An announcement posted on the U.S. Division of the Inside’s (DOI) web site on Thursday revealed that U.S. Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum has signed an order “to unleash American offshore power”.
On this assertion, the DOI introduced a Secretary’s Order, titled Unleashing American Offshore Vitality, which the DOI mentioned directs the Bureau of Ocean Vitality Administration (BOEM) “to take the mandatory steps, in accordance with federal regulation, to terminate the restrictive Biden 2024-2029 Nationwide Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Fuel Leasing Program and substitute it with a brand new, expansive eleventh Nationwide Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Fuel Leasing Program by October 2026”.
“As a part of this directive, the Division is releasing the Secretary’s Draft Proposed Program for the eleventh Nationwide Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Fuel Leasing Program,” the DOI famous within the assertion.
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“Beneath the brand new proposal for the 2026-2031 Nationwide Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Fuel Leasing Program, Inside is taking a significant step to spice up United States power independence and maintain home oil and gasoline manufacturing,” it added.
“The proposal consists of as many as 34 potential offshore lease gross sales throughout 21 of 27 present Outer Continental Shelf planning areas, overlaying roughly 1.27 billion acres. That features 21 areas off the coast of Alaska, seven within the Gulf of America, and 6 alongside the Pacific coast,” it continued.
“The proposal additionally consists of the Secretary’s resolution to create a brand new administrative planning space, the South-Central Gulf of America,” it went on to state.
In its assertion, the DOI mentioned the present proposal follows a public request for data and remark printed in April 2025. The DOI acknowledged that it acquired greater than 86,000 feedback from stakeholders, states, business representatives, and members of the general public. Suggestions from these feedback knowledgeable the proposal launched on Thursday, the DOI highlighted.
The DOI additionally mentioned within the assertion that, “earlier than this system and particular person lease gross sales are finalized, the general public can have a number of alternatives to supply enter”. The DOI added that it encourages broad participation within the upcoming 60-day public remark interval, which it mentioned will start when the proposal is printed within the Federal Register on November 24.
The DOI assertion additionally famous that the announcement marks the primary of three proposals that will likely be developed earlier than ultimate approval of the 2026-2031 program.
“Inclusion of a planning space on this proposal doesn’t assure that will probably be included within the ultimate program or supplied for lease,” the DOI mentioned within the assertion, including that “every lease sale will endure further overview, environmental evaluation, and alternatives for public remark”.
Within the assertion, Burgum mentioned, “offshore oil and gasoline manufacturing doesn’t occur in a single day – it takes years of planning, funding, and arduous work earlier than barrels attain the market”.
“The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gasoline leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore manufacturing,” he added.
“By shifting ahead with the event of a strong, forward-thinking leasing plan, we’re making certain that America’s offshore business stays sturdy, our employees keep employed, and our nation stays power dominant for many years to come back,” he continued.
Jarrod Agen, Govt Director of the Nationwide Vitality Dominance Council, mentioned within the assertion, “offshore oil and gasoline growth requires long-term imaginative and prescient, regular coverage, and the boldness for corporations to spend money on American power”.
“By placing an actual leasing plan again on observe, we’re restoring power safety, defending American jobs, and strengthening the nation’s potential to guide on power for many years to come back,” he added.
As of September 1, 2025, BOEM manages 2,073 energetic offshore oil and gasoline leases overlaying about 11.2 million acres, the DOI assertion identified, noting that offshore manufacturing accounts for roughly 15 % of the nation’s home oil output. The assertion highlighted that the Outer Continental Shelf “is estimated to comprise about 68.8 billion barrels of oil and 229 trillion cubic ft of pure gasoline but to be found”.
In a press release posted on the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) web site on Thursday, API President and CEO Mike Sommers described the DOI’s proposed new offshore leasing program as “a historic step towards unleashing our nation’s huge offshore sources”.
“We applaud Secretary Burgum for laying the groundwork for a brand new and extra expansive five-year program that unlocks alternatives for long-term funding offshore and helps power affordability at a time of rising demand at house and overseas,” Sommers added.
Nationwide Ocean Industries Affiliation (NOIA) President Erik Milito mentioned in a press release despatched to Rigzone on Thursday, “we commend Secretary Burgum and the Division of the Inside for taking this essential step to repair a leasing program that was wholly inadequate”.
“We look ahead to working with policymakers to make sure the Gulf continues to guide America’s power future,” he added.
The API represents all segments of America’s pure gasoline and oil business, the group states on its website. NOIA states on its website that it serves the offshore oil, gasoline, and wind industries.
In a press release posted on its web site on Thursday, the Sierra Membership, which describes itself as probably the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental group in the US, criticized the DOI’s new offshore drilling plan.
To contact the writer, electronic mail andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
