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United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources Active

By Central Energy Resources Science Center April 19, 2019

Explore US Undiscovered Oil and Gas Assessment Provinces

Assessment results, publications, data and more are available

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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).

Assessment Overview

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

The USGS assesses potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in priority geologic provinces in the United States.  This website highlights conventional and unconventional (continuous) oil and gas assessments.

Summary of Continuous Assessments

Interactive map and chart highlighting USGS Domestic Continuous (Unconventional) Oil & Gas Assessments, 2000-Present

This applications shows maps and tables of all continuous assessments in the United States.

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Recent Assessments

Below are the latest US Assessments:

Browse Assessments

National Oil and Gas Assessment Methodology

The U.S. Geological Survey Energy Resources Program assesses the potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in priority geologic provinces in the United States and around the world (click here for information about World Oil and Gas Assessments). Two methodologies are used by the USGS; one for assessing conventional oil and gas resources and one for assessing unconventional (continuous) oil and gas resources (such as shale gas and coalbed gas).  USGS publications detailing and explaining the conventional and continuous assessment methodologies are provided below.  These methodologies have been subjected to rigorous peer reviews by non federal panels, and the two panel reports are provided on this page.

 

Conventional Resources

USGS Reports

U.S. Geological Survey Assessment Concepts for Conventional Petroleum Accumulations
By James W. Schmoker and T.R. Klett

U.S. Geological Survey Input-Data Form and Operational Procedure for the Assessment of Conventional Petroleum Accumulations
By T.R. Klett, James W. Schmoker, and Ronald R. Charpentier

A Monte Carlo Simulation Method for the Assessment of Undiscovered, Conventional Oil and Gas
By Ronald R. Charpentier and T.R. Klett

 

Continuous Resources

USGS Reports

U.S. Geological Survey Assessment Concepts for Continuous Petroleum Accumulations
By James W. Schmoker

U.S. Geological Survey Input-Data Form and Operational Procedure for the Assessment Of Continuous Petroleum Accumulations, 2002
By T.R. Klett and James W. Schmoker

Analytic Resource Assessment Method for Continuous Petroleum Accumulations—The ACCESS Assessment Method
By Robert A. Crovelli

FORSPAN Model Users Guide
By T.R. Klett, and Ronald R. Charpentier
 

Methodology Revisions

Improved USGS methodology for assessing continuous petroleum resources.
Charpentier, R.R., and Cook, T.A.

Applying Probabilistic Well-Performance Parameters to Assessments of Shale-Gas Resources
By Ronald R. Charpentier and Troy Cook

Assembling Probabilistic Performance Parameters of Shale-Gas Wells
By Cook, Troy, and Charpentier, R.R.

USGS Methodology for Assessing Continuous Petroleum Resources
By Ronald R. Charpentier and Troy Cook

New U.S. Geological Survey Method for the Assessment of Reserve Growth
By Timothy R. Klett, Emil D. Attanasi, Ronald R. Charpentier, Troy A. Cook, Philip A. Freeman, Donald L. Gautier, Phuong A. Le, Robert T. Ryder, Christopher J. Schenk, Marilyn E. Tennyson, and Mahendra K. Verma (Reserve Growth Assessment Team)

Variability of Distributions of Well-Scale Estimated Ultimate Recovery for Continuous (Unconventional) Oil and Gas Resources in the United States 
By U.S. Geological Survey Oil and Gas Assessment Team

Peer Review

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Committee on Resource Evaluation (CORE) Subcommittee to review the United States Onshore Continuous (Unconventional) Gas Assessment Methodology Used by the USGS

 

Reserve Growth Methodology

USGS Reports

New U.S. Geological Survey Method for the Assessment of Reserve Growth
By Reserve Growth Assessment Team

Reserve Growth of Oil and Gas Fields - Investigations and Applications
By Troy Cook

Peer Review

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Committee on Resource Evaluation (CORE) Subcommittee to review the Growth-to-Known Reserves

 

Below are a list of recent assessment areas.  You can also use the National Oil and Gas Assessment Map to browse these assessments.

