Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Permian Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

Active
By Central Energy Resources Science Center January 1, 2024

The USGS has conducted several assessments of undiscovered oil and gas in formations in the Permian Basin of western Texas.  This inlcudes the following.

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
Application to explore US Oil and Gas Assessments

United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources

USGS Energy Resources Program provides periodic assessments of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States and the World. This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
link

United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources

USGS Energy Resources Program provides periodic assessments of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States and the World. This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.  

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - Permian Basin Province, Midland Basin, Wolfcamp Shale Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms, Version 2.0

The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Delaware Basin, Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Assessment Units and Input Data

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas in the Delaware Basin, Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring. The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Pet
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Midland Basin, Spraberry Formation Assessment Units

The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Publications associated with the Permian Basin.

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous mean resources of 46.3 billion barrels of oil and 281 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin in the Permian Basin Province, southeast New Mexico and west Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Katherine L. French, Janet K. Pitman, Kristen R. Marra, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Structure contour and isopach maps of the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas

A series of structure contour and isopach maps for the Wolfcamp shale and the Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, were generated in support of the U.S. Geological Survey 2018 assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources. The interpreted formation tops used to generate the maps are from the IHS Markit® PRODFit™ database, a commercial proprietary datab
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Multiple stacked plays to drive continued Permian development

The exploitation of unconventional (continuous) resource plays with horizontal drilling and fracturing techniques continues to spur renewed development in mature producing basins in the US. The Permian basin of west Texas has emerged as a particularly strong prospect due to the potential for multiple stacked resource plays in formations such as the Wolfcamp shale and Spraberry and Bone Spring form
Authors
Kristen R. Marra, Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2017

In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin (Permian Basin Province) in southwestern Texas (Marra and others, 2017). The Spraberry Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by the US
Authors
Kristen R. Marra
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean resources of 4.2 billion barrels of oil and 3.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Kristen R. Marra, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Christopher J. Schenk, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Timothy R. Klett, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah J. Hawkins, Michael E. Brownfield
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous petroleum resources in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province of west Texas. This is the first U.S. Geological Survey evaluation of continuous resources in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin. Since the 1980s, the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed technically recoverable mean resources of 20 billion barrels of oil and 16 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Kristen R. Marra, Paul G. Lillis, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk, Timothy R. Klett, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Sarah J. Hawkins, Michael E. Brownfield, Janet K. Pitman, Thomas M. Finn
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of tight-gas resources in Canyon sandstones of the Val Verde Basin, Texas, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed mean resources of 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 187 million barrels of natural gas liquids in tight-gas assessment units in the Canyon sandstones of the Val Verde Basin, Texas.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Timothy R. Klett, Tracey J. Mercier, Michael E. Brownfield, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Sarah J. Hawkins, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn, Janet K. Pitman
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey assessments of continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources, 2000 to 2011

From 2000 to 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted 139 quantitative assessments of continuous (unconventional) oil and gas accumulations within the United States. This report documents those assessments more fully than previously done by providing detailed documentation of both the assessment input and output. This report also compiles the data into spreadsheet tables that can be more readily
Authors
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Map of assessed shale gas in the United States, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled a map of shale-gas assessments in the United States that were completed by 2012 as part of the National Assessment of Oil and Gas Project. Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey quantitatively estimated potential volumes of undiscovered gas within shale-gas assessment units. These shale-gas assessment units are mapped, and s
Authors
Laura R. H. Biewick
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Permian Basin Province of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, 2007

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently assessed the undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Permian Basin Province of west Texas and southeast New Mexico. The assessment was geology based and used the total petroleum system concept. The geologic elements of a total petroleum system are petroleum source rocks (quality, source rock maturation, generation, and migration), reservoir rocks (seque
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Richard M. Pollastro, Troy A. Cook, Mark J. Pawlewicz, Timothy R. Klett, Ronald R. Charpentier, Harry E. Cook

1995 National assessment of United States oil and gas resources; results, methodology, and supporting data

This report summarizes the results of a 3-year study of the oil and gas resources of the onshore and state waters of the United States by the U.S. Geological Survey. A parallel study of the Federal offshore is being conducted by the Minerals Management Service. Estimates are made of technically recoverable oil, including measured (proved) reserves, future additions to reserves in existing fields,
Authors
Donald L. Gautier, G. L. Dolton, K. I. Takahashi, K. L. Varnes

Below are news stories associated with this project.

link
Image shows a map of the assessment units of the 2018 Delaware Basin oil and gas assessment

USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

Estimates Include 46.3 Billion Barrels of Oil, 281 Trillion Cubic feet of Natural Gas, and 20 Billion Barrels of Natural Gas Liquids in Texas and New Mexico’s Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Formation.

By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Communications and Publishing
USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

Estimates Include 46.3 Billion Barrels of Oil, 281 Trillion Cubic feet of Natural Gas, and 20 Billion Barrels of Natural Gas Liquids in Texas and New...

Read Article
USGS Estimates 20 Billion Barrels of Oil in Texas’ Wolfcamp Shale Formation

USGS Estimates 20 Billion Barrels of Oil in Texas’ Wolfcamp Shale Formation

This is the largest estimate of continuous oil that USGS has ever assessed in the United States.

