Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Research Active
USGS Research Drilling Rig in Kinney County, TX, in 2018
Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell County, TX
The Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research (GEAR) project also conducts research on the properties and processes relevant to the Gulf Coast Jurassic-Cretaceous-Tertiary composite total petroleum system (TPS). This research aims to improve ongoing and future undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources assessments on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. Important research avenues include the nature and distribution of source rocks, reservoirs, traps, and seals as well as how the temporal evolution of the TPS affected petroleum migration and accumulations.
Research efforts on the Gulf Coast GEAR project include a focus on Jurassic and Cretaceous petroleum source intervals and charged reservoirs to support the prioritization of hydrocarbon resources assessments in Mesozoic strata. The project also plans to investigate potential energy resources in the Atlantic Coastal Plain provinces and adjacent offshore areas as they are analogous to the Gulf Coast region.
The Gulf Coast GEAR project is also constructing a subsurface geoscience database that will include type logs across the U.S. Gulf Coast basin and contain geophysical logs, interpreted geologic formation top depths, and paleontological data. This effort is a response to the 2018 review of the USGS Energy Resources Program by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which indicated that the program should improve its ability to make petroleum resource data publicly available in a timely manner. Data from the subsurface geoscience and source rock databases are vital for the characterization of hydrocarbon plays by the stakeholder as well as for potential geologic carbon sequestration, subsurface energy store, or paleoclimate reconstruction.
Another research goal is to conduct more robust and interdisciplinary source rock studies on organic-rich mudstones, which can be considered the foundations of petroleum systems. Source rock properties vary both vertically within a stratigraphic unit and geographically across a basin or region. These spatial patterns of source rock composition variability influence the development of hydrocarbon assessment unit boundaries. Increased understanding of controls on source rock formation, compositional variability, and thermal maturity trends can inform the development of geologic models used in USGS petroleum resource assessments. This research on organic-rich mudstone source rocks may also provide insights into paleoclimate, carbon cycling, and oceanic conditions to better understand how conditions in the past varied and changed over time.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Preliminary use of uric acid as a biomarker for wading birds on Everglades Tree Islands, Florida, United States
Preliminary vitrinite and bitumen reflectance, total organic carbon, and pyrolysis data for samples from Upper and Lower Cretaceous strata, Maverick Basin, south Texas
Total mercury, methylmercury, methylmercury production potential, and ancillary streambed-sediment and pore-water data for selected streams in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, 2003-04
Biogenic origin of coalbed gas in the northern Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain, U.S.A
Organic geochemistry of sediments in nearshore areas of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers: I. General organic characterization
Results from Coalbed Methane Drilling in Winn Parish, Louisiana
Analytical results from samples collected during coal-bed methane exploration drilling in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
Reflectance measurements of well cuttings from Ashley and Bradley Counties, Arkansas
An evaluation of a field-based method to prepare fresh water samples for analysis of sulfite and thiosulfate by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Results of coalbed methane drilling in Panola County, Texas
Preliminary Results from Coal-Bed Methane Drilling in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
Impacts of sulfate contamination on the Florida Everglades ecosystem
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
The Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research (GEAR) project also conducts research on the properties and processes relevant to the Gulf Coast Jurassic-Cretaceous-Tertiary composite total petroleum system (TPS). This research aims to improve ongoing and future undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources assessments on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. Important research avenues include the nature and distribution of source rocks, reservoirs, traps, and seals as well as how the temporal evolution of the TPS affected petroleum migration and accumulations.
Research efforts on the Gulf Coast GEAR project include a focus on Jurassic and Cretaceous petroleum source intervals and charged reservoirs to support the prioritization of hydrocarbon resources assessments in Mesozoic strata. The project also plans to investigate potential energy resources in the Atlantic Coastal Plain provinces and adjacent offshore areas as they are analogous to the Gulf Coast region.
The Gulf Coast GEAR project is also constructing a subsurface geoscience database that will include type logs across the U.S. Gulf Coast basin and contain geophysical logs, interpreted geologic formation top depths, and paleontological data. This effort is a response to the 2018 review of the USGS Energy Resources Program by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which indicated that the program should improve its ability to make petroleum resource data publicly available in a timely manner. Data from the subsurface geoscience and source rock databases are vital for the characterization of hydrocarbon plays by the stakeholder as well as for potential geologic carbon sequestration, subsurface energy store, or paleoclimate reconstruction.
