USGS Report Highlights North Dakota’s Undiscovered Oil and Gas Potential on Public Lands

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released its latest report on the nation’s undiscovered oil and gas resources, shedding light on the significant energy potential hidden beneath federally managed public lands across the country. For North Dakota, the findings offer an insightful look at the state’s ongoing role in America’s energy landscape.

Get our free mobile app

North Dakota Ranks 7th for Oil, 18th for Gas on Federal Lands

According to the new assessment, North Dakota’s federally managed onshore public lands hold an estimated 511.7 million barrels of technically recoverable oil, ranking seventh in the nation. In addition, the report estimates 868.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas, placing the state 18th nationwide. These resources lie beneath lands managed by federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and even the Department of Defense, among others.

Read More: North Dakota’s Oil And Gas Sector: A $48.8 Billion Economic Powerhouse

New Tech Uncovers Big Jump in Nation’s Undiscovered Oil and Gas

Nationwide, the report estimates a total of 29.4 billion barrels of oil and 391.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas yet to be discovered on public lands — a significant increase from the last comprehensive assessment conducted in 1998. Back then, the USGS estimated just 7.86 billion barrels of oil and 201.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. What changed? Not the rocks themselves, but the methods used to extract their hidden energy.

Fracking and Horizontal Drilling Unlock Hidden Energy Reserves

Technological advances such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, often called “fracking,” have transformed the industry’s ability to access unconventional oil and gas resources like shale oil and tight gas. These resources were previously overlooked in older assessments that focused mostly on conventional reservoirs. Today, they make up a large part of the new estimates.

“USGS assessments of undiscovered resources are science-based estimates of what may be discovered in the future,” explained Ryker, a USGS spokesperson. “They are different from industry production numbers, which focus on what is already known and being extracted. Our work helps identify areas of uncertainty and potential.”

The USGS Energy Resources Program, now 50 years old, was born out of the 1970s oil embargo, when the nation realized the importance of understanding its own energy reserves. Since then, USGS scientists have used evolving geologic science and cutting-edge data to evaluate the location, quantity, and quality of untapped resources — information that is vital for policymakers, land managers, industry leaders, and the general public.

For agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, these assessments play a crucial role in developing land-use and resource management plans. For the private sector, they provide context and guidance for future exploration and production, especially as market conditions and technologies continue to evolve.

“The shift to horizontal drilling with fracking has revolutionized oil and gas production, and that is reflected in these estimates,” added USGS geologist Christopher Schenk.

North Dakota’s Untapped Reserves Keep It a Key Energy Player

For North Dakota — a state already well known for its Bakken oil boom — the report reaffirms its position as an energy leader while highlighting opportunities that remain below the surface. As energy needs continue to grow, understanding these untapped resources will be key to meeting the demands of the future.

The full USGS fact sheet and the national release, including a statement from Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, are now available to the public.