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U.S. Geological Survey assessment of reserve growth outside of the United States

Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5091
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20155091

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated volumes of potential additions to oil and gas reserves for the United States by reserve growth in discovered accumulations. These volumes were derived by using a new methodology developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and reviewed by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Committee on Resource Evaluation. This methodology was used to assess reserve growth in individual accumulations (reservoirs, groups of reservoirs, or fields). Selected, large, well-studied, conventional accumulations in the United States that are estimated to contribute most to reserve growth were assessed using analysis of geology and engineering practices. Potential additions to oil and gas reserves for large, discovered, conventional accumulations outside of the United States due to reserve growth were assessed using the U.S. accumulations as analogs. Potential oil and gas volumes were assumed to be added to proven plus probable reserves.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated volumes of technically recoverable, conventional petroleum resources resulting from reserve growth for discovered fields outside the United States that have reported in-place oil and gas volumes of 500 million barrels of oil equivalent or greater. The mean volumes of reserve growth were estimated at 665 billion barrels of crude oil; 1,429 trillion cubic feet of natural gas; and 16 billion barrels of natural gas liquids. These volumes constitute a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas resources and represent the potential future growth of current global reserves over time based on better assessment methodology, new technologies, and greater understanding of reservoirs.

Suggested Citation

Klett, T.R., Cook, T.A., Charpentier, R.R., Tennyson, M.E., and Le, P.A., 2015, U.S. Geological Survey assessment of reserve growth outside of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5091, 13 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155091.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Definition of Reserve Growth
  • Terminology
  • Assessment of Reserve Growth Outside of the United States
  • Assessment Results for Discovered Accumulations Outside of the United States
  • Future Research Directions
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Final Report of the AAPG CORE Subcommittee 8-11-09
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title U.S. Geological Survey assessment of reserve growth outside of the United States
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2015-5091
DOI 10.3133/sir20155091
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Central Energy Resources Science Center
Description iv, 13 p.
Country United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details