Areas of Historical Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the United States

U.S. Geological Survey

This report contains maps and associated spatial data showing historical oil and gas exploration and production in the United States. Because of the proprietary nature of many oil and gas well databases, the United States was divided into one-quarter-square-mile cells, and the production status of all wells in a given cell was aggregated. Basemap reference data is included, using the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Map, the National Atlas of the United States of America, the USGS and American Geological Institute Global GIS, and a world shaded relief map service from the Esri Geography Network.

A hard-copy map was created to synthesize recorded exploration data from 1859, when the first oil well was drilled in the United States, to 2005. In addition to the hard-copy map product, the data has been refined and made more accessible through the use of GIS tools. The cell data is included in a GIS database constructed for spatial analysis via the USGS Internet map service or by importing the data into GIS software such as ArcGIS.

The USGS Internet map service provides a number of useful and sophisticated geoprocessing and cartographic functions via an Internet browser. Also included is a video clip of U.S. oil and gas exploration and production through time. This is a USGS Digital Data Series product that is available on the Web and on CD.

Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey and Laura R. H. Biewick, 2008.

Map Book Page [PDF]

Petroleum Maps

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