BLM Oil and Gas Lease Auction Tops $250,000

Three oil and gas lease parcels in Fresno and Monterey counties were auctioned for a total of $257,051, including administrative fees, by the Bureau of Land Management today in Sacramento.

Vintage Production California LLC, Bakersfield, paid the highest price per acre, $900 per acre and the highest total, $180,000, for a 200-acre parcel in Fresno County.  Neil Ormond, Clovis, paid $56,401for a 2,343-acre parcel in Monterey County.  Lone Tree Energy, Littleton, Colo., paid $20,205 for a 40-acre parcel in Fresno County.  A 120-acre parcel in Monterey County did not receive any bids and will be available for non-competitive leasing beginning Sept. 15.

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 (EOI) for the lease auction planned for Sept. 12, 2012, should be sent to the BLM, Attention:  Laurie Moore, 2800 Cottage Way Suite W-1623, Sacramento, CA  95825 no later than Nov. 11, 2011.  Expressions of interest which include split estate lands—private surface/federal minerals—must provide, with the EOI, the name and address of the current private surface owners(s).

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