Energy Resources Program
News
USGS Estimates Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Austin Chalk Formation of the U.S. Gulf Coast
The Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations of the Gulf Coast Basin contain a mean of 6.9 billion barrels of oil and 41.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas according to a new assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. In comparison, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that the United States used 7.5 billion barrels of petroleum products in 2019.
New Patent Helps Coalbed Methane Research
Far underground, in a Wyoming well-bore drilled through rock and coal, exciting research is bubbling up. USGS researchers are studying how bacteria and other microbes may play a role in the formation of natural gas from coal, and they’re using one of USGS’ newest patents to do it. This patent is the subsurface environmental sampler, or SES.
Mixing Oil and Water
In south Texas, a wide band of rocks stretches from the Mexican border all the way to western Louisiana, forming the highly productive Eagle Ford Group. These formations, made up primarily of shale and mudstone, are some of the most prolific oil and gas-producing rocks in the United States.
A Geologist Tongue Twister
Bring out your inner geologist and take the Geologist Tongue Twister Audio or Video challenge!
First, do an audio or video recording of you reading the Tongue Twister. Second, feature a rock or mineral from your rock collection or go outside and find yourself a rock; they are everywhere!
Be sure to hashtag your video #earthscienceweek and #...
Using Remote Sensing to Turn Trash into Treasure
There’s an old saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. At the USGS, we’re taking another look at old mine waste and tailings to see if there might still be mineral potential in them.
Multiagency Initiative Begins Work on Critical Minerals and Geothermal Energy Research in Nevada
A multiagency partnership led by the USGS and the Department of Energy seeks to shed light on lithium and other critical mineral resource potential as well as geothermal energy potential in western Nevada
Energy Quarterly - Summer 2020
As summer begins, here are a few highlights in our Energy Quarterly Newsletter. This edition is a quick overview of the Energy Resources Program's assessments, research, data, and publications. We also share highlights from our fellow program in the USGS Energy and Minerals Mission Area, the Mineral Resources Program.
Recent Oil & Gas Publications: Energy Quarterly Summer 2020
USGS Energy Resources Program list of recent Oil and Gas publications and data releases for the Summer 2020 Edition of the Energy Quarterly Newsletter.
Recent Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geology Publications: Energy Quarterly Summer 2020
USGS Energy Resources Program list of recent Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geoenvironmental, and Geology publications and data releases for the Summer 2020 Edition of the Energy Quarterly Newsletter.
USGS Releases A New Assessment Methodology for Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a new assessment method to estimate how much oil and gas could be produced by injecting carbon dioxide into petroleum reservoirs. The methodology also includes a way to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide remaining in the reservoir after the production of oil and gas is complete.
Special Issue Highlights One of the Most Extensive Gas Hydrate Datasets Ever Collected
The USGS and its research partners in India and Japan have reported on one of the most extensive data sets ever collected on the occurrence of natural gas hydrate.
USGS Releases Estimate of Conventional Oil and Gas in Alaska Central North Slope
USGS continues its estimates of technically recoverable oil and gas in Alaska's North Slope.