Offshore staff
The Minerals Management Service announced in the Federal Register the availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale 196, an offshore oil and gas lease sale in the western Gulf of Mexico, scheduled for August 17.
The proposed sale 196 encompasses approximately 3,754 unleased blocks covering approximately 20.3 million acres in the western Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf planning area offshore Texas and in deeper waters offshore Louisiana. The blocks are 5-357 kkm offshore in water depths ranging from 8- 3,100 m. MMS estimates the proposed sale could result in the production of 136-262 MMbbl of oil and 0.81-1.44 tcf of natural gas.
Provisions proposed in this sale include the following:
• An increase in base rental rates (as well as minimum royalty) to $6.25 per acre or fraction thereof for blocks in water depths of less than 200 m and $9.50 per acre or fraction thereof for blocks in water depths of 200 m or deeper. The Federal Register notice published March 2, at 70 FR 10111 requests comments on this increase in base rentals, as well as the use of sliding scale rentals, for future Gulf of Mexico lease sales.
• Certifications regarding debarment, suspension, and other responsibility matters are no longer required to be filed with the MMS in order to qualify to bid at an OCS lease sale. However, compliance requirements for debarment and suspension (nonprocurement) will be prescribed in an addendum included in each lease resulting from this lease sale.
Statistical Information for Lease Sale 196:
Size: 3,754 unleased blocks: 20.3 million acres
Initial period:
• 5 years for blocks in water depths less than 400 m: 1,754 blocks
• 8 years for blocks in water depths of 400 to less than 800 m: 358 blocks
• 10 years for blocks in water depths of 800 m or deeper: 1,642 blocks
Minimum bonus bid amount:
• $25 per acre or fraction thereof for water depths less than 400 m: 1,754 blocks
• $37.50 per acre or fraction thereof for water depths 400 m or deeper: 2,000 blocks
Rental/minimum royalty rates:
• $6.25 per acre or fraction thereof for water depths less than 200 m: 1,567 blocks
• $9.50 per acre or fraction thereof for water depths 200 m or deeper: 2,187 blocks
Royalty rates:
• 16 2/3% royalty rate in water depths less than 400 m: 1,754 blocks
• 12 1/2% royalty rate in water depths 400 m or deeper: 2,000 blocks
Royalty suspension areas:
• 0 to less than 200 m: 1,567 blocks
• 400 to less than 800 m: 358 blocks
• 800 to less than 1,600 ms: 903 blocks
• 1,600 m or deeper: 739 blocks
03-29-05
