Publications
Browse recent USGS publications related to energy resources.
Filter Total Items: 2852
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the West Greenland-East Canada Province, 2023 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the West Greenland-East Canada Province, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 7.8 billion barrels of oil and 91.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the West Greenland-East Canada Province.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Land application of drill waste: A scope analysis Land application of drill waste: A scope analysis
Drilling fluid waste land application, a process where drilling wastes are spread and tilled into the land surface, has become common in some petroleum-producing states, however, the potential benefits and risks of this practice are not well studied. Drilling fluids can be water- or oil-based and can have high concentrations of total soluble salts and total petroleum hydrocarbons...
Authors
Matthew S. Varonka, Melissa A. Lombard, Todd M. Preston, Timothy T. Bartos, Jason R. Masoner, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the North Cuba area, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the North Cuba area, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 4,098 million barrels of oil and 13,268 billion cubic feet of gas in the North Cuba area.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kira K. Timm
An estimate of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources underlying Federal lands of the onshore United States, 2025 An estimate of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources underlying Federal lands of the onshore United States, 2025
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean allocated resources of 29.4 billion barrels of oil, 391.6 trillion cubic feet of gas, and 8.4 billion barrels of natural gas liquids underlying Federal lands of the onshore United States.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2024 Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean continuous resources of 703 million barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado.
Authors
Kira K. Timm, Christopher J. Schenk, Jane S. Hearon, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah E. Gelman, Cheryl A. Woodall, Tracey J. Mercier, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Scott S. Young
Component identification of solid biomass fuels using reflected light microscopy: Interlaboratory study 2 Component identification of solid biomass fuels using reflected light microscopy: Interlaboratory study 2
As nations transition toward sustainable energy systems, biomass has become a vital component of global energy portfolios. Derived from organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, forestry byproducts, and organic waste, biomass is a renewable energy source with significant environmental and economic benefits. Responsible biomass energy production can improve waste management...
Authors
Agnieszka Drobniak, Maria Mastalerz, Zbigniew Jelonek, Iwona Jelonek, Menandro Acda, Tushar Adsul, Neža Malenšek Andolšek, Lorenzo Animali, Omid Ardakani, Telma Ataide, Demberelsuren Batbold, Mohd Younus Bhat, Tara Congo, Bryon S. Donohoe, Olugbenga Ehinola, Deolinda Flores, Carolina Fonseca, Santanu Ghosh, Paula Gonçalves, Paul C. Hackley, James C. Hower, Luvsanchultem Jargal, Michelle N. Johnston, Stavros Kalaitzidis, Sławomir Kędzior, Wayne Knowles, Susheel Kumar, Jolanta Kus, Grzegorz Lis, Kacper Lis, Bei Liu, Bangjun Liu, Qingyong Luo, Meili Du, Alessio Mencarelli, Divya Mishra, Magdalena Misz-Kennan, Nicola Mitillo, Roksana Muzyka, Jennifer Nedzweckas, Jennifer M.K. O'Keefe, Silvia Omodeo-Salé, Luvsannyam Oyunjargal, Jackie Park, Aulia Agus Patria, Richard Pearson, Henrik I. Petersen, Georgeta Predeanu, Ganzorig Ranjin, Julito Reyes, Joana Ribeiro, Genaro de la Rosa Rodríguez, Arka Rudra, Marcin Sajdak, Margaret M. Sanders, George Siavalas, Piotr Sosnowski, Atul K. Varma, Małgorzata Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi, Mateusz Wolszczak, Zhanjie Xu, Alexander Zdravkov, Lei Zhao, Magdalena Zielińska, Konrad Ziemianin
Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia: A carbonatite-derived laterite Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth element deposit, Western Australia: A carbonatite-derived laterite
Carbonatite-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposits are the primary source of the world’s light REEs. The Mount Weld REE deposit in Western Australia is hosted in a lateritic sequence that reflects supergene enrichment of the underlying carbonatite. Water-rock interaction is a key to the formation of this world-class deposit. REE enrichment in the laterite is controlled by the breakdown...
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck, Jay M. Thompson, Cameron Mark Mercer, Ganesh Bhat, Heather A. Lowers, Adam Boehlke
Assessment of conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, 2024 Assessment of conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional and continuous resources of 473 million barrels of oil and 27 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.
Authors
Jane S. Hearon, Christopher J. Schenk, Sarah E. Gelman, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kira K. Timm, Ronald M. Drake, Andrea D. Cicero, Phuong A. Le
Using peak geometry and shifts in the x-ray spectrum of carbon from electron probe microanalysis to determine thermal maturity of organic matter Using peak geometry and shifts in the x-ray spectrum of carbon from electron probe microanalysis to determine thermal maturity of organic matter
During the burial of mudstones, the associated organic matter undergoes gradual thermal maturation, a key process that can influence the reactivity of organic matter during catagenesis, the formation of hydrocarbon deposits and the chemical weathering of mudstones. Conventional methods for assessing the thermal maturity of organic matter often fail to reflect the geochemical...
Authors
Haolin Zhou, Gelu Costin, Justin E. Birdwell, Paul C. Hackley, Daniel Minisini, Tanguy Terlier, Mark A. Torres
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Lower Cretaceous Hosston and Travis Peak Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Lower Cretaceous Hosston and Travis Peak Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 28 million barrels of oil and 35.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in conventional and continuous accumulations within the Lower Cretaceous Hosston and Travis Peak Formations of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast region.
Authors
Lauri A. Burke, Stanley T. Paxton, Scott A. Kinney, Nicholas J. Gianoutsos, Russell F. Dubiel, Janet K. Pitman, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Relating systematic molecular and textural properties of graptolite pyrolyzed via gold tube hydrous pyrolysis: Implications for thermal proxies in lower Paleozoic marine shales Relating systematic molecular and textural properties of graptolite pyrolyzed via gold tube hydrous pyrolysis: Implications for thermal proxies in lower Paleozoic marine shales
A series of gold tube pyrolysis experiments (72 h, 300–550 °C, 50 MPa) conducted on a graptolite-rich lower Paleozoic marine shale generated pyrolysis residues for a comprehensive evaluation of the molecular and structural variability of three types of graptolite periderm. Organic petrology, Raman spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy...
Authors
Xiaowei Zheng, Hamed Sanei, Fujie Jiang, Qingyong Luo, Yewei Wang, Jennifer Nedzweckas, Brett J. Valentine, Martha Stokes, Liu Cao, Paul C. Hackley
Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories
Hydrocarbon wells are not active forever; when they become permanently disused (abandoned), well infrastructure must be remediated or repurposed. Knowing which wells are abandoned is the initial and often complicated step in taking responsibility for well infrastructure. Each State creates laws and regulates hydrocarbon operations, which includes well abandonment. The existence of...
Authors
Brian A. Varela, Marc L. Buursink