Potential for co-production of lithium and geothermal resources in the Gulf Coast

Lithium brine extractions and geothermal resource developments often are not economically viable as standalone projects, but they May become cost effective when the potential for both resources exist within the same reservoir. Subsurface datasets were analyzed to identify areas in the U.S. Gulf Coast region with potential for lithium brine and geothermal heat recovery. Temperature, lithium brine content, and reservoir quality data for thirty-four depositional units were evaluated using spatial analysis to interpret high-grade areas where both resources likely coexist. For sedimentary geothermal systems, potential resource areas are sorted by resource grade: as low temperature (150°C, primarily electricity generation). Lithium resources were defined by Li lithium brine concentrations in parts per million (ppm): low potential (200ppm).  Reservoir quality affects the viability of both resources and is evaluated using interpreted lithofacies that describe the depositional environments of each unit. Using the results, a series of play fairway analysis maps were generated to support regional evaluations of lithium and geothermal resources and to identify areas of interest for detailed, prospect-scale studies.