Paul Lillis
Scientist Emeritus with the Central Energy Resources Science Center
Paul Lillis is a recently retired petroleum geochemist with the Central Energy Resources Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Denver, Colorado. He received a B.A. in geology from San Jose State University, an M.S. in geology from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. in geochemistry from Colorado School of Mines. He was a petroleum exploration geologist with Atlantic Richfield for eight years (1978 to 1986) in Colorado, California, and Texas, and has been with the USGS in Denver since 1987. His research focuses on the application of petroleum and source-rock geochemistry to identifying, characterizing, and mapping petroleum systems.\
Science and Products
Data release for Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming Data release for Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming
This Data Release contains data associated with the journal article "Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming";. Data include bulk organic geochemistry, major and trace element geochemistry, mineralogy, extractable organic matter composition, extractable biomarkers, and organic stable carbon isotope analyses.
Geochemical Advances in Arctic Alaska Oil Typing - North Slope Oil Correlation and Charge History Geochemical Advances in Arctic Alaska Oil Typing - North Slope Oil Correlation and Charge History
Citation Note: These data were collected as part of a research study published in Marine and Petroleum Geology. Please reference the following paper when citing these data: Botterell, P.J., Houseknecht, D.W., Lillis, P.G, Barbanti, S.M., Dahl, J.E, and Moldowan, J.M., 2021. Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing ? North Slope oil correlation and charge history. Marine and...
Filter Total Items: 70
Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik
An unknown occurrence of oil was detected near Avak Creek on Native lands on the North Slope of Alaska. Determining the source of oil was imperative for allowing stakeholders (Federal, State, and local government agencies and the landowner, an Alaska Native corporation) to make timely and informed decisions and mount a mitigation response, if required. The regional and local geological...
Authors
Palma Botterell, David Houseknecht, Jody Wycech, J. Moldowan, Paul Lillis, Rebecca Smith, Kimberley Maher
Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming
The siliceous nature of the Mowry Shale distinguishes it from many of the well-studied organic-rich mudstones of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway. Available models of organic enrichment in mudstones rarely incorporate detailed biomarker, bulk organic, inorganic, and mineralogy data. Here, we used these data to evaluate how variations in organic matter source, productivity, dilution...
Authors
Katherine French, Justin Birdwell, Paul Lillis
Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing - North Slope oil correlation and charge history Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing - North Slope oil correlation and charge history
The Arctic Alaska petroleum province is geologically and geochemically complex. Mixed hydrocarbon charge from multiple source rocks and/or levels of thermal maturity is common within an individual oil pool. Biomarker and chemometric statistical analyses were used to correlate twenty-nine oils to five oil families derived from: (1) Triassic Shublik Formation (calcareous organofacies), (2)...
Authors
Palma Botterell, David Houseknecht, Paul Lillis, Silvana Barbanti, Jeremy Dahl, J. Moldowan
Geochemically distinct oil families in the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins, California Geochemically distinct oil families in the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins, California
The purpose of this work is to identify genetic affinities among 48 crude oil samples from the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins. A total of 21 source-related biomarker and stable carbon isotope ratios among the samples were assessed to assure that they were unaffected by secondary processes. Chemometric analysis of these data identifies six oil families with map and stratigraphic...
Authors
Kenneth Peters, Paul Lillis, Thomas Lorenson, J. Zumberge
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Susitna Basin of southern Alaska. Using a geology-based methodology, the USGS estimates that mean undiscovered volumes of about 2 million barrels of oil and nearly 1.7 trillion cubic feet of gas may be found in this area.
Authors
Richard Stanley, Christopher Potter, Kristen Lewis, Paul Lillis, Anjana Shah, Peter Haeussler, Jeffrey Phillips, Zenon Valin, Christopher Schenk, Timothy R. Klett, Michael Brownfield, Ronald Drake, Thomas Finn, Seth Haines, Debra Higley, David Houseknecht, Phuong A. Le, Kristen Marra, Tracey Mercier, Heidi Leathers-Miller, Stanley Paxton, Ofori Pearson, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl Woodall, Margarita Zyrianova
Stratigraphic intervals for oil and tar sands deposits in the Uinta Basin, Utah Stratigraphic intervals for oil and tar sands deposits in the Uinta Basin, Utah
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald Johnson, Justin Birdwell, Paul Lillis
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Ventura Basin Province, California, 2016 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Ventura Basin Province, California, 2016
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the part of the Ventura Basin Province that lies onshore or within State waters (within 3 miles of the shoreline) of California (fig. 1). Conventional oil and gas resources are those that have migrated upward into structural...
