James Van Blaricum
U.S. Natural Gas Resource Estimates
Below are three estimates of natural gas reserves in the United States. The first, compiled by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), estimates that there are 1,190.62 Tcf of technically recoverable natural gas in the United States. This includes undiscovered, unproved, and unconventional natural gas. As seen from the table, proved reserves make up a very small proportion of the total recoverable natural gas resources in the U.S.
The following table includes an estimate of natural gas resources compiled by the National Petroleum Council in 1999 in its report Natural Gas - Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand. This estimate places U.S. natural gas resources higher than the EIA, at 1,779 Tcf remaining. It is important to note that different methodologies and systems of classification are used in various estimates that are completed. There is no single way that every industry player quantifies estimates of natural gas. Therefore, it is important to delve into the assumptions and methodology behind each study to gain a complete understanding of the estimate itself.
| Natural Gas Technically Recoverable Resources | |
| Natural Gas Resource Category (Trillion Cubic Feet) |
As of January 1, 2000 |
| Nonassociated Gas | |
| Undiscovered | 247.71 |
| Onshore | 121.61 |
| Offshore | 126.1 |
| Deep | 81.56 |
| Shallow | 44.52 |
| Inferred Reserves | 232.7 |
| Onshore | 183.03 |
| Offshore | 47.68 |
| Deep | 7.72 |
| Shallow | 39.96 |
| Unconventional Gas Recovery | 369.59 |
| Tight Gas | 253.83 |
| Shale Gas | 55.42 |
| Coalbed Methane | 60.35 |
| Associated-Dissolved Gas | 140.89 |
| Total Lower 48 Unproved | 990.89 |
| Alaska | 32.32 |
| Total U.S. Unproved | 1023.21 |
| Proved Reserves | 167.41 |
| Total Natural Gas | 1190.62 |
| Source: Energy Information Administration - Annual Energy Outlook 2002 | |