API recommends inclusive US offshore oil and gas leasing programme

API has released comments urging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to consider all Outer Continental Shelf areas for inclusion in the government’s offshore oil and natural gas leasing programme for 2017 - 2022.

“Expanding opportunities for US offshore energy production would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, raise billions of dollars for the government and strengthen America’s international diplomacy and national security,” API Senior Policy Advisor Andy Radford told reporters on a conference call. “As the government works on the next leasing programme, it should examine all areas with the potential to generate jobs and new revenue by advancing America’s energy renaissance.”

Support for offshore drilling

American voters – including majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents – support offshore drilling and increasing US oil and natural gas production, according to recent polling by Harris Poll. However, most voters do not think the federal government does enough to encourage the development of oil and natural gas resources in the US.

Remaining a global energy superpower

“Decisions the government makes now will impact our economy and our ability to exert diplomatic influence for decades,” said Radford. “Opening new offshore areas to exploration and development could empower the U.S. and our allies by shifting the geopolitical balance.

“To remain a global energy superpower, the US must continue to explore for and produce new domestic supplies of oil and natural gas. We urge BOEM to keep existing areas available for leasing and include new areas in the Atlantic, Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific.”

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/14082014/api-recommends-all-outer-continental-shelf-areas-be-considered-in-offshore-oil-and-natural-gas-leasing-programme/