Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on November 20, 2023 at 2:57

Standard Lithium Provides Comprehensive Results of Its Fully Optimized and Proven DLE Process

 November 20, 2023 streetinsider.com

Ready to Scale: Setting the Pace in the Smackover With a Tested, Optimized and Proven DLE Process and a Highly Skilled Operations Team

EL DORADO, Ark., Nov. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI) (FRA:S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium development company, today shared detailed performance results from its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process at its Demonstration Plant (Plant) near El Dorado, Arkansas.

Standard Lithium's Demonstration Plant is the only truly large-scale, continuously operating DLE plant in North America. Initially commissioned in May 2020, the Plant has operated on a 24/7 basis since then (aside from turnaround due to equipment upgrades in the plant and brine supply interruptions). To date, the Plant has processed over 15 million gallons (58 million litres) of Smackover brine, providing valuable data and overall process improvements for the design and future operation of a full-scale commercial DLE plant. The detailed performance results reported below reflect the success of the LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) technology integrated into Standard Lithium’s overall flowsheet, which is detailed in the Definitive Feasibility Study for Phase 1A and the Preliminary Feasibility Study for South West Arkansas. Both studies incorporate the LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) process developed in collaboration with Koch Technology Solutions, LLC (“KTS”).

Some of the key technical highlights of the Demo Plant and the LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) are provided below.

Key Findings:

• Lithium Recovery Efficiency: During a representative period of performance over July and August 2023, the LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) process achieved an average lithium recovery of 96.1% from the continuous incoming brine flow.
• Element Rejection Rate: During the same period, the DLE process rejected, on average, over 99% of the key contaminants sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium from the brine (i.e. less than 1% of those contaminants made it through the DLE into the first lithium chloride solution); and over 95% of boron was rejected.
• Operational Cycles: The LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) process has completed over 8,000 operational cycles.
• Brine Processed: As of the end of September 2023, the Demo Plant had processed 15,467,815 gallons (58,552,049 litres) of Smackover brine, produced directly from the formation and reinjected continuously back into the same formation.
• Product: The LiPRO^TM LSS (DLE) initial product has been further purified and concentrated in the integrated Plant to form a final LiCl solution (the “Intermediate Product”) containing over 10,000 mg/L lithium. This Intermediate Product has been shipped off-site and has been successfully converted to both battery quality lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

One of the fundamental findings of the Demonstration Plant is the necessity of long-duration, on-site continuous processing of real brine. In traditional small-scale, short-term off-site batch processes, where brine is isolated, transported and often undergoes physical and chemical changes before testing, our Demo Plant handles real Smackover brine directly from the resource. The long-term operation of our Demo Plant has been crucial in replicating and understanding the real-world dynamic conditions of continuous commercial-scale operations. In addition, operating the Demo Plant for an extended period has allowed Standard Lithium and our Joint Development Partners, Koch Technology Solutions, to tailor and optimise all parts of the multi-step flowsheet that allow the Plant to be scaled-up for commercial production.

Standard Lithium’s President, Dr. Andy Robinson commented “Over three and a half years of rigorous testing and integrated process improvements have provided us with unrivalled knowledge of lithium extraction from Smackover brines. We selected Smackover brines for their existing commercial operations, exceptional lithium grade, and straightforward geochemical nature, distinguishing them as North America's premier lithium brine resource and comparable to those in Chile and Argentina. Systematically tackling the technical challenges of continuous operation and scaling-up has prepared us for a smoother transition to commercial production. Whilst we anticipate challenges, our extensive experience and knowledge, in combination with our technology partners and the expertise of our Plant's engineers and operators, sets us up for success. The continuous performance of the Plant, over a sustained period of time, has exceeded our expectations and allows us to move our projects forward confidently. We now have a tested and proven DLE technology and integrated flowsheet that we can apply across our series of world-class Smackover assets with our current and future partners”.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of lithium-brine bearing properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes brine projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. The Company aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully-integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s signature projects, the Phase 1A Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located on the Smackover Formation in southern Arkansas, a region with a longstanding and established brine processing industry. The Company has also identified a number of highly prospective lithium brine project areas in the Smackover Formation in East Texas and began an extensive brine leasing program in the key project areas. In addition, the Company has an interest in certain mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on November 23, 2023 at 8:55

Sitting on the brink of a commercial lithium boom in southern Arkansas

A small startup and a corporate giant are poised to unlock vast quantities of the vital battery chemical beneath south Arkansas.

