Project Overview

The Franklin Project is an early-stage lithium brine prospect the partnership is advancing as part of its Smackover expansion efforts. It will be the first of three planned projects in the region. We have secured a significant brine lease position, drilled, and sampled lithium brine to develop a resource and future production.

East Texas Fact Sheet January 2026
Landowner Fact Sheet January 2026

Development Plan

A preliminary economic assessment was recently released for the Franklin Project. This assessment highlights the size and quality of the asset, with some of the highest reported lithium-in-brine grades in North America. The partnership is re-entering shut-in wells to gather data, drilling additional appraisal wells and will continue to lease brine-sourced minerals in the Franklin Project area.

Preliminary Economic Assessment
  • The most recent brine samples from our wells in East Texas confirm the exceptional quality of the lithium brine assets we’re acquiring. We are confident that East Texas will develop into a globally-significant lithium brine asset.
    Allison Thurmond
    Vice President of US Lithium at Equinor