The SPE Critical Minerals Technical Section is a new technical section focused on advancing knowledge, collaboration, and professional excellence in the characterization, extraction, processing, and responsible development of critical minerals from subsurface reservoirs and industrial brines.
As global energy systems evolve toward expansion of existing energy sources, reliable access to lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, bromine, and other strategic minerals has become essential. Many of these resources occur in geological environments long understood by petroleum professionals. The petroleum sector’s experience in reservoir characterization, drilling, completion design, produced fluid management, and large scale process engineering aligns directly with emerging mineral extraction opportunities. By connecting established subsurface expertise with mineral extraction technologies, SPE plans to play a meaningful role in shaping this emerging resource field. The SPE Critical Minerals Technical Section represents a strategic bridge between traditional oil and gas expertise and next generation mineral and energy transition technologies.
The section will focus on:
· Subsurface characterization of critical mineral bearing formations
· Brine geochemistry and fluid rock interactions
· Drilling and completion approaches for extraction wells
· Produced water treatment and reinjection systems
· Direct lithium extraction, ion exchange, and membrane technologies
· Solution mining and in situ recovery methods
· Integration of mineral extraction with carbon management and geothermal operations
· Environmental stewardship, permitting strategy, and sustainability metrics
· Development of best practices and standards for integrated mineral recovery
Through workshops, technical events, publications, knowledge exchange, and professional development programs, the Section will support engineers, researchers, students, and innovators working at the intersection of energy and mineral resources.