The program brings together two core phases — drilling and formation testing — and builds on the region’s established oil and gas expertise, infrastructure and service capabilities. By working with experienced local contractors and service providers, LiCAN applies proven subsurface technologies to the development of lithium-bearing brines while supporting economic activity in southeast Saskatchewan.
Drilling provides access to the targeted geological formations and establishes the foundation for detailed subsurface evaluation. The Kisbey area sits within a sequence of saline formations extending to several kilometres below surface, including the Duperow Formation, a key regional target for lithium brine exploration in Saskatchewan.
Once drilling establishes access to the formations of interest, the program moves into the testing phase. A service rig supports the evaluation of selected intervals individually, allowing the team to recover representative formation fluids and assess the characteristics of the brines across different zones.
During testing, brine is brought to surface through swabbing operations. The recovered fluids are processed and filtered on site before representative samples are prepared for laboratory analysis. This work provides data on the composition of the highly saline brines, including their lithium concentration, and contributes to a more detailed understanding of the formations being evaluated.
Together, drilling and testing create an integrated technical dataset that combines geological information with formation-specific fluid samples. This approach allows LiCAN to progressively refine its subsurface model and assess the potential of the targeted lithium-bearing brines while informing future technical and development decisions.
The Kisbey campaign also demonstrates how Saskatchewan’s established energy-sector capabilities can support the emergence of a new critical minerals industry. The technologies, equipment and operational expertise required for lithium brine exploration draw directly on skills that already exist within the province’s oil and gas workforce and service sector.
For LiCAN Resources, this model provides a practical pathway to advance lithium brine projects efficiently while leveraging existing regional infrastructure and expertise. For Ad Terra, Kisbey forms part of a broader strategy to build a Canadian lithium brine platform and contribute to the development of a more secure North American critical minerals supply chain.
As the technical data generated through drilling, testing and laboratory analysis feeds into the ongoing evaluation of the project, Kisbey continues to strengthen LiCAN Resources’ understanding of its Saskatchewan resource base and the foundations for its future development.
