Christopher J Schenk
Research geologist with the Central Energy Resources Science Center.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 57
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).
World Oil and Gas Resource Assessments
The USGS World Energy Project conducts geologic studies that provide an understanding of the quantity, quality, and geologic distribution of world oil and gas resources. Our geologic studies are conducted in an impartial manner and are performed in collaboration and partnership with energy experts within and outside government. Through synthesis and improved understanding of global oil and gas...
Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Assessments
The USGS has conducted numerous assessments of undiscovered oil and gas in the Appalachian Basin, including studies of the Marcellus Shale. The region extends from Alabama to Maine. The following is an overview of the assessments.
Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Raton Basin–Sierra Grande Uplift Province 5041 of northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado.
Montana Thrust Belt Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Montana Thrust Belt Province 5027 of northwestern Montana.
Southwestern Wyoming Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potentional of the Southwestern Wyoming Province 5037 of southwestern Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, and northeastern Utah.
Filter Total Items: 57
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—South America and Caribbean Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—South America and Caribbean Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment (NAGA) Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Larsen Basin, Antarctica: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Larsen Basin, Antarctica: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment (NAGA) Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment NAGA Project for...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Greater Carpathian Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Greater Carpathian Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Greater Carpathian Area. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment NAGA Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santa Maria Basin Province, California: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santa Maria Basin Province, California: Assessment Unit Boundaries, 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 oil and gas resources in the Santa Maria Basin Province, California. 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...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Yemen: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Yemen: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of Yemen. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The assessment unit is...
Filter Total Items: 310
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean continuous resources of 519 million barrels of oil and 82.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 419 million barrels of oil and 5.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Thomas M. Finn, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Michael E. Brownfield, Phuong A. Le, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Marilyn E. Tennyson
Assessment of undiscovered shale-gas resources in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered shale-gas resources in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 80.1 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria.
Authors
Michael E. Brownfield, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl A. Woodall, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Janet K. Pitman, Ronald M. Drake, Stephanie B. Gaswirth
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean, 2025 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean, 2025
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 37.6 billion barrels of oil and 281.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in 31 geologic provinces of South America and the Caribbean.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica, 2025 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica, 2025
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 269 million barrels of oil and 14.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Larsen Basin, Antarctica.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Janet K. Pitman, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 53.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 57
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).
World Oil and Gas Resource Assessments
The USGS World Energy Project conducts geologic studies that provide an understanding of the quantity, quality, and geologic distribution of world oil and gas resources. Our geologic studies are conducted in an impartial manner and are performed in collaboration and partnership with energy experts within and outside government. Through synthesis and improved understanding of global oil and gas...
Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Assessments
The USGS has conducted numerous assessments of undiscovered oil and gas in the Appalachian Basin, including studies of the Marcellus Shale. The region extends from Alabama to Maine. The following is an overview of the assessments.
Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Raton Basin–Sierra Grande Uplift Province 5041 of northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado.
Montana Thrust Belt Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Montana Thrust Belt Province 5027 of northwestern Montana.
Southwestern Wyoming Oil and Gas Assessments
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the following assessments of undiscovered oil and gas potentional of the Southwestern Wyoming Province 5037 of southwestern Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, and northeastern Utah.
Filter Total Items: 57
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—South America and Caribbean Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—South America and Caribbean Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment (NAGA) Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Larsen Basin, Antarctica: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Larsen Basin, Antarctica: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment (NAGA) Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment NAGA Project for...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Greater Carpathian Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Greater Carpathian Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Greater Carpathian Area. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment NAGA Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santa Maria Basin Province, California: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Santa Maria Basin Province, California: Assessment Unit Boundaries, 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 oil and gas resources in the Santa Maria Basin Province, California. 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...
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Yemen: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Yemen: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
This data release contains the boundaries of assessment units, assessment input data, and resulting fact sheet data tables for the assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of Yemen. The assessment unit is the fundamental unit used in the National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The assessment unit is...
Filter Total Items: 310
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean continuous resources of 519 million barrels of oil and 82.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Amu Darya Basin Province of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 419 million barrels of oil and 5.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Thomas M. Finn, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Michael E. Brownfield, Phuong A. Le, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Marilyn E. Tennyson
Assessment of undiscovered shale-gas resources in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria, 2026 Assessment of undiscovered shale-gas resources in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria, 2026
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 80.1 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in the Grand Erg/Ahnet Basin Province of Algeria.
Authors
Michael E. Brownfield, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl A. Woodall, Thomas M. Finn, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Janet K. Pitman, Ronald M. Drake, Stephanie B. Gaswirth
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean, 2025 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean, 2025
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 37.6 billion barrels of oil and 281.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in 31 geologic provinces of South America and the Caribbean.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica, 2025 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Larsen Basin, Antarctica, 2025
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 269 million barrels of oil and 14.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Larsen Basin, Antarctica.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Janet K. Pitman, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil, 2024
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 53.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Santos Basin, Campos Basin, and Espírito Santo Basin provinces of Brazil.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Tracey J. Mercier, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller