CHEYENNE, Wyo.—The shutdown of a natural gas plant in Wyoming put a significant crimp in the nation’s helium supply that appears to have ended now that the plant is up and running again.
Routine maintenance at Exxon Mobil’s Shute Creek Gas Plant in western Wyoming went a bit longer than usual this year—about six weeks instead of four.
Helium is used for everything from party balloons to medical imaging and rocket launches. The Exxon Mobil plant produces between 20 and 30 percent of the U.S. supply.
The plant shutdown ended in mid-September and coincided with tight helium supplies worldwide.
A helium shortage three years ago was worse. One Denver gas supplier says he learned from that episode and built up helium stockpiles he dipped into during the recent shortage.
