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 data, we shall establish a geologic basis for predicting energy production trends, we shall discuss logical implications and consequences of energy occurrence for public policy, and we shall provide for the education of society about energy issues.
Assessment Overview
![Aerial image of an oil spill, Medicine Lake NWR wetlands](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/info_block/public/thumbnails/image/Rod_JerryMLNWR_Lk%20Creek%20Oil%20Spill.MedLk__0.jpg?itok=rqv2qdQK)
The USGS assesses potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in priority geologic provinces in the World. This website highlights conventional and unconventional (continuous) oil and gas resources (such as shale gas) for more than 170 basins.
Recent Publications
Below is a list of the latest World Oil and Gas Assessment Publications
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources
World Geologic Maps
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—East Africa and Seychelles Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Black Sea Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—West-Central Coastal Province (Africa) Presalt: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Offshore Morocco: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS/Uzbek GOSCOMGEOLOGY/GeoMark potential source rock lab analysis results, 2021-2022
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Barents Sea Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Lower Saxony Basin: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Senegal Basin Province: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Mesozoic Petroleum Systems of Central European Basin System: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - the Volga-Ural Basin and Timan-Pechora Basin Provinces of Russia: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Forms, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - New Guinea, Papua Barat, Seram, and Timor-Leste: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Paleozoic Petroleum Systems of Central European Basin System: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
Below are publications associated with this project.
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of offshore East Africa and the Seychelles, 2022
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Black Sea area, 2023
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in postsalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in presalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 12.1 billion barrels of oil and 50 trillion cubic feet of gas in presalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the offshore Salt Basin area of Morocco, 2021
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Barents Sea area, 2021
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Lower Saxony Basin of Germany, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa, 2021
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Volga-Ural Basin and Timan-Pechora Basin Provinces of Russia, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of New Guinea, Papua Barat, Seram, and Timor-Leste, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in Paleozoic total petroleum systems of the Central European Basin system, 2019
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the West Siberian Basin Province, Russia, 2020
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?
“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations. For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What are the different columns on a USGS oil and gas resource assessment table?
Oil and gas estimates always involve some amounts of uncertainty. To account for this, the USGS presents its assessments of oil and gas potential in the form of a range based on how certain we are that this amount of oil and gas exist. The USGS uses a statistically based process (or model) to calculate the likely range of its estimates. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood...
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 data, we shall establish a geologic basis for predicting energy production trends, we shall discuss logical implications and consequences of energy occurrence for public policy, and we shall provide for the education of society about energy issues.
Assessment Overview
![Aerial image of an oil spill, Medicine Lake NWR wetlands](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/info_block/public/thumbnails/image/Rod_JerryMLNWR_Lk%20Creek%20Oil%20Spill.MedLk__0.jpg?itok=rqv2qdQK)
The USGS assesses potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in priority geologic provinces in the World. This website highlights conventional and unconventional (continuous) oil and gas resources (such as shale gas) for more than 170 basins.
Recent Publications
Below is a list of the latest World Oil and Gas Assessment Publications
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
United States Assessments of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources
World Geologic Maps
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—East Africa and Seychelles Provinces: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Black Sea Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—West-Central Coastal Province (Africa) Presalt: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Offshore Morocco: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS/Uzbek GOSCOMGEOLOGY/GeoMark potential source rock lab analysis results, 2021-2022
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Barents Sea Area: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Lower Saxony Basin: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Senegal Basin Province: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Mesozoic Petroleum Systems of Central European Basin System: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - the Volga-Ural Basin and Timan-Pechora Basin Provinces of Russia: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Forms, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project - New Guinea, Papua Barat, Seram, and Timor-Leste: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-Paleozoic Petroleum Systems of Central European Basin System: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
Below are publications associated with this project.
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of offshore East Africa and the Seychelles, 2022
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Black Sea area, 2023
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in postsalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in presalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 12.1 billion barrels of oil and 50 trillion cubic feet of gas in presalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the offshore Salt Basin area of Morocco, 2021
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Barents Sea area, 2021
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Lower Saxony Basin of Germany, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa, 2021
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Volga-Ural Basin and Timan-Pechora Basin Provinces of Russia, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of New Guinea, Papua Barat, Seram, and Timor-Leste, 2020
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in Paleozoic total petroleum systems of the Central European Basin system, 2019
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the West Siberian Basin Province, Russia, 2020
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
What are "technically recoverable" oil and gas resources?
“Technically recoverable” means that the oil and/or gas can be produced using currently available technology and industry practices. This is regardless of any economic or accessibility considerations. For example, the technology required to produce oil from a location might exist, but it costs more than the oil is worth. The oil is still technically recoverable. Learn more: USGS Energy Assessments
What are the different columns on a USGS oil and gas resource assessment table?
Oil and gas estimates always involve some amounts of uncertainty. To account for this, the USGS presents its assessments of oil and gas potential in the form of a range based on how certain we are that this amount of oil and gas exist. The USGS uses a statistically based process (or model) to calculate the likely range of its estimates. The range of values extends from a 5% or greater likelihood...