Improved USGS methodology for assessing continuous petroleum resources

Abstract

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Multi-Resource Analysis—Methodology and synthesis

“…In energy resource assessments, quantities of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources are estimated based on historic data, current technologies, and well-established and vetted probabilistic modeling approaches (Charpentier and Cook, 2012). The goal of a quantitative mineral resource assessment is to identify and clarify factors that are relevant to mineral-related decisions (Singer and Menzie, 2010).…”

“…The process for identifying scenarios of change for an MRA is based largely on these concepts. Finally, in modeling problems where significant uncertainty exists, it is common within the USGS and elsewhere to promote structured interactions and the review of expert judgments ranging from conceptual model development to specific numerical model parameters (Hanks and others, 2009;Charpentier and Cook, 2012); the MRA process includes similar interactions among the various scientific experts and disciplines throughout the analysis.…”

Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana and North Dakota, 2016

“…The methodology incorporates many elements of the USGS assessment approach for continuous petroleum accumulations (Charpentier and Cook, 2010), including estimated ultimate recovery of petroleum per well (EUR) and the input values and calculations for estimating the number of wells potentially associated with production of the petroleum in each assessment unit (AU). In addition, the water and proppant assessment methodology includes input values for the water per well for drilling and cement and for hydraulic fracturing treatment, the proppant-to-water ratio for hydraulic fracturing, the percentage of hydraulic fracturing water that returns as flowback, and the long-term water-to-oil or water-to-gas ratio.…”

A Framework for Quantitative Assessment of Impacts Related to Energy and Mineral Resource Development

“…A robust approach for describing the uncertainty is the use of probability density functions (PDFs) to describe the possible values for a given measurement or estimate, rather than incorrectly assuming a single value; this approach is scientifically sound and it is effective for communicating uncertainty. Schmoker (2005) and Charpentier and Cook (2010) describe methods to estimate the quantity of undiscovered ''continuous'' petroleum resources that can be recovered with existing technology. Continuous resources (e.g., petroleum shale systems and coalbed gas) are aerially large accumulations of oil and/or gas, generally within low-permeability rock; in a separate category are conventional resources, which are discrete accumulations of petroleum held in place by geologic traps and the buoyancy of petroleum relative to water (Schmoker 2005).…”

“…Availability assessments of energy and mineral resources (e.g., Charpentier and Cook 2010;Singer and Menzie 2010) help decision makers, the private sector, and the general public to make informed decisions regarding these resources, but traditionally these studies do not consider external costs and benefits (e.g., positive or negative impacts on ecologic, hydrologic, and socioeconomic systems) of resource development and use. Similarly, assessments of water and ecological/biological systems generally lack quantitative linkage to energy and mineral resource development.…”