The Department of the Interior has released a new assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identifying significant undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System. This area spans parts of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah and is estimated to contain 473 million barrels of oil and 27 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. These resources could potentially enhance domestic energy supply and support local economies.
"This new USGS assessment underscores the role of American energy resources in strengthening our energy independence and driving economic development across the West," stated Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. He emphasized that public lands in Southwestern Wyoming have substantial potential, highlighting the importance of this science-based evaluation for informed resource management.
The Mowry Composite system has been producing since the 1950s, with approximately 7.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 90 million barrels of oil extracted so far. Acting USGS Director Sarah Ryker noted that "USGS energy assessments typically focus on undiscovered resources – areas where science tells us there may be a resource that industry hasn’t discovered yet."
Today's assessment covers a geologic grouping in southwestern Wyoming as well as parts of Colorado and Utah, which once contained deposits from a shallow prehistoric ocean. The region also includes other formations like the Lance Formation, Lewis Shale, and Mesa Verde Group that are not part of this current assessment.
USGS oil and gas assessments began about 50 years ago after an oil embargo highlighted the need to understand undiscovered resources' occurrence, distribution, and potential volumes. These assessments provide critical information to policymakers on resource potential within both U.S. territories and globally.
For agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, these assessments contribute to land-use planning while offering context for private sector exploration efforts. Since 1995, USGS has also been evaluating unconventional, technically recoverable resources due to advances in technology.
