Linde and Weil Group commence operations

Linde Engineering, along with its customer Weil Group Resources, has announced the formal commencement of operations in Mankota, Saskatchewan. This first of its kind helium purification facility uses a hybrid process of membrane and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology and promises to revitalise the Canadian helium resource industry. Provincial government officials, as well as company and contractor personnel, celebrated the facility's 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 recognised 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.

"Linde is proud to play a role in providing industrial gas purification expertise and technology to this project. We appreciate the collaboration with Weil Group as pioneers in this field. It has required innovative design and process elements. It is rewarding to see new concepts come to life with good success," says Linde Engineering Executive Vice President Tobias Keller.

Weil CEO, Jeff Vogt, said, "Weil has revitalised a 60 year old industry in Saskatchewan by our commissioning of the first high quality helium purification facility in Canada. The US$12 million facility will process 10 million ft³ of feed gas to high quality, purified helium (99.999%) for industrial customers in Canada and the western US. 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. We look to replicate that soon in neighbouring projects."

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/04082016/weil-group-linde-commence-hydrogen-operations-canada-3854/