‘Ending U.S. dependence on Chinese lithium’: Halliburton bringing geothermal lithium drilling wells to East Texas

MT. VERNON, Texas (KETK) – Oil giant Halliburton has been awarded a contract to plan and design a geothermally-powered lithium mining project in Mt. Vernon that planners said could help end America’s dependence on Chinese lithium.

GeoFrame Energy’s geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) project is set to start work with Halliburton in late 2025 and will extract battery-grade lithium carbonate from the Smackover Formation, which lies beneath much of East Texas.

“This major breakthrough in East Texas could be the key to solving the U.S. lithium supply challenge. GeoFrame Energy is expected to produce approximately 83,500 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually—enough to meet 100% of domestic demand,” GeoFrame Energy said in a press release. “By establishing a reliable, homegrown supply, the project offers significant economic and strategic benefits. It could also mark a turning point in ending U.S. dependence on Chinese lithium imports—a win for both Texas and the Trump administration.”

Halliburton, a company with more than 100 years of expertise in drilling wells, will work with GeoFrame Energy during the drilling, construction, design and operation phases of their first demonstration wells before the companies expand to “full field development.”

According to GeoFrame, they plan to drill 83,500 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year by early 2029. GeoFrame said they control about 7,400 acres of East Texas land, which contains some of the highest concentrations of lithium in deep oil-field brines in the world.

Mayor of Mt. Vernon, Brad Hyman, said the city is proud to be a part of this new development.

“GeoFrame Energy’s commitment to Mt. Vernon and Franklin County extends far beyond typical business practices—they’ve fostered a partnership grounded in trust, innovation, and long-term community benefits. From the outset, their team has prioritized safety, environmental stewardship, and transparency, collaborating closely with our landowners to ensure the land is protected, respected, and ultimately restored. We had no idea our county was sitting on such a vast lithium deposit. Discovering that this natural resource could be developed cleanly and responsibly, directly benefiting our community, has been a transformative experience. This project will create well-paying local jobs, enhance our tax base, and attract new investments to our economy. This is what responsible development looks like, and Mt. Vernon is proud to be a part of it.”

Mayor Brad Hyman

GeoFrame plans on powering its lithium extraction with geothermal energy captured from heat in brine. Geothermal energy will fully power their drilling operations and their lithium carbonate production plant before selling any excess energy to the power grid.

GeoFrame said its first battery-grade lithium carbonate will be available in the first quarter of 2026. To learn more, visit GeoFrame Energy online.

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