Research
Gulf Coast Framework Studies, Geochemistry, Geologic CO2 Utilization, Economics, Environmental Aspects, and more
Gulf Coast Framework Studies, Geochemistry, Geologic CO2 Utilization, Economics, Environmental Aspects, and more
Energy Resources Program
The Energy Resources Program conducts research and assessments to advance the understanding of the Nation’s energy resources. We study processes critical to the formation, accumulation, occurrence and alteration of geologically based energy resources; prepare resource assessments; and evaluate the environmental and socioeconomic effects of energy resource occurrence, production and use.
Our Science
Our Science
Understanding the national and global availability of resources as well as the environmental impacts of their development is essential for strategic decision making related to the nation’s energy mix.
Energy Quarterly
Energy Quarterly
This quarterly newsletter highlights the latest Energy Resources Program research, activities, publications, and information resources available from our website and other sources.
SCIENCE PRIORITIES
SCIENCE PRIORITIES
News
President proposes $1.6 billion FY 2025 budget for USGS
President proposes $1.6 billion FY 2025 budget for USGS
USGS, Colorado School of Mines establish joint industry program to explore potential of geologic hydrogen
USGS, Colorado School of Mines establish joint industry program to explore potential of geologic hydrogen
USGS partners with Havasupai Tribe to identify potential contaminant exposure pathways from Grand Canyon uranium mining
USGS partners with Havasupai Tribe to identify potential contaminant exposure pathways from Grand Canyon uranium mining
Publications
Spatial distribution of API gravity and gas/oil ratios for petroleum accumulations in Upper Cretaceous strata of the San Miguel, Olmos, and Escondido Formations of the south Texas Maverick Basin—Implications for petroleum migration and charge history
The Maverick Basin of south Texas is currently undergoing active exploration and production of gas and oil from tight sandstone reservoirs. The most productive tight sandstones in the basin are in the Upper Cretaceous San Miguel, Olmos, and Escondido Formations. These units are second only to the Eagle Ford Shale in terms of cumulative production volumes. The structural history of the Maverick Bas
Novel insights about petroleum systems from source and reservoir rock characterization, Cretaceous Deposits, Babouri-Figuil Basin, Northern Cameroon
The Babouri-Figuil Basin (BFB) is a frontier basin for petroleum in Cameroon. It belongs to the series of Cretaceous rift basins of the West and Central Rift System (WCARS), the origin of which is related to the opening of the South Atlantic. Within the same rift system, commercial hydrocarbon accumulations have been discovered in Chad, Sudan, Niger and, more recently, in Nigeria (Gongola Basin).
Cathodoluminescence differentiates sedimentary organic matter types
High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) visualization of sedimentary organic matter is widely utilized in the geosciences for evaluating microscale rock properties relevant to depositional environment, diagenesis, and the processes of fluid generation, transport, and storage. However, despite thousands of studies which have incorporated SEM methods, the inability of SEM to differentiate
Science
Orphan Wells
The Orphan Wells Project conducts research on orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells across the nation to better understand the extent of methane emissions and ongoing risks to groundwater contamination. The goal of this research is to provide information that can support prioritizing orphan wells for plugging, and repurposing wells for uses such as new hydrocarbon production, carbon capture and...
Solar Energy
The United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB) provides the locations and array boundaries of U.S. ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) facilities with capacity of 1 megawatt or more. It includes corresponding PV facility information, including panel type, site type, and initial year of operation. The creation of this database was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy...
Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research Project
The Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research (GEAR) project assesses and characterizes undiscovered, technically recoverable domestic petroleum resources. It focuses on the onshore and State waters portion of the Gulf Coast basin. The primary goal of this project is to meet the needs of Congress and other stakeholders for timely and robust assessments of petroleum resources in the Gulf...