In 1983, the Bureau of Economic Geology published the Atlas of Major Texas Oil Reservoirs, a precedent-setting synthesis of key geological and engineering data on 450 major oil reservoirs grouped into 48 regional plays. This volume, the Atlas of Major Texas Gas Reservoirs, is a companion to the earlier work. It contains information on more than 1,828 reservoirs, with emphasis on 868 reservoirs having cumulative production greater than 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Historically, Texas has produced one-third of the nation’s supply of natural gas. Nearly 300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas production has been recorded in Texas since 1936, and additional unrecorded quantities were produced in the early development of the resource. This atlas classifies Texas reservoirs into 73 plays and describes the principal geologic and engineering production characteristics of each play. Common characteristics of gas occurrence within each play will assist in better defining controls on gas accumulation, in identifying resources impacted by new technology, and in expanding the application of new technologies to maximize recovery through efficient field development and optimized production practices.

Increased attention has recently been given to natural gas as a fuel with environmental and economic benefits. Integration of data from many reservoirs under the play concept will allow for the greatest understanding of the distribution of natural gas in Texas, which in turn will promote its production, delivery, and use.

The Atlas of Major Texas Gas Reservoirs is a jointly funded project of the Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Gas Research Institute and is jointly published by the sponsors. Similar work on natural gas reservoirs in other states is being undertaken with the support of the Gas Research Institute and the states involved. The completion of an atlas for each major producing region will provide a comprehensive national perspective on natural gas resources and gas reservoirs to maximize the use of one of the nation’s most valuable indigenous resources: natural gas.