✧✦Catherine✦✧2d ago

semiconductor folks! I've seen a lot of talking heads repeat the claim that "a helium shortage is bad for chip production", never substantiated with useful information. do any of you know:

  • what is helium actually used in the processes?
  • which specific processes would be affected?
  • how much helium (ballpark) is needed per year?
  • where, if anywhere, a closed cycle is used?
  • what happened to the strategic helium reserve in the US?
Show threadRidley @ WATCH LYCORECO

@whitequark the bulk (90%+) of the helium reserve was sold off years ago; the inventory entered the ordinary market for helium and was used for all the things anybody uses helium for, and the remainder was sold with the land and facilities to an industrial gas supplier (Messer) in 2021

helium is primarily obtained as a byproduct of natural gas extraction, and the US is now the leading producer of both gas and helium; the reserve was wound down because the US is no longer dependent on helium imports, and produces vastly in excess of domestic demand

Apr 3 at 7:52pmWeb
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧2d ago
@rcombs thank you