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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 - Western Australia 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 Perth Basin, NW Shelf, Browse Basin, and Bonaparte Gulf Basin Provinces of Western Australia. 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 define
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Greater Taranaki and East Coast Basins, New Zealand, 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 the Greater Taranaki and East Coast Basins, New Zealand. 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-le
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-China 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 China. 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
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

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: 138

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the greater Taranaki Basin and East Coast Basin of New Zealand, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 806 million barrels of oil and 17.0 trillion cubic feet of gas within the greater Taranaki Basin and East Coast Basin of New Zealand.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Perth Basin, NW Shelf, Browse Basin, and Bonaparte Gulf Basin provinces of Western Australia, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 906 million barrels of oil and 132.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in four geologic provinces of Western Australia.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of China, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 13.4 billion barrels of oil and 244.4 trillion cubic feet of gas in nine geologic provinces of China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean area, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 879 million barrels of conventional oil and 286.2 trillion cubic feet of conventional gas in the eastern Mediterranean area.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous gas resources in the Horn River Basin, Cordova Embayment, and Liard Basin, Canada, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 135.4 trillion cubic feet of continuous gas in Devonian–Mississippian shales in the Horn River Basin, Cordova Embayment, and Liard Basin of Canada.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of Southeast Asia, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 10.5 billion barrels of oil and 271.5 trillion cubic feet of gas within 33 geologic provinces of Southeast Asia.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in Lower Silurian Shales of the Arabian Peninsula, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 4.6 billion barrels of oil and 561 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Lower Silurian Shale Total Petroleum System of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of tight-gas resources in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Province of Algeria, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 30.5 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Province of Algeria.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in Jurassic Posidonia Shales of Greece and Albania, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 118 million barrels of continuous oil and 170 billion cubic feet of continuous gas in the Jurassic Posidonia Shale Total Petroleum System of western Greece and southern Albania.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in Jurassic Shales of the eastern Arabian Peninsula, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 5.6 billion barrels of oil and 109.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Jurassic Hanifa-Tuwaiq Total Petroleum System of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of shale-oil resources of the Sirte Basin Province, Libya, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 23.7 billion barrels of shale oil and 23 trillion cubic feet of associated gas in the onshore part of the Sirte Basin Province of Libya.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Sirte and Pelagian Basin Provinces of Libya, Tunisia, Malta, and Italy, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 16.4 billion barrels of oil and 106.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Sirte and Pelagian Basin Provinces of Libya, Tunisia, Malta, and Italy.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, 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

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

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.

By
Central Energy Resources Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Below are FAQ associated with this project.

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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?

Oil and gas estimates always involve some amounts of uncertainty. To account for this, the USGS presents its assessments of oil and gas potential in the form of a range based on how certain we are that this amount of oil and gas exist. The USGS uses a statistically based process (or model) to calculate the likely range of its estimates. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood...

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

Oil and gas estimates always involve some amounts of uncertainty. To account for this, the USGS presents its assessments of oil and gas potential in the form of a range based on how certain we are that this amount of oil and gas exist. The USGS uses a statistically based process (or model) to calculate the likely range of its estimates. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood...

Learn More