Mendell Helium PLC - Buy out of minority investors in Nilson well
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
RNS Number : 2503Y
Mendell Helium PLC
09 October 2026
Mendell Helium plc
(“Mendell Helium” or the “Company”)
Buy out of minority investors in Nilson well
Mendell Helium (LON: MDH), the helium exploration and production company, is pleased to announce
that it has acquired the remaining 25% interest in the Nilson 22‑1 well in Haskell County, Kansas
(“Nilson”) for US$186,092 (£138,611) to be satisfied through the issue of 3,094,000 new ordinary
shares at a price of 4.48 pence (“Acquisition”). Nilson is located in the Hugoton gas field, one of North
America’s most prolific producers of natural gas and helium. Mendell Helium now has a 100% interest
in Nilson following the Acquisition.
Highlights
Nilson is the Company’s most successful well in the Hugoton gas field in south-western Kansas
The well was fracked in Q4 2024 following a successful operation that increased flow to over
100 Mcf/day
Investors committed US$170,000 to the frack
Nilson is connected to the Hugoton gathering system, eliminating the requirement for on-site
purification and enabling the Company to generate revenue from helium, methane and
natural gas liquids
Although revenue generating, Nilson would benefit from a disposal well which would reduce
operating costs of trucking water
Securing 100% ownership of the well positions Mendell Helium for further development of
Nilson
Background on the Acquisition
On 26 September 2024, Mendell Helium announced plans for a second, much larger frack on the
Nilson well. US$170,000 was raised from five third party investors who collectively acquired an
approximately 25% economic interest in the well (with Mendell Helium retaining the other 75%). The
frack was a success with Nilson’s flow rates increasing to over 100 Mcf/day and ranking it as one of the
top producers in the Hugoton region.
As with the Company’s production wells in Fort Dodge, water disposal is a key part of the operation
and, to date, water at Nilson has been collected on site and disposed of by a water tanker to a suitable
location. Trucking water is charged by the barrel and, consequently, the process can become
uneconomic at large volumes with prices typically being around US$2.50 – $3.00 per barrel. For this
reason, Mendell Helium has explored the possibility of connecting Nilson to a disposal well which
would enable it to increase pumping of the well, thereby potentially generating greater gas volumes.
Nilson is connected to the extensive infrastructure in the Hugoton gas field with all production being
tied to a gathering system from the well head and delivered to the Jayhawk gas processing plant.
With no site purification or processing required, Mendell Helium is not constrained from higher
production levels contingent on the availability of sufficient water‑disposal capacity. Although there
are no immediate development plans, owning 100% of the well gives the Company far greater
flexibility on future opportunities and, in the meantime, increases its revenue share from the well to
100%.
A sample taken from Nilson returned a helium concentration of 0.61% and a methane concentration
of 68.14%. With higher helium prices now being seen as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and
robust methane prices, the Board considers that acquiring a 100% interest in Nilson is an attractive
proposition. In particular, it is currently in negotiations with its off-taker for the Hugoton region for
improved pricing across all constituents of the produced gas stream. Nilson has not been pumping
while these adjustments and negotiations have been ongoing so production over the last months has
been below the well’s potential but the Company anticipates returning the well to higher production
levels in the near term.
Terms of the Acquisition
The Nilson investors have accepted an offer of, in aggregate, 3,094,000 new ordinary shares in return
for their interest in the well. The offer comprises the return of the US$170,000 invested in 2024 to
fund the frack together with US$16,092 being their share of profit from the well after satisfying all
costs. No premium has been paid to the investors for control of the well.
The new ordinary shares have been issued at a price of 4.48 pence being the being the 14 day volume
weighted average price up until the date that the offer was made to the minority investors.
Admission
Application has been made for 3,094,000 new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on AIM
(“Admission”). Admission is expected to occur at 8:00 a.m. on or around 15 October 2026. The new
ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares.
