Definitions, Sources and Explanatory Notes

 Category:   Natural Gas Exploration & Reserves
 Topic:   Proved Nonproducing Reserves

  Definitions

Key Terms Definition
Associated Dissolved Gas The combined volume of natural gas which occurs in crude oil reservoirs either as free gas (associated) or as gas in solution with crude oil (dissolved).
Crude Oil A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in the liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Crude oil may also include:

  • Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in the gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators, and that subsequently are comingled with the crude stream without being separately measured.
  • Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced with the oil.


  • When a State regulatory agency specifies a definition of crude oil which differs from that set forth above, the State definition is to be followed.
    Lease Condensate A mixture consisting primarily of pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons which is recovered as a liquid from natural gas in lease separation facilities. This category excludes natural gas plant liquids, such as butane and propane, which are recovered at downstream natural gas processing plants or facilities.
    Natural Gas A gaseous mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, the primary one being methane.
    Nonassociated Gas Natural gas not in contact with significant quantities of crude oil in a reservoir.
    Nonproducing Reserves Quantities of proved liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon reserves that have been identified, but which did not produce during the last calendar year regardless of the availability and/or operation of production, gathering or transportation facilities. This includes both proved undeveloped and proved developed non-producing reserves.
    Proved Reserves of Crude Oil Proved reserves of crude oil as of December 31 of the report year are the estimated quantities of all liquids defined as crude oil, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

    Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by actual production or conclusive formation test (drill stem or wire line), or if economic producibility is supported by core analyses and/or electric or other log interpretations. The area of an oil reservoir considered proved includes: (1) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas -- oil and/or gas -- water contacts, if any; and (2) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons is considered to be the lower proved limit of the reservoir.

    Volumes of crude oil placed in underground storage are not to be considered proved reserves.

    Reserves of crude oil which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the "proved" classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.

    Estimates of proved crude oil reserves do not include the following: (1) oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is reported separately as "indicated additional reserves"; (2) natural gas liquids (including lease condensate); (3) oil, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors; (4) oil that may occur in undrilled prospects; and (5) oil that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite, and other such sources. It is necessary that production, gathering or transportation facilities be installed or operative for a reservoir to be considered proved.
    Proved Reserves of Lease Condensate Proved reserves of lease condensate as of December 31 of the report year are the volumes of lease condensate expected to be recovered in future years in conjunction with the production of proved reserves of natural gas as of December 31 of the report year, based on the recovery efficiency of lease and/or field separation facilities installed as of December 31 of the report year.
    Proved Reserves of Natural Gas Proved reserves of natural gas as of December 31 of the report year are the estimated quantities which analysis of geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

    Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by actual production or conclusive formation test (drill stem or wire line), or if economic producibility is supported by core analyses and/or electric or other log interpretations.

    The area of a gas reservoir considered proved includes: (1) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas -- oil and/or gas -- water contacts, if any; and (2) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons is considered to be the lower proved limit of the reservoir.

    Volumes of natural gas placed in underground storage are not to be considered proved reserves.

    For natural gas, wet after lease seperation, an appropriate reduction in the reservoir gas volume has been made to cover the removal of the liquefiable portions of the gas in lease and/or field separation facilities and the exclusion of nonhydrocarbon gases where they occur in sufficient quantity to reder the gas unmarketable.

    For dry natural gas, an appropriate reduction in the gas volume has been made to cover the removal of the liquefiable portions of the gas in lease and/or field separation facilities, and in natural gas processing plants, and the exclusion of nonhydrocarbon gases where they occur in sufficient quantity to render the gas unmarketable.

    It is not necessary that production, gathering, or transportation facilities be installed or operative for a reservoir to be considered proved. It is to be assumed that compression will be initiated if and when economically justified.
    Reservoir A porous and permeable underground formation containing an individual and separate natural accumulation of producible hydrocarbons (oil and/or gas) which is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is characterized by a single natural pressure system.

    For definitions of related energy terms, refer to the EIA Energy Glossary.

      Sources

    Form EIA-23L, "Annual Report of Domestic Oil and Gas Reserves (County Level Version)".

  • Natural Gas Survey Forms and Instructions

  •   Explanatory Notes

  • Related data and background information are published in the U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves Annual Report.
  • Maps of Selected State Subdivisions