Outer Continental Shelf: Debate Over Oil and Gas Leasing and Revenue Sharing

Humphries, Marc

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Energy;    Oil and gas leases;    Energy security;    Power resources;    Energy policy;   

RP-ID  :  RL33493
RP-ID  :  RL33493_2008Jan22

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Oil and gas leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has been an important issue in the debate over energy security and domestic energy resources. The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a comprehensive inventory of OCS resources in February 2006 that estimated reserves of 8.5 billion barrels of oil and 29.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Congress has imposed moratoria of the OCS since 1982 through the annual Interior appropriation bills. Proponents of the moratoria contend that offshore drilling would pose unacceptable environmental risks and threaten coastal tourism industries. This report analyzes this issue in-depth, including budgetary information and relevant legislation.