The report, titled American Resources for a Secure Future, highlights that the American subsurface remains one of the country's most under-characterized strategic assets. Despite the critical importance of oil, natural gas, coal, critical minerals, and emerging resources like geothermal energy and hydrogen, the nation has not conducted a systematic assessment of its underground holdings in decades. NPC Chair Ryan Lance emphasized that the current lack of data hampers both economic growth and national security, noting that the country cannot effectively manage resources it has not properly measured.
In section Releases
National Petroleum Council Urges Systematic Mapping of U.S. Subsurface
With over 80 percent of America’s energy and manufacturing feedstocks sourced from beneath its soil, a coalition of industry leaders and scientists is demanding a radical overhaul of how the nation tracks its geological assets. The National Petroleum Council argues that decades of neglect have left policymakers blind to the country's true resource potential.
To bridge this knowledge gap, the council recommends the creation of a National Cooperative Subsurface Assessment Program. This initiative would unify data-gathering efforts between the U.S. Geological Survey, the Marine Minerals Administration, and the Department of Energy, while integrating input from Tribal governments, academia, and private industry. The proposed framework includes nine actionable steps, such as the development of a centralized national data portal, the recovery of legacy records, and the modernization of modeling technologies. Co-chair Dr. Scott Tinker underscored that because geological basins cross state and federal borders, a fragmented approach to mapping is no longer viable. The council now looks to Congress to provide the authorization and funding necessary to turn these recommendations into a cohesive national strategy.
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