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Geologic assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Lower Paleogene Midway and Wilcox Groups, and the Carrizo Sand of the Claiborne Group, of the Northern Gulf coast region

Open-File Report 2017-1111
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https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171111

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently conducted an assessment of the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas potential of Tertiary strata underlying the onshore areas and State waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region. The assessment was based on a number of geologic elements including an evaluation of hydrocarbon source rocks, suitable reservoir rocks, and hydrocarbon traps in an Upper Jurassic-Cretaceous-Tertiary Composite Total Petroleum System defined for the region by the USGS. Five conventional assessment units (AUs) were defined for the Midway (Paleocene) and Wilcox (Paleocene-Eocene) Groups, and the Carrizo Sand of the Claiborne Group (Eocene) interval including: (1) the Wilcox Stable Shelf Oil and Gas AU; (2) the Wilcox Expanded Fault Zone Gas and Oil AU; (3) the Wilcox-Lobo Slide Block Gas AU; (4) the Wilcox Slope and Basin Floor Gas AU; and (5) the Wilcox Mississippi Embayment AU (not quantitatively assessed).

The USGS assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources for the Midway-Wilcox-Carrizo interval resulted in estimated mean values of 110 million barrels of oil (MMBO), 36.9 trillion cubic feet of gas (TCFG), and 639 million barrels of natural gas liquids (MMBNGL) in the four assessed units. The undiscovered oil resources are almost evenly divided between fluvial-deltaic sandstone reservoirs within the Wilcox Stable Shelf (54 MMBO) AU and deltaic sandstone reservoirs of the Wilcox Expanded Fault Zone (52 MMBO) AU. Greater than 70 percent of the undiscovered gas and 66 percent of the natural gas liquids (NGL) are estimated to be in deep (13,000 to 30,000 feet), untested distal deltaic and slope sandstone reservoirs within the Wilcox Slope and Basin Floor Gas AU.

Suggested Citation

Warwick, P.D., 2017, Geologic assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the lower Paleogene Midway and Wilcox Groups, and the Carrizo Sand of the Claiborne Group, of the northern Gulf Coast region: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1111, 67 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171111.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Abstract 
  • Introduction
  • Regional Geologic and Structural Setting 
  • Assessment Methodology 
  • Source Rocks and Thermal Maturation 
  • Migration of Hydrocarbons 
  • Reservoir Rocks, Traps, and Seals of the Lower Paleogene Assessment Interval 
  • Resource Assessment
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Input Data Form for the Wilcox Stable Shelf Oil and Gas Assessment Unit (50470116)
  • Appendix 2. Input Data Form for the Wilcox Expanded Fault Zone Gas and Oil Assessment Unit (50470117)
  • Appendix 3. Input Data Form for the Wilcox-Lobo Slide Block Gas Assessment Unit (50470119)
  • Appendix 4. Input Data Form for the Wilcox Slope and Basin Floor Gas Assessment Unit (50470118) 
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Geologic assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Lower Paleogene Midway and Wilcox Groups, and the Carrizo Sand of the Claiborne Group, of the Northern Gulf coast region
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2017-1111
DOI 10.3133/ofr20171111
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
Description Report: vi, 60 p.; Appendixes 1-4
Country United States
Other Geospatial Gulf of Mexico
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details