REG - Helix Exploration - Helix Expands Rudyard Leasehold

Helix ExplorationAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 5854V  Helix Exploration PLC  06 March 2026

6 March 2026

 

Helix Exploration PLC

("Helix Exploration" or "Helix" or the "Company")

 

Helix Expands Rudyard Leasehold

 

Dominant Leasehold Over Core of Proven Helium Structure Approaches 8,000 Acres

 

Helix Exploration PLC (AIM: HEX, OTCQB: HEXFF), the helium exploration and
development company advancing the Rudyard Helium Project ("Rudyard") in
northern Montana, is pleased to announce it has expanded its strategic
footprint at Rudyard to nearly 8,000 acres through the acquisition of
additional State of Montana mineral leases at public auction (the
"Acquisition"). The Acquisition extends the Company's control over the core of
the Rudyard Anticline, the structural heart of the proven helium accumulation.

The Acquisition, which comprises approximately 360 acres for a modest cash
consideration and follows the Company's recent acquisition of additional
leases announced on 22 December 2025, comes as QatarEnergy, the world's
largest producer of liquefied natural gas, has declared force majeure on its
liquid natural gas ("LNG") supply contracts following drone strikes on its Ras
Laffan facilities. The declaration, reported by The Wall Street Journal on 4
March 2026, signals that Qatar does not intend to restart production in the
near term.

Helium is primarily recovered as a by-product of processing helium-bearing
natural gas, often integrated with large gas processing or LNG facilities.
Disruptions to major gas processing or LNG facilities can therefore materially
affect helium supply. With Qatar accounting for approximately 30% of global
helium capacity, the force majeure has effectively severed the single largest
node in the world's helium supply chain.

With a total leasehold now approaching 8,000 acres, Helix controls the mineral
rights over the principal area of structural closure at Rudyard - the zone of
highest trap integrity and greatest helium column where the Company's three
producing wells are located and where all flow-tested helium concentrations of
1.06-1.21% have been measured. The Company's position encompasses the crest
and primary flanks of the anticline, covering the most prospective portion of
the 10,600-acre structure.

Highlights:

 

•     360 acres won at State auction: Helix has successfully acquired
approximately 360 acres of State of Montana mineral leases within the Rudyard
Anticline through public auction, further consolidating the Company's dominant
position over the core of the proven helium-bearing structure, for a modest
cash consideration.

•     Dominant position over the core of the structure: The Company's
leasehold of approximately 7,927 acres covers the crest and primary flanks of
the Rudyard Anticline - the zone of maximum structural closure, proven helium
concentration, and active production. All three producing wells (Darwin No. 1,
Linda No. 1, and Weil No. 1) sit within Helix's core leasehold, along with the
entirety of the confirmed helium-bearing reservoir interval.

•     Over 2,300 acres added since farmout - a 43% expansion: Since
acquiring the original 5,564-acre Rudyard position announced on 20 June 2024,
Helix has added approximately 2,363 acres through strategic acquisition (640
acres from Global Helium Corp.), targeted private mineral leasing (1,363 net
acres), and now State auction (360 acres) - a 43% increase.

•     QatarEnergy force majeure severs global helium supply chain:
QatarEnergy's declaration of force majeure on its LNG contracts confirms that
the world's largest helium supply node will remain offline for an extended
period. Because helium can only be produced when natural gas is being
processed, the shutdown of Qatar's LNG operations has simultaneously
eliminated approximately 30% of global helium production capacity. Industry
analysts have projected spot price increases of 35-50% and anticipate force
majeure declarations cascading through the helium distribution chain if the
disruption exceeds 30-45 days.

•     Domestic US helium takes on critical strategic importance: With
the global supply chain fractured and no timeline for Qatari restart,
domestically sourced US helium, produced, processed, and delivered entirely
within US borders, is insulated from this supply shock. Helix is one of a very
small number of companies producing helium from dedicated wells in the US,
with its own processing infrastructure at the Rudyard Processing Plant.

The Helium Supply Crisis

 

·      The global helium market has experienced several supply
disruptions over the past two decades associated with outages at major
production facilities. Helium does not generally occur in commercially viable
concentrations as a standalone resource and is typically recovered as a trace
component during the processing of helium-bearing natural gas. As a result,
outages at major gas processing or LNG facilities can reduce the availability
of helium in the market.