Authors
Marilyn Tennyson, Christopher Schenk, Janet Pitman, Paul Lillis, Timothy R. Klett, Michael Brownfield, Thomas Finn, Stephanie Gaswirth, Sarah Hawkins, Kristen Marra, Tracey Mercier, Phuong Le, Heidi Leathers-Miller
Effects of thermal maturation and thermochemical sulfate reduction on compound-specific sulfur isotopic compositions of organosulfur compounds in Phosphoria oils from the Bighorn Basin, USA Effects of thermal maturation and thermochemical sulfate reduction on compound-specific sulfur isotopic compositions of organosulfur compounds in Phosphoria oils from the Bighorn Basin, USA
Compound-specific sulfur isotope analysis was applied to a suite of 18 crude oils generated from the Permian Phosphoria Formation in the Bighorn Basin, western USA. These oils were generated at various levels of thermal maturity and some experienced thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). This is the first study to examine the effects of thermal maturation on stable sulfur isotopic...
Authors
Geoffrey Ellis, Ward Said-Ahamed, Paul Lillis, Lubna Shawar, Alon Amrani
Evolution of the Lower Tertiary Elko Lake Basin, a potential hydrocarbon source rock in Northeast Nevada Evolution of the Lower Tertiary Elko Lake Basin, a potential hydrocarbon source rock in Northeast Nevada
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald Johnson, Justin Birdwell
The Chuar Petroleum System, Arizona and Utah The Chuar Petroleum System, Arizona and Utah
The Neoproterozoic Chuar Group consists of marine mudstone, sandstone and dolomitic strata divided into the Galeros and Kwagunt Formations, and is exposed only in the eastern Grand Canyon, Arizona. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the late 1980s identified strata within the group to be possible petroleum source rocks, and in particular the Walcott Member of the Kwagunt...
Authors
Paul Lillis
Geological, geochemical, and reservoir characterization of the Uteland Butte member of the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah Geological, geochemical, and reservoir characterization of the Uteland Butte member of the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah
No abstract available.
Authors
Justin Birdwell, Michael Vanden Berg, Ronald Johnson, Tracey Mercier, Adam Boehlke, Michael Brownfield
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016 Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed technically recoverable mean resources of 20 billion barrels of oil and 16 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Kristen Marra, Paul Lillis, Tracey Mercier, Heidi Leathers-Miller, Christopher Schenk, Timothy Klett, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Sarah Hawkins, Michael Brownfield, Janet Pitman, Thomas Finn
Science and Products
Data release for Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming Data release for Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming
This Data Release contains data associated with the journal article "Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming";. Data include bulk organic geochemistry, major and trace element geochemistry, mineralogy, extractable organic matter composition, extractable biomarkers, and organic stable carbon isotope analyses.
Geochemical Advances in Arctic Alaska Oil Typing - North Slope Oil Correlation and Charge History Geochemical Advances in Arctic Alaska Oil Typing - North Slope Oil Correlation and Charge History
Citation Note: These data were collected as part of a research study published in Marine and Petroleum Geology. Please reference the following paper when citing these data: Botterell, P.J., Houseknecht, D.W., Lillis, P.G, Barbanti, S.M., Dahl, J.E, and Moldowan, J.M., 2021. Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing ? North Slope oil correlation and charge history. Marine and...
Filter Total Items: 70
Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik
An unknown occurrence of oil was detected near Avak Creek on Native lands on the North Slope of Alaska. Determining the source of oil was imperative for allowing stakeholders (Federal, State, and local government agencies and the landowner, an Alaska Native corporation) to make timely and informed decisions and mount a mitigation response, if required. The regional and local geological...
Authors
Palma Botterell, David Houseknecht, Jody Wycech, J. Moldowan, Paul Lillis, Rebecca Smith, Kimberley Maher
Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming
The siliceous nature of the Mowry Shale distinguishes it from many of the well-studied organic-rich mudstones of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway. Available models of organic enrichment in mudstones rarely incorporate detailed biomarker, bulk organic, inorganic, and mineralogy data. Here, we used these data to evaluate how variations in organic matter source, productivity, dilution...
Authors
Katherine French, Justin Birdwell, Paul Lillis
Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing - North Slope oil correlation and charge history Geochemical advances in Arctic Alaska oil typing - North Slope oil correlation and charge history
The Arctic Alaska petroleum province is geologically and geochemically complex. Mixed hydrocarbon charge from multiple source rocks and/or levels of thermal maturity is common within an individual oil pool. Biomarker and chemometric statistical analyses were used to correlate twenty-nine oils to five oil families derived from: (1) Triassic Shublik Formation (calcareous organofacies), (2)...
