Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments Active
One of the main goals of the Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research (GEAR) project is to conduct assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable petroleum resources of the U.S. Gulf Coast region. This goal is in accordance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and is performed in collaboration with the USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment project. These high-quality, scientifically unbiased resource assessments provide crucial information to stakeholders and decision makers at the local, State, and Federal levels.
The hydrocarbon resource assessments in the U.S. Gulf Coast focus on the onshore and State waters portion of this region. The offshore Gulf of Mexico basin outboard of the State-Federal boundary is within the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. These geologic-based quantitative assessments use different methodologies for 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 are dispersed throughout the matrix of the host rock unit.
Listed below are USGS publications related to the most recent assessments results for the Gulf Coast. Access to supporting data can be found by click on the ‘Data’ tab above. A summary of associated research within the Gulf Coast GEAR project and resulting publications can be found on the Gulf Coast GEAR Research page.
Recent Assessments
- 2021 Deep Tuscaloosa Group Sandstones Conventional (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2019 Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2018 Eagle Ford Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2018 Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2017 Bossier Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2017 Downdip Paleogene Conventional (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2016 Haynesville Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2016 South Florida Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2015 Cotton Valley Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
Previous Assessments (select publications):
- 2011 Eagle Ford Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet)
- 2010 Austin Chalk Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet)
- 2010 Jurassic and Cretaceous Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2007 Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations Conventional (Fact Sheet)
- 2007 Tertiary Strata Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2003 Navarro and Taylor Groups (Fact Sheet, Geologic Report, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2002 Cotton Valley Group and Travis Peak and Hosston Formations (Cotton Valley Fact Sheet, Travis Peak and Hosston Fact Sheet, 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
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.
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in conventional and continuous petroleum systems in the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group, U.S. Gulf Coast region, 2011
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations, Gulf Coast, 2010
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of the Gulf Coast, 2010
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Tertiary strata of the Gulf Coast, 2007
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Cretaceous-Tertiary coal beds of the Gulf Coast region, 2007
Assessment of Undiscovered Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations, Western Gulf Province of the Gulf Coast Region, Louisiana and Texas, 2007
USGS assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Paleogene strata of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and state waters
Chapter 4: The GIS Project for the Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
Chapter 1: Executive Summary - 2003 Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Gulf Coast Region, Texas
Chapter 2: 2003 Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
Chapter 3: Tabular Data and Graphical Images in Support of the U.S. Geological Survey National Oil and Gas Assessment - Western Gulf Province, Smackover-Austin-Eagle Ford Composite Total Petroleum System (504702)
Petroleum Systems and Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas, Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
One of the main goals of the Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research (GEAR) project is to conduct assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable petroleum resources of the U.S. Gulf Coast region. This goal is in accordance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and is performed in collaboration with the USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment project. These high-quality, scientifically unbiased resource assessments provide crucial information to stakeholders and decision makers at the local, State, and Federal levels.
The hydrocarbon resource assessments in the U.S. Gulf Coast focus on the onshore and State waters portion of this region. The offshore Gulf of Mexico basin outboard of the State-Federal boundary is within the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. These geologic-based quantitative assessments use different methodologies for 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 are dispersed throughout the matrix of the host rock unit.
Listed below are USGS publications related to the most recent assessments results for the Gulf Coast. Access to supporting data can be found by click on the ‘Data’ tab above. A summary of associated research within the Gulf Coast GEAR project and resulting publications can be found on the Gulf Coast GEAR Research page.
Recent Assessments
- 2021 Deep Tuscaloosa Group Sandstones Conventional (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2019 Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2018 Eagle Ford Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2018 Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2017 Bossier Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2017 Downdip Paleogene Conventional (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2016 Haynesville Formation Conventional and Continuous (Open File Report, Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data, Input data)
- 2016 South Florida Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial and Input Data)
- 2015 Cotton Valley Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
Previous Assessments (select publications):
- 2011 Eagle Ford Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet)
- 2010 Austin Chalk Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet)
- 2010 Jurassic and Cretaceous Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2007 Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations Conventional (Fact Sheet)
- 2007 Tertiary Strata Conventional and Continuous (Fact Sheet, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2003 Navarro and Taylor Groups (Fact Sheet, Geologic Report, Assessment Unit Spatial Data)
- 2002 Cotton Valley Group and Travis Peak and Hosston Formations (Cotton Valley Fact Sheet, Travis Peak and Hosston Fact Sheet, 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
