U.S. Department of the
InteriorMinerals Management Service
Office of Communications
U.S. Department of the
Interior
Minerals Management Service
Office of Communications
SPECIAL INFORMATION
| FOR RELEASE: | August 28, 1996 | CONTACT: | Tom DeRocco | ||
| (202) 208-3983 | |||||
Areas Proposed for Leasing Consideration in the
Proposed Final Program for 1997-2002
| Area | Year | # of Blocks | Acreage in millions |
Water Depth in meters |
Distance to Shore nearest block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf of Mexico Region | |||||
| Western Gulf | Annual | 6,514 | 35.9 | 8--3,000 | 9 miles |
| Central Gulf | Annual | 9,109 | 47.8 | 4--3,425 | 3 miles |
| Eastern Gulf (off Alabama) | 2001 | 994 | 5.7 | 10-3,010 | 15 miles |
| Alaska Region | |||||
| Beaufort Sea 1 | 1998 | 362 | 1.7 | 1--2,000 | 3 miles |
| Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait | 1999 | 376 | 1.9 | 1--200 | 3 miles |
| Beaufort Sea | 2000 | 1,933 | 10.1 | 1--2,000 | 3 miles |
| Gulf of Alaska | 2001 | 1,174 | 6.4 | 51-4,000 | 3 miles |
| Chukchi Sea2 | 2002 | 6,154 | 33.7 | 21-3,000 | 10 miles |
| Hope Basin2 | 2002 | 493 | 2.6 | 31--100 | 10 miles |
| 1The Beaufort Sea 1998 proposed sale is
a small sale, focusing on nearshore blocks in the center of the program area. 2The Chukchi Sea and Hope Basin proposed sale in 2002 is a combined sale. |
High Number of Deep Water Blocks Proposed for Leasing in the Gulf of Mexico Following are the number of blocks, broken down between deep water and shallow water, proposed for leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. Shallow water is considered less than 400 meters and deep water is 400 meters and greater. Number of Blocks in...
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Comparing the Proposed Final Program (PFP)
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Energy and the OCS Program
The OCS has the potential to provide added supplies of secure, environmentally compatible natural gas and oil. President Clinton has said, "America needs a national energy policy that lets Americans control America's energy future."
Analyses by the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Commerce have shown the economic dangers associated with the nation's dependence on imported petroleum. Net petroleum imports are expected to grow to more than 55 percent of domestic consumption by the year 2015.
MMS conducted an investigation of energy alternatives to determine how energy markets would respond to a significant curtailment of OCS natural gas and oil production. The analysis indicated that neither greater domestic production nor a move to alternative fuels by itself would be sufficient to reverse the nation's reliance on imported petroleum.
While OCS natural gas reserves make up about one-fifth of the total U.S. inventory, the OCS oil comprises nearly one-seventh of total U.S. reserves. The OCS is believed to hold one-half of the nation's undiscovered, conventionally recoverable natural gas and oil resources -- approximately 270 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 45 billion barrels of oil. Accordingly, environmentally sound production of OCS natural gas and oil, conducted in consultation with affected parties, should be a critical element of any energy policy seeking to reduce the nation's dependence on petroleum imports.
Since the inception of the federal OCS program, more than 11 billion barrels of crude oil and condensate and more than 115 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been produced and used for the benefit of the American people. In addition to the energy produced, the OCS has generated about $110 billion in cash bonuses, royalties, and rentals for the United States.
-MMS-
MMS Internet website address: http://www.mms.gov
24 hour Fax-on- Demand Service: (202) 219-1703