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Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 207 Attracts $487,297,676 in High Bids
Minerals Management Service ^ | Aug 20, 2008 | MMS

Posted on 08/21/2008 5:32:12 AM PDT by thackney

NEW ORLEANS – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that the Western Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 207, held today in New Orleans, attracted $487,297,676 in high bids. The sale was conducted by Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) and had 53 companies submitting 423 bids on 319 tracts comprising over 1.8 million acres offshore Texas. The sum of all bids received totaled $607,134,968.

“In the midst of the national discussion about energy production, the activity at today’s sale signals that the offshore oil and gas industry is serious about developing our Nation’s resources,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne.

Approximately 17 percent of the tracts receiving bids are in ultra-deep water (more than 1,600 meters). The deepest tract bid on is Alaminos Canyon, Block 783 in 2,977 meters of water. The highest bid received on a tract was $61,110,000, submitted by Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC for Alaminos Canyon, Block 380.

Each high bid on a tract will go through an evaluation process within MMS to ensure the public receives fair market value before a lease is awarded.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: drillheredrillnow; drilling; energy; energyfacts; naturalgas; offshore; offshoredrilling; oil

1 posted on 08/21/2008 5:32:14 AM PDT by thackney
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To: thackney

While I glad to see them opened, finally, this exemplifies another route where the government “taxes” the final product (gasoline).


2 posted on 08/21/2008 5:36:57 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Invert the 5-4 and you have no rights.)
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To: SouthTexas
This is not a newly opened area. This is continued lease sales in the Western Gulf of Mexico where we have been selling leases, drilling and producing oil and natural gas for decades.

The ban applies to the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, East Coast and West Coast.

3 posted on 08/21/2008 5:39:36 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Send me my share,so I can buy some gas.


4 posted on 08/21/2008 5:48:03 AM PDT by Waco (Y2K Eeeeek)
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To: thackney

Duh, 9000’ is not really “coastal Florida” eh? Oh well, supposed to be working.

Who is Statoil?


5 posted on 08/21/2008 5:49:26 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Invert the 5-4 and you have no rights.)
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To: Waco

If your screen names implies you live in Texas, your share will be sent to the State Government.

http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/newsreal/2008/080527.pdf

It gives the states some incentive to promote drilling off their shores and moves some of the revenue from the Federal Budget closer to the sources where the revenue is generated.


6 posted on 08/21/2008 6:20:34 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Do you happen to know wht the ORR interest is to the Feds and State govts on these leases ?


7 posted on 08/21/2008 6:27:43 AM PDT by Timocrat
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To: SouthTexas
Statoil is a Norwegian petroleum company, now part of StatoilHydro.

Highlights:
- About 29,500 employees in 40 countries
- The world's largest operator in waters more than 100 meters deep
- Operator for 39 producing oil and gas fields
- Production averages more than 1.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day
- Proved reserves: More than six billion barrels of oil equivalent

http://www.statoilhydro.com/en/AboutStatoilHydro/StatoilHydroInBrief/Pages/default.aspx

8 posted on 08/21/2008 6:27:53 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Timocrat
I do not recognize the abbreviation ORR? Can you clarify?
9 posted on 08/21/2008 6:35:14 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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For more detailed information:

Western Planning Area Lease Sale 207 Information
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/207/wgom207.html


10 posted on 08/21/2008 6:37:10 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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Also for those seeking more information:

Oil and Gas Leasing Procedures Guidelines
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/PDFs/2001/2001-076.pdf

For specifics to this lease sale:

Final Notice of Sale 207 Package
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/207/fnos207.pdf

For example: 18.75 percent royalty rate for blocks in all water depths


11 posted on 08/21/2008 6:45:20 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
Thanks, Statoil of Mexico didn't sound right.
12 posted on 08/21/2008 6:46:33 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Invert the 5-4 and you have no rights.)
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To: SouthTexas
Statoil Gulf of Mexico

It is their local division.

13 posted on 08/21/2008 6:49:24 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Sure is a shame they have to partner up with someone from the other side of the world.


14 posted on 08/21/2008 7:22:45 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Invert the 5-4 and you have no rights.)
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To: thackney

There goes another $487,297,676 into the abyss.......


15 posted on 08/21/2008 7:28:52 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Congress would steal the nickels off a dead man's eye's...............)
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To: SouthTexas

That is just one of many companies winning bids.

http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/207/rpt4_207.pdf


16 posted on 08/21/2008 7:33:07 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: SouthTexas

Found a report sorted by companies:

53 companies winning bids in total.

http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/207/207co.pdf


17 posted on 08/21/2008 7:35:01 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Good to see a few of the old “stand bys” there.

I do realize some of the names have been changed, for whatever reason.


18 posted on 08/21/2008 7:52:56 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Invert the 5-4 and you have no rights.)
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