Cornish Lithium’s Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project in Cornwall, UK, is advancing with the award of an integrated well services contract to Halliburton
Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project
Cornwall's mineral-rich waters offer strong potential for sustainable lithium extraction. Cornish Lithium, which is commited to developing a secure, sustainable and domestic supply of lithium to support the UK's energy transition, plans to responsibly develop a number of geothermal projects across Cornwall, each capable of producing between 500 and 1,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year. Cornish Lithium first drilled and tested an exploration borehole at Cross Lanes in 2023, which confirmed that lithium rich geothermal waters circulate naturally through its underlying rock formations.
Planning permission has been granted for a commercial lithium production facility at this site. The facility, which will include a demonstration plant phase, will enable Cornish Lithium to implement multiple phases of testing and enhancements to confirm the site’s potential for the commercial production of lithium, with a long-term aim of achieving full commercial production.
Phase 1 of the project, which is supported by the UK government, began in January 2026 and includes the construction and operation of the geothermal lithium production facility, along with drilling two new 2,000 metre boreholes to establish the lithium resources potential of underground geothermal waters.
Halliburton’s role
Under the contract, Halliburton will provide an integrated execution approach, encompassing subsurface modelling and well engineering, together with equipment and services for the drilling and testing of the two appraisal wells. This work will help to estimate the amount of lithium contained within the geothermal system of the Cornubian Batholith – the large body of granite formed around 280 million years ago that lies beneath much of Cornwall and Devon.
These commercial-scale wells will allow Cornish Lithium to carry out extended testing during a defined timescale to validate sustainable production conditions, assess water reinjection rates and confirm the company’s preferred direct lithium extraction technology at demonstration scale. In addition, these test works will allow the company to explore the potential to harness geothermal heat for local homes and businesses.
Data gathered from the wells will inform the project’s Final Investment Decision and support the company’s wider ambition to develop a network of modular geothermal lithium production hubs across Cornwall. Together, these sites could deliver a scalable, low carbon and secure domestic supply of lithium for the UK.
Martin Geissler, VP general manager for Lithium in Geothermal Waters at Cornish Lithium, said,“We are delighted to appoint Halliburton as our technical collaborator for integrated service delivery on the well services and testing scope of our Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project.
“Halliburton brings deep industry expertise and knowledge and will support the drilling and testing phases of our project, from well design to construction. Their team was highly proactive throughout the tender process, demonstrating a clear understanding of our requirements and a strong commitment to supporting the project’s objectives. We look forward to working with Halliburton and other collaborators as we continue to advance the project, support Cornwall’s proud mining heritage, and create high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the region.”
Jean-Marc Lopez, senior vice president, Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa region, Halliburton, added, “With more than 70 years of geothermal development experience and over a century of well delivery expertise, I expect our teams will execute the drilling programme safely and efficiently to support Cornish Lithium’s technical and operational objectives.”