Offshore staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has approved the MMS 2007-2012 OCS oil and gas leasing program.

The program, effective July 1, schedules 21 lease sales in eight planning areas, which, according to the MMS, could produce 10 Bbbl of oil and 45 tcf of natural gas, and generate $170 billion over 40 years.

Twelve sales are scheduled for the Gulf of Mexico, eight offshore Alaska, and one in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area at least 50 mi (80 km) off the coast of Virginia. The Atlantic sale would only take place if the presidential withdrawal is modified and the congressional moratorium discontinued in the area.

7/2/2007