UK's Cornish Lithium Awards Halliburton £14.5 Million Geothermal Lithium Well Services Contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cornish Lithium has awarded Halliburton a contract to provide integrated well services for the Cross Lanes geothermal lithium project in Cornwall, UK.

Cornish Lithium first drilled and tested an exploration well at Cross Lanes in 2023, confirming that lithium-rich geothermal waters (brines) circulate in the underlying rock formations. Under this contract, Halliburton will drill and test two appraisal wells to determine the lithium resource potential of these geothermal waters. The wells will help define production conditions, assess injection and reinjection rates, and demonstrate the company's preferred direct lithium extraction technology. Cornish Lithium will also explore the potential of using geothermal energy as a heat source for district heating.

The Cross Lanes project costs £14.5 million ($20 million), partially funded by a £7.2 million ($10 million) grant from the UK government's DRIVE35 program. A final investment decision will be made based on data collected during this phase of the project.

Martin Geissler, Vice President and General Manager of Lithium Geothermal Waters at Cornish Lithium, stated that Halliburton possesses deep industry expertise and experience that will support the project's drilling and testing phases, from well design to construction. He also expressed anticipation for continuing to advance the project with Halliburton and other partners, building on Cornwall's proud mining heritage to create high-quality local jobs and long-term economic growth.

Another project utilizing the granite body beneath Cornwall is being advanced by Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL). Its United Downs geothermal power plant in Cornwall began commercial power generation in February this year, with drilling exceeding 5 kilometers in depth and accessing natural hot water above 190°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK. This heat generates electricity around the clock, and Octopus Energy has signed a 3MW power purchase agreement, sufficient to power approximately 10,000 homes. Alongside commencing power generation, GEL is also producing lithium carbonate at the site. According to GEL, they are able to extract over 340 ppm of lithium from the geothermal fluids brought to the surface from the plant, one of the highest concentrations ever discovered in any well worldwide.