Total Voting Rights
Following Admission, the Company's enlarged share capital will comprise 357,930,937 Ordinary
Shares of 1 pence each. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company will be
357,930,937. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations by which
they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in the Company, or a change to their
interest in the Company, under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules.
Nick Tulloch, Chief Executive Officer of Mendell Helium, said: “Although our focus remains firmly on
Fort Dodge, it is important to remember that we also have five production wells in the world-famous
Hugoton gas field. Their flow rates and helium composition may not be as high as Fort Dodge to the
east but they benefit from access to production infrastructure meaning we have no obligation to purify
the gas stream and earn revenue from all the valuable component, not just the helium.
Nilson has long been our flagship well in the Hugoton exhibiting flow rates that can rival the very best
wells in that region. Taking 100% control of the well, through this cost-effective mechanism, gives us
more flexibility in the future as we examine possible opportunities for improved pricing, economic
water disposal and higher production.”
ENDS
Engage with the Mendell Helium management team directly by asking questions, watching video
summaries and seeing what other shareholders have to say. Navigate to our Interactive Investor
website here: https://mendellhelium.com/link/PKa6Ve
Enquiries:
Investor questions on this announcement
We encourage all investors to share questions
on this announcement via our investor website
https://mendellhelium.com/s/a6a55a
Mendell Helium plc
Nick Tulloch, CEO
Via our website
investors@mendellhelium.com
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Ludovico Lazzaretti / Liam Murray
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880
SI Capital Limited (Broker)
Nick Emerson
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413500
Fortified Securities
Guy Wheatley
Tel: +44 (0) 203 4117773
CREST Corporate Broking
Jerry Keen
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3973 3678
AlbR Capital Limited
Gavin Burnell / Colin Rowbury / Jon Belliss
Tel: +44 (0) 207 4690930
St Bride’s Partners / Spire (Public & Investor Relations)
Alan Green
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
Overview of Mendell Helium
Mendell Helium is a helium producer in Kansas, USA where it operates through its wholly owned
subsidiary M3 Helium.
M3 Helium’s flagship well, Rost 1-26, is in Fort Dodge, just to the east of Dodge City, Kansas. It has
been tested as containing 5.1% helium composition and a drill stem test yielded a maximum flow rate
of approximately 2,900 Mcf per day. Water removed from Rost 1-26 is delivered to Brobee, a nearby
disposal well that has been permitted at 10,000 barrels of water per day at 1,200 psi. Production at
Rost 1-26 commenced in early November 2025 and the most recently recorded flow rate in December
2025 was 250 Mcf per day equating to approximately $1.4 million of helium per year (at $300/Mcf
helium).
M3 Helium has subsequently drilled a second well, Rost 2-26, which is currently being de-watered and
early results have been encouraging. In particular Rost 2-26 has reported a helium composition of
11.5%. It also owns additional leases in the Fort Dodge area capable of supporting up to eight new
production wells. M3 Helium has also agreed a joint venture with Ritchie Exploration, Inc. to
recomplete the Schneweis Ventures 13A, a well with a drill stem test of over 10,000 Mcf per day and a
historic flow rate of 300 Mcf per day. Since coming back on line, the well has recorded peak flow rates
of up to 700 Mcf per day, although rates have been variable during de-watering.
At the Rost wells in Fort Dodge, M3 Helium treats the raw gas on site to concentrate the helium and
has leased two tube trailers which it uses for deliveries to its offtaker.
M3 Helium also has interests in five producing wells (Peyton, Smith, Nilson, Bearman and Dimmitt)
within the Hugoton gas field in South-Western Kansas, one of the largest natural gas fields in North
America. Significantly these wells are in the proximity of a gathering network and the Jayhawk gas
processing plant meaning that producing wells are all tied into the infrastructure.
Forward Looking Statements
These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's
current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions.
Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not a
guarantee of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking
statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of
the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate
only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any
obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect
events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except
as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.
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