Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Assessments
Science Center Objects
This site highlights the assessments of the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project. Scientifically robust assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources are published in a variety of USGS publications. This project also conducts research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources (click here for research components of this project). The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin.
The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project is part of the USGS Energy Resources Program, with staff in Reston, Virginia at the Eastern Energy Energy Resources Science Center and Denver, Colorado at the Central Energy Resources Science Center. Our mission is to conduct scientifically robust assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources and to conduct research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources. The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. The offshore Gulf of Mexico Basin outboard of the State-Federal boundary (map) is within the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
The project conducts geologic-based quantitative assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources across the Gulf Coast basin, and we conduct research on petroleum systems elements that provides the underlying data and interpretations for each assessment. Different methodologies are used for assessments of conventional and continuous oil and gas accumulations. Conventional oil and gas accumulations develop through migration of generated hydrocarbons into a porous and permeable rock unit, while continuous accumulations are regional accumulations of oil and/or gas that is dispersed throughout the matrix of the host rock unit (see Schmoker (2005) and Schmoker and Klett (2005) for more information).
Listed below are the publications related to the most recent assessment results for the Gulf Coast; upcoming assessments and older assessment results and publications are also listed. Access to supporting data can be found by clicking on the 'data' tab. A summary of research within the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project and resulting publications can be found at the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Research page.
Recent Assessments
- 2018 Eagle Ford Continuous (Factsheet)
- 2018 Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Continuous (Factsheet)
- 2017 Haynesville Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Factsheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2017 Bossier Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Factsheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2017 Downdip Paleogene Conventional (Factsheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2016 South Florida Conventional and Continuous (Factsheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2015 Cotton Valley Conventional and Continuous(Factsheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2010 Austin Chalk Conventional and Continuous (Factsheet)
Upcoming Assessments (timeline is subject to funding/available staff)
- Downdip Tuscaloosa Sandstone (conventional)
- Austin Chalk (conventional and continuous)
- Smackover (continuous)
- Campanian-Oligocene sandstones of southern Texas
Previous Assessments (select publications):
- 2011 Eagle Ford Assessment (Factsheet)
- 2010 Jurassic and Cretaceous (Factsheet)
- 2007 Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations (Factsheet)
- 2007 Tertiary Strata (Factsheet)
- 2003 Navarro and Taylor Groups (Factsheet, Geologic Report)
- 2002 Cotton Valley Group and Travis Peak-Hosston Formations (Cotton Valley Factsheet, Travis-Pk Factsheet, Geologic Report)
- 2000 South Florida Basin Conventional and Continuous (Digital Data Series Report)
- 1995 Assessment of Western Gulf and East Texas Basin & Louisiana-Mississippi Salt Basins
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Date published: April 19, 2019Status: ActiveUnited 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 (click here for information about World Oil and Gas Assessments). This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part...
Contacts: Christopher J SchenkAttribution: Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 3: Great Lakes, Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 5: Missouri Basin, Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Region 9: Columbia-Pacific Northwest, Region 11: Alaska, Region 12: Pacific Islands (American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Central Energy Resources Science Center, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
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Date published: November 29, 2018Status: ActiveGulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Research
This site highlights the research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources of the Gulf Coast of Mexico. This portion of the project also conducts assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources (click here for...
Contacts: William H Craddock, Justin BirdwellAttribution: Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Eastern 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.
Roberts-Ashby, Tina L.; Hackley, Paul C.; Lohr, Celeste D.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Le, Phuong A.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Woodall, Cheryl A.; Brownfield, Michael E.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Marra, Kristen R.; Finn, Thomas M.
Assessment of oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville and Bossier Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
The U.S. Geological Survey completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Haynesville and Bossier Formations of the onshore and State waters portion of the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Haynesville Formation conventional oil and gas production began in the late 1930s, whereas Bossier...
Paxton, Stanley T.
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...
Paxton, Stanley T.; Pitman, Janet K.; Kinney, Scott A.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Dubiel, Russell F.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Burke, Lauri A.; Klett, Timothy R.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Le, Phuong A.; Finn, Thomas M.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Marra, Kristen R.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.
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 (...
Paxton, Stanley T.; Pitman, Janet K.; Kinney, Scott A.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Dubiel, Russell F.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Burke, Lauri A.; Klett, Timothy R.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Le, Phuong A.; Finn, Thomas M.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Marra, Kristen R.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.
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...
Hackley, Paul C.; Enomoto, Catherine B.; Valentine, Brett J.; Rouse, William A.; Lohr, Celeste D.; Dulong, Frank T.; Hatcherian, Javin J.; Brennan, Sean T.; Craddock, William H.; Finn, Thomas M.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Le, Phuong A.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Marra, Kristen R.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Paxton, Stanley T.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Woodall, Cheryl A.; Schenk, Christopher J.
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...
Whidden, Katherine J.; Pitman, Janet K.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Paxton, Stanley T.; Kinney, Scott A.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Birdwell, Justin E.; Brownfield, Michael E.; Burke, Lauri A.; Dubiel, Russell F.; French, Katherine L.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Haines, Seth S.; Le, Phuong A.; Marra, Kristen R.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.; Woodall, Cheryl A.
