Undiscovered Gas in US Gulf Coast Could Power Nation for 14 Months

Andrew Topf, a seasoned writer with more than twenty years of journalistic experience in newspapers, trade publications, and as a mining reporter, has reported on a recent study by the US Geological Survey. The assessment revealed potential undiscovered oil and gas reserves in two formations beneath a significant portion of the US Gulf Coast spanning from Texas to Florida.

The survey indicated that there are estimated technically recoverable resources of 35.8 trillion cubic feet of gas and 28 million barrels of oil. This amount of gas could power the entire United States for approximately 14 months based on current consumption rates, according to the USGS.

The focus of USGS energy assessments typically centers on undiscovered resources, areas where scientific data suggests the presence of resources that the industry has not yet tapped into. The study identified substantial gas resources in this case, as stated by Sarah Ryker, the acting director of the USGS.

The Hosston and Travis Peak Formations have already yielded 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 126 million barrels of oil since exploration activities commenced in the region. These formations represent a fraction of the Cretaceous-aged rocks in the onshore Gulf Coast.

A significant portion of the estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas in the Hosston-Travis Peak formations is categorized as “tight gas,” which refers to natural gas confined in low permeability rock layers deep underground. Extracting tight gas would involve drilling and hydraulic fracturing at depths exceeding 8,000–10,000 feet beneath the surface, according to Christopher Schenk, a geologist at the USGS.

The study area extends from the Gulf of Mexico along the Mexican border to a large part of Florida, with resources concentrated in a specific zone stretching from southeastern Texas through central Louisiana to the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana’s state waters in the Hosston-Travis Peak Shelf Continuous Gas Assessment Unit.

The United States currently produces the majority of the natural gas it consumes, sourced from onshore and offshore wells as well as coalbeds. In 2023, US dry natural gas production reached a record high of 37.8 trillion cubic feet, with Texas experiencing the most significant production increase at 7.4%. The top five gas-producing states include Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.

The US holds an estimated 368.7 million cubic feet of gas reserves, making it the world’s largest holder of natural gas. With proven reserves sufficient for about 12 years at current consumption levels, excluding unproven reserves like the recent findings in the Hosston and Travis Peak Formations, the US continues to rely on advancements in drilling and extraction techniques to boost production.

Various energy companies, such as Surge Energy Inc., Tourmaline Oil Corp, and Saturn Oil & Gas Inc., are actively involved in operations within the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, with notable acquisitions and production milestones reported. Major energy firms like Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, Citgo, and Woodside Energy operate onshore in the US Gulf Coast, engaging in pipeline, terminal, and refinery activities. Additionally, companies like INEOS Energy are acquiring oil and gas assets in the region.