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Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Assessments Active

By Energy Resources Program August 9, 2018

This site highlights the assessments of the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project.   Scientifically robust assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources are published in a variety of USGS publications.  This project also conducts research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources. The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. 

 

The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project is part of the USGS Energy Resources Program, with staff in Reston, Virginia at the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center and Denver, Colorado at the Central Energy Resources Science Center.  Our mission is to conduct scientifically robust assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources and to conduct research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources. The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. The offshore Gulf of Mexico Basin outboard of the State-Federal boundary (map) is within the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The project conducts geologic-based quantitative assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources across the Gulf Coast basin, and we conduct research on petroleum systems elements that provides the underlying data and interpretations for each assessment. Different methodologies are used for assessments of conventional and continuous oil and gas accumulations.  Conventional oil and gas accumulations develop through migration of generated hydrocarbons into a porous and permeable rock unit, while continuous accumulations are regional accumulations of oil and/or gas that is dispersed throughout the matrix of the host rock unit (see Schmoker (2005) and Schmoker and Klett (2005) for more information).

Listed below are the publications related to the most recent assessment results for the Gulf Coast; upcoming assessments and older assessment results and publications are also listed.  Access to supporting data can be found by clicking on the 'data' tab.  A summary of research within the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project and resulting publications can be found at the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Research page. 

Recent Assessments 

Upcoming Assessments (timeline is subject to funding/available staff)

  • Downdip Tuscaloosa Sandstone (conventional)
  • Austin Chalk (conventional and continuous)
  • Smackover (continuous)
  • Campanian-Oligocene sandstones of southern Texas

Previous Assessments (select publications):

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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Application to explore US Oil and Gas Assessments

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).
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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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).
Learn More
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An image of USGS research drilling rig on side of U.S. Route 90 in Kinney County, Texas. The sky is streaked with clouds.

Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Research

This site highlights the research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence, and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources of the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The project also conducts assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources. The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin, and...
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
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Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project - Research

This site highlights the research on the processes that impact the formation, accumulation, occurrence, and alteration of hydrocarbon energy resources of the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The project also conducts assessments of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources. The Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems Project focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin, and...
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

United States Gulf Coast Basin Curated Wells and Logs Database

The United States Gulf Coast Basin Curated Wells and Logs Database (CWLDB) is an online repository with stratigraphic information for petroleum wells in the United States portion of the onshore Gulf of Mexico Basin that provides several of the following attributes: a) deep penetrations (generally, total depth of 10,000 feet or more), b) high quality and diverse geophysical well log suites, c) lith
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Energy Resources Program, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-U.S. Gulf Coast, Deep Tuscaloosa Conventional Gas: Assessment Unit Boundary, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered Deep Tuscaloosa Group sandstones conventional gas resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined wi
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons in Paleogene strata of the Gulf Coast

This data release contains 60 detrital zircon age spectra, based on U and Pb isotope ratio measurements for 9399 single grains. The samples are from Paleogene strata of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Of the 9399 single grain measurements, we recommend that 8640 yield ages that are suitable for construction of detrital zircon age spectra. Comments tagged to individual grains explain the reasoning for exclusi
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk Group and Tokio and Eutaw Formations Assessment Units and Input Data Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk Group and Tokio and Eutaw Formations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Arkansas. The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

Input forms for 2019 water and proppant assessment of the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas

The input form provides a record of the complete input values required for the quantitative assessment of water and proppant associated with oil and gas production for the continuous oil and gas resource in a geologically defined Assessment Unit. The same input form template is used for all such assessments. Each USGS water and proppant assessment builds from a USGS petroleum assessment that provi
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Central Energy Resources Science Center

USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects-Louisiana-Mississippi Salt Basins and Western Gulf Provinces, Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Data Forms

This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units and input data for the assessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources on the north slope of Alaska. The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Petroleum geology data from Cenozoic rock samples in the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast collected 2014 to 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered petroleum resources in the downdip Paleogene formations of the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2018. During the assessment new data and information were collected to evaluate thermal maturity, source rock character, and unconventional reservoir rock prospectivity for the Cenozoic-aged section in south Louisiana. Samples were analyzed using multiple analytical ap
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems, and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects - USGS Province 50 Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms

The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
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Florence Bascom Geoscience Center

Petroleum geology data from Mesozoic rock samples in the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast collected 2011 to 2017

This data release contains Rock-Eval pyrolysis, organic petrographic (reflectance), and X-ray diffraction mineralogy data for subsurface Mesozoic rock samples from the eastern onshore Gulf Coast Basin (primarily Mississippi and Louisiana). Samples were analyzed in support of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment of undiscovered petroleum resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine s
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 47

Geologic assessment of undiscovered gas resources in Cretaceous–Tertiary coal beds of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment in 2007 of the undiscovered, technically recoverable, continuous gas potential of Cretaceous–Tertiary coal beds of the onshore areas and State waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain. The assessment was based on geologic elements including hydrocarbon source rocks, availability of suitable reservoir rocks, and hydrocarbon accumu
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional gas resources in the Deep Tuscaloosa Group Sandstones of the Western Gulf Basin Province, U.S. Gulf Coast region, 2021

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 14,785 billion cubic feet of gas resources in the Western Gulf Basin Province, U.S. Gulf Coast region.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2019

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 6.9 billion barrels of oil and 41.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in conventional and continuous accumulations in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations onshore and in State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Steps taken for calculating estimated ultimate recoveries of wells in the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian strata, U.S. Gulf Coast, Texas, 2018

In 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey published an assessment of technically recoverable continuous oil and gas resources of the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian strata in the U.S. Gulf Coast of Texas. Estimated ultimate recoveries (EURs) were calculated with production data from IHS MarkitTM using DeclinePlus software in the Harmony interface. These EURs were a major component of
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the South Florida basin, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 49 million barrels of oil and 18 billion cubic feet of gas in the onshore and State waters part of the South Florida basin.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville and Bossier Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Haynesville and Bossier Formations of the onshore and State waters portion of the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Haynesville Formation conventional oil and gas production began in the late 1930s, whereas Bossier Formation production began in the early 1970s. Production of
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016

IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Haynesville Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by th
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016

IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Bossier Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by the USGS f
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale of the U.S. Gulf Coast, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed mean undiscovered, technically recoverable continuousresources of 1.5 billion barrels of oil and 4.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale in onshore and State waters ofLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian Strata, U.S. Gulf Coast, Texas, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 8.5 billion barrels of oil and 66 trillion cubic feet of gas in continuous accumulations in the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian strata in onshore lands of the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Texas.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the downdip Paleogene formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional resources of 100 million barrels of oil and 16.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the downdip Paleogene formations in onshore lands and State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Geologic characterization of the hydrocarbon resource potential of the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale in Mississippi and Louisiana, U.S.A.

Recent oil production from the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) has elevated the formation, previously assessed by the USGS in 2011 as part of the Eagle Ford Group, to its own distinct assessment unit for an upcoming assessment. Geologic characterization in preparation for the 2017 assessment has included the analysis of rock samples and produced oils, and the interpretation of well
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

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USGS Estimates Oil and Gas in Texas’ Eagle Ford Group

The Eagle Ford Group of Texas contains estimated means of 8.5 billion barrels of oil, 66 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 1.9 billion barrels...

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USGS Estimates 304 Trillion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas in the Bossier and Haynesville Formations of the U.S. Gulf Coast

USGS also estimates 4 billion barrels of oil and 2 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the two formations.

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