Helium Component Research Articles

Helium Detection in Natural Gas Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy has great potential for quantitative analysis of natural gas. Helium is one of the components of natural gas and has a wide range of applications. It was believed that noble gases could not be detected using this technique due to the absence of their vibrational spectra. In this study, we demonstrated an approach to extracting the content of helium from the Raman spectrum of methane and carried out test measurements for the first time. The approach is based on the determination of changes in the ν1 band of methane caused by the influence of helium and other components. The necessary spectroscopic parameters characterizing the effect of methane (CH4), helium (He), nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ethane (C2H6) on the ν1 band of methane at a resolution of 0.35 cm-1 were obtained. The validation of the approach showed that the helium content in natural gas can be measured with an uncertainty of 1 mol% at a sample pressure of 50 bar. The measurement precision can be increased to 0.01 mol% by using a high-resolution spectrometer. The described method does not claim to replace helium detectors, but it can be considered a valuable addition to Raman gas analysis of natural gas in developing an all-in-one device. The possibilities for further improvement of the approach are also discussed.

Design of experimental facility for helium gas component testing

The current state-of-the-art helium gas test loops for component testing are constrained by the maximum operating temperatures, pressures, and flow rates of such facilities. Idaho National Laboratory is designing a new experimental facility known as HECTOR (HElium Component Testing Out-of-pile Research), which is a helium gas test loop for evaluating the performance of components to helium gas pressures, temperatures, and flow rates up to 8 MPa, 800 °C, and 0.15 kg/s, respectively. The construction of this facility will enable researchers to perform experiments across a wide range of Reynolds and Nusselt numbers, which could result in the maturation of technology for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) components.

Pristine helium from the Karoo mantle plume within the shallow asthenosphere beneath Patagonia

Mantle xenoliths usually represent fragments derived from the depleted and degassed lithospheric mantle with 3He/4He isotope ratios (6 ± 1 RA) lower than those of mid-ocean ridge basalts (8 ± 1 RA). Otherwise, basalts from oceanic islands related to hotspots often have high 3He/4He ratios (>10 RA), suggesting a deep and pristine undegassed mantle source. Here we present a striking high-3He/4He component (up to 27.68 RA) recorded by spinel-facies mantle xenoliths from Patagonia. Remarkably, the highest ratios were found in a long-lived trans-lithospheric suture zone related to the Carboniferous-Permian collision of two continental blocks: the Deseado and the North Patagonian massifs. The mantle xenoliths with notably high-3He/4He ratios are inferred to be fragments of the shallow asthenosphere rising through the eroded and rejuvenated thin lithosphere. The pristine helium component is derived from the western margin of the Karoo mantle plume, related to the initial stages of the Gondwana fragmentation.

Singular vibronic interaction in liquids: manifestation in the optical spectrum of impurity atoms in superfluid helium

The zero phonon line (ZPL) and its phonon-roton wing have been studied both experimentally and theoretically in the optical spectrum of the inner shell transition in the Dy atom in superfluid helium. It is shown that the linear vibronic interaction of impurity atom with long-wave acoustic phonons in the liquid phase is singularly enhanced. As a result, the ZPL of both the superfluid and normal components of liquid helium has a finite width. The temperature dependence of the spectrum is a consequence of the redistribution of the superfluid and normal components of the liquid helium and the temperature dependence of the spectrum of its normal component. Our calculations of the ZPL and its phonon-rotor wing are consistent with the experiment.

Thermal Energy Transfer between Helium Gas and Graphene Surface According to Molecular Dynamics Simulations and the Monte Carlo Method.

The scattering of gases on solid surfaces plays a vital role in many advanced technologies. In this study, the scattering behavior of helium on graphene surfaces was investigated, including the thermal accommodation coefficient (TAC), outgoing zenith angle of helium, bounce number, and interaction time. First, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to describe the incident angle-resolved behaviors, and showed that the scattering is highly dependent on the zenith angle of incident helium but insensitive to the azimuthal angle. The contribution of the normal velocity component of the incident helium dominated the energy transfer. The nonlinear relationship of the parameters to the zenith angle of the incident helium could be suppressed by increasing the graphene temperature or decreasing the speed of the incident helium. Subsequently, the scattering performance considering all gas molecules in the hemispherical space was evaluated using the Monte Carlo method with angle-resolved results. The result showed that the TAC, its nominal components, and the zenith angle of the scattered helium increased with higher speeds of incident helium and lower temperatures of graphene. This study should provide a fundamental understanding of energy transfer between gas and two-dimensional materials and guidelines to tune the scattering behavior between them.

