CALGARY, Alberta, April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helium Evolution Incorporated (TSXV:HEVI) ("HEVI" or the "Company"), a Canadian-based helium exploration company focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan, is pleased to announce a joint initiative with its partner and the operator, North American Helium Inc. ("NAH"), to embark on an ambitious drilling program in the Mankota area of Saskatchewan.

HEVI and NAH are planning to drill up to nine joint development wells (the "New Wells") which are expected to spud between Q3 2024 and Q2 2025, subject to surface and environmental restrictions. With HEVI's 20% working interest in the New Wells, the Company is positioned to capitalize on this strategic expansion, building upon three existing helium discoveries at Mankota, including the commercially viable 2-31 Well, as defined herein and as outlined in the Company's press release on February 26, 2024. The Company intends to work with NAH over the coming months to determine specific well locations and timelines.

"NAH's decision to pursue drilling of an incremental six to nine wells demonstrates confidence in our ongoing partnership, builds on our existing three helium discoveries at Mankota, and highlights the opportunity to unlock value from HEVI's 5.6 million acres of prospective land in Saskatchewan," said Greg Robb, CEO of the Company. "HEVI is truly unique among our peer group, offering investors access to a very active, growth-oriented company with indirect exposure to the industry's leading Canadian helium producer in privately-held NAH. Further, we are the only public helium company with three helium discoveries, an additional six to nine new wells targeted to commence drilling within the next year, and a healthy balance sheet with positive working capital."

The additional drilling and development of the New Wells provides HEVI multiple catalysts and potential news events from now until the Company achieves first helium sales, expected in 2025. The Company is also pleased to confirm that HEVI has acquired an additional four sections of land ("4 Crown Sections") that was previously unleased and is adjacent to existing HEVI and NAH development in the Mankota area, effectively filling in an area near the heart of existing helium activity.

HEVI Upcoming Milestones and Catalysts - 2024 / 2025

The accompanying map provides a visual overview of the Mankota area, showing existing wells and the location of the proposed 12-30 helium processing facility.

2-31 Well

• HEVI's first helium discovery well at 2-31-2-8W3 ("2-31 Well") was successfully stimulated and tested at economic rates with a helium concentration of 0.95%, more than three times the 0.3% level deemed commercially viable.
• Negligible volumes of water were produced at the 2-31 Well, a positive indication for helium recovery and processing.

9-18 Well

• After initial testing, HEVI's discovery well at 9-18-3-8W3 ("9-18 Well") had a preliminary helium concentration of 0.78% and no water.
• The 9-18 Well is awaiting stimulation, with timing subject to surface conditions.

9-35 Well

• HEVI's discovery well at 9-35-3-9W3 ("9-35 Well") has been shut-in for the requisite 21-day period to collect reservoir pressure data for interpretation. The Company and NAH are currently evaluating the results to determine next steps.
  

14-20 Location

• HEVI and NAH intend to drill an offset location to the 2-31 Well (the "14-20 Location") designed to further delineate the helium pool. Due to environmental restrictions, the 14-20 Location will not be drilled until after September 15, 2024.
  

New Well drilling program

• HEVI and NAH intend to drill six to nine New Wells, inclusive of the 14-20 Location, on the joint lands noted in the accompanying map, placing the New Wells in proximity to NAH's producing Mankota pool and as a continuation of the trend being developed at Mankota.
  

12-30 Facility

• NAH has received approval for a facility license at 12-30-2-8W3 (the "12-30 Facility"), approximately 1,500 metres from the 2-31 Well.
• A final investment decision ("FID") on the 12-30 Facility is expected subsequent to further delineation of the adjacent helium pool, followed by construction and commissioning, with the goal of supporting first helium sales in 2025.

HEVI intends to continue updating the market on significant events and developments as information becomes available.

Stay Connected to Helium Evolution

Shareholders and other parties interested in learning more about the Helium Evolution opportunity are encouraged to visit the Company's website, which includes an updated corporate presentation, and are invited to follow the Company on LinkedIn and Twitter for ongoing corporate updates and helium industry information. Helium Evolution also provides an extensive, commissioned 'deep-dive' research report prepared by a third party whose background includes serving as a research analyst for several bank-owned and independent investment dealers. In addition to recent media articles, HEVI maintains a profile on the Investing News Network platform, where further information, editorial pieces and industry reviews are available.

About Helium Evolution Incorporated

Helium Evolution is a Canadian-based helium exploration company holding the largest helium land rights position in North America among publicly-traded companies, focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan. The Company has over five million acres of land under permit near proven discoveries of economic helium concentrations which will support scaling the exploration and development efforts across its land base. HEVI's management and board are executing a differentiated strategy to become a leading supplier of sustainably-produced helium for the growing global helium market.

For further information, please contact:

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding the Company's expectations regarding future production from the 2-31 Well, the 9-35 Well and the 9-18 Well, the Company's expectations regarding scalable helium production and unlocking value from its land generally, the Company and/or NAH's plans with respect to shutting in the 9-35 Well for a 21-day period and the interpretation of results, the Company and/or NAH's plans with respect to the drilling of the New Wells inclusive of the 14-20 Location including the timing, the Company and/or NAH's plans with respect to stimulation operations on the 9-18 Well including the timing, timing of the FID, the Company and/or NAH's plans with respect to drilling an offset location and constructing a facility, the Company's intention to provide further updates regarding catalysts and significant updates and developments, the Company becoming a leading supplier of sustainably-produced helium, timeline of future updates, the Company's beliefs regarding growth of the global helium market and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: NAH may be unsuccessful in drilling commercially productive wells; the Company and/or NAH may abandon or defer plans for continuing the completion, testing and evaluation of the 9-35 Well and/or the 2-31 Well and/or the 9-18 Well; the Company and/or NAH may choose to defer, accelerate or abandon its exploration and development plans, including the drilling of the New Wells and the 14-20 Location; the Company and/or NAH may determine not to bring the 9-35 Well, the 9-18 Well or the 2-31 Well onto production; the Company and/or NAH may decide not to construct the 12-30 Facility; new laws or regulations and/or unforeseen events could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and such volatility may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities regardless of its operating performance; risks generally associated with the exploration for and production of resources; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to expenses and the Company's working capital position; constraint in the availability of services; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; adverse weather or break-up conditions; and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.

When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and risks other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at