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World Oil and Gas Resource Assessments Active

By Central Energy Resources Science Center April 26, 2019

Explore Unconventional/Continuous Oil and Gas Assessments

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The USGS World Energy Project conducts geologic studies that provide an understanding of the quantity, quality, and geologic distribution of world oil and gas resources. Our geologic studies are conducted in an impartial manner and are performed in collaboration and partnership with energy experts within and outside government. Through synthesis and improved understanding of global oil and gas data, we shall establish a geologic basis for predicting energy production trends, we shall discuss logical implications and consequences of energy occurrence for public policy, and we shall provide for the education of society about energy issues.

 

Assessment Overview

Aerial image of an oil spill, Medicine Lake NWR wetlands

The USGS assesses potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in priority geologic provinces in the World.  This website highlights conventional and unconventional (continuous) oil and gas resources (such as shale gas) for more than 170 basins.

Conventional Oil and Gas Assessments

Image for the World Oil and Gas Conventional Assessments

In 2012, the USGS completed a comprehensive assessment of priority basins throughout the world.  This map lists publications for each of these basins.  

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Recent Publications

Below is a list of the latest World Oil and Gas Assessment Publications

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Looking for United States assessments?

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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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).
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Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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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).
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Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project- Eastern Mediterranean Region Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of conventional assessment units for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean Area. 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 Syste
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Southeast Asia Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of conventional assessment units for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Southeast Asia. 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 Assessmen
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project -- Horn River Basin, Cordova Embayment, and Liard Basin, Canada, Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Horn River Basin, Cordova Embayment and Liard Basin in Alberta Basin Province, Canada. 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 con
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Eromanga Basin Province, Australia, Cooper Basin Conventional Assessment Unit Boundaries and Input Data Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of the Eromanga Basin Province, Australia, Cooper Basin Continuous Assessment Unit Boundaries. 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-lev
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Energy Resources Program

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Eromanga Basin Province, Australia, Cooper Basin Continuous Assessment Unit Boundaries and Input Data

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of the Eromanga Basin Province, Australia, Cooper Basin Continuous Assessment Unit Boundaries. 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-lev
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Energy Resources Program

Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 135

Assessment of continuous gas resources of the North Caspian Basin Province, Kazakhstan and Russia, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 84.5 trillion cubic feet of continuous gas in the North Caspian Basin Province of Kazakhstan and Russia.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources of the Timan-Pechora Basin Province, Russia, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 46 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Timan-Pechora Basin Province of Russia.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Akita Basin Province, Japan, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 111 million barrels of oil and 85 billion cubic feet of gas in the Akita Basin Province of Japan.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources of the Putumayo-Oriente-Marañón Basin Province of Colombia, Ecuador, and Perú, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.1 billion barrels of oil and 793 billion cubic feet of gas in the Putumayo-Oriente-Marañón Basin Province of Colombia, Ecuador, and Perú.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

The 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal

Professional Paper 1824 comprises 30 chapters by various U.S. Geological Survey authors, including introduction and methodology chapters, which together provide documentation of the geological basis and methodology of the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal, results of which were first released in August 2008.  Twenty-eight chapters summarize the petroleum geology and resource potential of indiv
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Energy Resources Program

Assessment of coalbed gas resources in the Kutei and Barito Basin Provinces, Indonesia, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 10.7 trillion cubic feet of potential coalbed gas resources in the Kutei and Barito Basin Provinces of Indonesia.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil resources of the East Gobi, Nyalga, Tamtsag-Hailar, Erlian, and Yingen basins of Mongolia and China, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 187 million barrels of oil and 85 billion cubic feet of gas in the East Gobi, Nyalga, Tamtsag-Hailar, Erlian, and Yingen basins of Mongolia and China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources of the East Gobi, Nyalga, Tamtsag-Hailar, Erlian, and Yingen basins of Mongolia and China, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean continuous resources of 1.1 billion barrels of oil and 674 billion cubic feet of associated gas in the East Gobi, Nyalga, Tamtsag-Hailar, Erlian, and Yingen basins of Mongolia and China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Midlands area, England, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 319 million barrels of oil and 8.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Midlands area of England.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Paleozoic shale gas resources in the Sichuan Basin, China

The Sichuan Basin, China, is commonly considered to contain the world’s most abundant shale gas resources. Although its Paleozoic marine shales share many basic characteristics with successful United States gas shales, numerous geologic uncertainties exist, and Sichuan Basin shale gas production is nascent. Gas retention was likely compromised by the age of the shale reservoirs, multiple uplifts a
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Canning Basin Province, Australia, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 34.4 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Canning Basin Province of Australia.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources of Upper Cretaceous Shales in the Songliao Basin of China, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 3.3 billion barrels of oil and 887 billion cubic feet of gas in shale reservoirs of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou and Nenjiang Formations in the Songliao Basin of northeastern China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

Map of undiscovered unconventional/continuous oil and gas resources of the world (2010-present)

This map shows basins which were assessed for Unconventional/Continuous Oil and Gas and links to related publications.  These assessments started in the early 2010's and this map is updated with new assessments as they are published.

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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Map of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the world, 2012

In 2012, the USGS completed a comprehensive assessment of priority basins throughout the world.  This map lists publications for each of these basins.  

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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

World Geologic Maps Data Downloads

This page provides access to data from various USGS World Geologic Maps.

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Central Energy Resources Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

World Oil and Gas Assessments - Downloadable Data

This link is a page to download GIS and tabular data from World Oil and Gas Assessments spanning from 2000 to 2012.

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Central Energy Resources Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal GIS Data Downloads

Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal GIS Data Downloads provides Assessment Unit and Province-level details from the 2008 Assessment in 33 geologic provinces north of the Arctic Circle.

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Central Energy Resources Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Below are FAQ associated with this project.

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well tower rig

Are other countries using hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction?

Yes, hydraulic fracturing is being used extensively in Canada and is increasingly being used in countries in Asia, Europe, and South America.Learn more: Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Earthquakes

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Are other countries using hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction?

Yes, hydraulic fracturing is being used extensively in Canada and is increasingly being used in countries in Asia, Europe, and South America.Learn more: Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Earthquakes

Learn More
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Oil and Gas Wastewater Disposal Facility in West Virginia

What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?

“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations.For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable.Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments

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What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?

“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations.For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable.Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments

Learn More
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Drilling Rig

What are the different columns on a USGS oil and gas resource assessment table?

The USGS uses a statistically-based process to calculate the likely range of its estimate. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood of occurrence (the F5 value, or largest estimated value) to less than 95% likelihood of occurrence (the F95 value, or smallest estimated value). The F50 column is the value that occurs when 50% of the results are greater and 50% are lesser than the...

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What are the different columns on a USGS oil and gas resource assessment table?

The USGS uses a statistically-based process to calculate the likely range of its estimate. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood of occurrence (the F5 value, or largest estimated value) to less than 95% likelihood of occurrence (the F95 value, or smallest estimated value). The F50 column is the value that occurs when 50% of the results are greater and 50% are lesser than the...

Learn More