Confined saline aquifers, often associated with hydrocarbon production, are an emerging source of lithium in the global market. They represent a new type of deposit, and there is a need to develop standards and guidelines for resource and reserve estimation to account for the unique characteristics and challenges of these deposits.

This case study demonstrates the application of a new methodology for estimating resource volumes for confined saline aquifers, drawing on technical reports completed for the purposes of Canadian securities and exchange regulations in 2022-2023. As confined saline aquifers are often associated with hydrocarbon production, this methodology is of value for both existing oil and gas companies (who may have mineral resource present in their associated water production) and emerging mineral companies seeking to develop brine-hosted lithium projects.

Keywords:
reservoir simulation, geologist, fluid dynamics, environmental geology, production monitoring, flow in porous media, enhanced recovery, geological subdiscipline, knowledge management, permeability
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Reservoir Simulation, Formation Evaluation & Management, Reserves Evaluation, Professionalism, Training, and Education, Information Management and Systems, Flow in porous media
Copyright 2024, Society of Petroleum Engineers DOI 10.2118/218075-MS
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.