MMS: No bids submitted for Cook Inlet Sale 191

May 19, 2004
The US Minerals Management Service said no bids were received for Sale 191, involving about 2 million acres in federal waters, 3-30 nautical miles off Alaska in water depths of 30-650 ft.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, May 19 -- The US Minerals Management Service said no bids were received for Sale 191, involving about 2 million acres in federal waters, 3-30 nautical miles off Alaska in water depths of 30-650 ft.

MMS Regional Director John Goll said, "Part of our job is to provide access to acreage, but companies then must decide whether it fits in with their exploration plans." He noted that "companies continued to express interest right up through the last few weeks."

Another federal lease sale is proposed for the Cook Inlet in 2006. The federal Outer Continental Shelf area in Cook Inlet remains relatively unexplored, he said.

In a separate lease sale, the state of Alaska offered 815 tracts onshore and in state waters on Wednesday.