Mantle helium in pore fluids of deep-sea sediments around the Azores archipelago

We present noble gas concentrations and helium isotope ratios measured in the pore fluids of two deep-sea sediment cores taken at the Azores Plateau. NeXe concentrations were used to estimate the atmospheric noble gas component within the pore fluids and to then determine the terrigenic helium component. The concentrations of terrigenic 3He indicate the presence of hydrothermal fluids and a mantle He component within the sediment pore space. At both sampling locations, the concentration of terrigenic helium increases with sediment depth. The observed concentration gradients suggest a diffusive transport of He through the sediments. The helium isotope ratio of the source of the terrigenic helium is characterized by a typical mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). These results support previous studies suggesting that the pelagic sediments surrounding the Azores host active hydrothermal systems.Our data indicate that the transport of terrigenic helium takes place diffusively over larger areas of the ocean floor, and that the concentration of terrigenic helium in the pelagic sediments increases towards the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Terceira Rift.The data further suggests that in the Azores region the terrigenic noble gas component is only detectable in the sediment pore fluids and cannot be observed in the overlying bottom water. This highlights the potential of measuring noble gas concentrations and isotope ratios in the sediment column to identify hydrothermal activity in the ocean.

Design and analysis of the helium purification system for the NSRRC cryogenic system

Helium is an expensive consumable in cryogenic facilities and is used widely in space, medical and energy research. At NSRRC, liquid helium is used as a coolant for superconducting magnets and SRF cavities . Minor contaminants such as nitrogen, oxygen, moisture and oil will be picked up when liquid helium circulates in large scale cryogenic systems and such contaminants can crystalize and cause damage to the cold box turbo expanders resulting in system damage and failure . Therefore, a helium purification system is designed as an integral part of the cryogenic system to conserve helium by providing 99.9995% pure helium to the liquefier after eliminating contaminants. The NSRRC helium purification process is based on two principles, the first one being a cryo-sorption device using activated charcoal and a molecular sieve and the other being a cryo-condensation unit using a tubular heat exchanger. The purifier has been designed to purify impure helium with overestimated contaminants of as much as 2.5% nitrogen and 2.5% oxygen with a mass flow rate of 475 nm3/hr and delivering a pressure of 17 bar(a) of impure helium to the purifier, the actual impurity will be much lower than the actual design contaminants. In this paper, calculation and design of the helium purification system and components composed of one double pipe counter flow heat exchanger, one vessel and tube heat exchanger, one pre-cooler and one charcoal vessel will be discussed together with charcoal mass requirement calculations and design of other components. In NSRRC, helium is liquefied and is used as a coolant for the SRF system and for cryogenic undulators. During a cryogenic cycle in the cryogenic system, helium may pick up contaminants such as moisture, oxygen, oil, and nitrogen, which have a higher freezing point than liquid helium and will crystalize. These frozen impurities will then affect plant capacity and operation such as alternating flow characteristics, damaging moving parts like turbines in the cold box causing the overall cooling efficiency to drop. Eliminating the contaminants is therefore very important for the cryogenic system.

The turbulent drag force in superfluid 3He−4He mixtures under oscillations of a quartz tuning fork

We have studied the resonance curves of a quartz tuning fork of the fundamental frequency 32 kHz immersed in superfluid 4He and mixtures 3He–4He with 3He concentration of 5 and 15% in the temperature range of 0.35–2.5 K at saturated vapor pressure. Two types of experiments have been carried out, with a tuning fork both not covered by a bulb and coated by a bulb, i.e., in the restricted geometry. In both cases, the velocity-force dependences for the tuning fork showed a linear damping force at low peak velocities and extra drag due to the appearance of vortex lines accompanying the transition to turbulence under increasing peak velocity. These dependencies are mainly determined by the density of the normal helium component. There is a pronounced difference between superfluid 4He and mixtures of 3He in 4He, where 3He impurity particles provide a constant temperature-independent contribution to the normal component of the mixture. The extra contribution to the damping force, so-called “turbulent drag force”, decreases with concentration increase at the same peak velocity of the tuning fork that can be explained by the extension of the range of laminar flow with an increase in the concentration of 3He. We found that the drag coefficient in superfluid 4He and mixtures 3He–4He reaches a plateau at different peak velocities and different exciting forces and explained this fact by different conditions for vortex formation, depending on the different thickness of the near-wall viscous layer. The comparison between the data obtained in restricted and unrestricted geometries shows that there is an excessive dissipation of the tuning fork motion associated with the emission of the first sound wave in unrestricted geometry.

