MMS issues notice for OCS Sale 200

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 7 -- The US Minerals Management Service has issued a proposed notice for Western Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale 200, scheduled for Aug. 16.

Sale 200 offers 3,787 blocks covering 20.4 million acres 9-210 miles off Texas and Louisiana in 4-3,425 m of water. MMS estimates the proposed sale could result in the production of 136-262 million bbl of oil and 0.81-1.44 tcf of natural gas.

The proposed sale includes provisions for shallow-water, deep gas royalty relief for leases in less than 400 m of water, incentives for ultradeep wells specified in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and an early deadline for electronic fund transfer of bonus and rental payments.