Canada Nickel and the University of Texas Successfully Complete Carbon Sequestration Pilot at the Crawford Nickel Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Canada Nickel (OTCQB: CNIKF) completed an in-situ carbon sequestration pilot at the Crawford nickel project near Timmins on Feb 19, 2026. The field test injected CO2-rich water between 350m–396m and successfully sequestered approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 with no surface leakage detected.

The pilot, run with a DOE ARPA-E funded University of Texas team, recorded no significant seismic events (M>1); monitoring and sampling will continue in coming months.

Highlights:

• In-situ carbon injection pilot successfully sequesters 12 tonnes of CO₂ at the Crawford Nickel Project
• Project demonstrates another permanent CO₂ storage pathway, distinct from the Company's IPT Carbonation and NetCarb processes

TORONTO, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel" or the "Company") (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQB: CNIKF) is pleased to announce the successful completion of an in-situ carbon sequestration pilot study at its flagship Crawford Nickel Project ("Crawford"), near Timmins, Ontario. 

The pilot was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (DOE ARPA-E) funded team, led by Dr. Estibalitz Ukar, Research Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. 

 "This achievement marks another critical milestone toward realizing a Zero-Carbon Industrial Cluster in the Timmins region. By successfully demonstrating a third pathway for utilizing our ultramafic deposits to capture and store carbon – in addition to the IPT Carbonation and NetCarb processes – we are expanding the tools available for large-scale decarbonization" said Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel. "The direct injection approach, which is implemented prior to mining, has the potential to lower future mining costs by pre-conditioning and fracturing the rock mass, making it less energy intensive to blast and process during crushing and grinding. The results also leverage portions of ultramafic deposits that lack economically recoverable minerals, turning them into valuable assets for environmental carbon removal."

Dr. Ukar added, "The Crawford in-situ mineralization field test shows that carbon capture doesn't have to be an add-on to mining—it can be built in from the very beginning. What we demonstrated at Crawford represents more than an experiment at a single site, it's a scalable model for how mining can contribute to global decarbonization. In-situ mineralization allows us to permanently store CO₂ while simultaneously reducing mining energy requirements, creating both environmental and economic value."

After nearly two years of planning, laboratory experiments, and deployment of an extensive monitoring network, the CO₂ injection field test was conducted between mid-November and mid-December 2025. All data collected to date indicate that the field test proceeded as planned and was a success: approximately 12 tonnes of injected CO₂ remained dissolved at depth, with no surface leakage detected.

Starting on November 20, 2025, the pilot project conducted short-duration injection trials over a 12-day period, until December 1^st. From December 2^nd until December 18^th, CO₂-saturated water was injected continuously at a constant CO₂ delivery rate injected into a single injection well drilled to a depth of 396m. The well was cased to 350m, establishing an injection interval between 350m and 396m. The trials confirmed that the injected CO₂ remained fully dissolved within the water column, with no upward migration of CO₂ gas observed.

The water used to dissolve carbon dioxide was sourced from an onsite well. The well configuration for the test consisted of an injection well (IN), a water supply well (SW), four water monitoring wells, 12 surface seismic monitoring stations, and three seismic monitoring boreholes (Figure 1).

Seismicity and potential CO₂ gas leakage was continuously monitored throughout the field test. No significant seismic events (M>1) were detected, and no CO₂ was observed emerging from monitoring wells or through the silty sedimentary cover. Preliminary chemical analyses indicate that, at the time of writing, the injected CO₂-rich water had not reached the monitoring wells, as predicted by reactive transport modelling. No surface leakage was detected, providing a strong indication that, as expected, all injected CO₂ remained at depth.

In the coming months, monitoring of seismicity, water chemistry through regular sampling, and potential CO₂ gas leakage will continue. Monitoring wells will be re-entered and sampled in the spring, following several months of reaction, and prior to ground thaw, to ensure access to the site. The area is also being monitored using InSAR satellite measurements. Monitoring will continue for several months as the team tracks seismicity and water chemistry to continue understanding and documenting subsurface fluid flow and reaction processes.

This initiative is independent of Canada Nickel's In-Process Tailings (IPT) Carbonation and NetCarb Programs (processes in which CO₂ is injected and stored in waste rock and tailings) and represents a key step in expanding the Company's carbon capture and storage capabilities. Results from this study will help guide future post-mining carbon sequestration strategies, further strengthening Canada Nickel's vision for a Zero-Carbon Industrial Cluster in the Timmins Region. 

About Canada Nickel Company

Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to deliver nickel required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless-steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero Nickel^TM, NetZero Cobalt^TM, NetZero Iron^TM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel- Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Nickel District. For more information, please visit www.canadanickel.com.

For further information, please contact:
Mark Selby
CEO
Phone: 647-256-1954
Email: info@canadanickel.com

Cautionary Note and Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, the potential and viability of carbon sequestration generally, the impact of drilling on the definition of any resource, timing and completion (if at all) of additional mineral resource estimates, the potential of the Timmins Nickel District, strategic plans, including future exploration and development plans and results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon several assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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SOURCE Canada Nickel Company Inc.

FAQ

How much CO2 did Canada Nickel (CNIKF) sequester in the Crawford in-situ pilot in December 2025?

Approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 were sequestered and remained dissolved at depth. According to Canada Nickel, injections ran mid-November to mid-December 2025 with continuous monitoring showing no surface leakage.

What depth was used for the CNIKF Crawford CO2 injection pilot and what was the injection interval?

The injection well reached 396m with casing to 350m, creating a 350m–396m injection interval. According to Canada Nickel, CO2-saturated water was injected into that deep interval without observed upward gas migration.

Did the Canada Nickel (CNIKF) Crawford pilot cause seismicity or CO2 leakage during the test?

No significant seismic events (M>1) or surface CO2 leakage were detected during the field test. According to Canada Nickel, continuous seismic and well monitoring measured no upward CO2 movement or major seismicity.

Who partnered with Canada Nickel (CNIKF) on the Crawford in-situ carbon sequestration pilot?

The pilot was conducted with a DOE ARPA-E funded team led by the University of Texas at Austin. According to Canada Nickel, the team was led by Dr. Estibalitz Ukar and ran extensive monitoring and experiments.

What monitoring will continue after the CNIKF Crawford CO2 injection pilot?

Monitoring will continue for several months using seismic stations, monitoring wells sampling, and InSAR satellite measurements. According to Canada Nickel, wells will be re-entered and sampled in spring to track subsurface reactions.