designed for lithium extraction. DLE is a method that pulls lithium from produced water, like a magnet attracting only lithium ions, leaving most other minerals and water behind. See Amit Kumar et al., Lithium Recovery from Oil and Gas Produced Water: A Need for a Growing Energy Industry, 4 ACS Energy Lett. 1637 (2019), https://pubs.acs.org/ doi/10.1021/acsenergylett.9b00779. This method is significantly more efficient than other traditional lithium extraction techniques, such as hard rock mining spodumene ore and solar evaporation, and offers a more favorable environmental impact. See A Better Way: IBAT’s DLE Technology vs. Traditional Extraction, Int’l Battery Metals, https://www. ibatterymetals.com/direct-lithium-extraction/vs- traditional-extraction (last visited Aug. 14, 2025). As demand for lithium continues to surge, the efficient extraction of lithium from produced water positions Direct Lithium Extraction as a transformative solution.
IV. Conclusion
Produced water, once dismissed as a burdensome byproduct of oil and gas operations, is now at the forefront of legal, environmental, and technological innovation in Texas. As Texas grapples with intensifying water scarcity and the diminishing feasibility of traditional disposal methods, produced water offers a promising, multi-faceted solution. Emerging technologies present an opportunity to reframe produced water not as waste, but as a resource. Moving forward, embracing innovation, regulatory clarity, and new practices will be critical in transforming Texas’ water challenges into long-term opportunities.
The Authors:
Isabel Huntsman Attorney, Houston
Baylee Pearce Attorney, Houston
Oliva Gibbs 832.538.8380 ihuntsman@oglawyers.com Isabel focuses on upstream energy title
Oliva Gibbs 512.971.3146 Bpearce@oglawyers.com Baylee focuses on surface use issues, oil and
and transactional matters. She clerked with Oliva Gibbs for a year and a half during law school, which provided a solid foundation for her transition to associate attorney at the firm. Isabel was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student in Oil and Gas and received the ConocoPhillips Energy Studies Award while at the University of Houston Law Center. She is actively involved in the Houston Bar Association (Energy Law Section) and prioritizes staying up to date on the latest legal and industry developments. In her free time, Isabel enjoys playing tennis and reading.
gas lease analysis, and curing title defects. During law school, Baylee clerked at Oliva Gibbs, where she gained experience working on upstream energy title and transactional matters, providing a solid foundation for her transition to associate attorney at the firm. Baylee is actively involved in her community and participates in various programs and events with the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Association, and the Houston Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association. In her free time, Baylee enjoys exploring new walking trails with her dog Milo and trying out new Houston restaurants.
Education • J.D., University of Houston Law Center • B.S.A., The University of Texas at Austin Bar Admissions • Texas Practice Areas • Conveyancing and Curative • Oil and Gas Leasing • Title Matters
Education • J.D., University of Houston Law Center • B.A., Texas Christian University Bar Admissions • Texas Practice Areas • Conveyancing and Curative • Oil and Gas Leasing • Title Matters
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N at i onal A ssociation of D i v i s i on O rder A nalys t s
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