 

https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/brink-commercial-lithium-b...

Permalink Reply by John Tanner on December 4, 2023 at 8:05

Pretty interesting article on Lithium in California's Salton Sea.  Sounds like it could be comparable to the Smackover.  In some ways at least.  Not sure where they will get all the water needed considering there's already a scramble and fight for the resource for existing industries.

http://https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/imperial-county-ca...

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on December 4, 2023 at 9:08

Thanks, John.  Lithium from brine projects are popping up in numerous countries.  The projects that become economic will likely have low costs and light environmental footprints.  DLE projects are perceived to be the most economic currently.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on December 5, 2023 at 3:45

Firm Claims Texas Well Holds Highest Lithium Concentrations in North America

Standard Lithium says the latest drilling project indicates an increasing trend of lithium concentrations in the Texas portion of the Smackover formation.

October 27, 2023 By Trent Jacobs  Journal of Petroleum Technology

Standard Lithium reported this week that its drilling program in east Texas discovered significant concentrations of lithium-grade brine. Independent testing of wellbore fluid samples taken from an upper bench of the targeted Smackover formation registered a lithium concentration of 806 mg/L, a level that the mineral exploration company said it believes represents a new North American record.

The discovery is part of a three-well project that Standard Lithium said suggests there is “an increasing trend” of subsurface lithium concentrations moving west from Arkansas, which up to now, has been the center of efforts to extract mineral-rich brine from the Smackover. While still in a pre-commercial phase, these companies are all angling to become significant suppliers of a US-based battery manufacturing supply chain that is expected to emerge in the coming years alongside the rise of electric vehicle adoption.

Andy Robinson, president and chief operating officer of Standard Lithium, described the east Texas area, with an average grade of 644 mg/L, as a "globally significant lithium brine asset."

According to data shared by Standard Lithium, the average lithium concentrations reported by other project developers in Alberta and Nevada are 75 mg/L and 123 mg/L, respectively.

The latest operational update from the company also highlighted that the brine analysis shows its Texas wells hold significantly elevated concentrations of two other marketable commodities, potash (KCl) and bromine.

Standard Lithium, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, said it plans to reach a final investment decision next year on a $365 million facility capable of yielding an average of 5,400 tonnes annually of battery-quality lithium carbonate. The project would be the company's first commercial development, using wells with an average lithium concentration of 217 mg/L.

A subsequent proposed project in Arkansas is expected to produce at least 30,000 tonnes of battery-quality lithium hydroxide annually with an average lithium grade of 437 mg/L.

Given the parallels with oil and gas extraction, several large US upstream companies have recently signaled their interest in lithium brine recovery. ExxonMobil stands out as the biggest among them.

In July, during an investor conference, ExxonMobil’s CEO confirmed the company is actively pursuing business opportunities within the nascent sector. The statement followed media reports that the Houston-based supermajor discreetly acquired a lithium extraction company operating in Arkansas for $100 million before forming a production agreement with another.

 

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 7, 2024 at 4:54

Two new lithium wells in Columbia, Lafayette counties get drilling permits

Jan 7, 2024 magnoliareporter.com

Saltwerk LLC, the ExxonMobile subsidiary that is drilling test wells for the potential production of lithium in South Arkansas, has received two new permits for wildcat locations in Columbia and Lafayette counties.

Nabors is the contractor for both wells.

The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission issued permits for these locations:

Pedro No. 1 is located 280 feet FSL and 1,887 feet FEL in Section 29-17S-22W in Columbia County. Permit depth is to 11,000 feet. The location is south of Columbia County Road 265 and west of County Road 7, southwest of the CMC mill. Work will start February 10.

Gabriella No. 1 is 1,066 feet FNL and 2,310 feet FWL in Section 12-18S-24W in Lafayette County. Permit depth is to 10,850. The location is south of Homan Road and west of Arkansas 53. Work will start February 4.

Saltwerk has also amended the depth for its Suzy No. 1, which is located near the intersection of Columbia County roads 15 and 203 in the Philadelphia community southwest of Magnolia. The new depth is 9,900 feet.

The company has also drilled two other wells in its lithium search, the Gerald No. 1 on Columbia 1 in the Sharman community north of Taylor, and the Lili No. 1 along Homan Road west of Arkansas 53 in eastern Lafayette County.

