Friday, September 19, 2008

Possible Federal Revenue Estimates From Oil and Gas Production in Areas Currently Off-Limits (under leasing moratoria or inaccessible)
"The federal government currently collects revenues from oil and gas leases on
public lands in the form of bonus bids, annual rents, and royalties. Bonus bids
are upfront payments made to secure a lease in a competitive lease sale. Leases
are awarded to the highest bidder. Royalties are based on the value of production. Annual rental payments are made by lessees on a per acre basis. Once commercial production begins, rental payments are no longer required. The primary lease term for onshore leases is ten years. For offshore leases the primary term is 5 years
for shallow water (<400 meters), 8 years for mid-depth water (400-800 meters) and
10 years for deep water (>800 meters). Leases continue as long as commercial production takes place. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers the onshore leasing program and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) administers the offshore leasing program. The MMS collects and disburses all revenues from federal leases.
The MMS and BLM are agencies within the Department of the Interior."

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