94-16900. Outer Continental Shelf, Western Gulf of Mexico; Notice of Leasing Systems, Sale 150
[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16900]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 13, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf, Western Gulf of Mexico; Notice of
Leasing Systems, Sale 150
Section 8(a)(8) (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(8)) of the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) requires that, at least 30 days before any
lease sale, a Notice be submitted to the Congress and published in the
Federal Register:
1. identifying the bidding systems to be used and the reasons for
such use; and
2. designating the tracts to be offered under each bidding system
and the reasons for such designation.
This Notice is published pursuant to these requirements.
1. Bidding systems to be used. In the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Sale 150, blocks will be offered under the following two bidding
systems as authorized by section 8(a)(1) (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(1)): (a)
bonus bidding with a fixed 16\2/3\-percent royalty on all unleased
blocks in less than 400 meters of water; and (b) bonus bidding with a
fixed 12\1/2\-percent royalty on all remaining unleased blocks.
a. Bonus Bidding with a 16\2/3\-Percent Royalty. This system is
authorized by section (8)(a)(1)(A) of the OCSLA. This system has been
used extensively since the passage of the OCSLA in 1953 and imposes
greater risks on the lessee than systems with higher contingency
payments but may yield more rewards if a commercial field is
discovered. The relatively high front-end bonus payments may encourage
rapid exploration.
b. Bonus Bidding with a 12\1/2\-Percent Royalty. This system is
authorized by section (8)(a)(1)(A) of the OCSLA. It has been chosen for
certain deeper water blocks proposed for the Western Gulf of Mexico
(Sale 150) because these blocks are expected to require substantially
higher exploration, development, and production costs, as well as
longer times before initial production, in comparison to shallow-water
blocks. Department of the Interior analyses indicate that the minimum
economically developable discovery on a block in such high-cost areas
under a 12\1/2\-percent royalty system would be less than for the same
blocks under a 16\2/3\-percent royalty system. As a result, more blocks
may be explored and developed. In addition, the lower royalty rate
system is expected to encourage more rapid production and higher
economic profits. It is not anticipated, however, that the larger cash
bonus bid associated with a lower royalty rate will significantly
reduce competition, since the higher costs for exploration and
development are the primary constraints to competition.
2. Designation of Blocks. The selection of blocks to be offered
under the two systems was based on the following factors:
a. Lease terms on adjacent, previously leased blocks were
considered to enhance orderly development of each field.
b. Blocks in deep water were selected for the 12\1/2\-percent
royalty system based on the favorable performance of this system in
these high-cost areas as evidenced in our analyses.
The specific blocks to be offered under each system are shown on
Map 2 entitled ``Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 150--Final Bidding
Systems and Bidding Units.'' This map is available from the Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
Dated: June 27, 1994.
Tom Fry,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
Approved:
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 94-16900 Filed 7-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
Document Information
- Published:
- 07/13/1994
- Department:
- Minerals Management Service
- Entry Type:
- Uncategorized Document
- Document Number:
- 94-16900
- Pages:
- 0-0 (1 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- Federal Register: July 13, 1994