WSGS Oil and Gas Group
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Rod De Bruin |
John Jiao Ph.D |
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Ramsey Bentley |
Yuri Ganshin Ph. D. |
Scott Quillinan |
Wyoming Oil and Gas
In fiscal year 2006, oil and gas production contributed more than $2.2 billion to state and local governments in severance and property taxes, federal and state royalties, conservation mill levy, and sales and use taxes.In addition, natural gas processing yields significant quantities of natural gas liquids, sulfur, helium, and carbon dioxide that contribute to Wyoming’s economy and tax base.
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Wyoming ranks seventh in the United States in the production of oil, second in the production of natural gas, and first in the production of helium. Collectively, more than 38,000 wells produced 52.9 million barrels of oil and 2.11 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas in 2006. Production came from 20 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. At the beginning of 2006, Wyoming ranked second in the U.S. in proved reserves of natural gas and fourth in proved reserves of crude oil. Proved reserves are: 1) the portion of an oil and/or gas reservoir delineated by drilling and defined by oil/water, gas/oil/water, and/or gas/water contacts, if any; and 2) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive based on available geologic and engineering data. Proved reserves of natural gas were at an all-time high of 23.8 TCF, while proved reserves of crude oil were 704 million barrels (table of Historical Reserves) |
Tables & Graphs
The Oil and Gas Group
The WSGS maps occurrences of oil and natural gas in fields within the state, does research that helps find new occurrences of oil and natural gas, and projects prices and production of oil and natural gas for Wyoming revenue estimates.
Current projects
- The WSGS recently updated the Oil and Gas Map of Wyoming (Map Series 55 see Publications), adding a hillshade layer to the new map that accentuates the state’s topography. The updated map by Rodney H. De Bruin is current through 2006.
- The WSGS is currently researching depleted oil and gas fields around the state to locate possible sites for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 sequestration (to be used in conjunction with clean coal energy production technology). Ramsey Bentley directs the project; some portions of the study are available for early release. (Publications).
- Tight Sand Gas (i.e. basin center gas): The WSGS has been working with a new exploration/exploitation strategy and technology for anomalously pressured gas accumulations. This technology helped in the exploration of two giant tight-sand gas fields in Wyoming – Jonah (14 TCF) and Pinedale (30 TCF). Read more.
- Shale Gas: Investigations at the WSGS currently focus on documenting the shale gas potential of the Mowry Shale. Read more.
- Under-pressured gas: Recent work at the WSGS has shown that the potential for as-yet unrecognized, under-pressured gas resources in many of the Rocky Mountain Laramide basins is huge. Read more.
Current WSGS Oil and Gas Info
- Subsidence potential related to water withdrawal in the Powder River Basin
- Interactive geologic and hydrologic database of N. Powder River Basin
- Wyoming Mineral Updates
- WSGS Coalbed Natural Gas web page
Additional Information