BLM Oil and Gas Lease Auction Tops $3.6 Million

BAKERSFIELD – Twelve oil and gas lease parcels in Kern County were auctioned recently for a total of $3,600,999, including administrative fees, by the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office.

Vintage Production California, Bakersfield, paid the highest price per acre at $8,200.  Aera Energy LLC paid the highest price for one parcel, $1,491,000.

BLM is required by law to periodically offer federal land for lease for oil and gas exploration and development.  The oil and gas industry is encouraged to submit an "expression of interest" for federal land parcels in California that have potential for development.  An “expression of interest” is a letter or a form listing the legal description of lands an individual or company is interested in seeing offered for lease.

Expressions of interest for the 2011 lease auction planned for September 7, 2011, should be sent to the BLM, attention:  Laurie Moore, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, Calif. 95825 no later than November 3, 2010.

For more information, contact Laurie Moore at (916) 978-4377 or Nora DeDios at the BLM Bakersfield Field Office, (661) 391-6129.

Central California District   2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825