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.
Buursink, Marc L.; Doolan, Colin A.; Enomoto, Catherine B.; Craddock, William H.; Coleman, James L.; Brownfield, Michael E.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Klett, Timothy R.; Le, Phuong A.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Marra, Kristen R.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Pitman, Janet K.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Woodall, Cheryl A.
Geologic characterization of the hydrocarbon resource potential of the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale in Mississippi and Louisiana, U.S.A.
Recent oil production from the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) has elevated the formation, previously assessed by the USGS in 2011 as part of the Eagle Ford Group, to its own distinct assessment unit for an upcoming assessment. Geologic characterization in preparation for the 2017 assessment has included the analysis of rock...
Enomoto, Catherine B.; Hackley, Paul C.; Valentine, Brett J.; Rouse, William A.; Dulong, Frank T.; Lohr, Celeste D.; Hatcherian, Javin J.
Geologic assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Lower Paleogene Midway and Wilcox Groups, and the Carrizo Sand of the Claiborne Group, of the Northern Gulf coast region
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently conducted an assessment of the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas potential of Tertiary strata underlying the onshore areas and State waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region. The assessment was based on a number of geologic elements including an evaluation of hydrocarbon source...
Warwick, Peter D.
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Bossier Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.9 billion barrels of conventional oil and 108.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation in onshore lands and State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
Paxton, Stanley T.; Pitman, Janet K.; Kinney, Scott A.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Dubiel, Russell F.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Burke, Lauri A.; Klett, Timothy R.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Le, Phuong A.; Finn, Thomas M.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Marra, Kristen R.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.1 billion barrels of conventional oil and 195.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation in onshore lands and State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
Paxton, Stanley T.; Pitman, Janet K.; Kinney, Scott A.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Pearson, Ofori N.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Dubiel, Russell F.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Burke, Lauri A.; Klett, Timothy R.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Le, Phuong A.; Finn, Thomas M.; Gaswirth, Stephanie B.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Marra, Kristen R.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.
Geologic assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources—Lower Cretaceous Albian to Upper Cretaceous Cenomanian carbonate rocks of the Fredericksburg and Washita Groups, United States Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain and State Waters
In 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessed Lower Cretaceous Albian to Upper Cretaceous Cenomanian carbonate rocks of the Fredericksburg and Washita Groups and their equivalent units for technically recoverable, undiscovered hydrocarbon resources underlying onshore lands and State Waters of the Gulf Coast region of the United States. This...
Swanson, Sharon M.; Enomoto, Catherine B.; Dennen, Kristin O. ; Valentine, Brett J.; Cahan, Steven M.-
Date published: May 1, 2020U-Pb ages of detrital zircons in Paleogene strata of the Gulf Coast
This data release contains 60 detrital zircon age spectra, based on U and Pb isotope ratio measurements for 9399 single grains. The samples are from Paleogene strata of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Of the 9399 single grain measurements, we recommend that 8640 yield ages that are suitable for construction of detrital zircon age spectra. Comments tagged to individual grains explain the reasoning for ex...
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Date published: September 6, 2019
USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects-Louisiana-Mississippi Salt Basins and Western Gulf Provinces, Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources on the north slope of Alaska. 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...
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Date published: August 21, 2019
USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems, and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects-Eagle Ford Group and Associated Cenomanian-Turonian Strata Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas in the Eagle Ford group and Associated Cenomanian-Turonian Strata, Texas Gulf Coast. 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...
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Date published: January 1, 2019
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...
Attribution: Florence Bascom Geoscience Center -
Date published: November 28, 2018Downloadable Data for Gulf Coast Oil and Gas Assessments
Follow this link to access downloadable GIS and tabular data for this province.
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Date published: November 13, 2018
Petroleum geology data from Cenozoic rock samples in the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast collected 2014 to 2016
The U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered petroleum resources in the downdip Paleogene formations of the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2018. During the assessment new data and information were collected to evaluate thermal maturity, source rock character, and unconventional reservoir rock prospectivity for the Cenozoic-aged section in south Louisiana. Samples were analyzed using multiple analytic...
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Date published: May 2, 2018
Petroleum geology data from Mesozoic rock samples in the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast collected 2011 to 2017
This data release contains Rock-Eval pyrolysis, organic petrographic (reflectance), and X-ray diffraction mineralogy data for subsurface Mesozoic rock samples from the eastern onshore Gulf Coast Basin (primarily Mississippi and Louisiana). Samples were analyzed in support of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment of undiscovered petroleum resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tu
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Date published: June 22, 2018USGS Estimates Oil and Gas in Texas’ Eagle Ford Group
The Eagle Ford Group of Texas contains estimated means of 8.5 billion barrels of oil, 66 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 1.9 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, according to a new assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. This estimate consists of undiscovered, technically recoverable resources in continuous accumulations.
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Date published: April 13, 2017USGS Estimates 304 Trillion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas in the Bossier and Haynesville Formations of the U.S. Gulf Coast
USGS also estimates 4 billion barrels of oil and 2 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the two formations.