Unveiling the potential of helium enrichment in shale reservoirs: A molecular and experimental perspective

Abstract Helium-bearing shale reservoirs are gaining attention as unconventional strategic resources, yet the fundamental mechanisms governing helium occurrence and migration remain poorly resolved. In this study, we integrate high-pressure adsorption–diffusion experiments (308 K, 1300 psi) with molecular simulations under reservoir-relevant conditions (70 MPa, 403–423 K) to investigate helium behavior in organic-rich shale. Results show that during CH 4 –He co-adsorption, methane preferentially