The company’s most recent well, LSC-3a, is the first well to test subsurface reinjection into the reservoir matrix, not the fault zone, where Vulcan’s historical production and reinjection has occurred.
Located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field between Germany and France, Lionheart – Vulcan’s first phase of production – is a lighthouse project for Europe’s energy and critical raw material resilience. Lionheart involves the construction of an integrated lithium and renewable energy project targeting production capacity of 24 000 t of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), enough for ca. 500 000 electric vehicle batteries per annum, with a co-product of 275 GWh of renewable power for internal consumption and 560 GWh of heat per annum for local consumers, over an estimated 30-year project life.
Lionheart’s base case Field Development Plan comprises a combination of producers (extracting hot lithium-rich brine) and injectors (returning the lithium-depleted, cooled liquid back to the subsurface) across seven well sites proximal to Lionheart processing infrastructure. Both production and reinjection well test results across the three new wells (to complement the four existing wells for a total of seven wells drilled to date), have thus far met or exceeded the assumptions underpinning the Field Development Plan.
The company expects some variance across the programme, however successful reinjection back into the reservoir matrix provides direct field evidence that supports the base case production scenario outlined in the 2023 Bridging Study. The Bridging Study assumes a combined matrix and fault reinjection programme. Reinjection back into the matrix of the sandstone reservoir is significant and validates the potential to use lithium-depleted brine to push and actively sweep larger portions of the underground formation to increase lithium recovery.
Vulcan’s Managing Director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: “This is another strong result for Lionheart. The successful reinjection into the reservoir matrix at LSC-3a represents an important de-risking milestone as this is a key assumption underpinning our base case Field Development Plan. Results from our production and re-injection wells to date have shown we are meeting or exceeding our subsurface expectations, and this further reinforces our confidence as we progress Lionheart towards commercial production.
“Just as importantly, the data provides further opportunities to optimise the Lionheart Field Development Plan and drive even greater efficiency through execution.
“Every milestone we deliver reduces risk and moves us closer to first commercial production. We remain firmly focused on execution and on delivering a new local, low-cost, battery-grade lithium supply chain from Europe, for Europe.”
