ENERGY & MINERALS

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Hydrocarbons

Utah has consistently ranked high in domestic oil and gas production nationwide. The majority of hydrocarbon resources are concentrated in the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah and the Paradox Basin in southeastern Utah. Organic-rich shale, carbonates, and evaporites accumulated over time to produce vast oil and gas resources in these areas. Utah’s geologic setting also provides world-class outcrops of every geologic eon, era, period, and epoch, providing a natural laboratory for study.

Vegetated valley with a well operation.
Vegetated valley with a well operation.
Drill rig used to recover the Skyline 16 core in the eastern Uinta Basin. Photo: Michael Vanden Berg
Drill rig used to recover the Skyline 16 core in the eastern Uinta Basin. Photo: Michael Vanden Berg
The Mahogany oil shale zone contains the highest percentage of organic material in the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Uintah County. Uinta Basin, Uintah County, Utah. Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg
The Mahogany oil shale zone contains the highest percentage of organic material in the Green River Formation, Uinta Basin, Uintah County. Uinta Basin, Uintah County, Utah. Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

Crude Oil

Found in various geologic formations in Utah, petroleum in its raw form is refined to create various types of fuels.
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Natural Gas

A mixture of hydrocarbon gas consisting mostly of methane.
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Coalbed Methane

A natural gas produced during the formation of coal that can be extracted using wells drilled into coal seams.
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Oil Shale

Deposited as organic-rich sediments millions of years ago, Utah’s oil shale deposits are some of the world’s largest.
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Oil Sands/Tar Sands

Sandstone saturated with black, heavy hydrocarbons comprise the state’s oil sand resources.
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Produced Water

Liquid byproduct that is created during oil and gas production that must be disposed of or reused properly.
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MICROBIALITES

Organic sedimentary deposits that form under water, are composed of and built by microbes, and can become reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Great Salt Lake hosts modern-day microbialites, whereas the Eocene-age Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin contains examples of ancient microbialites..
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Crude Oil

Found in various geologic formations in Utah, petroleum in its raw form is refined to create various types of fuels.
Learn More.

Natural Gas

A mixture of hydrocarbon gas consisting mostly of methane.
Learn More.

Coalbed Methane

A natural gas produced during the formation of coal that can be extracted using wells drilled into coal seams.
Learn More.

Oil Shale

Deposited as organic-rich sediments millions of years ago, Utah’s oil shale deposits are some of the world’s largest.
Learn More.

Oil Sands/Tar Sands

Sandstone saturated with black, heavy hydrocarbons comprise the state’s oil sand resources.
Learn More.

Produced Water

Liquid byproduct that is created during oil and gas production that must be disposed of or reused properly.
Learn More.

MICROBIALITES

Organic sedimentary deposits that form under water, are composed of and built by microbes, and can become reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Great Salt Lake hosts modern-day microbialites, whereas the Eocene-age Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin contains examples of ancient microbialites..
Learn More.

UGS Funded Hydrocarbon Research

Projects designed to improve recovery, development, and exploration of Utah’s hydrocarbon resources and other Energy and Minerals topics.

Highlighted Scientific Publications


Special Study 160

Potential Oil-Prone Areas in the Cane Creek Shale Play, Paradox Basin, Utah, Identified by Epifluorescence Microscope Techniques

Miscellaneous Publication 13-1

Outcrop Chemostratigraphic Correlation of the Upper Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin, Utah—Mahogany Oil Shale Zone to the Uinta Formation