Albemarle Corporation has received a drilling permit for its Section 36 Test Well No. 1, 1,058 feet FNL and 546 feet FEL in Section 36-16S-21W. The wildcat location is east of Mulerider Trail (formerly Columbia County Road 13), southeast of the Old Country Club Subdivision, and north of the Southern Arkansas University Farm north of U.S. 82. Energy Drilling is the contractor. Permit depth is to 8,514 feet in the Smackover Zone. Work began December 21.

Albemarle has also received a permit for a brine injection well, 1,083 feet FNL and 1,935 feet FEL in Section 21-17S-22W in the Kilgore Lodge Field of Columbia County. The site is south of County Road 50 and west of County Road 27. Patterson UTI Drilling is the contractor. Measured depth will be 11,635 feet. Work began December 22.

Permalink Reply by full name on January 7, 2024 at 9:34

Hear anything about Miller County, AR (southwest corner)?

In the past year I have received a bunch of offers to by land and minerals. In the 30-40 years prior to that I never had an offer. Don't plan to sell but wonder if this is the lithium speculators.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 8, 2024 at 2:38

I haven't heard anything on Miller County but it should be in the lithium brine fairway.  Detailed information is still in short supply and we get a little more each month.  The bottom line for land/mineral owners at this point is there is no reason to get in a hurry to sign a lease.  There will be no lithium produced before 2026.  We'll know a lot more in the next two years.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 8, 2024 at 2:38

TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC., ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF TECHNICAL RESOURCES STUDY FOR THE ARKANSAS LITHIUM AND BROMINE BRINE UNIT

News provided by TETRA Technologies, Inc. 08 Jan, 2024

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --  TETRA Technologies, Inc. ("TETRA" or the "Company") (NYSE:TTI) today announced the completion of a Technical Resources Study ("Report") for its 6,138 acre "Evergreen Brine Unit" in Arkansas. TETRA previously announced the Evergreen Brine Unit comprises brine assets contributed by TETRA and Saltwerx, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil ("Saltwerx"), that was unanimously approved in September 2023 by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission ("AOGC") to form the first newly established brine unit in Arkansas in nearly 28 years. TETRA had previously announced the results of its maiden inferred resources report on its 5,100 gross acres proposed unit. The Report that is being announced today further advances the resources and includes both "measured" and "indicated" resources in addition to the "inferred" category, reflecting higher confidence in the existence of the resources evaluated by the Report.

The Report estimated that the Evergreen Brine Unit contains the following:

• 1,413,000 tons of elemental bromine consisting of approximately:
  • 329,000 tons of Measured Resources
  • 543,000 tons of Indicated Resources
  • 541,000 tons of Inferred Resources

• 137,000 tons of lithium consisting of approximately:
  • 32,000 tons of Measured Resources
  • 53,000 tons of Indicated Resources
  • 52,000 tons of Inferred Resources

Using a conversion factor of 5.323 to convert elemental lithium to lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) it is estimated to contain in total 729,251 tons of LCE.

Mineral resources are estimates and therefore, inherently imprecise, and dependent upon a number of assumptions, which are further discussed in the Report. The resources estimates and brine ownership percentages in the Report are consistent with and assume completion of existing contractual obligations. The entire Report is available on TETRA website at:  Investor Relations - Presentations (tetratec.com)

Following the drilling and completion of a second test well within the Evergreen Brine Unit and utilizing information available from Standard Lithium wells near the Evergreen Brine Unit, the Report was completed and compiled by RESPEC Company LLC ("RESPEC") with geological and reservoir technical support provided by Lonquist Engineering ("Lonquist"). RESPEC is a leading consulting firm to the mining & energy, water and natural resources industries. Lonquist is a leading petroleum engineering, underground storge engineering and reservoir engineering firm. The second test well was completed in August 2023 and provided additional reservoir information, including lithium and bromine fluid analysis, reservoir pressures and thickness, porosity, and permeability, amongst other information to meet the higher quality resource standards in this Report. An extensive well test was also completed on the well which provided brine deliverability information consistent with the planned and modelled flow rates from future production wells.

Brady Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "This is a very positive resource Report for the future prospects for our Evergreen Brine Unit for the production of lithium and bromine.  The bromine resources were in-line with our expectations, but the total lithium resources greatly exceeded our expectations and is more than three times the previous estimate of 234,000 tons of Inferred Resources from our previous 5,100 acre study. Due to the richness of the lithium concentration and the favorable Smackover reservoir properties, the estimated 22 tons per acre of total lithium resources for the Evergreen Unit is believed to be the highest to date of any lithium brine resource in the U.S. for which a SK-1300, NI-43-101 or JORC-compliant technical report summary has been published.   