Another research goal is to conduct more robust and interdisciplinary source rock studies on organic-rich mudstones, which can be considered the foundations of petroleum systems. Source rock properties vary both vertically within a stratigraphic unit and geographically across a basin or region. These spatial patterns of source rock composition variability influence the development of hydrocarbon assessment unit boundaries. Increased understanding of controls on source rock formation, compositional variability, and thermal maturity trends can inform the development of geologic models used in USGS petroleum resource assessments. This research on organic-rich mudstone source rocks may also provide insights into paleoclimate, carbon cycling, and oceanic conditions to better understand how conditions in the past varied and changed over time.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 16No Result Found - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 62Preliminary use of uric acid as a biomarker for wading birds on Everglades Tree Islands, Florida, United States
Concentrations of organic biomarkers and concentrations of phosphorus in soil cores can potentially be used as proxies for historic population densities of wading birds on tree islands in the Florida Everglades. This report focuses on establishing a link between the organic biomarker uric acid found in wading bird guano and the high phosphorus concentrations in tree island soils in the Florida EveAuthorsAnne L. Bates, William H. Orem, Susan Newman, Dale E. Gawlik, Harry E. Lerch, M.D. Corum, Monica Van WinklePreliminary vitrinite and bitumen reflectance, total organic carbon, and pyrolysis data for samples from Upper and Lower Cretaceous strata, Maverick Basin, south Texas
The Lower Cretaceous Pearsall Formation, a regionally occurring limestone and shale interval of 500-600-ft maximum thickness (Rose, 1986), is being evaluated as part of an ongoing U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment of undiscovered hydrocarbon resources in onshore Lower Cretaceous strata of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this report is to release preliminary vitrinite and bituAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Kristin O. Dennen, Rachel M. Gesserman, Jennie L. RidgleyTotal mercury, methylmercury, methylmercury production potential, and ancillary streambed-sediment and pore-water data for selected streams in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, 2003-04
Mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems is an issue of national concern, affecting both wildlife and human health. Detailed information on mercury cycling and food-web bioaccumulation in stream settings and the factors that control these processes is currently limited. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) conducted detailed studies frAuthorsMark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Michelle A. Lutz, David P. Krabbenhoft, George R. Aiken, William H. Orem, Britt D. Hall, John F. DeWild, Mark E. BrighamBiogenic origin of coalbed gas in the northern Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain, U.S.A
New coal-gas exploration and production in northern Louisiana and south-central Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico Basin, is focused on the Wilcox Group (Paleocene–Eocene), where the depth to targeted subbituminous C to high volatile C bituminous coal beds ranges from 300 to 1680 m, and individual coal beds have a maximum thickness of about 6 m. Total gas content (generally excluding residual gas) of theAuthorsPeter D. Warwick, F. Clayton Breland, Paul C. HackleyOrganic geochemistry of sediments in nearshore areas of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers: I. General organic characterization
This report presents results on the general organic characteristics of sediment cores collected from the coastal zone of the Mississippi River system, including distributions of the important nutrient elements (C, N, P, and S). This was part of a larger study conducted from 2001-2005 to examine the delivery of sediment-associated contaminants to the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi River system,AuthorsWilliam H. Orem, Robert J. Rosenbauer, Peter W. Swarzenski, Harry E. Lerch, M.D. Corum, Anne L. BatesResults from Coalbed Methane Drilling in Winn Parish, Louisiana
A coalbed methane (CBM) well in Winn Parish, Louisiana, named CZ Fee A No. 114, was drilled by Vintage Petroleum, Inc., in January 2004. The CZ Fee A No. 114 CBM well was drilled to a total depth of 3,114 ft and perforated at 2,730-2,734 ft in a Wilcox Group (Paleocene-Eocene) coal bed. Analytical data from the drilling project have been released by Vintage Petroleum, Inc., and by the current wellAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Peter D. Warwick, F. Clayton Breland, Troy E. Richard, Kirk RossAnalytical results from samples collected during coal-bed methane exploration drilling in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
In 2001, and 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Louisiana Geological Survey (LGS), through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Devon SFS Operating, Inc. (Devon), participated in an exploratory drilling and coring program for coal-bed methane in north-central Louisiana. The USGS and LGS collected 25 coal core and cuttings samples from two coal-bed methane testAuthorsPeter D. Warwick, F. Clayton Breland, Paul C. Hackley, Frank T. Dulong, Douglas J. Nichols, Alexander W. Karlsen, R. Marc Bustin, Charles E. Barker, Jason C. Willett, Michael H. TrippiReflectance measurements of well cuttings from Ashley and Bradley Counties, Arkansas
Vitrinite reflectance measurements were determined for twenty-three well cuttings samples from Ashley and Bradley Counties, Arkansas, to evaluate coal rank and coalbed gas potential in the Desha Basin of the southern Missisissippi Embayment. Samples were selected from the Norman F. Williams Well Sample Library using geophysical logs to identify coaly shale and coal intervals from conventional oilAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Michael E. Ratchford, Peter D. WarwickAn evaluation of a field-based method to prepare fresh water samples for analysis of sulfite and thiosulfate by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
No abstract available.AuthorsAnne L. Bates, William H. Orem, Harry E. Lerch, M.D. Corum, Marisa BeckResults of coalbed methane drilling in Panola County, Texas
No abstract available.AuthorsPeter D. Warwick, John R. SanFilipo, Alex W. Karlsen, Charles E. BarkerPreliminary Results from Coal-Bed Methane Drilling in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
No abstract available.AuthorsPeter D. Warwick, F. Clayton Breland, Arthur C. Clark, Jason C. WillettImpacts of sulfate contamination on the Florida Everglades ecosystem
No abstract available.AuthorsWilliam H. Orem - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.