Public Interest Articles
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TitleTopicYear
Potential Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on Carbon Capture and Storage in Utah CO2 Sequestration 2023
Assessing Geologic Carbon Sequestration Opportunities in Utah CO2 Sequestration 2022
Massive Core Donations Spurred by Low Oil Prices Core Center 2021
Utah’s Emerging Northern Paradox Basin Unconventional Oil Play Oil and Gas 2021
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utah’s Energy Industry Energy 2020
Covenant Oil Field in the Central Utah thrust Belt Turns 15 Years Old Oil and Gas 2020
The Benefits of Oil and Gas Production to the State of Utah and Its Citizens—How Things Work! Oil and Gas 2019
New Core, New Insights into Ancient Lake Uinta Evolution and Uinta Basin Energy Resources Oil and Gas 2019
Oil and Gas in the Uinta Basin, Utah –What to Do With the Produced Water Oil and Gas 2018
Horizontal Drilling in Utah: Can Utah Compete with Surrounding States? Oil and Gas 2018
Core Like Never Before – An Unprecedented 1600-foot Core from the Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin Core Center News 2018
Crystal Geyser, Grand County Water 2018
A Partner in the CarbonSAFE Rocky Mountains Project CO2 Sequestration 2017
Not All Megawatts Are Created Equal – An Examination of Electric Generation Capacity Factor Electricity 2017
UCRC Receives a Treasure Trove Donation of Greater Aneth Oil Field Cores Core Center News 2017
Some impacts of low oil prices on Utah Oil 2016
Cores from Central Utah’s Covenant Field – Oil-Bearing Ancient Sand Dunes Core Center News 2016
Cores from Greater Aneth Oil Field: A Trip Back in Time to Utah’s “Bahama Islands” and “Florida Keys” Core Center News 2016
Updated Map Shows Utah’s Many Oil and Gas Fields Oil and Gas 2015
Understanding Southeast Utah’s Cane Creek Oil, A Continuing Challenge Oil and Gas 2015
Development of New Markets for Uinta Basin Crude via Rail Oil 2015
Utah Hosts Petroleum Geology Convention Oil and Gas 2014
Utah still supplying gilsonite to the world after 125 years of mining Mining 2014
Frack Sand in Utah? Mining 2014
UGS Set to Publish Major Study on Potential Paleozoic Shale-Gas Resources Oil and Gas 2014
Are Ownership and Production Patterns of Utah Petroleum Resources Related? Oil and Gas 2013
Liquid-rich Shale Potential of the Uinta and Paradox Basins Oil Shale 2013
New UGS study to determine what best to do with water produced from gas fields in the Uinta Basin Gas 2013
Utah Oil and Gas: a rich history, a powerful future (updated 2013) Oil and Gas 2013
Utah’s Gordon Creek Field to Test Commercial-Scale Storage of Carbon Dioxide CO2 Sequestration 2012
Hydraulic fracturing and shale gas Oil and Gas 2012
A Longer Term View of the Results of U.S. Energy Policy Energy 2012
Northwest Utah—Could it be Utah’s Newest Energy Hotspot? Energy 2012
Natural Buttes Field – Utah’s “tight” sandstone gas storehouse Oil and Gas 2011
Utah Shales May Contain The “Right Stuff”—Natural Gas Natural Gas 2011
Saline Water Disposal in the Uinta Basin, Utah: Protecting fresh water while allowing for increased hydrocarbon production Hydrocarbons 2010
Major Oil Plays in Utah and Vicinity Oil and Gas 2010
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Demonstration Project Underway in Utah! CO2 Sequestration 2009
Evaluating Utah’s Oil Shale Resource Oil Shale 2009
Ancient Exhumed River Channels of the Morrison and Cedar Mountain Formations Geologic History 2008
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration CO2 Sequestration 2007
Utah Core Research Center: Aiding Utah’s Petroleum Development Oil and Gas 2007
Tight Gas Reservoirs, Uinta Basin Oil and Gas 2007
Utah Shale Oil and Gas 2007
Taking Another Look at Utah’s Tar Sand Resources Tar Sands 2007
Funding Encourages a Wide Spectrum of Research on Utah's Hydrocarbon Resources Hydrocarbons 2006
Utah Key Player in Future Oil Shale Development Oil Shale 2006
Increased Oil and Gas Drilling in Utah Starting to Produce Dividends Oil and Gas 2006
“Elephant” Discovered in Central Utah? Oil and Gas 2005
“Bubblin’ Crude” at Rozel Point, Box Elder County Great Salt Lake 2005

Hydrocarbon Articles: 63