Brian A Varela
Brian is a Data Scientist with the Central Energy Resources Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver. He recieved a B.S. in computer science from Metropolitan State University.
Brian is a Data Scientist with the Central Energy Resources Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver. He recieved a B.S. in computer science from Metropolitan State University. Brian uses various databases and computer programming to support U.S. Geological Survey's Energy Resources projects. Brian has helped various projects ranging from Hydraulic Fracturing to Carbon Sequestration.
Science and Products
Land and water use for energy production and extraction in the Colorado River Basin Land and water use for energy production and extraction in the Colorado River Basin
This data release contains data associated with the journal article “Land and water use for energy in the Colorado River Basin”. The area of interest is defined by the counties intersecting with the Colorado River Basin (HUC-7 and HUC-8) and a shapefile outlining these counties has been included. The data release includes 4 child items and metadata files that provide descriptions of the...
Spatial and Temporal Data on Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Types and Amounts Injected into Oil and Gas Wells Across the U.S., 2015-2019 Spatial and Temporal Data on Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Types and Amounts Injected into Oil and Gas Wells Across the U.S., 2015-2019
Hydraulic fracturing is a treatment method used to stimulate production from oil and gas wells. Hydraulic fracturing involves injection of treatment fluids mixed with propping agents under high pressure into perforated portions of the wellbore. This method causes the reservoir rocks to fracture and the hydraulic fracturing fluids and propping agents to enter the fractures. Subsequently...
Natural Gas Compositional Analyses Dataset of Gases from United States Wells Natural Gas Compositional Analyses Dataset of Gases from United States Wells
This dataset was created to document the natural occurrence of helium and carbon dioxide throughout the United States. This dataset is sourced primarily from publicly available data from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Helium Program and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Federal Helium Program, which originally began in 1925 under the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has...
Dataset of Helium Concentrations in United States Wells Dataset of Helium Concentrations in United States Wells
This dataset provides national scale location information for known, publicly available, data on helium gas concentrations, reported in mol%. The dataset was created as part of the effort by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct an assessment of helium resources in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, Public Law 113-40. The data were collected from the USGS...
Data to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019. Data to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019.
One of the largest conventional oil reservoirs in the United States, the Permian Basin, is becoming one of the world?s largest continuous oil and gas producing reservoirs. Continuous, or horizontal well drilling techniques extract oil and gas by directionally drilling and hydraulically fracturing the surrounding reservoir rock. The continuous extraction of oil and gas using hydraulic...
Input forms for 2019 water and proppant assessment of the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas 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...
Filter Total Items: 28
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with hydrocarbon production from the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024 Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with hydrocarbon production from the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024
Building on a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources within the Haynesville Formation, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the water and proppant necessary for development of the remaining resources associated with the Haynesville Sabine Uplift Continuous Gas Assessment Unit. Additionally, projections have been made on the volume of...
Authors
Rand Gardner, Jason A. Flaum, Seth S. Haines, Justin E. Birdwell, Scott A. Kinney, Brian A. Varela, Katherine L. French, Janet K. Pitman, Stanley T. Paxton, Tracey J. Mercier, Christopher J. Schenk, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Hannah D. Shook
A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic energy storage capacity—Natural gas storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic energy storage capacity—Natural gas storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs
The need for energy storage, particularly underground, where capacity and duration may far exceed battery storage technologies, is especially relevant given the increasing demands for reliable power alongside the development of intermittent renewable electricity sources. Geologic energy storage facilities already exist, and expanded use would enable storing gases such as methane and...
Authors
Marc L. Buursink, Ashton M. Wiens, Matthew M. Jones, Brian A. Varela, Philip A. Freeman, Sean T. Brennan, Matthew D. Merrill, Peter D. Warwick
Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories
Hydrocarbon wells are not active forever; when they become permanently disused (abandoned), well infrastructure must be remediated or repurposed. Knowing which wells are abandoned is the initial and often complicated step in taking responsibility for well infrastructure. Each State creates laws and regulates hydrocarbon operations, which includes well abandonment. The existence of...
Authors
Brian A. Varela, Marc L. Buursink
New methodology for assessing underground natural gas storage resources – Example from Michigan Basin, United States New methodology for assessing underground natural gas storage resources – Example from Michigan Basin, United States
Energy consumption in the United States (U.S.) and across the world is shifting away from traditional fossil fuels like coal and oil, and towards natural gas and renewable sources, including hydrogen. Because gas demand is typically greatest during cold seasons and renewable sources sometimes produce variable supplies, it is important to store energy for use when demand exceeds supply...
Authors
Marc L. Buursink, Ashton M. Wiens, Brian A. Varela, Matthew M. Jones, Philip A. Freeman
A methodology to estimate CO2 and energy gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs A methodology to estimate CO2 and energy gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs
Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs are subsurface geological structures capable of sequestering vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as storing other energy gases for later usage, such as natural gas, and potentially hydrogen (H2). Here we outline a methodology to quantify multi-gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs for usage in assessments by the United...
Authors
Matthew M. Jones, Ashton M. Wiens, Marc L. Buursink, Sean T. Brennan, Philip A. Freeman, Brian A. Varela, Joao S. Gallotti, Peter D. Warwick
How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends
Water production from petroleum (oil and natural gas) wells is a topic of increasing environmental and economic importance, yet quantification efforts have been limited to date, and patterns between and within petroleum plays are largely unscrutinized. Additionally, classification of reservoirs as “unconventional” (also known as “continuous”) carries scientific and regulatory importance...
