Introduction
In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a probabilistic assessment of the volume of technically recoverable oil resources that might be produced by using current carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies in amenable conventional oil reservoirs underlying the onshore and State waters areas of the conterminous United States. The assessment also includes estimates of the mass of CO2 that could be stored (retained) in the assessed oil reservoirs following the application of the CO2-EOR process. The USGS assessment team evaluated more than 3,500 oil reservoirs that were miscible to injected CO2. The assessed reservoirs are in 185 previously defined USGS plays in 33 petroleum provinces of 7 national regions. The team estimated that the total technically recoverable oil resulting from the application of the CO2-EOR process ranges from approximately 25,000 million barrels (MMbbl) at the P5 percentile to as much as 32,000 MMbbl at the P95 percentile, with a mean of 29,000 MMbbl. The associated CO2 retention ranges from approximately 7,400 million metric tons (Mt) at the P5 percentile to as much as 9,500 Mt at the P95 percentile, with a mean of 8,400 Mt. The results are summarized in this fact sheet and are provided in more detail in the companion data release and circular.
The West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region (primarily its Permian Basin) and the Gulf Coast region together contain 60 percent of the mean assessed CO2-EOR oil potential and 61 percent of the mean assessed CO2 retention. Other regions with significant resource potential include the Midcontinent region and the Rocky Mountains and Northern Great Plains region.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Summary |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs20213057 |
| Authors | Peter D. Warwick, Emil D. Attanasi, Madalyn S. Blondes, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Steven M. Cahan, Colin A. Doolan, Philip A. Freeman, C. Özgen Karacan, Celeste D. Lohr, Matthew D. Merrill, Ricardo A. Olea, Jenna L. Shelton, Ernie R. Slucher, Brian A. Varela |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Fact Sheet |
| Series Number | 2021-3057 |
| Index ID | fs20213057 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Eastern Energy Resources Science Center; Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center |
Related Content
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources - data release
Peter D. Warwick, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research Geologist
Emil D. Attanasi, Ph.D.
Scientist Emeritus
Madalyn S. Blondes, Ph.D.
Research Geologist
Sean T. Brennan
Research Geologist
Marc L. Buursink, Ph.D.
Research Geologist
Colin Doolan
Research Geologist
Philip A. Freeman
Operations Research Analyst
Cevat O. Karacan, Ph.D.
Research Petroleum Engineer
Celeste D. Lohr
Physical Scientist
Matthew D. Merrill
Research Geologist
Ricardo A. Olea, Ph.D.
Research Mathematical Statistician
Jenna L Shelton, Ph.D.
Associate Program Coordinator, U.S. GeoFramework Initiative & STATEMAP
Related Content
- Data
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources - data release
In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a probabilistic assessment of the volume of technically recoverable oil resources available if current carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies were applied in amenable oil reservoirs underlying the onshore and State waters area of the conterminous United States. The assessment also includes estimates of the magnitude of CO2 s - Connect
Peter D. Warwick, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research GeologistEmailPhoneEmil D. Attanasi, Ph.D.
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneMadalyn S. Blondes, Ph.D.
Research GeologistEmailPhoneSean T. Brennan
Research GeologistEmailPhoneMarc L. Buursink, Ph.D.
Research GeologistEmailPhoneColin Doolan
Research GeologistEmailPhonePhilip A. Freeman
Operations Research AnalystEmailPhoneCevat O. Karacan, Ph.D.
Research Petroleum EngineerEmailPhoneCeleste D. Lohr
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneMatthew D. Merrill
Research GeologistEmailPhoneRicardo A. Olea, Ph.D.
Research Mathematical StatisticianEmailPhoneJenna L Shelton, Ph.D.
Associate Program Coordinator, U.S. GeoFramework Initiative & STATEMAPEmailPhone