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

Fact Sheet 2021-3057
Energy Resources Program
By: , and 

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Introduction

In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a probabilistic assessment of the volume of technically recoverable oil resources that might be produced by using current carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies in amenable conventional 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) in the assessed oil reservoirs following the application of the CO2-EOR process. 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 team estimated that the total technically recoverable oil resulting from the application of the CO2-EOR process 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 results are summarized in this fact sheet and are provided in more detail in the companion data release and circular.

The West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region (primarily its Permian Basin) 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 the 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—Summary: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2021–3057, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20213057.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Summary
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2021-3057
DOI 10.3133/fs20213057
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: 6 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