·      Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City is one of the largest
concentrations of helium production infrastructure globally. The force majeure
declaration may introduce contractual uncertainty into the helium supply chain
at a time when supply from affected facilities has been disrupted. Market
participants have previously noted that extended disruptions at major helium
production facilities can affect contractual supply arrangements across the
helium distribution chain.

·      Helium is a critical, non-substitutable input for semiconductor
fabrication, MRI systems, aerospace applications, fibre optic manufacturing,
and quantum computing infrastructure. Helium's physical properties make
substitution difficult in many industrial and scientific applications. The
only significant source of uncommitted excess helium capacity globally is
Russia's Amur 2 facility, which remains subject to sanctions and has
experienced its own operational difficulties.

·      Against this backdrop, domestically produced US helium, which
requires no maritime shipping, no passage through conflict zones, and no
foreign processing infrastructure, carries a strategic premium that the Board
believes will be reflected in near-term market pricing. Helix's production at
Rudyard is entirely domestic from wellhead to delivery.

Leasehold Build-Up

 

 Leasehold Component                                    Acres
 Original farmout position (Brainstorm Energy)          5,564
 Global Helium Corp. acquisition (Section 28, T34N-9E)  640
 Post-farmout mineral leasing programme (BMI)           1,363 net
 State of Montana auction (March 2026)                  360
 Total Leasehold Position                               ~7,927

 

Bo Sears, CEO of Helix Exploration, commented:

"Our leasehold covers the core of the Rudyard Anticline, the crest of the
structure, the producing wells, and the proven reservoir. With nearly 8,000
acres under our control, we have built a significant position over the central
portion of the field.

 

"QatarEnergy's force majeure makes one thing unmistakably clear: when LNG
shuts down, helium shuts down with it. A significant portion of global
production has been impacted, and the market has no timeline for when, or
whether, it comes back. Helix produces helium entirely on US soil, from our
own wells, which will be delivered to domestic customers. In a world where the
largest supply node has just declared it cannot fulfil its contracts, that is
not just an advantage - it is the advantage".

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK
Market Abuse Regulation, and the Directors of the Company are responsible for
the release of this announcement.

Enquiries

Helix Exploration

 Bo Sears           via Camarco
 Keith Spickelmier  info@helixexploration.com (mailto:info@helixexploration.com)

Cairn - Nominated Adviser

 Liam Murray          +44 (0)20 7213 0880
 Ludovico Lazzaretti
 James Western

 

Hannam & Partners Brokers

 Neil Passmore  +44 (0)20 7907 8502
 Leif Powis

Camarco - Financial PR

 Tilly Butcher  +44 (0)20 3757 4980
 Billy Clegg    helixexploration@camarco.co.uk (mailto:helixexploration@camarco.co.uk)

 

Notes to Editors

Helix Exploration is a helium exploration and production company focused on
unlocking the potential of helium deposits within the 'Montana Helium
Fairway'. The Company, founded by industry experts with extensive experience
of helium systems in the US, listed on AIM in April 2024 and has since rapidly
transitioned from exploration to production.

 

Helix achieved production at its Rudyard Project in northern Montana, taking
advantage of existing infrastructure and low-cost processing to become the
first helium producer in the state of Montana.

 

The Company remains focused on scaling production efficiently while developing
its resources strategically. Helix is also exploring the hydrogen potential of
the Rudyard Field, which could provide additional long-term growth
opportunities. The management team is committed to maintaining open and
transparent communication with investors and stakeholders as the Company
continues to progress through production and beyond.

 

"Our approach is simple: build scale efficiently, develop resources
strategically, and deliver near-term cash flow." CEO - Bo Sears

 

The Company's Admission Document, and other information required pursuant to
AIM Rule 26, is available on the Company's website at
https://www.helixexploration.com/ (https://www.helixexploration.com/)

 

Caution regarding forward looking statements

Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward
looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use of
terms and phrases such as ''believe'', ''could'', "should" ''envisage'',
''estimate'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', "expect",
''will'' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions,
including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not
based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations
and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations,
performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount,
nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business
prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect the
Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information
currently available to the Directors.

 

 

 

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