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 48Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in conventional and continuous petroleum systems in the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group, U.S. Gulf Coast region, 2011
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed means of (1) 141 million barrels of oil (MMBO), 502 billion cubic feet of natural gas (BCFG), and 16 million barrels of natural gas liquids (MMBNGL) in the conventional Eagle Ford Updip Sandstone Oil and Gas Assessment Unit (AU); (2) 853 MMBO, 1,707 BCFG, and 34 MMBNGL in the continuous Eagle Ford Shale Oil AU; and (AuthorsRussell F. Dubiel, Janet K. Pitman, Ofori N. Pearson, Krystal Pearson, Scott A. Kinney, Michael D. Lewan, Lauri Burke, Laura Biewick, Ronald R. Charpentier, Troy A. Cook, Timothy R. Klett, Richard M. Pollastro, Christopher J. SchenkAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations, Gulf Coast, 2010
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 957 million barrels of undiscovered oil, 3.6 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas, and 363 million barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in the Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations in onshore lands and State waters of the Gulf Coast.AuthorsKrystal Pearson, R. F. Dubiel, O.N. Pearson, Janet K. PitmanAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of the Gulf Coast, 2010
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 147.4 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas, 2.4 billion barrels of undiscovered oil, and 2.96 billion barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata in onshore lands and State waters of the Gulf Coast.AuthorsRussell F. Dubiel, Peter D. Warwick, Sharon Swanson, Lauri Burke, Laura Biewick, Ronald R. Charpentier, James L. Coleman, Troy A. Cook, Kris Dennen, Colin A. Doolan, Catherine Enomoto, Paul C. Hackley, Alexander W. Karlsen, Timothy R. Klett, Scott A. Kinney, Michael D. Lewan, Matthew D. Merrill, Krystal Pearson, Ofori N. Pearson, Janet K. Pitman, Richard M. Pollastro, Elizabeth L. Rowan, Christopher J. Schenk, Brett ValentineAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Tertiary strata of the Gulf Coast, 2007
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 113.7 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas, a mean of 690 million barrels of undiscovered oil, and a mean of 3.7 billion barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in onshore lands and State waters of the Gulf Coast.AuthorsRussell F. Dubiel, Janet K. Pitman, Ofori N. Pearson, Peter D. Warwick, Alexander W. Karlsen, James L. Coleman, Paul C. Hackley, Daniel O. Hayba, Sharon M. Swanson, Ronald R. Charpentier, Troy A Cook, Timothy R. Klett, Richard M. Pollastro, Christopher J. SchenkAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Cretaceous-Tertiary coal beds of the Gulf Coast region, 2007
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 4.06 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas in Cretaceous-Tertiary coal beds of the onshore lands and State waters of the Gulf Coast.AuthorsPeter D. WarwickAssessment of Undiscovered Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa and Woodbine Formations, Western Gulf Province of the Gulf Coast Region, Louisiana and Texas, 2007
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 20.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas and a mean of 0.60 billion barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in the Western Gulf Province of the Gulf Coast Region, Louisiana and Texas.AuthorsUSGS assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Paleogene strata of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and state waters
This report presents a review of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2007 assessment of the undiscovered oil and gas resources in Paleogene strata underlying the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain and state waters. Geochemical, geologic, geophysical, thermal maturation, burial history, and paleontologic studies have been combined with regional cross sections and data from previous USGS petroleum asseAuthorsPeter D. Warwick, James L. Coleman, Paul C. Hackley, Daniel O. Hayba, Alexander W. Karlsen, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Sharon M. SwansonChapter 4: The GIS Project for the Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
A geographic information system (GIS) focusing on the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups in the Gulf Coast region was developed as a visual-analysis tool for the U.S. Geological Survey's 2003 assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and natural gas resources in the Western Gulf Province. The Central Energy Resources Team of the U.S. Geological Survey has also developed an InAuthorsLaura BiewickChapter 1: Executive Summary - 2003 Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Gulf Coast Region, Texas
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an assessment of the undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups in the Western Gulf Province of the Gulf Coast region (fig. 1) as part of a national oil and gas assessment effort (USGS Navarro and Taylor Groups Assessment Team, 2004). The assessment of the petroleum potential of the Navarro and Taylor GrAuthorsChapter 2: 2003 Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in the Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
The Upper Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups in the western part of the Western Gulf Province were assessed for undiscovered oil and gas resources in 2003. The area is part of the Smackover-Austin-Eagle Ford Composite Total Petroleum System. The rocks consist of, from youngest to oldest, the Escondido and Olmos Formations of the Navarro Group and the San Miguel Formation and the Anacacho LimestoAuthorsS. M. Condon, T. S. DymanChapter 3: Tabular Data and Graphical Images in Support of the U.S. Geological Survey National Oil and Gas Assessment - Western Gulf Province, Smackover-Austin-Eagle Ford Composite Total Petroleum System (504702)
This chapter describes data used in support of the process being applied by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Oil and Gas Assessment (NOGA) project. Digital tabular data used in this report and archival data that permit the user to perform further analyses are available elsewhere on this CD-ROM. Computers and software may import the data without transcription from the Portable Document FoAuthorsT. R. Klett, P. A. LePetroleum Systems and Geologic Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas, Navarro and Taylor Groups, Western Gulf Province, Texas
The purpose of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Oil and Gas Assessment is to develop geologically based hypotheses regarding the potential for additions to oil and gas reserves in priority areas of the United States. The USGS recently completed an assessment of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Late Cretaceous Navarro and Taylor Groups in the Western Gulf Province in Texas (USGAuthors - Web Tools
- News
Below are news stories associated with this project.