Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, CaliforniaImage of an oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California, with the sun setting behind it.
Why does the USGS decide to reassess oil and gas formations?
The USGS regularly re-examines our assessments to see if updated information warrants a reassessment. Sometimes more information is available either from USGS research or industry production, and the USGS decides to conduct a new assessment.
Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
Related
What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) is a roughly 23.4 million acre area of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It lies in northwest Alaska and borders both the Chukchi Sea to the west and the Beaufort Sea to the north. The NPR-A was originally established in 1923 as a petroleum reserve for the U.S. Navy, then transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1976. The...
Does the Bakken Formation contain more oil than Saudi Arabia? Does the Bakken Formation contain more oil than Saudi Arabia?
Probably not. In 2000, the USGS assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in Saudi Arabia at 87 billion barrels ( USGS 2000 World Petroleum Assessment) compared to a mean estimate of 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous oil in the Bakken and Three Forks formations ( USGS 2021 Bakken and Three Forks Assessment). In addition, Saudi Arabia...
How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors? How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors?
Reports of hydraulic fracturing causing felt earthquakes are extremely rare. However, wastewater produced by wells that were hydraulic fractured can cause “induced” earthquakes when it is injected into deep wastewater wells. Wastewater disposal wells operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than the hydraulic fracturing operations. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in...
What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources? What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?
“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations. For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What is the difference between assessed oil and gas “resources” and “reserves”? What is the difference between assessed oil and gas “resources” and “reserves”?
“ Reserves” are quantities of oil and gas that are already discovered, recoverable, and commercial. Domestic reserves are tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The USGS assesses “undiscovered, technically recoverable resources,” which are those that are estimated to exist based on geologic knowledge and theory. Learn more: USGS Energy Resource Assessments
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, CaliforniaImage of an oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California, with the sun setting behind it.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New Mexico
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New Mexico
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
Eagle Ford Test Well Drilling in Texas
USGS researchers drill a research well located on the south side of U.S. 90, 7.1 miles east of Brackettville, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.
USGS researchers drill a research well located on the south side of U.S. 90, 7.1 miles east of Brackettville, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.
Drilling Rig for Shale Gas Development
A drilling rig for shale gas development take at night from an overlook on Route 6 in Bradford County Pennsylvania.
A drilling rig for shale gas development take at night from an overlook on Route 6 in Bradford County Pennsylvania.
Unconventional Oil and Gas—Fueling the Future
The Nation relies on oil and gas to power its economy, and unconventional gas is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey is the authoritative, unbiased source for assessments of the world's oil and gas endowment. Come learn how these exciting new energy resources may contribute to the energy mix.
The Nation relies on oil and gas to power its economy, and unconventional gas is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey is the authoritative, unbiased source for assessments of the world's oil and gas endowment. Come learn how these exciting new energy resources may contribute to the energy mix.
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma; Photograph by C.R. Frazier. A new length of drill-pipe is being raised into position so that hole can be deepened.
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma; Photograph by C.R. Frazier. A new length of drill-pipe is being raised into position so that hole can be deepened.
Related
What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? What is the difference between the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) is a roughly 23.4 million acre area of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It lies in northwest Alaska and borders both the Chukchi Sea to the west and the Beaufort Sea to the north. The NPR-A was originally established in 1923 as a petroleum reserve for the U.S. Navy, then transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1976. The...
Does the Bakken Formation contain more oil than Saudi Arabia? Does the Bakken Formation contain more oil than Saudi Arabia?
Probably not. In 2000, the USGS assessed undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in Saudi Arabia at 87 billion barrels ( USGS 2000 World Petroleum Assessment) compared to a mean estimate of 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous oil in the Bakken and Three Forks formations ( USGS 2021 Bakken and Three Forks Assessment). In addition, Saudi Arabia...
How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors? How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors?
Reports of hydraulic fracturing causing felt earthquakes are extremely rare. However, wastewater produced by wells that were hydraulic fractured can cause “induced” earthquakes when it is injected into deep wastewater wells. Wastewater disposal wells operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than the hydraulic fracturing operations. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in...
What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources? What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?
“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations. For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What is the difference between assessed oil and gas “resources” and “reserves”? What is the difference between assessed oil and gas “resources” and “reserves”?
“ Reserves” are quantities of oil and gas that are already discovered, recoverable, and commercial. Domestic reserves are tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The USGS assesses “undiscovered, technically recoverable resources,” which are those that are estimated to exist based on geologic knowledge and theory. Learn more: USGS Energy Resource Assessments
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, CaliforniaImage of an oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California, with the sun setting behind it.
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California
Oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, CaliforniaImage of an oil drilling platform offshore of Huntington Beach, California, with the sun setting behind it.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New Mexico
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New Mexico
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
Eagle Ford Test Well Drilling in Texas
USGS researchers drill a research well located on the south side of U.S. 90, 7.1 miles east of Brackettville, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.
USGS researchers drill a research well located on the south side of U.S. 90, 7.1 miles east of Brackettville, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.
Drilling Rig for Shale Gas Development
A drilling rig for shale gas development take at night from an overlook on Route 6 in Bradford County Pennsylvania.
A drilling rig for shale gas development take at night from an overlook on Route 6 in Bradford County Pennsylvania.
Unconventional Oil and Gas—Fueling the Future
The Nation relies on oil and gas to power its economy, and unconventional gas is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey is the authoritative, unbiased source for assessments of the world's oil and gas endowment. Come learn how these exciting new energy resources may contribute to the energy mix.
The Nation relies on oil and gas to power its economy, and unconventional gas is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey is the authoritative, unbiased source for assessments of the world's oil and gas endowment. Come learn how these exciting new energy resources may contribute to the energy mix.
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma; Photograph by C.R. Frazier. A new length of drill-pipe is being raised into position so that hole can be deepened.
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,
Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma, by C.R. Frazier,Test drilling in North Canadian River Valley, Canadian County, Oklahoma; Photograph by C.R. Frazier. A new length of drill-pipe is being raised into position so that hole can be deepened.
Updated Date: July 1, 2025