Helium plays a pivotal role in numerous modern industries, yet China’s domestic supply has persistently covered less than 10% of demand. Enhancing exploration technologies for Helium is therefore critical to securing this strategic resource. Bibliometric analysis was combined with knowledge mapping, using literature on helium exploration and development published in the CNKI database from 2000 to 2025.For the first time, the field’s knowledge structure was reconstructed visually and its evolutionary patterns were quantified. By mining multi-dimensional data—including annual publication counts, author collaboration networks, and topic evolution—the development trajectory and current landscape of China’s Helium exploration research were unveiled from both spatial-temporal and life-cycle perspectives. The results show that China’s Helium research has progressed through three phases: an interest-driven exploratory period (2000—2011), a demand-driven theoretical development stage (2012—2021), and a policy-driven production and application surge (2022 present). These shifts reflect the combined influence of policy, technology, international dynamics, and market needs. Five core research teams lead the development of this field, forming a sound integration of “government-industry-academia-research-application”. The dynamic evolution of research hotspots is clear: in the early stage, the focus is on basic basin surveys and understanding of origins. In the middle stage, the focus shifts to resource potential evaluation and reservoir-forming condition analysis. In the recent stage, research delves into enrichment mechanisms, reservoir-forming models, strategic resource security, high-efficiency helium extraction technologies, and integrated application across the entire industrial chain. This shows an evolutionary path from phenomenon description to mechanism exploration, and further to systematic application. The latest progress was summarized in key scientific issues related to helium and recommendations were put forward to promote the high-quality development of the industry. Through quantitative, visual, and multi-scale comprehensive analysis methods, the complete development trajectory of helium research in China was systematically reviewed, revealed key driving factors, core strength structure, and hotspot evolution laws were revealed. This provides important scientific basis and strategic guidance for optimizing scientific research planning, enhancing industry-academia-research integration, and strengthening national helium resource security.
LI Hua-yang, LIU Quan-you, ZHU Dong-ya, WU Xiao-qi, ZHANG Chi, LIU Dan-tong.
Research History and Prospects of Helium in China[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(8): 3111-3124 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2505925
知识图谱作为一种高效的定量分析方法,在理清复杂科学问题、解析多维数据关联、展示领域发展脉络方面展现出独特的优势[12-13]。崔悦等[14]采集了知网数据库中2010—2024年9月以“数字孪生”“地面工程”“油气田”等为主题的196篇文献,基于VOSviewer软件对设备、站库和系统三级研究热点进行了逐层分析,并对地面数字孪生系统的建设方向、思路以及具体实施路径进行了未来展望。朱彪彪等[15]用CiteSpace软件统计并分析了2000—2024年发表在知网核心期刊和WOS(Web of Science)核心数据库的地质学、地球化学、地球物理学、地质灾害与防治等地学相关领域的5 403篇文献,详细总结了地质大数据与人工智能方向的研究现状、热点和前沿,为地质科技工作者提供了重要参考。赵汀等[16]利用矿产资源国情调查数据库将地质大数据与国情调查项目相结合,开发了基于机器学习的矿床知识图谱可视化框架,为大规模矿产资源数据的整合提供了基础支撑。
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