ExxonMobil aims to be a leading lithium supplier for EVs by 2030; drilling first lithium well in Smackover Formation in Arkansas
14 November 2023
Exxon Mobil Corporation announced plans to become a leading producer of lithium, a key component of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Work has begun for the company’s first phase of North America lithium production in southwest Arkansas, an area known to hold significant lithium deposits. First production is targeted for 2027.
The product offer will be branded as Mobil Lithium, building on the rich history of deep technical partnership between Mobil and the automotive industry.
Lithium is essential to the energy transition, and ExxonMobil has a leading role to play in paving the way for electrification. This landmark project applies decades of ExxonMobil expertise to unlock vast supplies of North American lithium with far fewer environmental impacts than traditional mining operations.
—Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions
In early 2023, ExxonMobil acquired the rights to 120,000 gross acres of the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas—considered one of the most prolific lithium resources of its type in North America. (Earlier post.)
According to the Office of the State Geologist in Arkansas, the bromine-rich brines from wells in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of Columbia County in southwestern Arkansas contain as much as 445 parts per million lithium. Lower values are reported in waters originating from some water wells and hot and cold springs scattered across Arkansas.
Southwest Arkansas has a history as an oil and natural gas producer, and the region’s geology is well understood. ExxonMobil is working with local and state officials to enable the successful scale-up of Arkansas’ emerging lithium industry.
After using conventional oil and gas drilling methods to access lithium-rich saltwater from reservoirs about 10,000 feet underground, ExxonMobil will utilize direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to separate lithium from the saltwater. The lithium will then be converted onsite to battery-grade material. The remaining saltwater will be re-injected into the underground reservoirs. The DLE process produces fewer carbon emissions than hard rock mining and requires significantly less land.
The company is targeting its first lithium production for 2027 and is evaluating growth opportunities globally. By 2030, ExxonMobil aims to be producing enough lithium to supply the manufacturing needs of well over a million EVs per year. Discussions with potential customers, including EV and battery manufacturers, are ongoing.
In all of the sectors of fossil fuel production, Big Oil can now make substantial profits by endorsing Renewable Energy.
Upstream: like this with ExxonMobil and others utilizing direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to separate lithium from the saltwater.
(Checkout: https://financialpost.com/commodities/mining/mining-lithium-abandoned-oil-fields-alberta-evs).
Also, Producing geothermal energy involves deep-well drilling, just like oil and gas.
(See: https://electrek.co/2023/01/25/texas-geothermal-energy/).
Midstream: Valero/Diamond Green, Phillips 66, Neste, and Marathon with Renewable Diesel Refineries.
Downstream: Shell has announced plans to install 50,000 EV charging stations by 2025, and BP is investing a billion dollars in a plan to increase its EV charging points from 7,500 to 70,000 by 2030.
So why are they fighting it?
Posted by: Gryf | 14 November 2023 at 09:44 AM
What people need to realize is that we have a population problem. There simply is not enough resources to support 4 billion people at a USA standard of living and energy consumption levels let alone 8 billion. 4 billion people burning oil at EU not American per capita rates takes our 47 year reserves and turns them into less than 10.
Oil is far to valuable as plastics,medications, lubricants, fertilizers and adhesives vs burning it to the sky. The big boys in oil know this and are moving to go to a system of mine once use many with lithium and probably sodium plus Iron phosphates and Prussian white/blue as the cathodes. With batteries you mine once and endlessly recycle the metals this is how you can have 8 billion people at a a middle class standard of living. Nuclear power is absolutely needed as well.
For the rural and off grid biofuels plus synthetic fuels are needed for the energy density plus storeability. Since most people by 2050 will be in dense urban areas the vast majority of people can use urban centric transport systems. Autonomous ubers and evtols air taxis will.change the urban playing fields.
When Toyota releases their 700+ mile solid state rapid charging car with at least 500 cycles life on the cells that will be the point most myself included add a pure EV to the stable of vehicles in the multicar garage. I use my trucks for truck stuff sometimes far off grid so I will need a range extended diesel powered version if you want me to go electric trucks. Otherwise I will keep my existing fleet and maintain them indefinitely not hard to do with commercial grade engines. 50+ years is not unreasonable for a engine block and heads. I'll be dead by than. Now fueling those diesels. Biomass based synthetic diesel, CO2 capture plus nuclear H2 > FTsyn diesel or algae based biodiesel is ok by me as long as it stores in 100 gal tanks for at least a month and has 35+Mj/L and is not Gucci expensive.
Posted by: JamesDo88039200 | 14 November 2023 at 11:00 AM