National Energy Technology Lab, University Of Pittsburgh Say Oil & Gas Wastewater Can Be Major Source Of Lithium For Rechargeable Battery Production

In the last week, the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh and Brandie Jefferson from the University of Pittsburgh published articles saying oil and gas wastewater can be a major source of lithium for rechargeable battery production.

Wastewater from both unconventional shale gas and conventional oil and gas wells could potentially be used for lithium production. 

A recent Penn State study found there is not a lot of differences between conventional and unconventional wastewater, according to Dr. William Burgos.  Read more here.

Using conventional wastewater in this way is certainly a much better option for public health and the environment than what many conventional well owners do now-- dump their wastewater indiscriminately on public roads.  Read more here.

NETL Article

Produced water that returns to the surface as wastewater after oil and gas hydraulic fracturing processes in parts of Appalachia can be a source of lithium, a valuable chemical element used in consumer products, according to an important new report from NETL.

Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for products from mobile phones, laptop computers, and digital cameras to electric vehicles, heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.

Justin Mackey, the lead investigator on the project, said “The drilling boom in Appalachia created large volumes of produced water that is considered a waste. We found that this fluid is significantly enriched with lithium compared to produced water from other shale formations.”

The NETL research suggests that Marcellus Shale production wastewater from the two Pennsylvania regions could meet 38–40% of current domestic lithium consumption.

The research shows that Marcellus Shale produced water has the capacity to provide significant lithium yields for the foreseeable future. Currently, domestic lithium consumption is estimated at 3,000 metric tons annually.

The NETL report, coauthored by Justin Mackey, Daniel J. Bain, Greg Lackey, James Gardiner, Djuna Gulliver and Barbara Kutchko, indicates that currently, 95% of the produced water being generated is reinjected during ongoing hydraulic fracturing operations.

Click Here to read the entire article.

University of Pittsburgh

A new analysis using compliance data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection suggests that if it could be extracted with complete efficiency, lithium from the wastewater of Marcellus shale gas wells could supply up to 40% of the country's demand.

Already, researchers in the lab can extract lithium from water with more than 90% efficiency according to Justin Mackey, a researcher at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, and his Ph.D. advisor Daniel Bain, associate professor of geology and environmental sciences at the University of Pittsburgh's Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

The U.S. Geological Survey lists lithium as a critical mineral (although, as Mackey was quick to point out, lithium is an element, not a mineral).

The designation means the U.S. government wants all lithium to be produced domestically by 2030, and so the search for sources has intensified. Currently, much of it is extracted from brine ponds in Chile. Then it's shipped to China, where it's processed.

There are lithium mining operations in the U.S., but Mackey said. "This is different. This is a waste stream, and we're looking at a beneficial use of that waste."

Finding lithium in the wastewater in Marcellus shale wasn't a surprise: Researchers had analyzed the water recycled in hydraulic fracking and knew that it picked up minerals and elements from the shale.

"But there hadn't been enough measurements to quantify the resource," Mackey said. We just didn't know how much was in there."

Click Here to read the entire article.

Related Articles - Lithium:

-- Eureka Resources Extracted 97% Pure Lithium Carbonate Used In Making Lithium-ion Batteries From Oil & Gas Wastewater  [PaEN - 7.31.23]

-- University Of Houston: Shale Gas Wastewater Could Be Substantial Source Of Lithium  [PaEN - 5.19.22]

Resource Links - Oil & Gas Wastewater:

-- Senate Hearing: The Case For An Immediate, Total Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Penn State Expert: ‘No More Research That Needs To Be Done’ To Justify A Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: 3.5 Million Gallons Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Dumped On PA Public Roads Since DEP’s ‘Moratorium’ On Dumping Started 6 Years Ago  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: DEP Still Evaluating The Data On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Asks Public To Report Road Dumping  [PaEN]

-- Moody & Associates Study Finds Discharge Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater To The Ground Surface ‘Not A Viable Management Practice'; Supports Ban On Road Dumping; Onsite Disposal  [PaEN]

