Vortex Energy Taps Lonquist to Run Ground Gravity Survey at Robinsons River Salt Project

Vortex Energy contracts Lonquist Field Service to manage a ground gravity survey at its Robinsons River salt project, pending regulatory approval.

Vortex Energy Corp. has handed the reins of its next exploration phase to an outside specialist, contracting Lonquist Field Service (Canada) ULC to manage a ground-based gravity survey at its wholly owned Robinsons River salt project in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Under the arrangement announced Monday, Lonquist will coordinate planning for the campaign and oversee both the collection and the processing of gravity data carried out by third parties. The hire marks the start of concrete preparations for a program that was flagged more than a month ago as the company's next geophysical step — a stretch during which the stock shed 24.7%.

Building on prior technical work

The gravity work follows a series of earlier milestones at the site. On August 18, Vortex Energy published final results from an ambient noise tomography study at Robinsons River. Before that came the findings of a technical study unveiled roughly a month ago, a development that coincided with a 48.8% share price jump. That review pulled together all available geological evidence, drill data and existing seismic and gravity information, and it flagged discrepancies and lingering uncertainties between the various interpretations. The newly commissioned ground gravity survey is intended to address those gaps head-on.

Robinsons River sits about 35 kilometers south of Stephenville and spans roughly 23,500 hectares, covering 942 claims. The survey is designed to pick up irregularities in the Earth's gravity field that can shed light on the extent and depth of salt structures. Lonquist's remit goes beyond mere data collection: the firm will act as the central partner for technical execution and provide expert oversight of the entire measurement campaign.

CEO Paul Sparkes said the investigation builds on the company's recent technical work and represents a key building block for further development of the property.

A broader hydrogen storage vision

Beyond conventional salt extraction, Vortex Energy is pursuing a larger strategic goal at the project. The region's geology is seen as potentially suited to the creation of underground salt caverns, which could one day serve as storage solutions for the hydrogen economy — placing the venture squarely in the context of the global energy transition. The current measurements are meant to sharpen the assessment of that storage potential.

Even with Lonquist now under contract, the exact start date for field work hinges on external factors. The program remains subject to final approval by the relevant authorities and the granting of necessary access rights.

The ground gravity phase is a direct continuation of the exploration program announced on September 3, 2026. While existing data have already offered initial clues, the new campaign aims to significantly boost data density. Gravity data alone, however, cannot definitively establish thickness and exact salt content — they serve primarily as a foundation for later drilling programs.

Vortex Energy plans to finalize the survey design and the selection of additional technical subcontractors in close consultation with Lonquist shortly. For investors, the outstanding regulatory approvals remain the next decisive milestone before physical work on the ground can begin.

The company's shares trade on several venues: under the ticker VRTX on the Canadian Securities Exchange, as VTECF on the OTC market and as AA3 on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. No new analyst ratings or revised price targets emerged around the latest contracting decision.