Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey completed an assessment of the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resource potential of continuous reservoirs in the Paradox Basin Province in 2011. The assessment applied the Total Retroleum System (TPS) concept, which includes mapping the distribution of potential source rocks and known petroleum accumulations, and determining the timing of petroleum generation and migration. Geologically based, it focuses on source rock- and reservoir rock-stratigraphy, timing of tectonic events and the configuration of resulting structures, formation of traps and seals, and burial history. A TPS is subdivided into assessment units (AUs) defined on the basis of similar geologic characteristics and resource accumulations, and petroleum type. The Paradox Basin Province study defined three TPSs and five continuous AUs, and the undiscovered oil and gas resources within each were quantitatively assessed. Two AUs were described, but were not assessed.