Research
Gulf Coast Framework Studies, Geochemistry, Geologic CO2 Utilization, Economics, Environmental Aspects, and more
Gulf Coast Framework Studies, Geochemistry, Geologic CO2 Utilization, Economics, Environmental Aspects, and more
Energy Resources Program
The Energy Resources Program conducts research and assessments to advance the understanding of the Nation’s energy resources. We study processes critical to the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of geologically based energy resources; prepare resource assessments; and evaluate the environmental and socioeconomic effects of energy resource occurrence, production and use.
Our Science
Our Science
Understanding the national and global availability of resources as well as the environmental impacts of their development is essential for strategic decision making related to the nation’s energy mix.
Energy Quarterly
Energy Quarterly
This quarterly newsletter highlights the latest Energy Resources Program research, activities, publications, and information resources available from our website and other sources.
SCIENCE PRIORITIES
SCIENCE PRIORITIES
News
Traversing the Sea for Science: How USGS Uses the Federal Fleet to Study Natural Hazards, Resources, and More
Traversing the Sea for Science: How USGS Uses the Federal Fleet to Study Natural Hazards, Resources, and More
USGS makes $10 million available for state geologic, geochemical mapping projects through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Funded Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
USGS makes $10 million available for state geologic, geochemical mapping projects through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Funded Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
USGS Releases Estimate of Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in North Chukchi Basin
USGS Releases Estimate of Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in North Chukchi Basin
Publications
Assessment of conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional and continuous resources of 294 million barrels of oil and 11 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado.
Insights on using solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal maturity proxy in the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, USA
To further refine the use of solid bitumen reflectance (BRo in %) as a measurement of thermal maturity in source-rock reservoirs, we examined its relationship to other thermal proxies in the Bakken Formation. Comparisons included criteria from programmed temperature pyrolysis, gas chromatography (GC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Thirty-two organic-rich samples from the lowe
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of offshore East Africa and the Seychelles, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 5.1 billion barrels of oil and 79.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in offshore East Africa and the Seychelles.
Science
Evolving Utilization of Solid Energy Fuels (EUSEF)
Although the traditional use of solid fuels such as coal for electric power generation in the U.S. has declined, other uses for solid fuels and their byproducts are rapidly evolving. Internationally, construction of new generation facilities to provide electricity to previously underserved areas has kept worldwide coal demand steady. The Evolving Utilization of Solid Energy Fuels (EUSEF) project...
United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources
USGS Energy Resources Program provides periodic assessments of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States and the World. This website provides access to new, prioritized, assessment results and supporting data for the United States, as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
Carbon Mineralization
Carbon dioxide (CO2) can react with silicate rocks that are rich in magnesium, calcium, and iron to precipitate carbonate minerals. This process is typically referred to as carbon mineralization, which represents a potential mitigation option for rising CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. The U.S. has pledged to reduce net greenhouse gas pollution to 50-52 percent of 2005 levels, which will...