Read Article

The USGS has conducted several assessments of undiscovered oil and gas in formations in the Permian Basin of western Texas.  This inlcudes the following.

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
Application to explore US Oil and Gas Assessments

United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources

USGS Energy Resources Program provides periodic assessments of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States and the World. This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
link

United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources

USGS Energy Resources Program provides periodic assessments of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States and the World. This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.  

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - Permian Basin Province, Midland Basin, Wolfcamp Shale Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms, Version 2.0

The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Delaware Basin, Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Assessment Units and Input Data

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas in the Delaware Basin, Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring. The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Pet
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Midland Basin, Spraberry Formation Assessment Units

The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Publications associated with the Permian Basin.

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous mean resources of 46.3 billion barrels of oil and 281 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin in the Permian Basin Province, southeast New Mexico and west Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Katherine L. French, Janet K. Pitman, Kristen R. Marra, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Structure contour and isopach maps of the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas

A series of structure contour and isopach maps for the Wolfcamp shale and the Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, were generated in support of the U.S. Geological Survey 2018 assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources. The interpreted formation tops used to generate the maps are from the IHS Markit® PRODFit™ database, a commercial proprietary datab
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Multiple stacked plays to drive continued Permian development

The exploitation of unconventional (continuous) resource plays with horizontal drilling and fracturing techniques continues to spur renewed development in mature producing basins in the US. The Permian basin of west Texas has emerged as a particularly strong prospect due to the potential for multiple stacked resource plays in formations such as the Wolfcamp shale and Spraberry and Bone Spring form
Authors
Kristen R. Marra, Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2017

In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin (Permian Basin Province) in southwestern Texas (Marra and others, 2017). The Spraberry Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by the US
Authors
Kristen R. Marra
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean resources of 4.2 billion barrels of oil and 3.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Spraberry Formation of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Kristen R. Marra, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Christopher J. Schenk, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Timothy R. Klett, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah J. Hawkins, Michael E. Brownfield
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous petroleum resources in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province of west Texas. This is the first U.S. Geological Survey evaluation of continuous resources in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin. Since the 1980s, the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed technically recoverable mean resources of 20 billion barrels of oil and 16 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Kristen R. Marra, Paul G. Lillis, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk, Timothy R. Klett, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Sarah J. Hawkins, Michael E. Brownfield, Janet K. Pitman, Thomas M. Finn
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of tight-gas resources in Canyon sandstones of the Val Verde Basin, Texas, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed mean resources of 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 187 million barrels of natural gas liquids in tight-gas assessment units in the Canyon sandstones of the Val Verde Basin, Texas.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Timothy R. Klett, Tracey J. Mercier, Michael E. Brownfield, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Sarah J. Hawkins, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn, Janet K. Pitman
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey assessments of continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources, 2000 to 2011

From 2000 to 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted 139 quantitative assessments of continuous (unconventional) oil and gas accumulations within the United States. This report documents those assessments more fully than previously done by providing detailed documentation of both the assessment input and output. This report also compiles the data into spreadsheet tables that can be more readily
Authors
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Map of assessed shale gas in the United States, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled a map of shale-gas assessments in the United States that were completed by 2012 as part of the National Assessment of Oil and Gas Project. Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey quantitatively estimated potential volumes of undiscovered gas within shale-gas assessment units. These shale-gas assessment units are mapped, and s
Authors
Laura R. H. Biewick
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Permian Basin Province of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, 2007

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently assessed the undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Permian Basin Province of west Texas and southeast New Mexico. The assessment was geology based and used the total petroleum system concept. The geologic elements of a total petroleum system are petroleum source rocks (quality, source rock maturation, generation, and migration), reservoir rocks (seque
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Richard M. Pollastro, Troy A. Cook, Mark J. Pawlewicz, Timothy R. Klett, Ronald R. Charpentier, Harry E. Cook

1995 National assessment of United States oil and gas resources; results, methodology, and supporting data

This report summarizes the results of a 3-year study of the oil and gas resources of the onshore and state waters of the United States by the U.S. Geological Survey. A parallel study of the Federal offshore is being conducted by the Minerals Management Service. Estimates are made of technically recoverable oil, including measured (proved) reserves, future additions to reserves in existing fields,
Authors
Donald L. Gautier, G. L. Dolton, K. I. Takahashi, K. L. Varnes

Below are news stories associated with this project.

link
Image shows a map of the assessment units of the 2018 Delaware Basin oil and gas assessment

USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

Estimates Include 46.3 Billion Barrels of Oil, 281 Trillion Cubic feet of Natural Gas, and 20 Billion Barrels of Natural Gas Liquids in Texas and New Mexico’s Wolfcamp Shale and Bone Spring Formation.

By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Communications and Publishing
USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

USGS Announces Largest Continuous Oil Assessment in Texas and New Mexico

Estimates Include 46.3 Billion Barrels of Oil, 281 Trillion Cubic feet of Natural Gas, and 20 Billion Barrels of Natural Gas Liquids in Texas and New...

Read Article
USGS Estimates 20 Billion Barrels of Oil in Texas’ Wolfcamp Shale Formation

USGS Estimates 20 Billion Barrels of Oil in Texas’ Wolfcamp Shale Formation

This is the largest estimate of continuous oil that USGS has ever assessed in the United States.

Read Article
Was this page helpful?