Exxon to decide how to proceed with lithium project in Arkansas

  • February 16, 2024

 

The Exxon Mobil technologists working on a lithium project in Arkansas’s Smackover formation have a decision to make by the end of the year—which lithium filtration technology to use as the company hopes to become a top producer of the material needed for electric vehicle batteries.

Patrick Howarth, head of Exxon’s lithium business recently told Reuters the decision will focus on which DLE or direct lithium extraction technology to use if the company is to meet its goal of producing enough of the metal by 2030 to power a million EV batteries.

It was in November of last year when Exxon acquired nearly 120,000 acres of potential brine-producing land for $100 from  Oklahoma City-based Galvanic Energy. Exxon was quick to hop into the lithium extraction industry as Galvanic’s prospects were described by many as the most prolific in the U.S.

 

ExxonMobil acquired nearly 120,000 of potential brine-producing land for $100 million from Oklahoma City-based Galvanic Energy. The holdings are in Columbia and Lafayette counties where Galvanic spent years acquiring them. At the time, Galvanic’s lithium prospects were described as the most prolific in the U.S.
Exxon built a pilot plant in Houston where it has conducted testing of which DLE technology works best. In the coming months, it will have a decision to make about which equipment and which DLE technology to use before move full-steam ahead on the Smackover project.

Click here for Reuters

Jerry Bohnen