BLM oil and gas leases by state
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Private oil and natural gas companies apply for oil and natural gas leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to produce energy on federal land. The BLM holds competitive auctions for these leases, and lease sales are held quarterly in each state with land managed by the BLM.[1]
Around 26 percent of the land owned by the federal government (about 166 million acres) can be leased to private individuals and companies for energy development, including drilling for crude oil and natural gas. Leases can be held by any adult citizen of the United States.
Fiscal year 2015
Active leases in 2015
The table below summarizes the number of active leases and the acres under lease on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2015. An active lease is a lease that is still in effect at the end of a fiscal year.[2]
Wyoming had the most active leases and acres under lease at the end of fiscal year 2015—15,059 active leases on more than 10.1 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 8,170 active leases on more than 4.6 million acres of land, then Colorado with 4,333 active leases on more than 3.3 million acres of land.[3]
Eighteen states had no leases and no acres under lease in fiscal year 2015:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (end of fiscal year 2015) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Active leases on BLM-managed land | Total acres under lease | ||
| Alabama | 135 | 78,570 | ||
| Alaska | 242 | 1,813,246 | ||
| Arizona | 11 | 19,996 | ||
| Arkansas | 714 | 460,904 | ||
| California | 545 | 208,056 | ||
| Colorado | 4,333 | 3,300,752 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 7 | 10,609 | ||
| Illinois | 8 | 1,581 | ||
| Indiana | 8 | 11,358 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 464 | 120,402 | ||
| Kentucky | 68 | 37,749 | ||
| Louisiana | 566 | 329,497 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 4 | 2,637 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 216 | 116,637 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 778 | 437,877 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 3,075 | 2,345,955 | ||
| Nebraska | 34 | 12,268 | ||
| Nevada | 1,214 | 2,348,190 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 8,170 | 4,651,975 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,183 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 2,071 | 1,003,707 | ||
| Ohio | 261 | 55,979 | ||
| Oklahoma | 1,250 | 286,488 | ||
| Oregon | 111 | 187,197 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 75 | 9,951 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 420 | 186,629 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 712 | 416,895 | ||
| Utah | 3,367 | 3,411,493 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 38 | 27,509 | ||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | ||
| West Virginia | 250 | 113,198 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 15,059 | 10,184,145 | ||
| United States total | 44,213 | 32,193,369 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
Producing leases in 2015
The table below summarizes the number of producing leases and producing acres on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2015. A producing lease is a lease that includes a well capable of producing oil or gas, and producing acres are acres where oil or gas is produced.[4]
Wyoming had the most producing leases and producing acres at the end of fiscal year 2015—7,501 producing leases on more than 4 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 6,579 producing leases on more than 3.7 million acres of land, then Colorado with 2,192 producing leases on more than 1.4 million acres of land.[5]
Twenty-two states had no producing leases and no producing acres in fiscal year 2015:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (end of fiscal year 2015) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Producing leases on BLM-managed land | Producing acres on BLM-managed land | ||
| Alabama | 24 | 7,842 | ||
| Alaska | 28 | 16,882 | ||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | ||
| Arkansas | 245 | 120,927 | ||
| California | 320 | 80,921 | ||
| Colorado | 2,192 | 1,483,943 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | ||
| Illinois | 8 | 1,581 | ||
| Indiana | 2 | 68 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 437 | 109,392 | ||
| Kentucky | 54 | 32,916 | ||
| Louisiana | 171 | 55,493 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 64 | 30,926 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 76 | 37,999 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 1,446 | 763,286 | ||
| Nebraska | 19 | 8,825 | ||
| Nevada | 36 | 26,201 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 6,579 | 3,751,887 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,182 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 1,276 | 587,855 | ||
| Ohio | 238 | 46,100 | ||
| Oklahoma | 957 | 147,341 | ||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 69 | 4,758 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 82 | 48,482 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 278 | 166,227 | ||
| Utah | 1,492 | 1,134,900 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 16 | 14,491 | ||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | ||
