NATIONWIDE TRENDS
In February 2016, 46 leases were authorized on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for oil and gas drilling purposes. This is compared to 87 authorized in February 2015. 31,873 acres were acquired with these 46 authorized leases. That is a decrease of 70,809.73 acres versus 102,683 acres claimed in February 2015.
While 46 oil and gas leases were authorized through the BLM in February, 429 leases were closed over the same month. This is a increase of 106 leases as opposed to February 2015 when there were 323 closed leases. 387,550 acres were released with these 429 closed leases. This is 98,988.30 fewer acres released in February compared to the 486,538 released in the same month in 2015.
| February 2016 | February 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized Claims | 46 | 87 | 41 | 47.13% |
| Authorized Acres | 31,873 | 102,683 | 70,809.73 | 68.96% |
| Closed Claims | 429 | 323 | 106 | 32.82% |
| Closed Acres | 387,550 | 486,538 | 98,988.30 | 20.35% |
Chart 1: Authorized Leases By Year
in the United States Of America
STATE TRENDS
Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado are the three most active states when ranked by total authorized oil and gas drilling leases on public land overseen by the BLM. Wyoming is the most active state with 19,445 authorized leases, accounting for 31.49% of the overall oil and gas drilling leases in the United States. This is 5,863 more leases than New Mexico, the second most active state, which hosts 13,582 oil and gas drilling leases and accounts for 22% of the overall oil and gas drilling leases in the United States. Colorado has 7,309 fewer lease than New Mexico, making it the third most active state, with 6,273 oil and gas drilling leases—22% of the authorized oil and gas drilling leases overseen by the BLM.
| State | February 2016 (Authorized Leases) |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | 19,445 |
| New Mexico | 13,582 |
| Colorado | 6,273 |
| Montana | 3,925 |
| Utah | 3,820 |
Chart 2: States By Authorized Lease
in the United States Of America
CLOSED LEASES IN FEBRUARY
Wyoming, Utah, and Montana had the most closed BLM oil and gas leases over the course of February 2016. Wyoming is distinguished by its 201 closed leases, the most closed that month and 122 more than February 2016. This is 133 more leases than Utah, which lost 68 oil and gas leases—an increase of 24 leases from last February. Montana jettisoned 37 fewer leases than Utah and ties with New Mexico and South Dakota for the third most leases closed in February. The 31 oil and gas drilling leases closed in Montana are 31 greater than February last year.
| State | February 2016 (Closed Leases) |
February 2015 (Closed Leases) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 201 | 79 | 122 | 154.43% |
| Utah | 68 | 44 | 24 | 54.55% |
| Montana | 31 | 0 | 31 | |
| New Mexico | 31 | 20 | 11 | 55% |
| South Dakota | 31 | 0 | 31 |
COUNTY TRENDS
CLOSED LEASES IN FEBRUARY
Campbell, Harding, and Mccone counties had the most closed BLM oil and gas leases over the course of February 2016. Campbell County, Wyoming is distinguished by its 64 closed leases, the most closed that month and 36 more than February 2016. This is 34 more leases than Harding County, South Dakota, which lost 30 oil and gas leases—an increase of 30 leases from last February. Mccone County, Montana jettisoned 5 fewer leases than Harding. The 25 oil and gas drilling leases closed in Mccone County are 25 more than February last year.
| County | February 2016 (Closed Leases) |
February 2015 (Closed Leases) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell, Wyoming | 64 | 28 | 36 | 128.57% |
| Harding, South Dakota | 30 | 0 | 30 | |
| Mccone, Montana | 25 | 0 | 25 | |
| Emery, Utah | 23 | 4 | 19 | 475% |
| Natrona, Wyoming | 20 | 16 | 4 | 25% |
VIEW INDIVIDUAL STATE TRENDS REPORTS
While this report focuses on those states and counties with the greatest amount of authorized leases or significant change in activity on public land, this is hardly to neglect the extensive activity occurring elsewhere. For more locally focused reports, complete with graphs and time series tables, visit any of our listed states below or search for a particular county’s trend report on The Drillings™.
GET REPORT ALERTS
Each month, we release a new report on oil and gas lease trends. Get notified when the next report is published, updated data is released, or new features are available on The Drillings™ by joining our mailing list.
*These reports are summarizing oil and gas leases on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and do not encompass sales or transfers occurring on private land.