Frank Rusco
Published: 2009-06-01
Total Pages: 43
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In 2007, the Dept. of the Interior (Interior) collected $10.5 billion in revenues from companies that hold fed. oil and gas leases. Acquiring a fed. lease gives the lessee the rights to explore for and develop the oil and gas resources under the lease. Development entails many tasks, incl. drilling wells and building pipelines that may lead to oil and gas production. This report: (1) describes Interior's efforts to encourage development of fed. oil and gas leases and compares them to states' and private landowners' efforts; (2) examines trends in leasing and factors that may affect development; and (3) describes development on a sample of leases. The auditor reviewed data on 55,000 leases and spoke to officials in 8 states with leasing experience. Illus.