Last Data Base Update:

June, 2007

Introduction

Background

Since its inception in January of 1989, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Resources Program Organic Geochemistry Laboratory Data Base has grown to contain the analytical data for over 60,000 samples worldwide from more than 30 different data sources. The Organic Geochemistry Data Base (OGDB) contains chemical analysis data for crude oil, natural gas and rock samples analyzed by the USGS Central Energy Resources Team's Organic 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 Data was also obtained from the literature and unpublished public domain sources.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, oil, and gas samples collected from outcrops or from exploratory or production wells. This information is used by the USGS for worldwide energy resource sssessments based on the petroleum systems paradigm (source rock - reservoir rock relation), and is periodically released to the public. Analytical data within the OGDB includes Rock-Eval pyrolysis, organic mass spectrometry, vitrinite reflectance, gas chromatography, column chromatography, stable carbon isotopes and a number of other related petroleum geochemistry analyses that, in some instances, predate the OGDB. 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, maturation, generation, migration and accumulation, 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 both text (.txt) and Microsoft Access (.mdb) formats. The downloaded .mdb can be queried directly in any version of Microsoft Access 2000 or later. The text version necessitates manual insertion of column definitions and all pertinent metadata into whatever data base program the user wishes. Because of the large size of the data file, a high-speed connection is highly recommended for the download of either version of these files.

About the Data Base

The OGDB consists of 12 data tables interrelated to the SAMPLES table via the sample number. It should be noted that the sample number is actually a text value. A complete metadata set is also included in each released format. To successfully utilize the dataset in either format, it is important for the user to become thoroughly familiar with the accompanying metadata and data types. In many instances, latitude and longitude site location information for wells is derived from a USGS one-quarter mile grid system. Refer to the Documentation page for more information. Please note that because of the significant number of data sources, laboratory techniques, and reporting units included in this release, it is impossible for the author or the 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. A GIS map browser with special data mapping capabilities to further assist the user is now in the planning stages for a future release of the OGDB.

Acknowledgements

The author greatly appreciates the cooperation of his fellow USGS geochemists: Paul Lillis, J. David King, Augusta Warden, and Michael Pribil, for their total dedication to this effort and to Christopher Skinner, for the design and construction of this website. In addition, the author offers his most sincere thanks to the IHS Energy Group, Englewood, Colo., who, without their cooperation would seriously hinder this information from being available to the public.