Last Data Base Update:

July, 2009

Introduction

Background

Introduction Background Since January of 1989, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Resources Program Geochemistry Laboratory Data Base has grown to contain the analytical data for over 200,000 samples worldwide. The Energy Geochemistry Data Base (EGDB) contains chemical analysis data for crude oil, natural gas, coal, water, and rock samples analyzed by the USGS Energy Resources Team's Geochemistry Laboratory, or by contracted-service laboratories. Data was also obtained from the literature and unpublished public domain sources. The sample types included are primarily rock, coal, oil, and gas. This information is used by the USGS for worldwide energy resource assessments and is periodically released to the public. Analytical data within the EGDB includes Rock-Eval pyrolysis, organic mass spectrometry, vitrinite reflectance, gas chromatography, stable carbon isotopes, inductively coupled plasma, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, mercury analysis and a number of other related geochemistry analyses that, in some instances, predate the EGDB. Throughout the years the Energy Program scientists have utilized these data to not only develop an understanding of the physical and geochemical processes responsible for hydrocarbon formation. but also as a tool to assess the oil and gas potential for sedimentary basins in both national and international settings.

System Requirements

The Data Base exists in a Microsoft Access (.mdb) format. The downloaded .mdb can be queried directly in any version of Microsoft Access 2000 or later. Because of the large size of the data file, a high-speed connection is highly recommended for the download of these files.

About the Data Base

In many instances, latitude and longitude site location information for wells is derived from a USGS one-quarter mile grid system. Please note that because of the significant number of data sources, laboratory techniques, and reporting units included in this release, it is impossible for USGS to guarantee the precision or accuracy of any individual data point.

Future Updates

Updates to the file are planned to occur approximately on an annual basis.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all USGS geochemists involved in the analysis and collection of this database, especially Chuck Threlkeld. Thanks to the IHS Energy Group, Englewood, Colo., who, without their cooperation would seriously hinder this information from being available to the public.