U.S. Energy CEO Ryan Smith on Helium and Carbon Management Platform at Big Sky Carbon Hub

U.S. Energy Corp. is shifting from traditional oil and gas toward an integrated helium and carbon management platform centered on its Big Sky Carbon Hub in Montana. In an interview, CEO Ryan Smith explains how the company plans to produce helium for semiconductors, AI, and defense while capturing and sequestering CO2 from the same processing operations. The model creates multiple revenue streams from helium sales, carbon sequestration, and enhanced oil recovery, which Smith says improves resilience across commodity cycles. The company recently signed a five-year helium offtake agreement with an investment-grade industrial gas firm, providing predictable cash flow and third-party validation. Smith notes that the CPI-linked pricing structure in the contract offers inflation protection and strengthens project economics. He also highlights that domestic helium production reduces reliance on concentrated global supply from Russia and Qatar, supporting U.S. high-tech supply chains and national security. For carboncredit.io readers, the key takeaway is the integration of carbon management with critical gas production. The Big Sky Carbon Hub is designed to generate revenue from both helium sales and carbon sequestration, including enhanced oil recovery. This dual revenue approach could improve project bankability and provide a template for other subsurface resource projects looking to add carbon management to their business model.