| West Virginia | 153 | 55,810 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 7,501 | 4,023,729 | ||
| United States total | 23,770 | 12,760,700 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
Fiscal year 2014
Active leases in 2014
The table below summarizes the number of active leases and the acres under lease on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2014. An active lease is a lease that is still in effect at the end of a fiscal year.[2][3]
Wyoming had the most active leases and acres under lease at the end of fiscal year 2014—15,535 active leases on more than 10.6 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 8,282 active leases on more than 4.7 million acres of land, then Colorado with 4,712 active leases on more than 3.6 million acres of land.[2][3]
Eighteen states had no leases and no acres under lease in fiscal year 2014:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (end of fiscal year 2014) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Active leases on BLM-managed land | Total acres under lease | ||
| Alabama | 147 | 80,540 | ||
| Alaska | 242 | 1,813,246 | ||
| Arizona | 27 | 39,560 | ||
| Arkansas | 726 | 465,407 | ||
| California | 574 | 223,206 | ||
| Colorado | 4,712 | 3,667,006 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 2 | 4,135 | ||
| Illinois | 8 | 1,581 | ||
| Indiana | 9 | 11,842 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 467 | 120,562 | ||
| Kentucky | 69 | 38,073 | ||
| Louisiana | 524 | 306,822 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 4 | 2,637 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 184 | 100,704 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 841 | 475,724 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 3,364 | 2,590,037 | ||
| Nebraska | 34 | 12,268 | ||
| Nevada | 1,696 | 3,438,029 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 8,282 | 4,715,978 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,183 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 2,119 | 1,031,121 | ||
| Ohio | 260 | 55,775 | ||
| Oklahoma | 1,275 | 301,977 | ||
| Oregon | 111 | 187,197 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 69 | 4,761 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 428 | 192,992 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 727 | 429,232 | ||
| Utah | 3,445 | 3,524,221 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 38 | 27,509 | ||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | ||
| West Virginia | 257 | 119,883 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 15,535 | 10,608,506 | ||
| United States total | 46,183 | 34,592,450 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
Producing leases in 2014
The table below summarizes the number of producing leases and producing acres on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2014. A producing lease is a lease that includes a well capable of producing oil or gas, and producing acres are acres where oil or gas is produced.[4][5]
Wyoming had the most producing leases and producing acres at the end of fiscal year 2014—7,551 producing leases on more than 4 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 6,556 producing leases on more than 3.7 million acres of land, then Colorado with 2,179 producing leases on more than 1.4 million acres of land.[4][5]
Twenty-two states had no producing leases and no producing acres in fiscal year 2014:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (end of fiscal year 2014) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Producing leases on BLM-managed land | Producing acres on BLM-managed land | ||
| Alabama | 24 | 7,707 | ||
| Alaska | 29 | 18,555 | ||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | ||
| Arkansas | 246 | 121,558 | ||
| California | 323 | 82,697 | ||
| Colorado | 2,179 | 1,478,105 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | ||
| Illinois | 8 | 1,581 | ||
| Indiana | 2 | 68 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 438 | 109,552 | ||
| Kentucky | 54 | 32,916 | ||
| Louisiana | 166 | 54,171 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 63 | 29,406 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 71 | 34,192 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 1,446 | 766,544 | ||
| Nebraska | 19 | 8,825 | ||
| Nevada | 32 | 22,077 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 6,556 | 3,727,864 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,182 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 1,193 | 570,645 | ||
| Ohio | 236 | 45,816 | ||
| Oklahoma | 938 | 141,496 | ||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 69 | 4,761 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 79 | 44,589 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 272 | 162,102 | ||
| Utah | 1,487 | 1,119,366 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 16 | 14,491 | ||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | ||
| West Virginia | 153 | 55,810 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 7,551 | 4,033,994 | ||
| United States total | 23,657 | 12,690,806 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
Fiscal year 2013
Active leases in 2013
The table below summarizes the number of active leases and the acres under lease on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2013. An active lease is a lease that is still in effect at the end of a fiscal year.[2][3]