Thermal broadening of the zero-phonon line in superfluid helium

Based on the two-fluid model of helium II, a theory is proposed to explain the recently observed temperature dependence of the zero-phonon line (ZPL) in the optical spectra of Dy atoms in superfluid helium. According to this theory, the main reason for the observed dependence is the temperature redistribution of the normal and superfluid components of the liquid helium. It is also found that due to the Archimedes' principle, the linear vibronic interaction with long-wave phonons in the liquid phase is singularly enhanced. This enhancement, in turn, leads to a finite broadening of the ZPL of the superfluid component and a linear temperature dependence of the ZPL width of the normal component. The proposed theory allows us to explain the experimental results.

NEMESIS APPROXIMATED TO SUN

Photographs of double Sun lead in paper that it took off with Prohodnaja Griva of Gornyy Altay (near c. Belokurikha). Evidences of approaching second Sun – Nemesis to our Shine. Influence of Nemesis on the cosmic events in Sun system are very impression that its testify about interaction of two stars and influence second Sun on the planets of Sun system. Powerful emissions of plasma in view concentration rays with side of our Sun and separation blue spectrums clots with Nemesis that it point on the essential helium component. Myself Nemesis can to be carry to class B – white-blue giants. Anomaly movements of magnet poles of Earth call by impact of Nemesis and can be result to reserve polarity on the Earth.

Are Further Cross Section Measurements Necessary for Space Radiation Protection or Ion Therapy Applications? Helium Projectiles

The helium (4He) component of the primary particles in the galactic cosmic ray spectrum makes significant contributions to the total astronaut radiation exposure. 4He ions are also desirable for direct applications in ion therapy. They contribute smaller projectile fragmentation than carbon (12C) ions and smaller lateral beam spreading than protons. Space radiation protection and ion therapy applications need reliable nuclear reaction models and transport codes for energetic particles in matter. Neutrons and light ions (1H, 2H, 3H, 3He, and 4He) are the most important secondary particles produced in space radiation and ion therapy nuclear reactions; these particles penetrate deeply and make large contributions to dose equivalent. Since neutrons and light ions may scatter at large angles, double differential cross sections are required by transport codes that propagate radiation fields through radiation shielding and human tissue. This work will review the importance of 4He projectiles to space radiation and ion therapy, and outline the present status of neutron and light ion production cross section measurements and modeling, with recommendations for future needs.

Origin of hydrocarbon and noble gases, carbon dioxide and molecular nitrogen in the Miocene strata of the eastern part of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep: Isotopic and geological approach

