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Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - Crude Oil, Undiscovered Oil And Gas Resources, Coal, Uranium, International Reserves - NATURAL GAS

Fossil fuels and uranium are nonrenewable resources. Nonrenewable resources are defined as concentrations of solid, liquid, or gaseous hydrocarbons that occur naturally in or near the earth's surface. These resources must be currently or potentially recoverable for economic use. They are formed much more slowly than they are consumed, so they are considered nonrenewable. Knowing estimates of the recoverable quantities of crude oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium resources in the United States and worldwide is essential to the development, implementation, and evaluation of national energy policies and legislation since these resources are finite (can be used up). In the United States, Congress requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to prepare estimates of energy reserves.

Proved reserves are reserves from known locations that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable with current technological means and economic conditions. Undiscovered recoverable resources are quantities of fuel that are thought to exist in favorable geologic settings. These resources would be feasible to retrieve with existing technological means, although they may not be feasible to recover under current economic conditions.

NATURAL GAS

Figure 7.2 shows that in 2002 the United States had about 187 trillion cubic feet of dry natural gas proved reserves, which reflects an increase of 3.5 billion cubic feet from 2001. The United States also had 196 trillion cubic feet of natural gas liquid proved reserves, which reflects a 2% increase from the volume reported in 2001 in the lower forty-eight states, and a 4% decrease in Alaska.

Additional Topics

Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - Crude Oil

From 1992 through 2002, total U.S. crude oil proved reserves declined through 1996, rose then fell in 1997 and 1998, and have been climbing since the dip in 1998. On December 31, 2002, crude oil reserves were at 22.7 billion barrels—near the 1997 reserves level. Together, Texas, Alaska, California, and the Gulf of Mexico offshore areas accounted for 79% of U.S. proved reserves in 2002. (See…

Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - Undiscovered Oil And Gas Resources

In addition to those proved resources, other resources are believed to exist based on past geological experience, although they are not yet proved. For 2002 the DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported in U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves 2002 Annual Report that there were an estimated 105 billion barrels of crude oil, 682 trillion cubic feet of dry…

Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - Coal

The EIA estimated U.S. coal reserves at 497.7 billion short tons on January 1, 2003. (See Table 7.5.) About 42% of this, 211.5 billion short tons, is underground bituminous coal. Montana, Illinois, and Wyoming have the largest coal reserves. In addition to untapped coal reserves, large stockpiles of coal are maintained by coal producers, distributors, and major consumers (such as electric utility …

Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - Uranium

The United States possesses enough uranium to fuel existing nuclear reactors for more than forty years. In 2003, according to the EIA's "U.S. Uranium Reserves by Forward-Cost Category, Year-End 1993-2003," uranium reserves totaled 1.4 billion pounds of uranium oxide, mostly in Wyoming and New Mexico. Exploration for uranium has reflected that energy markets are moving away fro…

Gas Energy Reserves—Oil Coal and Uranium - International Reserves

Between 57% and 65% of the estimated world crude oil reserves of approximately one trillion barrels (as of January 1, 2003) are located in the Middle East. (See Table 7.6. This graphic gives two different sets of estimates—one from Pennwell Publishing Company's Oil & Gas Journal and one from Gulf Publishing Company's World Oil.) Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab TABLE 7.6…

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