Wyoming had the most active leases and acres under lease at the end of fiscal year 2013—16,209 active leases on more than 11.2 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 8,348 active leases on more than 4.8 million acres of land, then Colorado with 4,963 active leases on more than 3.9 million acres of land.[2][3]
Seventeen states had no leases and no acres under lease in fiscal year 2013:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (fiscal year 2013) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Active leases on BLM-managed land | Total acres under lease | ||
| Alabama | 138 | 75,390 | ||
| Alaska | 222 | 1,598,395 | ||
| Arizona | 27 | 39,562 | ||
| Arkansas | 742 | 490,363 | ||
| California | 600 | 239,071 | ||
| Colorado | 4,963 | 3,915,506 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 4 | 7,355 | ||
| Illinois | 9 | 1,651 | ||
| Indiana | 9 | 11,842 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 482 | 125,089 | ||
| Kentucky | 69 | 37,998 | ||
| Louisiana | 525 | 297,028 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 4 | 2,632 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 170 | 99,722 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 849 | 475,639 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 3,488 | 2,728,738 | ||
| Nebraska | 30 | 11,428 | ||
| Nevada | 1,881 | 3,732,390 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 8,348 | 4,819,205 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,183 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 2,061 | 1,024,007 | ||
| Ohio | 267 | 57,886 | ||
| Oklahoma | 1,284 | 321,757 | ||
| Oregon | 112 | 188,391 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 69 | 4,761 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 303 | 162,902 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 683 | 415,181 | ||
| Utah | 3,574 | 3,821,792 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 39 | 28,547 | ||
| Washington | 2 | 3,804 | ||
| West Virginia | 257 | 119,883 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 16,209 | 11,232,643 | ||
| United States total | 47,427 | 36,092,482 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
Producing leases in 2013
The table below summarizes the number of producing leases and producing acres on BLM-managed land at the end of fiscal year 2013. A producing lease is a lease that includes a well capable of producing oil or gas, and producing acres are acres where oil or gas is produced.[4][5]
Wyoming had the most producing leases and producing acres at the end of fiscal year 2013—7,546 producing leases on more than 4 million acres of land. New Mexico followed Wyoming with 6,535 producing leases on more than 3.6 million acres of land, then Colorado with 2,180 producing leases on more than 1.4 million acres of land.[4][5]
Twenty-two states had no producing leases and no producing acres in fiscal year 2013:
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM land by state (fiscal year 2013) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Producing leases on BLM-managed land | Producing acres on BLM-managed land | ||
| Alabama | 23 | 7,667 | ||
| Alaska | 29 | 23,115 | ||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | ||
| Arkansas | 248 | 124,819 | ||
| California | 325 | 82,736 | ||
| Colorado | 2,180 | 1,474,922 | ||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | ||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | ||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | ||
| Illinois | 9 | 1,651 | ||
| Indiana | 2 | 68 | ||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas | 439 | 109,432 | ||
| Kentucky | 55 | 33,240 | ||
| Louisiana | 165 | 62,070 | ||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | ||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | ||
| Michigan | 64 | 29,623 | ||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mississippi | 75 | 38,186 | ||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | ||
| Montana | 1,440 | 765,312 | ||
| Nebraska | 19 | 8,825 | ||
| Nevada | 31 | 21,637 | ||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Mexico | 6,535 | 3,697,459 | ||
| New York | 5 | 1,182 | ||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 1,127 | 556,746 | ||
| Ohio | 233 | 45,084 | ||
| Oklahoma | 912 | 134,511 | ||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 69 | 4,761 | ||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 79 | 44,589 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | ||
| Texas | 253 | 156,590 | ||
| Utah | 1,473 | 1,110,875 | ||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virginia | 16 | 14,491 | ||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | ||
| West Virginia | 153 | 55,810 | ||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wyoming | 7,546 | 4,011,606 | ||
| United States total | 23,507 | 12,617,743 | ||
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Leases in Effect," October 29, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Acres Under Lease As of the Last Day of the Fiscal Year," October 29, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Producing Leases on Federal Lands," October 29, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Producing Acres on Federal Lands," October 29, 2015
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