The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently has accepted Messer’s bid for the Federal Helium System and the company will move forward to the necessary regulatory reviews to acquire the assets.

The Federal Helium System was auctioned by the General Services Administration (GSA) on January 25, 2024, in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, which required the BLM to sunset its management of the System and follow a statutory disposal process. The Helium System includes helium molecules stored in the caverns in Amarillo, Texas, as well as the Cliffside field, wells and gathering system, the 423-mile-long crude helium pipeline, and additional operational assets.

The accepted bid must now undergo required antitrust review by the Department of Justice. The company will also work with regulators across multiple states to comply with local laws and regulations

Messer is fully committed to the future success of the Helium System, as evidenced by Messer’s safe and reliable operation of the System’s Cliffside Gas Plant since May 2022.