The Western Canadian oil and gas industry stands a chance of adding a side gig in drilling for lithium required by rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

“Lithium production from deep aquifer brines located within Western Canada can be competitive,” said researchers in a CERI study titled “Economic Assessment of Lithium Production Potential from Canadian Oil and Gas Operations.”

“Subsurface or deep aquifer brines are abundant in Alberta and Saskatchewan oil and gas fields, and in select regions exhibit elevated lithium concentrations and thus a potential resource.”

Environmental policies that drive forecasts for international switching to electric vehicles give drilled lithium an advantage that...