Fifteen natural gas samples were collected from the autochthonous Miocene strata between Dębica and Przemyśl towns in the eastern sector of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep. The samples were analysed for the molecular and stable isotope compositions of carbon (δ13C in CH4, C2H6, C3H8, i-C4H10, n-C4H10 and CO2), hydrogen (δ2H in CH4, C2H6 and C3H8), nitrogen (δ15N in N2), and all stable isotopes of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) in order to reveal the origin and migration pathway of these gases. Methane concentrations usually exceeded 90 vol%. Methane was mainly generated by microbial carbon dioxide reduction. The rhythmic and cyclic deposition of clays, muds and sands in the Miocene marine basin facilitated and intensified microbial processes. Microbial ethane can be produced by methanogenic Archaea from acetate via reduction. Ethane partly contains a minor component generated from early mature thermogenic process. Propane and butanes were also generated thermogenically. The hydrocarbon gases in the Miocene horizons IIA and IIIA of the Góra Ropczycka field were generated at higher maturity thermogenic process than the rest of the analysed Miocene gases probably from the Middle Jurassic type III kerogen. They migrated to the Miocene horizons from the underlying Upper Jurassic horizon IV of the same field along a fault. Carbon dioxide of the analysed Miocene gases was mainly generated by primary microbial processes. Moreover, the total carbon constrained in the analysed Miocene gases from 0.1 to 6 wt% contained mantle-derived carbon, and thus carbon dioxide mantle component. Molecular nitrogen was mainly generated during low-temperature thermal transformation of organic matter. It might also involve a relatively insignificant component released from NH4-rich illites of the clayey facies of Miocene strata and an atmospheric component delivered by recharge of air-saturated seawater to the reservoir. Inorganic fluid supply from greater lithospheric depth would not be responsible for the promotion of thermal transformation of organic matter. Molecular nitrogen from Miocene horizons in the Góra Ropczycka field was generated during the thermal transformation of organic matter of higher maturity than the rest of Miocene gases, and migrated from the Upper Jurassic horizon along a fault. Helium is dominated by its radiogenic component, with a minor contribution from the mantle. The almost constant mixing ratios of the two helium components in the natural gases from Miocene horizons of various depths suggest that He migrated from a common inorganic deep-seated source in the lithosphere. The other noble gases are dominated by atmospheric components delivered to the hydrocarbon reservoirs by recharge of air-saturated seawater, with minor nucleogenic 21Ne, radiogenic 40Ar, and sedimentary Kr and Xe contributions. The atmospheric component is isotopically fractionated for Ne, and elementally fractionated with various degrees. The ratios of radiogenic 4He to nucleogenic 21Ne or radiogenic 40Ar are higher than the crustal production ratios, suggesting fractionation during thermal release from their host minerals and/or phase related fractionation during their transport to the gas reservoirs. The striking similarity in noble gas isotopic/elemental ratios of the Góra Ropczycka gas from the Miocene horizon IIIA to the nearby reservoir in Mesozoic strata is consistent with gas migration along a fault system.

Dynamics of a $$^4$$He Quantum Crystal in the Superfluid Liquid

The motion of helium crystals has been experimentally studied when the crystals fall in the superfluid liquid owing to gravity at temperatures above the roughening transitions where the whole crystal surface is in the atomically rough state. The rate of crystal fall at T = 1.25 K is higher than at T = 1.54 K. This is proof of the essential role of the normal component of superfluid helium in the deceleration of crystal motion. The pressure measurements in the container have shown the effect of surface kinetics on the motions of the crystal and its size. The fall of crystals with the low surface mobility at T = 1.54 K does not change the pressure significantly. The high surface mobility at T = 1.25 K results in decreasing the pressure in the container in the course of the fall of a crystal. The pressure drop exceeds the difference in the hydrostatic pressure between the initial and final positions of the crystal. After the stop, the pressure in the container relaxes to the difference mentioned above. This fact demonstrates an additional growth of the crystal in the flow of a superfluid liquid.

Gas geochemistry of hot springs at the Tengchong field, Southwest China: Controlled by the spatial distribution of magmatic chamber

The Tengchong volcanic field, located at the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian plates, is well known for its large-scale Holocene volcanic eruptions and extensive hydrothermal activities. Bubbling gases from eight geothermal springs at the Tengchong field were collected and analyzed for their chemical and isotopic compositions (3He/4He, 20Ne, N2, Ar, δ13CCH4 and δ13CCO2). The results show that the gas samples could be categorized into a group I dominated by N2 and a group II with CO2 as major component. The air-corrected 3He/4He ratios ranged from 0.17 Ra to 4.76 Ra and the calculated mantle contributions dramatically varied from 1.9% to 77.9% for group II. By contrast, an invariant air-corrected 3He/4He ratio of about 0.30 Ra and a relatively constant mantle contribution of 4.0% to 5.0% was obtained for group I. The sampling sites just on top of the magma chamber received significant mantle-derived helium and magmatic gas components (at the proximal site of the magma chamber: >95% magmatic gas contributions). The calculated N2/Ar ratio of the hydrothermal endmember for group II (sample sites close to the magma chamber) was 61.7–66.2, suggesting that the reaction zone temperature is between 223 °C and 252 °C. The influence of the magma chamber decreases with increasing distance of the sampling sites from the chamber apex. The sampling sites (group I) at the marginal area discharge gases with relatively low 3He/4He ratios and magmatic contributions (19–24%). The temperature of the reaction zone for this group was estimated to be 74 °C based on the N2/Ar ratio of 42. This study provided important constraints to relate hydrothermal gas geochemistry directly with the spatial distribution of the underlying magma chamber. Plain language summaryGeochemical characteristics of gases discharged from hydrothermal systems are usually affected by deep magmatic processes, shallow hot fluids circulation, and water-rock interactions in the reaction zone. In this study, we analyzed the gas abundances and isotopic compositions of hydrothermal gas discharged from the Yunnan-Tibet geothermal belt. We used a gas mixing model to quantify the contributions of mantle-derived/magmatic endmember and hydrothermal endmember. The 3He/4He ratios, magmatic contribution, and temperature of the reaction zone decrease significantly with increasing distance from the magma chamber underneath the Tengchong field, highlighting the intimate relationships between gas transport, hydrothermal circulation and the extent of the magma chamber.

