017-06-30 17:50|| Front Page Top

#18 Let's cool down gents, there's absolutely zero reason to puff yourselves up!

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2017-06-30 19:12|| 2017-06-30 19:12|| Front Page Top

#19 He He He

Posted by SteveS 2017-06-30 19:26|| 2017-06-30 19:26|| Front Page Top

22:20 gorb
22:15 gorb
22:00 CrazyFool
21:30 Frank G
20:56 Frank G
20:53 ed in texas
20:48 Frank G
20:42 Frank G
20:42 Frank G
19:51 Skidmark
19:26 SteveS
19:14 AlmostAnonymous5839
19:12 AlmostAnonymous5839
18:45 Procopius2k
18:24 CrazyFool
17:53 swksvolFF
17:50 swksvolFF
17:27 magie
17:26 Shipman
16:47 SteveS
16:39 g(r)omgoru
16:24 Sock Puppet of Doom
16:22 Crusader
16:18 Sock Puppet of Doom