, which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors.
- Clickable Wyoming Oil and Gas Basin Map, linking to individual basins with a variety of information, including write-ups on geology, production and future development, type logs, cross sections, geologic maps, and stratigraphic charts.
- Summary reports on the state’s energy resources, an annual series highlighting the energy trends in supply and demand.
“Wyoming’s produces about 10 quadrillion Btus (British thermal units) of critical and needed energy each year,” Drean said. This energy is primarily used to provide the nation with reliable electricity. Wyoming coal, for example, which is sub-bituminous and low in sulfur, is used as steam coal for electrical plants across the nation. Uranium is also primarily used for electricity generation. Oil and natural gas are also used to generate electricity, provide transportations fuels, heat homes and businesses, and for the manufacturing of numerous consumer products.
“Energy resources from Wyoming are needed to economically produce a large number of the products people use daily,” Drean said. Manufacturers rely on fossil fuels to create paints, plastics, fibers, textiles, and packaging, as well as refined liquid fuels. “Locating and responsibly producing these resources, however, requires technology and extensive geologic knowledge,” Drean said.
Wyoming’s geologic setting – along with ideal conditions of heat, pressure, and time – has led to the creation of large reservoirs of oil and natural gas found within the strata of Wyoming’s Laramide basins. Vast reserves of coal underlie the state in the Powder River and other basins. Wyoming also encompasses the largest uranium reserves in the United States.
WSGS geologists work to track and map Wyoming’s energy resources with an emphasis on the geologic past. This work and information allows industry to determine where to locate and extract these resources, and is also used by land managers and many state and federal agencies.
WSGS geologists also document current production and future development of oil and natural gas, coal, and uranium throughout the state. This information is then compiled and along with graphics and other visuals posted on the agency Energy website for the public to access.
"With our new energy portal users can gain general information and also dig deeper and find useful Wyoming energy data, from statistics and information to producing formations and type logs," Drean said.