Filter Total Items: 59
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Province 5017 Idaho-Snake River Downwarp National Oil and Gas Assessments

Idaho-Snake River Downwarp Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of the Idaho-Snake River Downwarp Province 5017.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Idaho-Snake River Downwarp Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of the Idaho-Snake River Downwarp Province 5017.
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Province 5014 Los Angeles Basin National Oil and Gas Assessments

Los Angeles Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of technically recoverable continuous petroleum resources of the Los Angeles Basin Province 5014.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Los Angeles Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of technically recoverable continuous petroleum resources of the Los Angeles Basin Province 5014.
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Province 5007 Northern Coastal National Oil and Gas Assessments

Northern Coastal Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Northern Coastal Province 5007.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Northern Coastal Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Northern Coastal Province 5007.
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Province 5011 Central Coastal National Oil and Gas Assessments

Central Coastal Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of the Central Coastal Province 5011.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Central Coastal Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of the Central Coastal Province 5011.
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Province 5008 Sonoma-Livermore Basin National Oil and Gas Assessments

Sonoma-Livermore Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Sonoma-Livermore Province 5008.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Sonoma-Livermore Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Sonoma-Livermore Province 5008.
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Province 5012 Santa Maria Basin National Oil and Gas Assessments

Santa Maria Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of the Santa Maria Basin Province 5012.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Santa Maria Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of the Santa Maria Basin Province 5012.
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Province 5013 Ventura Basin National Oil and Gas Assessments

Ventura Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional and continuous oil and gas resources of the Ventura Basin Province 5013.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Ventura Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional and continuous oil and gas resources of the Ventura Basin Province 5013.
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Province 5064, Illinois Basin, Oil and Gas Assessments

Illinois Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources of the Illinois Basin Province 5064.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Illinois Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources of the Illinois Basin Province 5064.
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Province 5065, Black Warrior Basin, Oil and Gas Assessments

Black Warrior Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Black Warrior Basin Province 5065.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Black Warrior Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Black Warrior Basin Province 5065.
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Province 5063, Michigan Basin, Oil and Gas Assessments

Michigan Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the U.S. portion of the Michigan Basin 5063.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Michigan Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the U.S. portion of the Michigan Basin 5063.
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Province 5060, Cherokee Platform, Oil and Gas Assessments

Cherokee Platform Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Cherokee Platform Province 5060 in Western Oklahoma, Southeast Kandas and Western Missouri.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Cherokee Platform Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Cherokee Platform Province 5060 in Western Oklahoma, Southeast Kandas and Western Missouri.
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Province 5058 Anadarko Basin National Oil and Gas Assessments

Anadarko Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Anadarko Basin Province 5058.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Anadarko Basin Oil and Gas Assessments

The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Anadarko Basin Province 5058.
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Below are datasets related to the National Oil and Gas Assessments.  

Legacy downloadable data
Filter Total Items: 34

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 Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems, and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects - USGS Province 50 Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

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
Florence Bascom Geoscience Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Appalachian Basin Province, Upper Devonian Shales Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

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, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - Sunbury and Chattanooga Shales Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

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

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

USGS Alaska Petroleum Systems Project: Northern Alaska Province, Nanushuk and Torok Formations Assessment Units and Assessment Input Forms

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, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Bossier 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
Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Val Verde Basin, Canyon Sandstones 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
Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Permian Basin Province, Midland Basin, Wolfcamp Shale 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

Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 93

Assessment of continuous oil resources in the Eastern Great Basin Province of Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, 2018

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quantitatively assessed the potential for undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous oil and gas resources in the Eastern Great Basin Province (Anna and others, 2007) of Nevada, Utah, and Idaho (fig. 1). The assessment focused on the area of the province between the Roberts Mountains and Sevier thrust systems (Peterson, 1994). The major petroleum source rock
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous tight-gas resources in the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation, Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 24 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation of the Uinta-Piceance Province in northeast Utah and northwest Colorado.
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the South Florida basin, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 49 million barrels of oil and 18 billion cubic feet of gas in the onshore and State waters part of the South Florida basin.
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Niobrara interval of the Cody Shale, Wind River Basin Province, Wyoming, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 389 million barrels of oil and 1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niobrara interval of the Cody Shale in the Wind River Basin Province, Wyoming.
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

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.
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016

IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Haynesville Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by th
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016

IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Bossier Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by the USGS f
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale of the U.S. Gulf Coast, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed mean undiscovered, technically recoverable continuousresources of 1.5 billion barrels of oil and 4.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale in onshore and State waters ofLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian Strata, U.S. Gulf Coast, Texas, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 8.5 billion barrels of oil and 66 trillion cubic feet of gas in continuous accumulations in the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian strata in onshore lands of the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Texas.
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
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the downdip Paleogene formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional resources of 100 million barrels of oil and 16.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the downdip Paleogene formations in onshore lands and State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Susitna Basin of southern Alaska. Using a geology-based methodology, the USGS estimates that mean undiscovered volumes of about 2 million barrels of oil and nearly 1.7 trillion cubic feet of gas may be found in this area.
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Below are datasets related to the National Oil and Gas Assessments.  

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Below are FAQ associated with this project.

Below are partners associated with this project.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)