Lithium Brine Evaluations in the Williston Basin, Saskatchewan
Sproule ERCE worked with lithium exploration clients in Saskatchewan’s Williston Basin. Our team created detailed geological models following strict investor standards, interpreting limited assay data and mapping reservoirs in 2D and 3D. We adapted petroleum industry techniques to suit lithium extraction’s unique challenges and evolving technologies.
Project Highlights
- Lithium explorers faced limited geological data and evolving extraction plans
- They required NI 43-101-compliant resource and economic assessments to attract investment
- Sproule ERCE developed detailed geological models tailored to these complex conditions
- Adaptable assessment scenarios provided the client with confidence to progress their early-stage projects
Challenges:
Data Scarcity and Geological Uncertainty: Limited geological data and lithium concentration assays necessitated extensive interpretation and interpolation across large areas.
Evolving Development Plans: Early-stage asset development involved changing extraction strategies aimed at optimizing economic outcomes.
Emerging Extraction Technology: Extraction methods are still in the pilot phase for this type of brine, requiring adaptation from techniques used in other deposit types.
Evolving Development Plans: Early-stage asset development involved changing extraction strategies aimed at optimizing economic outcomes.
Emerging Extraction Technology: Extraction methods are still in the pilot phase for this type of brine, requiring adaptation from techniques used in other deposit types.
Solutions:
Geological Setting and Reservoir Compartmentalization: The Duperow Formation was deposited in a shallow carbonate shelf setting with cyclic deposition of carbonates and evaporites. The evaporites act as barriers and prevent communication between the individual reservoir units.
Spatial Characterization via Geological Modeling: Integration of subsurface data in consistent 2D or 3D geological models allowed detailed spatial characterization of different lithostratigraphic units with varying Lithium concentrations and reservoir properties between the units.
Adapting Petroleum Industry Best Practices to Lithium Reporting: Adaptation of petroleum industry best practices, which apply to any subsurface fluids or NI 43-101 requirements, which were primarily designed for hard rock mining operations.
Spatial Characterization via Geological Modeling: Integration of subsurface data in consistent 2D or 3D geological models allowed detailed spatial characterization of different lithostratigraphic units with varying Lithium concentrations and reservoir properties between the units.
Adapting Petroleum Industry Best Practices to Lithium Reporting: Adaptation of petroleum industry best practices, which apply to any subsurface fluids or NI 43-101 requirements, which were primarily designed for hard rock mining operations.
Values:
Bridging Regulatory Compliance with Investor Confidence in LithiumProjects: Report compliant with mining regulations provides assurance to lithium investors, who are typically more familiar with hard rock mining than liquid mineral recovery.
Economic Scenario Analysis for Informed Decision-Making: Multiple development scenarios and sensitivities on economic parameters provided the Client with a greater understanding of key parameters.
Strategic Recommendations for Subsurface Data Acquisition: Recommendations on the optimal strategy for acquiring additional subsurface data, ranging from appraisal well selection to sidewall core sampling and well test design.
Economic Scenario Analysis for Informed Decision-Making: Multiple development scenarios and sensitivities on economic parameters provided the Client with a greater understanding of key parameters.
Strategic Recommendations for Subsurface Data Acquisition: Recommendations on the optimal strategy for acquiring additional subsurface data, ranging from appraisal well selection to sidewall core sampling and well test design.