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National Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention Resources—Results

Circular 1489
Energy Resources Program
By: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1489

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Abstract

In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a probabilistic assessment of the volume of technically recoverable oil resources available if current carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies were applied to amenable oil reservoirs underlying the onshore and State waters areas of the conterminous United States. The assessment also includes estimates of the mass of CO2 that could be stored (retained) as a result of CO2-EOR activities. The USGS assessment team evaluated more than 3,500 oil reservoirs that were miscible to injected CO2. The assessed reservoirs are in 185 previously defined USGS plays in 33 petroleum provinces of 7 national regions. The assessment team estimated that the technically recoverable oil associated with CO2-EOR ranges from approximately 25,000 million barrels (MMbbl) at the P5 percentile to as much as 32,000 MMbbl at the P95 percentile, with a mean of 29,000 MMbbl. The associated CO2 retention ranges from approximately 7,400 million metric tons (Mt) at the P5 percentile to as much as 9,500 Mt at the P95 percentile, with a mean of 8,400 Mt. The West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region and the Gulf Coast region together contain 60 percent of the mean assessed CO2-EOR oil potential and 61 percent of the mean assessed CO2 retention. Other regions with significant resource potential include the Midcontinent region and Rocky Mountains and Northern Great Plains region.

Suggested Citation

Warwick, P.D., Attanasi, E.D., Blondes, M.S., Brennan, S.T., Buursink, M.L., Cahan, S.M., Doolan, C.A., Freeman, P.A., Karacan, C.Ö., Lohr, C.D., Merrill, M.D., Olea, R.A., Shelton, J.L., Slucher, E.R., and Varela, B.A., 2022, National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources—Results: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1489, 39 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1489.

ISSN: 2330-5703 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • National Subdivisions
  • Data Sources
  • Assessment Process
  • Results of the Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention Resources
  • Discussion of Results
  • Comparison of Results With Findings From Previous Assessments
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Glossary
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Results
Series title Circular
Series number 1489
DOI 10.3133/cir1489
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Description Report: viii, 39 p.; Data release
Country United States
Other Geospatial Continental United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details