The MMS periodically estimates the quantities of conventionally recoverable oil and gas resources remaining to be discovered on the OCS.  The most recent assessment was completed during 2000.

Outer Continental Shelf Petroleum Assessment, 2000 -- Summary

2000 Assessment of Conventionally Recoverable Hydrocarbon Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf - as of January 1, 1999

1995 Assessment of Conventionally Recoverable Hydrocarbon Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf - as of January 1, 1995

The detailed assessment is available as OCS Report 2001-087. The CD-ROM contains the results of the efforts by the Minerals Management Service to assess the undiscovered crude oil and natural gas resources of the northern Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. Included in the assessment are resource estimates from untested, conceptual plays as of January 1, 1999.

The 2000 assessment updates the previously published Assessment of Conventionally Hydrocarbon Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf as of January 1, 1995.  The update uses the same play analysis approach as used for the 1995 assessment, but considers recent geophysical, geological, and technological data available since the 1995 assessment.  The CD-ROM includes tabular raw data at the pool level and written descriptions containing maps, tables, and graphs on 103 geologically defined plays.

Several types of files are included on this CD-ROM: the report in pdf format, tabular data files, GIS data files, and PowerPoint presentations.  The use of Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 is recommended for optimum performance of the pdf file.  The tabular data are formatted in Microsoft Excel 97 (.xls) and space-delimited ASCII (.prn).  GIS data are presented as shapefiles for use with ESRI's ArcView GIS Version 3.2a.  For users without access to these programs, free data viewers for each application are included on the CD.  A Table of Results showing reserve and resource estimates by planning area and water depth as is presented here to illustrate the types of data contained in the report.  Also included on the CD-ROM are Price-Supply Curves showing the relationship of price to economically recoverable resource volumes.

Copies of the CD-ROM may be ordered from the MMS by calling 1-800-200-GULF or by sending a fax to (504) 736-2620.  The price of the CD-ROM is $150 for companies/corporations, $50 for academic institutions and professional organizations, and $10 for current students.

by Gary L. Lore, Katherine M. Ross, Barbara J. Bascle, Lesley D. Nixon, and Ralph J. Klazynski

This report presents the results of the 1995 play-level assessment of the conventionally recoverable hydrocarbon resources for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This evaluation was performed as part of a national assessment of undiscovered hydrocarbon resources—in which the onshore and State offshore areas of the Nation were assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Federal offshore ares of the Nation were assessed by the Minerals Management Service (MMS)—in order to develop an updated appraisal of the potential location and volume of undiscovered resources.

This study delineated 72 plays, of which 52 comprise the Gulf of Mexico Cenozoic Province, 9 comprise the Gulf of Mexico Mesozoic Province, and 11 comprise the Atlantic Mesozoic Province. These 72 plays account for a mean total endowment of nearly 26 billion barrels of oil (Bbo) and 300 trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcfg). Of this mean total endowment, approximately 11 Bbo and 123 Tcfg are undiscovered resources. Moreover, nearly 80 percent of these undiscovered resources are projected to occur in the Gulf of Mexico.

Report Summary

In order to provide maximum utility to the end user, a multi-part CD comprising an interactive report that describes and illustrates the assessment methodologies and detailed geologic and economic results by use of traditional Windows drop-down menus and buttons, GIS (geographic information system) play and infrastructure data, tabular data, and PDF (portable document format) files of the report were created. The CD's are self-contained with Adobe Acrobat Reader, ESRI ArcExplorer, and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet viewer for using the several file types included.

Copies of this CD are free and can be ordered from the MMS by calling 1-800-200-GULF or by sending a fax to (504) 736-2620. The PDF version of the report is free and available by clicking the button below.

The following documents are in Adobe Acrobat's pdf format. These files can be downloaded, read and printed using the free Acrobat Reader.

The PDF Version of this Report has been divided into three files due to the size of the PDF file.

PDF Version of Part A of this Report (4.8 MB).  This file contains the General Text, Summary Tables, Terminology, Acknowledgments and References, and MMS sections of the report.  For viewing, downloading, or printing the report.

PDF Version of Part B of this Report (10.9 MB).  This file contains the Geologic Results and MMS sections of the report.  For viewing, downloading, or printing the report.

PDF Version of Part C of this Report (7.7 MB).  This file contains the  Results and MMS sections of the report.  For viewing, downloading, or printing the report.

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