Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale Yields $244 Million in Bids
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The U.S. Department of Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Joe Balash, said that region-wide Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 252 generated $244 million in high bids for 227 tracts covering 1.2 million acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
A total of 30 companies participated in the lease sale, submitting $283.7 million in all bids.
“Today’s lease sale shows strong bidding by established companies, which indicates that the Gulf of Mexico will continue to be a leading energy source for our nation long into the future. The results from today will help secure well-paying offshore jobs, while generating much-needed revenue to fund everything from conservation to infrastructure,” said Joe Balash.
Lease Sale 249 in 2017 saw $121 million in high bids, while Lease Sale 250 in 2018 had $124 million in high bids. Lease Sale 251 had $178 million in high bids.
Lease Sale 252 included 14,699 unleased blocks, located from three to 231 miles offshore, in the Gulf’s Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas in water depths ranging from nine to more than 11,115 ft (three to 3400 m).
“The Gulf of Mexico remains a premier basin, covering about 160 million acres. It holds about 48.5 billion barrels of oil and 141 trillion ft3 of undiscovered and technically recoverable gas. Today’s lease sale represents another step forward in the Administration’s comprehensive effort to secure domestically produced energy for our Nation’s energy future,” said Acting BOEM Director, Walter Cruickshank.
Revenues received from OCS leases (including high bids, rental payments, and royalty payments) are directed to the US Treasury, certain Gulf Coast states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama), the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the Historic Preservation Fund.
Leases resulting from this sale will include stipulations to protect biologically sensitive resources, mitigate potential adverse effects on protected species, and avoid potential conflicts associated with oil and gas development in the region.
In addition, BOEM has included appropriate fiscal terms that take into account market conditions and ensure taxpayers receive a fair return for use of the OCS. In recognition of current hydrocarbon price conditions and the marginal nature of remaining Gulf of Mexico shallow water resources, these terms include a 12.5 percent royalty rate for leases in less than 200 meters of water depth, and a royalty rate of 18.75 percent for all other leases issued under the sale.
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