"As reported previously, the SK-1300 Section 19 Economic Analysis report for bromine was published in early in 2023. The target for completing the lithium front end engineering and design study (FEED) is early 2024. Should these resources be converted to reserves with an estimated 80% ultimate recovery, the estimated volumes of bromine and lithium from our Brine Unit represent over 50 years of potential production for lithium and bromine based on the planned production rates underpinning these FEED studies.

"Once our lithium FEED study is completed, we intend to publish an economic analysis for the brine unit, which will include the lithium economic analysis and an updated bromine economic analysis reflecting the cost synergies of a common plant site infrastructure and operations. We are also pleased to report that we have entered into a commitment, subject to completion of customary due diligence, to purchase approximately 120-acre plant site located within and on the southern side of the additional 35,000 gross acres of mineral leases held by TETRA.  The plant site has been chosen to accommodate both the bromine and lithium plants to be operated by TETRA and its expected joint venture partner and is a mile north of the 6,138-acre brine unit." 

Company Overview

TETRA Technologies, Inc. is an energy services and solutions company operating on six continents with a focus on bromine-based completion fluids, calcium chloride, water management solutions, frac flowback, and production well testing services. Calcium chloride is used in the oil and gas, industrial, agricultural, road, food, and beverage markets. TETRA is evolving its business model by expanding into the low carbon energy markets with its chemistry expertise, key mineral acreage, and global infrastructure. Low carbon energy initiatives include commercialization of TETRA PureFlow^®, an ultra-pure zinc bromide clear brine fluid for stationary batteries and energy storage; advancing an innovative carbon capture utilization and storage technology with CarbonFree to capture CO₂ and mineralize emissions to make commercial, carbon-negative chemicals; and development of TETRA's lithium and bromine mineral acreage to meet the growing demand for oil and gas products and energy storage. Visit the Company's website at www.tetratec.com for more information.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements that are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Generally, the use of words such as "may," "see," "expectation," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "projects," "anticipate," "believe," "assume," "could," "should," "plans," "targets" or similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events, activities, expectations or outcomes identify forward-looking statements that the Company intends to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources of lithium and bromine, the potential extraction of lithium and bromine from our Brine Unit, the economic viability thereof, the demand for such resources, the timing and costs of such activities, and the expected revenues and profits from such activities; the accuracy of our resources report and initial economic assessment regarding our lithium and bromine acreage; projections or forecasts concerning the Company's business activities, and statements regarding the Company's beliefs, expectations, plans, goals, future events and performance, and other statements that are not purely historical. With respect to the Company's disclosures of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources, including bromine and lithium carbonate equivalent concentrations, it is uncertain if they will ever be economically developed. Investors are cautioned that mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic value and further exploration may not result in the estimation of a mineral reserve. Further, there are a number of uncertainties related to processing lithium, which is an inherently difficult process.  Therefore, you are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of our resources can be economically or legally commercialized. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. With respect to the Company's disclosures of the MOU with Saltwerx, it is uncertain about the ability of the parties to successfully negotiate one or more definitive agreements, the future relationship between the parties, and the ability to successfully and economically produce lithium and bromine from the brine unit. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect actual results are described in the section titled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as well as other risks identified from time to time in its reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE TETRA Technologies, Inc.

Permalink Reply by Hale Yayuh on January 8, 2024 at 7:06

I just got a royalty check for a small mineral interest for Smackover bromine from salt water in south Arkansas. These annual checks have been coming for many years. This check was ten times what they have ever been. Makes me wonder if it's connected with lithium at all. It's still not big money but it's a small interest.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 8, 2024 at 7:36

Hale, would you mind sharing a copy with your personal information redacted?  I'm curious as to the ten times bump and the location.

Permalink Reply by Hale Yayuh on January 8, 2024 at 12:32

For some reason, I can't reply directly under your post, Skip. In answer to your question, there really isn't anything to report. When I looked at it today, it made me realize that these stubs are far too sparse to have any value and that the authorities should require them to be more detailed. It only mentions a lease ID number, which I would think is this company's internal number and meaningless to anyone else other than communicating with them. And it gives no location, even the county but I think it is Columbia county. Only other info is "brine lease" and "in-lieu royalty." I do not know if predecessors-in-title signed an actual brine lease but I have a vague memory of one long ago. And without digging through a bunch of records, I do not know section-township-range.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• Next ›
• Page