Updated Helium shortages?

[lindenbruce]

Hello all,

Here is an article on Helium from a few hours ago. I don't know if this is new info or not. I know I have seen some threads referencing Helium costs and availability. But this looks like it is going to get interesting huh? B.

World helium shortage expected to balloon drastically  - NBC News.com

 

[LiteHedded]

Prices have increased a bit

 

[TSandM]

There's really nothing new there. The US government selloff of helium has been going on for some time.

 

[rjack321]

Prices have increased a bit

Price hasn't risen much at all, but sourcing it is a pita around here. Its frequently presold on contract to really high volume users (as in 10s of thousands of cubic feet per month). For MRIs, aerospace etc. Divers have to scrounge for leftover unsold cylinders and you often can't buy as much as you want or order.

 

[LiteHedded]

Ee raised their prices a while back

 

[Dsix36]

My local supplier has had his allocation cut in half. They will not sell to a new customer as they want to take care of their regular customers that have been there for years. I witnessed a guy offer 4 times the going rate for a cylinder and promtly get turned down and informed why. My prices have gone up a bit, but nothing drastic yet.

 

[tracydr]

My fault. I've had 11 MRIs since March,2013.:balloonshelium)

 

[Diver0001]

This always struck me as odd.

Helium can be manufactured, for one thing, and it's one of the most common elements in the universe. Next to Hydrogen it's *the* most common element.... There are something like 10²⁴ stars in the universe and the vast majority of those stars are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium. A single supernova in our local area would eject more helium into space than a gazillion divers could use in a life time....

How the hell did Earth end up being some kind of helium "desert"?

R..

 

[ianr33]

How the hell did Earth end up being some kind of helium "desert"?

R..

Helium is rather light. Floats away into space.

 

[rjack321]

Helium can be manufactured, for one thing

Sorta. You realize this would take an insane amount of energy?