Federal Gulf Lease Sale Gets $156 Million Despite Protests Over Oil-Gas Development

摘要

While environmental protesters screamed at them in the Superdome in New Orleans, federal officials announced $156 million in high bids March 23 for 128 oil and gas exploration leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The results for Lease Sale 241 were the fourth lowest in the Central Planning Area of the Gulf of Mexico since the 1983 start of sales there, but that was expected in current economic conditions, Interior Department officials said during a teleconference after the bid results were announced. "I think the sale came in right about where we expected," said Janice Schneider, Interior assistant secretary for land and minerals management. She said interest in Gulf oil and gas exploration opportunities was expected to rise when oil and gas prices rise.