Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry and 

the U.S. Trade and Development Agency 

U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan Ministry of 

Mines and Industry Cooperative Assessment of 

Afghanistan’s Undiscovered Oil and Gas 

By Craig J. Wandrey, Gregory Ulmishek, Warren Agena, Timothy R. Klett and the Afghanistan Oil and Gas 

Research Assessment Team 

Open-File Report 2006–1095 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

P. Lynn Scarlett, Acting Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2006 

For product and ordering information: 

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod 

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, 

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: 

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov 

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 

This report has not been reviewed for geologic nomenclature. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 

ii
Preface 

Results of the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry 

cooperative assessment of undiscovered petroleum resources of northern Afghanistan were first 

released through this presentation on March 14, 2006, at the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C. 

On March 15 the results were presented in Kabul, Afghanistan. The purpose of the assessment and 

release of the results is to provide energy data required to implement the rebuilding and 

development of Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure. This presentation includes a summary of the 

goals, process, methodology, results, and accomplishments of the assessment. It provides context 

for Fact Sheet 2006-3031, a summary of assessment results provided in the presentations. 

1
Reservoir rock 

Oil Source R

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND AFGHANISTAN OF MINES AND INDUSTRY COOPERATIVE ASSEAFGHANISTAN’S UNDISCOVERED OIL AND GA

Goals of the Assessment of Afgh

Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resou

• Collect Scientific Data and 

Analyses for Energy Resource Assessment and Development

• Train Afghan Geoscientists to 

Conduct Future Assessments Independently

• Provide Afghanistan with 

Information Needed to Manage Their Petroleum Resources

• Provide Basis for Investment in 

Exploration and Development
Data Collected, Analyzed, 

Interpreted, and Archived

Geologic SamplesOil and Gas Samples MapsSeismic Profiles Well Reports and LogsExploration Reports 

and Literature
Training Provided

Computer SkillsGISPetroleum Geology RefresherGeologic FrameworkPetroleum SystemsGeochemistrySeismic InterpretationAssessment Methodology
Products

• Petroleum System Geologic 

Reports 

• Assessment Results• GIS 

Geologic, Structural, Seismic, Field, Well, Pipeline, Sample Location, and Base Map Layers

• Petroleum Database

Geochemistry, Seismic, Well Data, and Geology

35°36°37°38°

65°

65°

Legend

HoloceneHolocene-Late Late PleistocenMiddle PleistocEarly PleistocePlioceneMioceneOligoceneOligocene-EocEocenePaleoceneCretaceousJurassicTriassicLate PaleozoicMiddle-Late PaProterozoicArchean
Petroliferous Regions of Northern Afghan

Surrounding Areas
Generation Generation

Migration Migration

O

W

GasCap

Gas Cap

Entrapment Entrapment

S

R

Total Petroleum System P

Total Petroleum System P

(Includes Undiscovered Re

(Includes Undiscovered R
USGS Assessment Meth

• Geologically Based• Considers Analogous Systems• Statistically Rigorous• Produces Consistent Results W• Results Statistical Range of Es


Reserve Estimates

• 15 Fields Discovered – 1957 to 198

– 7 Oil, 8 Gas (~3 Producing)

• Initial Recoverable Reserves 

88 MMBO 5 

• Estimated Produced Volumes

0.17 MMBO? 2 T

• Remaining Reserves

87 MMBO? 3 T
Assessment of Undiscovered 

Resources Expands Resourc

Jurassic Evaporite Basin SubsaltCarbonates – Amu Darya

Greatest gas po

Eastern Suprasalt Thrust and Folds –Afghan-Tajik

Greatest oil pot
Where is Afghanistan in the 

Development Process?1 – Completed - Assessment of P

Resources in Northern Afghan

2 – Completed - Certification of R3 – Completed - Petroleum Law
Next Steps

4 -Validation of Potential-- Exploratory Seismic Surveys-- Rehabilitation of Existing Wells5 -Leasing Preparation-- Lease Process Training-- Delineation of Lease Blocks-- Preparation of Data Packages-- Lease Round Road Show
Energy Sources in 

AfghanistanElectric Generation in Afghanistan450 MW installed 270 MW operating (2003)Operating Power Plants 

1 Natural gas in Mazar-I-Sharif2 Gas turbines running on diesel in Kabul~5 Hydroelectric plants operating

Demand 750 GWh (2003) 3,334 GWh (2015)Natural gas piped only between Shebergan and 

Mazar-I-Sharif

Numerous small coal mines operating 
Geologic and Assessment 

USGS

T.R. KlettGregory UlmishekC.J. WandreyWarren AgenaDavid TaylorRonald HillMichael PribilJ. David King

Abdulla AmAmir SelabSalam AbdHaidari GuAbdul HosAminulahAbdul Wah
Thank you.

http://energy.usgs.gov