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.
Environmental assessment survey of the vegetation surrounding a Lower Wilcox Group coal gas well site
Gulf coast geology (GCG) online -- miocene of southern Louisiana
Preliminary geochemical, microbiological, and epidemiological investigations into possible linkages between lignite aquifers, pathogenic microbes, and kidney disease in northwestern Louisiana
Primary causes of wetland loss at Madison Bay, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Characterization of core extracted from the Olmos Formation (Cretaceous), Southwest Texas
Is there a basin-centered gas accumulation in Cotton Valley group sandstones, Gulf Coast basin, U.S.A.?
Geochemistry of surface and pore water at USGS coring sites in wetlands of South Florida, 1994 and 1995
Simple Techniques For Assessing Impacts Of Oil And Gas Operations On Public Lands: A Field Evaluation Of A Photoionization Detector (PID) At A Condensate Release Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Preliminary evaluation of the coalbed methane resources of the Gulf Coastal Plain
Preliminary results from coal-bed methane drilling in Panola County, Texas
Preliminary Gulf Coast Coalbed Methane Exploration Maps: Depth to Wilcox, Apparent Wilcox Thickness and Vitrinite Reflectance
Geochemistry of sulfur in the Florida Everglades: 1994 through 1999
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: 61Environmental assessment survey of the vegetation surrounding a Lower Wilcox Group coal gas well site
This environmental assessment was conducted to examine the impacts on vegetation of the drilling and operation of a coal gas well located along Hwy 134 about 5 miles (8 km) east of Fairbanks, La. The drill site is 85 meters north of Hwy 134 and operations at the well were performed by EnerVest Operating LLC. The site (privately owned) was formerly a mixed hardwood/pine forest that was clear-cut inAuthorsJohn W. McCoyGulf coast geology (GCG) online -- miocene of southern Louisiana
No abstract available.AuthorsA. Curtis Huffman, Scott A. Kinney, Laura Biewick, Heather R. Mitchell, Gregory L. GuntherPreliminary geochemical, microbiological, and epidemiological investigations into possible linkages between lignite aquifers, pathogenic microbes, and kidney disease in northwestern Louisiana
In May 2002, 15 wells and four surface water sites were sampled, and in September 2002, those same wells and sites plus four additional surface sites were sampled in five parishes of northwestern Louisiana. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to select residential water wells for sampling. Well water samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, organic compounds, and nutrient and anion cAuthorsJoseph E. Bunnell, Rebecca N. Bushon, Donald M. Stoeckel, Amie M. Gifford, Marisa Beck, Harry E. Lerch, Runhua Shi, Benton McGee, Bradford C. Hanson, Jonathan Kolak, Peter D. WarwickPrimary causes of wetland loss at Madison Bay, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert A. Morton, Ginger Tiling, Nicholas F. FerinaCharacterization of core extracted from the Olmos Formation (Cretaceous), Southwest Texas
No abstract available.AuthorsAlex W. Karlsen, Peter D. Warwick, Robert W. Hook, John R. SanFilipo, Charles E. Barker, Jennifer M. KleinIs there a basin-centered gas accumulation in Cotton Valley group sandstones, Gulf Coast basin, U.S.A.?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, is reevaluating the resource potential of selected domestic basin-centered gas accumulations. Basin-centered gas accumulations are characterized by presence of gas in extensive low-permeability (tight) reservoirs in which conventional seals and trapping mechanisms are absent, abnormally high or low reservoir presAuthorsCharles E. Bartberger, Thaddeus S. Dyman, Steven M. CondonGeochemistry of surface and pore water at USGS coring sites in wetlands of South Florida, 1994 and 1995
In this report, we present preliminary data on surface and pore water geochemistry from 22 sites in south Florida sampled during 1994 and 1995. These results are part of a larger study designed to evaluate the role of biogeochemical processes in sediments in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur in the south Florida ecosystem. The data are briefly discussed in regard to regionalAuthorsWilliam H. Orem, Harry E. Lerch, Peter RawlikSimple Techniques For Assessing Impacts Of Oil And Gas Operations On Public Lands: A Field Evaluation Of A Photoionization Detector (PID) At A Condensate Release Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Simple, cost-effective techniques are needed for land managers to assess the environmental impacts of oil and gas production activities on public lands, so that sites may be prioritized for remediation or for further, more formal assessment. Field-portable instruments provide real-time data and allow the field investigator to extend an assessment beyond simply locating and mapping obvious disturbaAuthorsJames K. Otton, Robert A. ZielinskiPreliminary evaluation of the coalbed methane resources of the Gulf Coastal Plain
No abstract available.AuthorsPeter D. Warwick, C. E. Barker, J.R. SanFilipo, L.R. BiewickPreliminary results from coal-bed methane drilling in Panola County, Texas
No abstract available.AuthorsPeter D. Warwick, C. E. Barker, J.R. SanFilipo, L.E. MorrisPreliminary Gulf Coast Coalbed Methane Exploration Maps: Depth to Wilcox, Apparent Wilcox Thickness and Vitrinite Reflectance
Strong economic controls on the viability of coalbed methane (CBM) prospects make coal geometry and coal property maps key elements in identifying sweet spots and production fairways. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the apparent prospective areas for CBM exploration in the Wilcox Group (Paleocene-Eocene) lignite and coalbeds by mapping net coal thickness, depth to coal, and coal rank (vitrAuthorsCharles E. Barker, Laura R. Biewick, Peter D. Warwick, John R. SanFilipoGeochemistry of sulfur in the Florida Everglades: 1994 through 1999
In this report, we present data on the geochemistry of sulfur in sediments and in surface water, groundwater, and rainwater in the Everglades region in south Florida. The results presented here are part of a larger study intended to determine the roles played by the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur in the ecology of the south Florida wetlands. The geochemistry of sulfur in the rAuthorsAnne L. Bates, W. H. Orem, J. W. Harvey, E.C. Spiker - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.