High Court asked to rule on Gulf royalties; Dispute covers payments from Kerr-McGee on leases issued in 1996-2000

摘要

Washington-The US Department of Justice is asking the Supreme Court to review a lower-court decision rejecting government attempts to collect royalties from Kerr-McGee for some oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. In a petition filed July 13 with the court, DOJ warned that the decision by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals would "likely cost" the government "at least $19 billion in foregone or refunded royalties" under several dozen leases with terms similar to those obtained by Kerr-McGee between 1996 and 2000.