In the study area of northeast Utah and northwest Colorado, every geologic system from Pennsylvanian through Tertiary contains oil- and gas-productive strata. Most of the larger oil and gas fields produce from folded stratigraphic traps in strata that immediately predate the earliest known age of folding. Except for production from fractured Tertiary and Cretaceous rocks, production is from porous sandstone reservoirs.

Potential for future development of large oil and gas reserves is estimated to be very good. Estimated ultimate recoverable reserves in excess of 3.5 billion bbl of oil and 6.5 trillion cu ft of gas are possible. Future production is expected to be largely from new fields and pools in the strata that are now productive. There is additional petroleum potential in Mississippian and Pennsylvanian carbonate rocks that are not yet productive in the area. Most of the new oil and gas probably will be found in stratigraphic traps in sandstone reservoirs. Deeper structural features, located by geophysical means, should reward the explorer with significant new reserves.