Probing the high-z IGM with the hyperfine transition of 3He+

ABSTRACT The hyperfine transition of 3He+ at 3.5 cm has been thought as a probe of the high-z IGM, since it offers a unique insight into the evolution of the helium component of the gas, as well as potentially give an independent constraint on the 21 cm signal from neutral hydrogen. In this paper, we use radiative transfer simulations of reionization driven by sources such as stars, X-ray binaries, accreting black holes and shock heated interstellar medium, and simulations of a high-z quasar to characterize the signal and analyse its prospects of detection. We find that the peak of the signal lies in the range ∼1–50 μK for both environments, but while around the quasar it is always in emission, in the case of cosmic reionization a brief period of absorption is expected. As the evolution of He ii is determined by stars, we find that it is not possible to distinguish reionization histories driven by more energetic sources. On the other hand, while a bright QSO produces a signal in 21 cm that is very similar to the one from a large collection of galaxies, its signature in 3.5 cm is very peculiar and could be a powerful probe to identify the presence of the QSO. We analyse the prospects of the signal’s detectability using SKA1-mid as our reference telescope. We find that the noise power spectrum dominates over the power spectrum of the signal, although a modest signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained when the wavenumber bin width and the survey volume are sufficiently large.

Geochemical anomalies in the Lower Silurian shale gas from the Sichuan Basin, China: Insights from a Rayleigh-type fractionation model

To verify recent single-well data from the Sichuan Basin, we analyzed the molecular and isotopic composition of late-mature Longmaxi shale gases from the southwestern portion of the Fuling block. The gases are highly enriched in methane (>96.1%) and have low C2+ hydrocarbon contents (<0.51%). The gases exhibit a reversal in carbon isotopes (δ13C3 < δ13C2 < δ13C1), and their δ13C1 values are abnormally enriched (i.e., equal to, or in some cases, more enriched than the associated kerogen). The helium component is typical of crustal genesis from the radiogenic decay of U and Th within the shale, which ranges from 145 ppm to 253 ppm, and its R/Ra ranges from 0.01 to 0.05. The δ15NN2 values range from −5.2‰ to −1.1‰, suggesting that the nitrogen was produced from the thermal de-ammoniation of organic matter. At extremely high thermal maturities and geothermal temperatures, shale gases with abnormally enriched δ13C1 values can best be explained using the model of Burruss and Laughrey (2010), which invokes a Rayleigh-type isotopic fractionation of ethane as it undergoes redox reactions to form methane and residual carbon in the late-stage (post-oil cracking) generation of methane. The variations in the distribution of δ13C1 and δ13C2 within the Fuling block imply that fluid-rock interactions related to the CO2 may have occurred, but not to a significant degree, and the cumulative effects of diffusion were also observed. Unraveling the geological processes that create the geochemical anomalies found in these Lower Silurian shale gas samples can provide valuable insight into the late-stage gas generation.

Carnegie Supernova Project-II: Near-infrared Spectroscopic Diversity of Type II Supernovae

Abstract We present 81 near-infrared (NIR) spectra of 30 Type II supernovae (SNe II) from the Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II), the largest such data set published to date. We identify a number of NIR features and characterize their evolution over time. The NIR spectroscopic properties of SNe II fall into two distinct groups. This classification is first based on the strength of the He i λ1.083 μm absorption during the plateau phase; SNe II are either significantly above (spectroscopically strong) or below 50 Å (spectroscopically weak) in pseudo equivalent width. However, between the two groups other properties, such as the timing of CO formation and the presence of Sr ii, are also observed. Most surprisingly, the distinct weak and strong NIR spectroscopic classes correspond to SNe II with slow and fast declining light curves, respectively. These two photometric groups match the modern nomenclature of SNe IIP, which show a long duration plateau, and IIL, which have a linear declining light curve. Including NIR spectra previously published, 18 out of 19 SNe II follow this slow declining-spectroscopically weak and fast declining-spectroscopically strong correspondence. This is in apparent contradiction to the recent findings in the optical that slow and fast decliners show a continuous distribution of properties. The weak SNe II show a high-velocity component of helium that may be caused by a thermal excitation from a reverse shock created by the outer ejecta interacting with the red supergiant wind, but the origin of the observed dichotomy is not understood. Further studies are crucial in determining whether the apparent differences in the NIR are due to distinct physical processes or a gap in the current data set.

