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Geologic assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Albian Clastic and Updip Albian Clastic Assessment Units, U.S. Gulf Coast Region

Open-File Report 2016-1026
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161026

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Abstract

U.S. Geological Survey National Oil and Gas Assessments (NOGA) of Albian aged clastic reservoirs in the U.S. Gulf Coast region indicate a relatively low prospectivity for undiscovered hydrocarbon resources due to high levels of past production and exploration. Evaluation of two assessment units (AUs), (1) the Albian Clastic AU 50490125, and (2) the Updip Albian Clastic AU 50490126, were based on a geologic model incorporating consideration of source rock, thermal maturity, migration, events timing, depositional environments, reservoir rock characteristics, and production analyses built on well and field-level production histories. The Albian Clastic AU is a mature conventional hydrocarbon prospect with undiscovered accumulations probably restricted to small faulted and salt-associated structural traps that could be revealed using high resolution subsurface imaging and from targeting structures at increased drilling depths that were unproductive at shallower intervals. Mean undiscovered accumulation volumes from the probabilistic assessment are 37 million barrels of oil (MMBO), 152 billion cubic feet of gas (BCFG), and 4 million barrels of natural gas liquids (MMBNGL). Limited exploration of the Updip Albian Clastic AU reflects a paucity of hydrocarbon discoveries updip of the periphery fault zones in the northern Gulf Coastal region. Restricted migration across fault zones is a major factor behind the small discovered fields and estimation of undiscovered resources in the AU. Mean undiscovered accumulation volumes from the probabilistic assessment are 1 MMBO and 5 BCFG for the Updip Albian Clastic AU.

Suggested Citation

Merrill, M.D., 2016, Geologic assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Albian clastic and updip Albian clastic assessment units, U.S. Gulf Coast region: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1026, 31 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161026.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Total Petroleum System Framework
  • Albian Clastic Reservoir Rocks
  • Assessment of Conventional Undiscovered Resources in the Albian Clastic Reservoirs of the U.S. Gulf Coast Region
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Basic Input Data for the Albian Clastic Assessment Unit
  • Appendix 2. Basic Input Data for the Updip Albian Clastic Assessment Unit
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Geologic assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Albian Clastic and Updip Albian Clastic Assessment Units, U.S. Gulf Coast Region
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2016-1026
DOI 10.3133/ofr20161026
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
Description Report: v, 27; Appendixes 1-2
Country United States
Other Geospatial Gulf Coast Region
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details