DOI sets next step in O&G lease sale

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced Jan. 4 the next step for developing the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-24. It proposes to make more than 90 percent of the total OCS acreage, and more than 98 percent of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in federal offshore areas, available to consider for future exploration and development. The Draft Proposed Program (DPP) includes 47 potential lease sales in 25 of 26 planning areas, including 12 for the Gulf of Mexico. There are some 2,900 active OCS leases covering almost 15.3M acres. The vast majority are in the GoM. DPP includes 12 sales for the Gulf. It proposes 10 biannual lease sales in the central, eastern and western GoM that are not subject to congressional moratorium or unavailable; and two sales in the central and eastern Gulf after the expiration of a 2022 congressional moratorium. It’s the first time the majority of the eastern GoM planning area would be available for leasing since 1988. (Source: Department of Interior 01/04/18)