Authors
Seth S. Haines, Brian A. Varela, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Nicholas J. Gianoutsos
Science and Products
Land and water use for energy production and extraction in the Colorado River Basin Land and water use for energy production and extraction in the Colorado River Basin
This data release contains data associated with the journal article “Land and water use for energy in the Colorado River Basin”. The area of interest is defined by the counties intersecting with the Colorado River Basin (HUC-7 and HUC-8) and a shapefile outlining these counties has been included. The data release includes 4 child items and metadata files that provide descriptions of the...
Spatial and Temporal Data on Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Types and Amounts Injected into Oil and Gas Wells Across the U.S., 2015-2019 Spatial and Temporal Data on Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Types and Amounts Injected into Oil and Gas Wells Across the U.S., 2015-2019
Hydraulic fracturing is a treatment method used to stimulate production from oil and gas wells. Hydraulic fracturing involves injection of treatment fluids mixed with propping agents under high pressure into perforated portions of the wellbore. This method causes the reservoir rocks to fracture and the hydraulic fracturing fluids and propping agents to enter the fractures. Subsequently...
Natural Gas Compositional Analyses Dataset of Gases from United States Wells Natural Gas Compositional Analyses Dataset of Gases from United States Wells
This dataset was created to document the natural occurrence of helium and carbon dioxide throughout the United States. This dataset is sourced primarily from publicly available data from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Helium Program and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Federal Helium Program, which originally began in 1925 under the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has...
Dataset of Helium Concentrations in United States Wells Dataset of Helium Concentrations in United States Wells
This dataset provides national scale location information for known, publicly available, data on helium gas concentrations, reported in mol%. The dataset was created as part of the effort by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct an assessment of helium resources in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, Public Law 113-40. The data were collected from the USGS...
Data to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019. Data to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019.
One of the largest conventional oil reservoirs in the United States, the Permian Basin, is becoming one of the world?s largest continuous oil and gas producing reservoirs. Continuous, or horizontal well drilling techniques extract oil and gas by directionally drilling and hydraulically fracturing the surrounding reservoir rock. The continuous extraction of oil and gas using hydraulic...
Input forms for 2019 water and proppant assessment of the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas 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...
Filter Total Items: 28
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with hydrocarbon production from the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024 Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with hydrocarbon production from the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024
Building on a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable hydrocarbon resources within the Haynesville Formation, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the water and proppant necessary for development of the remaining resources associated with the Haynesville Sabine Uplift Continuous Gas Assessment Unit. Additionally, projections have been made on the volume of...
Authors
Rand Gardner, Jason A. Flaum, Seth S. Haines, Justin E. Birdwell, Scott A. Kinney, Brian A. Varela, Katherine L. French, Janet K. Pitman, Stanley T. Paxton, Tracey J. Mercier, Christopher J. Schenk, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Hannah D. Shook
A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic energy storage capacity—Natural gas storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic energy storage capacity—Natural gas storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs
The need for energy storage, particularly underground, where capacity and duration may far exceed battery storage technologies, is especially relevant given the increasing demands for reliable power alongside the development of intermittent renewable electricity sources. Geologic energy storage facilities already exist, and expanded use would enable storing gases such as methane and...
Authors
Marc L. Buursink, Ashton M. Wiens, Matthew M. Jones, Brian A. Varela, Philip A. Freeman, Sean T. Brennan, Matthew D. Merrill, Peter D. Warwick
Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories Methodology for defining and compiling abandoned and active hydrocarbon well inventories
Hydrocarbon wells are not active forever; when they become permanently disused (abandoned), well infrastructure must be remediated or repurposed. Knowing which wells are abandoned is the initial and often complicated step in taking responsibility for well infrastructure. Each State creates laws and regulates hydrocarbon operations, which includes well abandonment. The existence of...
Authors
Brian A. Varela, Marc L. Buursink
New methodology for assessing underground natural gas storage resources – Example from Michigan Basin, United States New methodology for assessing underground natural gas storage resources – Example from Michigan Basin, United States
Energy consumption in the United States (U.S.) and across the world is shifting away from traditional fossil fuels like coal and oil, and towards natural gas and renewable sources, including hydrogen. Because gas demand is typically greatest during cold seasons and renewable sources sometimes produce variable supplies, it is important to store energy for use when demand exceeds supply...
Authors
Marc L. Buursink, Ashton M. Wiens, Brian A. Varela, Matthew M. Jones, Philip A. Freeman
A methodology to estimate CO2 and energy gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs A methodology to estimate CO2 and energy gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs
Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs are subsurface geological structures capable of sequestering vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as storing other energy gases for later usage, such as natural gas, and potentially hydrogen (H2). Here we outline a methodology to quantify multi-gas storage resources in depleted conventional gas reservoirs for usage in assessments by the United...
Authors
Matthew M. Jones, Ashton M. Wiens, Marc L. Buursink, Sean T. Brennan, Philip A. Freeman, Brian A. Varela, Joao S. Gallotti, Peter D. Warwick
How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends How quickly do oil and gas wells “Water Out”? Quantifying and contrasting water production trends
Water production from petroleum (oil and natural gas) wells is a topic of increasing environmental and economic importance, yet quantification efforts have been limited to date, and patterns between and within petroleum plays are largely unscrutinized. Additionally, classification of reservoirs as “unconventional” (also known as “continuous”) carries scientific and regulatory importance...
Authors
Seth S. Haines, Brian A. Varela, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Nicholas J. Gianoutsos