Explosive Development of the Kelvin–Helmholtz Quantum Instability on the He-II Free Surface

We analyze nonlinear dynamics of the Kelvin–Helmholtz quantum instability of the He-II free surface, which evolves during counterpropagation of the normal and superfluid components of liquid helium. It is shown that in the vicinity of the linear stability threshold, the evolution of the boundary is described by the |ϕ|4 Klein–Gordon equation for the complex amplitude of the excited wave with cubic nonlinearity. It is important that for any ratio of the densities of the helium component, the nonlinearity plays a destabilizing role, accelerating the linear instability evolution of the boundary. The conditions for explosive growth of perturbations of the free surface are formulated using the integral inequality approach. Analogy between the Kelvin–Helmholtz quantum instability and electrohydrodynamic instability of the free surface of liquid helium charged by electrons is considered.

Effect of initial parameter on thermodynamic performance in a liquid oxygen tank with pressurized helium gas

Heat and mass transfer occurs among different species during the pressurization process with helium gas in cryogenic storage tanks, for which detailed investigations are necessary. In this article, the influence of initial parameters on the thermodynamic performance in a liquid oxygen tank is investigated. Both liquid–vapor interfacial evaporation and mass diffusion are considered. Different initial parameters are compared and analyzed. With the initial liquid temperature increasing from 94.0 to 96.0 K, the total phase change quality decreases by 20%. The initial tank wall temperature ranges from 104.0 to 106.0 K, and the final phase change quality increases by 14.01%. With the oxygen component kept constant, the tank pressure rise was reduced by 23.33% and the total phase change quantity increased by 4.25 times with the helium component ranging from 0.00 to 0.20 kg. When the initial tank pressure remained constant by adjusting the species components of the mixture, the tank pressure rise and the total phase change quantity increased by 17.6% and 8.87 times, with the initial helium increasing from 0.00 to 0.50 kg. The present study provides important conclusion that may supply some technique reference for the design of cryogenic propellant systems.

Signature of ongoing brine reinjection on noble gas isotopes and fluid chemistry at Las Tres Vírgenes geothermal field, Mexico

A geochemical survey of the Las Tres Vírgenes geothermal field (LTVGF), Baja California Sur, Mexico, was carried out to determine the origin and evolution of its fluids, along with the influence of injection of local brines, and inhibitors intended to manage carbonate scaling issues. Major and minor cations, Cl, Br, Sr, O, H, and noble gas (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) isotopes were measured in fluids collected from four production wells, two injection wells, and one fumarole (El Azufre) in 2016 and 2018. Variations in the stable isotopes of water (δD and δ18O) and halogens (δ37Cl, δ81Br) over the years suggest that local brine reinjection might have started to modify the pristine chemistry of the fluids. However, relevant information on the original geothermal fluids has been preserved. The Na/Br and Cl/Br ratios suggest that LTVGF brines are seawater having leached evaporite deposits (halite). These deposits are absent in the area, but were likely present during the Miocene, prior to the breakup of the Gulf of California, suggesting that the saline fluid end-member at the LTVGF could be several million years old. Measured 3He/4He ratios (R) normalized to the atmospheric ratio Ra (= 1.384 × 10−6) plotted against the 4He/20Ne ratios suggest mixing between a mantle fluid with a R/Ra of 6.19, typical of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle and an atmospheric helium component. The R/Ra versus the 132Xe/36Ar ratio normalized to air suggests mixing between a mantle-rich pre-production fluid and air. The source of air appears to be linked to local gravity-controlled flow reinjection which causes the entrapment of air bubbles, leading to a fluid supersaturated in atmospheric noble gases. This pattern suggests that reinjection fluids are impacting the production area.