BLM requesting nominations for 2018 NPR-A oil & gas lease sale

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

The federal Bureau of Land Management is requesting nominations and comments on available tracts for consideration in its December 2018 oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

BLM announced a 30-day period for nominations or comments which closes Aug. 20.

“Requesting comments about which tracts should be included in the sale allows us to ensure industry, conservation groups, and other stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input,” Karen Mouritsen, BLM Alaska acting state director, said in a July 19 statement. “This is one of several actions we are taking to further the direction in Secretarial Order No. 3352, relating to expanding energy development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.”

Tract selection for the sale will be consistent with allocations and stipulations identified in the NPR-A 2013 Record of Decision for the Integrated Activity Plan, BLM said, with 11.8 million acres identified available for leasing in the IAP.

The 895 tracts available for nomination and comment cover some 10.25 million acres.

There are currently 196 active oil and gas leases, 1,452,686 acres, in NPR-A.

Last year’s sale, held Dec. 6, offered five high potential tracts (22,412 acres) and 895 low potential tracts (10.2 million acres). Of the 900 tracts offered, seven low potential and no high potential tracts received bids - all from ConocoPhillips Alaska, which is in the process of developing Greater Mooses Tooth in NPR-A.

BLM’s map of NPR-A tracts, available on its website at www.blm.gov/alaska, shows that the majority of unleased high potential tracts, in the north and northeast of the sale area, are not available for leasing. That was also true for last year’s sale.

- KRISTEN NELSON