Publications
Browse recent USGS publications related to energy resources.
Filter Total Items: 2835
Geology: Chapter 2 Geology: Chapter 2
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard G. Stanley, G. E. Weber
Methane hydrates Methane hydrates
Gas hydrate is a solid, naturally occurring substance consisting predominantly of methane gas and water. Recent scientific drilling programs in Japan, Canada, the United States, Korea and India have demonstrated that gas hydrate occurs broadly and in a variety of forms in shallow sediments of the outer continental shelves and in Arctic regions. Field, laboratory and numerical modelling...
Authors
Ray Boswell, Koji Yamamoto, Sung-Rock Lee, Timothy S. Collett, Pushpendra Kumar, Scott Dallimore
Estimating pore-space gas hydrate saturations from well log acoustic data Estimating pore-space gas hydrate saturations from well log acoustic data
Relating pore-space gas hydrate saturation to sonic velocity data is important for remotely estimating gas hydrate concentration in sediment. In the present study, sonic velocities of gas hydrate–bearing sands are modeled using a three-phase Biot-type theory in which sand, gas hydrate, and pore fluid form three homogeneous, interwoven frameworks. This theory is developed using well log
Authors
Myung W. Lee, William F. Waite
Economic decision making and the application of nonparametric prediction models Economic decision making and the application of nonparametric prediction models
Sustained increases in energy prices have focused attention on gas resources in low-permeability shale or in coals that were previously considered economically marginal. Daily well deliverability is often relatively small, although the estimates of the total volumes of recoverable resources in these settings are often large. Planning and development decisions for extraction of such...
Authors
Emil D. Attanasi, Timothy C. Coburn, Philip A. Freeman
Miocene Total Petroleum System -- Lower Bakersfield Arch Assessment Unit of the San Joaquin Basin Province: Chapter 14 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California Miocene Total Petroleum System -- Lower Bakersfield Arch Assessment Unit of the San Joaquin Basin Province: Chapter 14 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
The Lower Bakersfield Arch Assessment Unit (AU) of the Miocene Total Petroleum System (San Joaquin Basin Province) is primarily defined by the distribution of hydrocarbons generated from biosiliceous shale of the Monterey Formation and by the distribution of basinal-facies sandstones of the Stevens sand of Eckis (1940; hereafter referred to as Stevens sand). Traps are principally...
Authors
Donald L. Gautier, Allegra Hosford Scheirer
Geologic model for oil and gas assessment of the Kemik-Thomson Play, central North Slope, Alaska Geologic model for oil and gas assessment of the Kemik-Thomson Play, central North Slope, Alaska
A geologic model was developed to assess undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Kemik-Thomson Play of the Central North Slope, Alaska. In this model, regional erosion during the Early Cretaceous produced an incised valley system on the flanks and crest of the Mikkelsen High and formed the Lower Cretaceous unconformity. Locally derived, coarse-grained siliciclastic and carbonate...
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, David W. Houseknecht
Millimeter-scale geologic mapping using field spectroscopy techniques Millimeter-scale geologic mapping using field spectroscopy techniques
No abstract available.
Authors
David C. Buesch, Daniel E. Ragona, Mark C. Helmlinger
Geochemical signatures of thermochemical sulfate reduction in controlled hydrous pyrolysis experiments Geochemical signatures of thermochemical sulfate reduction in controlled hydrous pyrolysis experiments
A series of gold tube hydrous pyrolysis experiments was conducted in order to investigate the effect of thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) on gas generation, residual saturated hydrocarbon compositional alteration, and solid pyrobitumen formation. The intensity of TSR significantly depends on the H2O/MgSO4 mole ratio, the smaller the ratio, the stronger the oxidizing conditions...
Authors
T. Zhang, G.S. Ellis, C.C. Walters, S.R. Kelemen, Kang-shi Wang, Y. Tang
Quickly erupted volcanic sections of the Steens Basalt, Columbia River Basalt Group: Secular variation, tectonic rotation, and the Steens Mountain reversal Quickly erupted volcanic sections of the Steens Basalt, Columbia River Basalt Group: Secular variation, tectonic rotation, and the Steens Mountain reversal
The Steens Basalt, now considered part of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), contains the earliest eruptions of this magmatic episode. Lava flows of the Steens Basalt cover about 50,000 km2 of the Oregon Plateau in sections up to 1000 m thick. The large number of continuously exposed, quickly erupted lava flows (some sections contain over 200 flows) allows for small loops in the...
Authors
Nicholas A. Jarboe, Robert S. Coe, Paul R. Renne, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Edward A. Mankinen
California Cenozoic Biostratigraphy -- Paleogene: Chapter 4 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California California Cenozoic Biostratigraphy -- Paleogene: Chapter 4 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
The time transgressive nature of the California benthic foraminiferal stages is in most cases the result of poor taxonomy, use of local species ranges, and a lack of understanding about the type sections. Correcting these problems allows the stages to be consistently applied and enhances their ability to identify coeval strata. Each stage is identified by the first and last appearances...
Authors
Kristin McDougall
Structures controlling geothermal circulation identified through gravity and magnetic transects, Surprise Valley, California, northwestern Great Basin Structures controlling geothermal circulation identified through gravity and magnetic transects, Surprise Valley, California, northwestern Great Basin
No abstract available.
Authors
Jonathan M.G. Glen, Anne E. Egger, David A. Ponce
Petroleum systems of the San Joaquin Basin Province -- geochemical characteristics of gas types: Chapter 10 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California Petroleum systems of the San Joaquin Basin Province -- geochemical characteristics of gas types: Chapter 10 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
The San Joaquin Basin Province is a petroliferous basin filled with predominantly Late Cretaceous to Pliocene-aged sediments, with organic-rich marine rocks of Late Cretaceous, Eocene, and Miocene age providing the source of most of the oil and gas. Previous geochemical studies have focused on the origin of the oil in the province, but the origin of the natural gas has received little...
Authors
Paul G. Lillis, Augusta Warden, George E. Claypool, Leslie B. Magoon