Print this pageABSTRACT: Current and Emerging Fossil-Energy Resources in Nebraska
Nebraska recently celebrated its 50th year of petroleum production and additional energy reserves are emerging from uranium, coal-bed methane, and geothermal resources. Oil was discovered originally in the Forest City basin of southeastern Nebraska during 1939 with cumulative production of almost 11 million bbl. The Cambridge arch area and flanking basins of southwestern Nebraska were proven productive in 1959, although not until 1959 was significant production discovered. This area has a cumulative production of almost 103 million bbl of oil. The Denver basin Cretaceous sands, discovered in 1949 in the Nebraska panhandle, have a cumulative production of over 330 million bbl of oil and nearly 280 billion ft3 of gas.
Development and enhanced recovery continue, and significant reserves have been identified in Permian and Pennsylvanian rocks deeper within the Denver basin. A Niobrara Chalk play across western Nebraska has several gas wells waiting market access with potential for horizontal completions. Permian and Pennsylvanian rocks also have additional reserves in both southwestern and northwestern Nebraska.
Two in-situ mining units in a world-class uranium deposit in basal Tertiary rocks of northwestern Nebraska have produced over 0.5 million lb of yellow cake. Coals present at depth in southeastern Nebraska are being evaluated for coal-bed methane. A state-wide inventory of geothermal resources identified areas with above-normal temperatures. Fossil energy exploration in Nebraska continues to be encouraged by new production and shallow depths.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90991©1993 AAPG Mid-Continent Section Meeting, Amarillo, Texas, October 10-12, 1993.