Halliburton, a name synonymous with oilfield services, is charting new territory—this time in the world of battery metals. The company has been awarded a contract by GeoFrame Energy to lead planning and design for a geothermally-powered lithium extraction project in Mt. Vernon, Texas.
The project will tap into the Smackover Formation, a geologic unit better known for its oil and gas history but now gaining attention for its lithium-rich brines. Stretching from southern Arkansas into East Texas, the formation offers a promising new domestic source of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
According to GeoFrame, the site is expected to produce up to 83,500 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually—enough to satisfy the entire current U.S. demand. That kind of output could reshape the domestic battery supply chain and reduce American reliance on imported lithium, particularly from China.
Halliburton’s involvement in this geothermal-powered project signals a broader trend: oilfield service companies are leveraging their subsurface expertise to play a role in the energy transition. With work set to begin later this year, this project could be a model for combining legacy energy skills with critical mineral development.
