Mendell Helium (LSE:MDH) has commenced completion operations at the Rost 2-26 "Rost Twin" well in Fort Dodge, Kansas, is upgrading the nearby Brobee salt water disposal well to access deeper zones and double capacity to 10,000 barrels per day, and has started drilling work to support the recompletion of Schneweis Ventures 13A in a partnership with Ritchie Exploration, Inc.
The company, a Kansas-based helium producer operating through its wholly owned subsidiary M3 Helium, treats raw gas on site at Fort Dodge and uses tube trailers for deliveries to its offtaker.
A rig is on site at Rost 2-26 to perforate targeted helium production zones guided by mass spectrometer shows, after which an electric submersible pump will be installed for de-watering, and water pumping from Rost 1-26 has been temporarily suspended during Brobee upgrade works.
Brobee upgrade activity involves removing plugs to reach the deeper Arbuckle formation and the new permit raises permitted disposal to 10,000 barrels per day at 1,200 psi, which Mendell says is sufficient for both Rost wells.
Mendell is partnering with Ritchie Exploration, to recomplete Schneweis Ventures 13A, a well with historic flows above 300 Mcf/day, a drill stem test in excess of 10,000 Mcf/day, measured helium of 1.39% and methane of 70.06%, and because Schneweis ties into a Ritchie-owned pipeline produced gas can be delivered without prior treatment so economics include hydrocarbon sales as well as helium.
Rost 1-26 previously tested at 5.1% helium with a drill stem test of c.2,900 Mcf/day and recorded a December flow of 250 Mcf/day, which the company has valued at approximately $1.4m of helium per year at $300/Mcf.
"For the first time in our history we have three rigs operating at three locations, the recent fundraising has enabled us to accelerate growth, and we expect this faster pace to continue during 2026," said Nick Tulloch, Chief Executive Officer.
