ExxonMobil Drilling First Lithium Well in Arkansas

SPRING, Texas — ExxonMobil has begun drilling its first lithium well in southwest Arkansas, an area known to be rich in the soft, silvery white metal, with an eye toward becoming a leading supplier for electric vehicles by 2030.

Lithium is essential to the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, energy storage systems and other clean energy technologies. 

Demand for lithium is expected to quadruple by 2030 and virtually all lithium today is produced outside of North America.

The area in which the lithium project is being developed has a long history in oil and natural gas production, and the region’s geology is well understood.

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.

Once actual production begins at the site in 2027, ExxonMobil plans to market the mined material as Mobil™ Lithium with its main client being the automotive industry.

“Lithium is essential to the energy transition, and ExxonMobil has a leading role to play in paving the way for electrification,” said Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions, in a written statement. 

“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,” he said.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders lauded the project, saying it guarantees “good, high-paying jobs” for Arkansas residents, while being in accordance with  the state’s “all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

To carry out development of the site, ExxonMobil will use conventional oil and gas drilling methods to access lithium-rich saltwater from reservoirs about 10,000 feet underground.

Once there, the company will use direct lithium extraction 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. 

According to ExxonMobil, this process will produce fewer carbon emissions than hard rock mining and require significantly less land.

“This project is a win-win-win,” Ammann said. “It’s a perfect example of how ExxonMobil can enhance North American energy security, expand supplies of a critical industrial material and enable the continued reduction of emissions associated with transportation, which is essential to meeting society’s net-zero goals.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue