ABSTRACT
June 2016 experienced a distinct increase in authorized oil and gas leases (146) on public land. This was offset, however, by 362 closed leases in the same month. A noteworthy 111 oil and gas leases were authorized in Wyoming over last month, compared to 45 leases in June 2015. In contrast, Nevada had a decrease in closed leases: 91 compared to 266 in June 2015.
NATIONWIDE TRENDS
In June 2016, 146 leases were authorized on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for petroleum exploration purposes. This is compared to 178 authorized in June 2015. 137,849 acres were acquired with these 146 authorized leases. That is a decrease of 3,024.87 acres in contrast to the 140,873 acres authorized in June 2015.
While 146 oil and gas leases were authorized through the BLM in June, 362 leases were closed over the same month. This is a decrease of 289 leases as opposed to June 2015 when there were 651 closed leases. 336,922 acres were released with these 362 closed leases. This is 565,665.38 fewer acres released in June compared to the 902,588 released in the same month in 2015.
| June 2016 | June 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized Lease | 146 | 178 | 32 | 17.98% |
| Authorized Acres | 137,849 | 140,873 | 3,024.87 | 2.15% |
| Closed Lease | 362 | 651 | 289 | 44.39% |
| Closed Acres | 336,922 | 902,588 | 565,665.38 | 62.67% |
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 petroleum exploration leases on public land overseen by the BLM. Wyoming is the most active state with 19,110 authorized leases, accounting for 31.39% of the overall petroleum exploration leases in the United States. This is 5,555 more leases than New Mexico, the second most active state, which hosts 13,555 petroleum exploration leases and accounts for 22.27% of the overall petroleum exploration leases in the United States. Colorado has 7,389 fewer lease than New Mexico, making it the third most active state, with 6,166 petroleum exploration leases—22.27% of the authorized petroleum exploration leases overseen by the BLM.
| State | June 2016 (Authorized Leases) |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | 19,110 |
| New Mexico | 13,555 |
| Colorado | 6,166 |
| Montana | 3,856 |
| Utah | 3,825 |
Chart 2: States By Authorized Lease
in the United States Of America
CLOSED LEASES IN JUNE
Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana had the most closed BLM oil and gas leases over the course of June 2016. Nevada is distinguished by its 91 closed leases, the most closed that month and 175 less than June 2016. This is 5 more leases than Wyoming, which lost 86 oil and gas leases—an increase of 9 leases from last June. Montana jettisoned 20 fewer leases than Wyoming. The 66 petroleum exploration leases closed in Montana are 91 fewer than June last year.
| State | June 2016 (Closed Leases) |
June 2015 (Closed Leases) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 91 | 266 | 175 | 65.79% |
| Wyoming | 86 | 77 | 9 | 11.69% |
| Montana | 66 | 157 | 91 | 57.96% |
| North Dakota | 37 | 10 | 27 | 270% |
| New Mexico | 28 | 30 | 2 | 6.67% |
COUNTY TRENDS
CLOSED LEASES IN JUNE
Nye, Elko, and Slope counties had the most closed BLM oil and gas leases over the course of June 2016. Nye County, Nevada is distinguished by its 36 closed leases, the most closed that month and 35 less than June 2015. This is 8 more leases than Elko County, Nevada, which lost 28 oil and gas leases—a decrease of 6 leases from last June. Slope County, North Dakota jettisoned 0 fewer leases than Elko. The 28 petroleum exploration leases closed in Slope County are 28 more than June last year.
| County | June 2016 (Closed Leases) |
June 2015 (Closed Leases) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nye, Nevada | 36 | 71 | 35 | 49.3% |
| Elko, Nevada | 28 | 34 | 6 | 17.65% |
| Slope, North Dakota | 28 | 0 | 28 | |
| White Pine, Nevada | 26 | 119 | 93 | 78.15% |
| Carbon, Montana | 17 | 0 | 17 |
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™.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
GET REPORT ALERTS
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*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.