Authors
Palma Botterell, David Houseknecht, Paul Lillis, Silvana Barbanti, Jeremy Dahl, J. Moldowan
Geochemically distinct oil families in the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins, California Geochemically distinct oil families in the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins, California
The purpose of this work is to identify genetic affinities among 48 crude oil samples from the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins. A total of 21 source-related biomarker and stable carbon isotope ratios among the samples were assessed to assure that they were unaffected by secondary processes. Chemometric analysis of these data identifies six oil families with map and stratigraphic...
Authors
Kenneth Peters, Paul Lillis, Thomas Lorenson, J. Zumberge
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Susitna Basin of southern Alaska. Using a geology-based methodology, the USGS estimates that mean undiscovered volumes of about 2 million barrels of oil and nearly 1.7 trillion cubic feet of gas may be found in this area.
Authors
Richard Stanley, Christopher Potter, Kristen Lewis, Paul Lillis, Anjana Shah, Peter Haeussler, Jeffrey Phillips, Zenon Valin, Christopher Schenk, Timothy R. Klett, Michael Brownfield, Ronald Drake, Thomas Finn, Seth Haines, Debra Higley, David Houseknecht, Phuong A. Le, Kristen Marra, Tracey Mercier, Heidi Leathers-Miller, Stanley Paxton, Ofori Pearson, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Cheryl Woodall, Margarita Zyrianova
Stratigraphic intervals for oil and tar sands deposits in the Uinta Basin, Utah Stratigraphic intervals for oil and tar sands deposits in the Uinta Basin, Utah
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald Johnson, Justin Birdwell, Paul Lillis
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Ventura Basin Province, California, 2016 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Ventura Basin Province, California, 2016
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the part of the Ventura Basin Province that lies onshore or within State waters (within 3 miles of the shoreline) of California (fig. 1). Conventional oil and gas resources are those that have migrated upward into structural...
Authors
Marilyn Tennyson, Christopher Schenk, Janet Pitman, Paul Lillis, Timothy R. Klett, Michael Brownfield, Thomas Finn, Stephanie Gaswirth, Sarah Hawkins, Kristen Marra, Tracey Mercier, Phuong Le, Heidi Leathers-Miller
Effects of thermal maturation and thermochemical sulfate reduction on compound-specific sulfur isotopic compositions of organosulfur compounds in Phosphoria oils from the Bighorn Basin, USA Effects of thermal maturation and thermochemical sulfate reduction on compound-specific sulfur isotopic compositions of organosulfur compounds in Phosphoria oils from the Bighorn Basin, USA
Compound-specific sulfur isotope analysis was applied to a suite of 18 crude oils generated from the Permian Phosphoria Formation in the Bighorn Basin, western USA. These oils were generated at various levels of thermal maturity and some experienced thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). This is the first study to examine the effects of thermal maturation on stable sulfur isotopic...
Authors
Geoffrey Ellis, Ward Said-Ahamed, Paul Lillis, Lubna Shawar, Alon Amrani
Evolution of the Lower Tertiary Elko Lake Basin, a potential hydrocarbon source rock in Northeast Nevada Evolution of the Lower Tertiary Elko Lake Basin, a potential hydrocarbon source rock in Northeast Nevada
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald Johnson, Justin Birdwell
The Chuar Petroleum System, Arizona and Utah The Chuar Petroleum System, Arizona and Utah
The Neoproterozoic Chuar Group consists of marine mudstone, sandstone and dolomitic strata divided into the Galeros and Kwagunt Formations, and is exposed only in the eastern Grand Canyon, Arizona. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the late 1980s identified strata within the group to be possible petroleum source rocks, and in particular the Walcott Member of the Kwagunt...
Authors
Paul Lillis
Geological, geochemical, and reservoir characterization of the Uteland Butte member of the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah Geological, geochemical, and reservoir characterization of the Uteland Butte member of the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah
No abstract available.
Authors
Justin Birdwell, Michael Vanden Berg, Ronald Johnson, Tracey Mercier, Adam Boehlke, Michael Brownfield
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016 Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil resources in the Wolfcamp shale of the Midland Basin, Permian Basin Province, Texas, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed technically recoverable mean resources of 20 billion barrels of oil and 16 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin part of the Permian Basin Province, Texas.
Authors
Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Kristen Marra, Paul Lillis, Tracey Mercier, Heidi Leathers-Miller, Christopher Schenk, Timothy Klett, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Sarah Hawkins, Michael Brownfield, Janet Pitman, Thomas Finn