USGS Identifies Major Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in Southwestern Wyoming
A newly published scientific assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has identified extensive undiscovered and technically recoverable oil and natural gas resources in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System (TPS). This geological system spans southwestern Wyoming, with smaller sections extending into Utah and Colorado.
Resource Estimates
According to the USGS assessment, the Mowry Composite TPS contains an estimated:
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473 million barrels of oil, and
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27 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas.
These figures reflect technically recoverable resources—oil and gas that can be extracted with current technology, regardless of economic feasibility or market conditions.
Historical Output and Geologic Significance
Since exploration began in the 1950s, the Mowry system has produced:
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7.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (equivalent to about three months of U.S. gas consumption at current usage rates),
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90 million barrels of oil (roughly four days of national demand).
The system encompasses several well-characterized geologic formations:
These layers were formed from marine sediments deposited in a shallow inland sea that once covered much of the Rocky Mountain region. This stratigraphy contributes to the area's continued promise as an energy-rich zone.
Broader Geological Context
The Mowry Composite TPS is located within the Southwestern Wyoming Geologic Province, which also encompasses other prolific formations, including the Lance Formation, Lewis Shale, and Mesa Verde Group. These additional formations were not part of the current assessment, meaning the total resource potential of the region is likely much greater when considered as a whole.
Role of USGS Assessments
Energy assessments, such as this one, are central to the USGS’s mission of evaluating natural resources using geological science and modeling. The agency began systematic resource assessments over 50 years ago, partly in response to the 1970s oil embargo. Since then, its work has expanded to include unconventional oil and gas assessments starting in 1995, incorporating advances in extraction technology and geological modeling.
USGS assessments serve multiple audiences:
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Land-management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management use the data for resource planning and leasing decisions.
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Energy companies rely on these estimates to determine the viability of future exploration.
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Communities and regional planners benefit from understanding potential economic impacts.
“USGS energy assessments typically focus on undiscovered resources—areas where geological evidence suggests potential, but which have not yet been drilled,” said Acting USGS Director Sarah Ryker. “This assessment highlights a substantial volume of such resources in a key energy-producing region.”
