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 to amenable 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) as a result of CO2-EOR activities. 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 assessment team estimated that the technically recoverable oil associated with CO2-EOR 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 West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region 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 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 — Results |
| DOI | 10.3133/cir1489 |
| 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 | Circular |
| Series Number | 1489 |
| Index ID | cir1489 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Eastern Energy Resources Science Center |
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Peter D Warwick, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research Geologist
Emil D. Attanasi
Scientist Emeritus
Madalyn S Blondes
Research Geologist
Sean T Brennan
Research Geologist
Marc L Buursink
Research Geologist
Colin Doolan
Research Geologist
Philip A Freeman
Operations Research Analyst
Cevat O Karacan
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
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Peter D Warwick, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research GeologistEmailPhoneEmil D. Attanasi
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneMadalyn S Blondes
Research GeologistEmailPhoneSean T Brennan
Research GeologistEmailPhoneMarc L Buursink
Research GeologistEmailPhoneColin Doolan
Research GeologistEmailPhonePhilip A Freeman
Operations Research AnalystEmailPhoneCevat O Karacan
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