Vulcan Energy reported strong drilling performance and positive subsurface results from the LSC-1vertical well and LSC-1a sidetrack in the Phase One Lionheart Project Field Development Plan, within the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field (URVBF), Germany. Key highlights: Excellent drilling performance by Vercana, the Company's 100% owned drilling company, to test known reservoir and potential reservoir units through the LSC-1 vertical well and LSC-1 a sidetrack, which had an open hole completion; Lithium grade, heat, reservoir quality and matrix permeability confirmed as consistent with Field Development Plan, and consistent with Vulcan's existing operational wells in the Phase One area; Enhanced subsurface confidence with reduced uncertainty; Next steps will involve drilling of an additional LSC-1 sidetrack, with cased completion, and a production test; excellent drilling performance of LSC-1 vertical well; and on-schedule drilling performance, which provides a strong signal of confidence and de-risking for the broader Field Development Plan for Phase One The LSC-1 vertical well, which represents the fifth well in the Field Development Plan in addition to the existing four operating wells nearby, was drilled ahead of schedule; A data acquisition campaign was completed as part of the LSC-1 vertical Well, which helped to optimise the drilling of the LSC-1a sid sidetrack. The LSC-1a sidepack, drilled to intersect the main reservoir interval in Vulcan's Phase One Upper Rhine Valley Brine field (URVBF) Resources and Reserves known as the Buntsandstein, as well as other potential additional reservoir intervals in the Muschelkalk and Keuper units which could contribute to productivity or injection capacity, was drilled safely and on time.
This reprocessed dataset significantly enhanced fault imaging, amplitude balance, and structural clarity, enabling Vulcan to accurately predict structural targets--validated by the LSC-1a intersection of the Insheim Fault as predicted, which was intersected at 3,709m depth with an accuracy of just +/-3m These results support the effectiveness of Vulcan's data-driven, iterative workflow of reprocessing, calibrating, predicting, verifying and updating, in order to deliver repeatable predictive accuracy and reduce geological uncertainty across the project area. Lithium-in-Brine results consistent with resource grade estimation. Upon reaching the target depth and fault zone, the LSC-1asidetrack experienced expected complete fluid losses, an excellent outcome, clearly indicating strong formation permeability and connectivity.
A representative brine sample was taken, confirming positive Lithium-in-Bine results. These measurements were consistent with expectations, aligning with the regional thermal gradient of ~3.1 degC/100m below the Keuper caprock -- for example, ~160 degC were measured at 3,000m TVD. These results are consistent with the lithium grades and temperatures measured from Vulcan's existing Landau and Insheim production areas within Phase One, reinforcing confidence in the continuity and quality of the Buntsandstein brine system in the URVBF.
The LSC-1A sidetrack was kept open hole (largely not cased) in order to also test the reservoir behaviour and performance of the overlying Muschelkalk and Ke recore formations, which proved unstable and caused localised wellbore cavings and blockages during clean-up, therefore a planned production test from the LSC-1a semicetrack could not be properly completed.
