Publications
Browse recent USGS publications related to energy resources.
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Monte Carlo simulations of product distributions and contained metal estimates Monte Carlo simulations of product distributions and contained metal estimates
Estimation of product distributions of two factors was simulated by conventional Monte Carlo techniques using factor distributions that were independent (uncorrelated). Several simulations using uniform distributions of factors show that the product distribution has a central peak approximately centered at the product of the medians of the factor distributions. Factor distributions that...
Authors
Mark E. Gettings
Review of oil families and their petroleum systems of the Williston Basin Review of oil families and their petroleum systems of the Williston Basin
The petroleum system concept was first applied in 1974 (Dow/Williams) to identify three oil systems in the Williston Basin, and recent studies have expanded the number to at least nine. This paper reviews the petroleum geochemistry, oil-oil, and oil-source correlations of the oil systems of the Williston Basin, providing a new perspective and some new findings. Petroleum systems with a...
Authors
Paul G. Lillis
Methods to assess geological CO2 storage capacity: Status and best practice Methods to assess geological CO2 storage capacity: Status and best practice
To understand the emission reduction potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), decision makers need to understand the amount of CO2 that can be safely stored in the subsurface and the geographical distribution of storage resources. Estimates of storage resources need to be made using reliable and consistent methods. Previous estimates of CO2 storage potential for a range of...
Authors
Wolf Heidug, Sean T. Brennan, Sam Holloway, Peter D. Warwick, Sean McCoy, Tsukasa Yoshimura
U.S. Geological Survey Energy and Minerals science strategy: A resource lifecycle approach U.S. Geological Survey Energy and Minerals science strategy: A resource lifecycle approach
Executive Summary The economy, national security, and standard of living of the United States depend heavily on adequate and reliable supplies of energy and mineral resources. Based on population and consumption trends, the Nation’s use of energy and minerals can be expected to grow, driving the demand for ever broader scientific understanding of resource formation, location, and...
Authors
Richard C. Ferrero, Jonathan J. Kolak, Donald J. Bills, Zachary H. Bowen, Daniel J. Cordier, Tanya J. Gallegos, James R. Hein, Karen D. Kelley, Philip H. Nelson, Vito F. Nuccio, Jeanine M. Schmidt, Robert R. Seal
Overcoming the momentum of anachronism: American geologic mapping in a twenty-first-century world Overcoming the momentum of anachronism: American geologic mapping in a twenty-first-century world
The practice of geologic mapping is undergoing conceptual and methodological transformation. Profound changes in digital technology in the past 10 yr have potential to impact all aspects of geologic mapping. The future of geologic mapping as a relevant scientific enterprise depends on widespread adoption of new technology and ideas about the collection, meaning, and utility of geologic...
Authors
Kyle House, Ryan Clark, Joe Kopera
Unique challenges facing Southwestern tribes: Chapter 17 Unique challenges facing Southwestern tribes: Chapter 17
Executive Summary When considering climate change, risks to Native American lands, people, and cultures are noteworthy. Impacts on Native lands and communities are anticipated to be both early and severe due to their location in marginal environments. Because Native American societies are socially, culturally, and politically unique, conventional climate change adaptation planning and...
Authors
Margaret Hiza, Karletta Chief, Kirk Bemis, Mahesh Gautam, Beth Rose Middleton, Rebecca Tsosie
Preliminary isostatic gravity map of the Grouse Creek and east part of the Jackpot 30 by 60 quadrangles, Box Elder County, Utah, and Cassia County, Idaho Preliminary isostatic gravity map of the Grouse Creek and east part of the Jackpot 30 by 60 quadrangles, Box Elder County, Utah, and Cassia County, Idaho
A new isostatic residual gravity map of the northwest corner of Utah is based on compilation of preexisting data and new data collected by the Utah and United States Geological Surveys. Pronounced gravity lows occur over Junction, Grouse Creek, and upper Raft River Valleys, indicating significant thickness of low-density Tertiary sedimentary rocks and deposits. Gravity highs coincide...
Authors
Victoria E. Langenheim, H. Willis, N. D. Athens, Bruce A. Chuchel, J. Roza, H.I. Hiscock, C.L. Hardwick, S.M. Kraushaar, N.E. Knepprath, Jose J. Rosario
ULFEM time series analysis package ULFEM time series analysis package
This manual describes how to use the Ultra-Low-Frequency ElectroMagnetic (ULFEM) software package. Casual users can read the quick-start guide and will probably not need any more information than this. For users who may wish to modify the code, we provide further description of the routines.
Authors
Susan M. Karl, Darcy McPhee, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Simon L. Klemperer
Spatial and temporal variations in landscape evolution: historic and longer-term sediment flux through global catchments Spatial and temporal variations in landscape evolution: historic and longer-term sediment flux through global catchments
Sediment generation and transport through terrestrial catchments influence soil distribution, geochemical cycling of particulate and dissolved loads, and the character of the stratigraphic record of Earth history. To assess the spatiotemporal variation in landscape evolution, we compare global compilations of stream gauge–derived () and cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN)–derived...
Authors
Jacob A. Covault, William H. Craddock, Brian W. Romans, Andrea Fildani, Mayur Gosai
Stratigraphy and paleogeographic significance of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Bird Spring Formation in the Ship Mountains, southeastern California Stratigraphy and paleogeographic significance of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Bird Spring Formation in the Ship Mountains, southeastern California
A thick sequence of limestone, dolomite, and minor sandstone assigned to the Pennsylvanian and lower Permian Bird Spring Formation is exposed in the Ship Mountains about 85 kilometers (km) southwest of Needles, California, in the eastern Mojave Desert. These strata provide a valuable reference section of the Bird Spring Formation in a region where rocks of this age are not extensively...
Authors
Paul Stone, Calvin H. Stevens, Keith A. Howard, Thomas D. Hoisch
An effective noise-suppression technique for surface microseismic data An effective noise-suppression technique for surface microseismic data
The presence of strong surface-wave noise in surface microseismic data may decrease the utility of these data. We implement a technique, based on the distinct characteristics that microseismic signal and noise show in the τ‐p domain, to suppress surface-wave noise in microseismic data. Because most microseismic source mechanisms are deviatoric, preprocessing is necessary to correct for...
Authors
Farnoush Forghani-Arani, Mark Willis, Seth S. Haines, Mike Batzle, Jyoti Behura, Michael Davidson
Hysteresis of unsaturated hydromechanical properties of a silty soil Hysteresis of unsaturated hydromechanical properties of a silty soil
Laboratory tests to examine hysteresis in the hydrologic and mechanical properties of partially saturated soils were conducted on six intact specimens collected from a landslide-prone area of Alameda County, California. The results reveal that the pore-size distribution parameter remains statistically unchanged between the wetting and drying paths; however, the wetting or drying state...
Authors
Ning Lu, Murat Kaya, Brian D. Collins, Jonathan W. Godt