Helix Exploration (AIM:HEX) announced it has spudded the Ross #1 well at its Rudyard helium project in northern Montana, days after securing permit approval from the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation.
The helium producer and liquefier is targeting a fifth production well in the field's Northern Dome, aiming at the same Souris River and Red River formations that already feed its producing well stock.
Ross #1 sits roughly one mile north-north-east of the processing plant, and Helix expects drilling to total depth of approximately 5,500 ft to take roughly 21 days, followed by wireline logging, extended flow testing and gas analysis.
The move follows the spud of Ollie #1 on 14 September, which reached total depth of 6,311 ft ahead of schedule and under budget, with mudlog helium readings peaking at 4,800 ppm, the highest recorded at any Rudyard well.
Rudyard resumed output on 16 October after the Montana regulator granted a venting exemption following a pause triggered by a site visit in September, and Helix has since restarted continuous tube trailer filling, with the first trailer now filled.
Three wells, Darwin #1, Linda #1 and Weil #1, are producing commercial-grade helium under a spot sales arrangement and feeding the gathering system into the PSA plant, while Ollie #1 awaits flow testing and gas analysis before its own tie-in.
Read more about Helix Exploration
- 16/10/26Helix Exploration wins approval to restart Rudyard operations
- 07/10/26Helix Exploration records strong helium reading at Ollie well
- 20/07/26Helix Exploration completes first helium sales from Rudyard
"By virtue of controlling our own drilling equipment we were able to prepare the drill pad and mobilise the rig to the Ross #1 well site swiftly to be ready to spud the well within 2 days of the MBOGC's permit approval," said Bo Sears, chief executive.
He added that global helium supply is "under unprecedented pressure", with demand accelerating from AI, semiconductors and defence.
Helix is reviewing additional well locations for its next drilling target as part of its production expansion programme, with a further announcement expected on completion of Ross #1.