-- Two Months: Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Continues To Surround The Home Of A Senate Witness Who Opposes The Illegal Practice  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 11 to 17; Lots Of Spills Week; 3 More Abandoned Shale Well NOVs; Well Shut In To Prevent Frack-Out  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 18 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 72 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 18 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Gas:

-- Rep. Vitali To Introduce Bill Banning The Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Dumping It On Public Roads; Rep. Causer To Introduce Bill Legalizing It  [PaEN]

-- Illegal Wastewater Dumping Continues, Even On Mothers Day, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners’ Campaign Of Intimidation Of Senate Witness; Now Dumping Before It Rains, On Paved Roads [PaEN]

-- DEP Imposed $2.2 Million In Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 For Violations Dating Back To 2018  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Clears Away More Attempts By Olympus Energy To Block Shale Gas Permit Appeal By Protect PT In Westmoreland County; Olympus Fails To Provide Info On PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Use  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: PUC To Hold May 21 Prehearing On Future Of Venango Water Company; Water Source Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension May 30 Webinar On Landowner Role In Conventional Orphaned, Abandoned Oil And Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- National Energy Technology Lab, University Of Pittsburgh Say Oil & Gas Wastewater Can Be Major Source Of Lithium For Rechargeable Battery Production  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: $5 Million In Grants Recommended To Support Mitigation Projects In Beaver County Related To Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Violations + Shell Paid Total Penalties Of $7,606,027.75  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week - Gas:

-- The Energy Age Blog: Shale Gas Violations Run Rampant In Pennsylvania, $2.2 Million In Penalties Assessed

-- Warren Times: Oil & Gas Wastewater Spreading Battle Back On In General Assembly

-- KDKA: West Deer Twp. Residents Fighting Back Against Proposed Olympus Energy Shale Gas Well Installations In Allegheny County

-- WPXI: West Deer Twp. Neighbors Fight To Keep Olympus Energy Shale Gas Wells Far From Homes In Allegheny County 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Environmental Mitigation Fund, Set Up Thru Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Penalties Ready To Dole Out Money

-- Beaver County Times: Projects Selected For Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Mitigation Funding

-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Water Quality Advocates Concerned About Increased Pollution, Strong Odors From Outfalls From Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County

-- Inside Climate News: Q&A: Is Pittsburgh Becoming ‘The Plastic City’?

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Corp. New Act 14 Notices Of New Wells From Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad In Union Twp., Washington County Headed To Library, South Park In Allegheny County

-- The Energy Age Blog: Path Of May 11 Tornado In Washington County Ended Between The McIntosh Natural Gas Compressor Station, EQT Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad 

-- TribLive: Does It Seem Like More Tornadoes Are Striking Western PA?  They Are

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: State Program To Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Saves Lives, Creates Prosperity - By Environmental Health Project

-- AP: CNX Plans $1.5 Billion Hydrogen Aviation Fuels Plant At Pittsburgh Airport, But Wants Federal Tax Credit To Build It

-- CNX, KeyState Plan Hydrogen Aviation Fuel Hub At Pittsburgh Airport

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.75  National- $3.59  Ohio- $3.50

-- WNEP: UGI Utilities Announces 4.5% Increase In Cost Of Gas Starting June 1, Another 7.3% Increase Projected For Dec. 1 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week- 21

-- The Allegheny Front/WV Public Broadcasting: Residents Near Mountain Valley Gas Pipeline Say Details Are Scarce On What Caused Rupture Of Pipe During Test

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Martins Ferry, WV Not Getting Answers On PA Company’s Abandoned Oil & Gas Wastewater Facility Cleanup From Ohio DNR

-- Oil & Gas Journal: Gulfstream LNG Gas Export Facility Gains FERC Approval For Next Step In permitting Process [Not Affected By Pause]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: ETF Trends: US LNG Gas Export Capacity To Rise 80% By 2028 [Even With Pause In Permits For New Export Facilities]

[Posted: May 14, 2024]


5/20/2024

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