Oil & Gas Development on Federal & Indian Lands: Oversight & Production Issues

Federal and state regulatory agencies manage and oversee the development of federal and Indian oil and gas resources by issuing rules and guidance, reviewing drilling applications, and inspecting wells to ensure compliance with environmental, safety, and other regulations. In fiscal year 2013, federal and Indian energy production, including oil and gas, generated almost $15 billion in revenue. Recent advances in drilling technologies have greatly expanded the ability to develop oil and gas resources, particularly from shale and tight sandstone rock formations. This book discusses the changes to federal and selected state agencies’ rules over the past 5 years and examines the effectiveness of BLM’s management and oversight of federal and Indian resources. It also examines U.S. oil and natural gas production data for federal and non-federal areas with an emphasis on the past five years of production.