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U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Non-Federal Areas [April 10, 2014]
"In 2013, the price of oil averaged $98 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate spot price), up from $94 per barrel in 2012. Prices remain high in early 2014 (near $100 per barrel) and are projected by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to average in the mid-$90 per barrel range through 2014. A number of proposals designed to increase domestic energy supply, enhance security, and/or amend the requirements of environmental statutes are before the 113th Congress. A key question in this discussion is how much oil and gas is produced in the United States each year and how much of that comes from federal versus non-federal areas. Oil production has fluctuated on federal lands over the past five fiscal years but has increased dramatically on nonfederal lands. Non-federal crude oil production has been rapidly increasing in the past few years partly due to favorable geology and the relative ease of leasing from private parties, rising by 2.1 million barrels per day (mbd) between FY2009-FY2013, causing the federal share of total U.S. crude oil production to fall by nearly 11%. Natural gas prices, on the other hand, have remained low for the past several years, allowing gas to become much more competitive with coal for power generation. The shale gas boom has resulted in rising supplies of natural gas. Overall, annual U.S. natural gas production rose by about four trillion cubic feet (tcf) or 19% since FY2009, while production on federal lands (onshore and offshore) fell by about 28%."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2014-04-10
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Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues [October 30, 2009]
"In the past, the oil and gas industry considered gas locked in tight, impermeable shale uneconomical to produce. However, advances in directional well drilling and reservoir stimulation have dramatically increased gas production from unconventional shales. The United States Geological Survey estimates that 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas may be technically recoverable from these shales. Recent high natural gas prices have also stimulated interest in developing gas shales. Although natural gas prices fell dramatically in 2009, there is an expectation that the demand for natural gas will increase. Developing these shales comes with some controversy, though. The hydraulic fracturing treatments used to stimulate gas production from shale have stirred environmental concerns over excessive water consumption, drinking water well contamination, and surface water contamination from both drilling activities and fracturing fluid disposal. The saline 'flowback' water pumped back to the surface after the fracturing process poses a significant environmental management challenge in the Marcellus region. The flowback's high content of total dissolved solids (TDS) and other contaminants must be disposed of or adequately treated before discharged to surface waters. The federal Clean Water Act and state laws regulate the discharge of this flowback water and other drilling wastewater to surface waters, while the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates deep well injection of such wastewater. Hydraulically fractured wells are also subject to various state regulations. Historically, the EPA has not regulated hydraulic fracturing, and the 2005 Energy Policy Act exempted hydraulic fracturing from SDWA regulation. Recently introduced bills would make hydraulic fracturing subject to regulation under SDWA, while another bill would affirm the current regulatory exemption."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc; Andrews, Anthony; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2009-10-30
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U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes [May 4, 2011]
"Access to potential oil and gas resources under the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) continues to be controversial. Moratoria on leasing and development in certain areas were largely eliminated in 2008 and 2009, although a few areas remain legislatively off limits to leasing. The 112th Congress may be unlikely to reinstate broad leasing moratoria, but some Members have expressed interest in protecting areas (e.g., the Georges Bank or Northern California) or establishing protective coastal buffers. Pressure to expand oil and gas supplies and protect coastal environments and communities will likely lead Congress and the Administration to consider carefully which areas to keep open to leasing and which to protect from development. [...] The oil spill that occurred on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico brought increased attention to offshore drilling risks. Consideration of offshore development for any purpose has raised concerns over the protection of the marine and coastal environment. In addition to the oil spill, historical events associated with offshore oil production, such as the large oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA, in 1969, cause both opponents and proponents of offshore development to consider the risks and to weigh those risks against the economic and social benefits of the development."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc; Pirog, Robert L.; Whitney, Gene
2011-05-04
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U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Non-Federal Areas [April 3, 2015]
"A number of proposals designed to increase domestic energy supply, enhance security, and/or amend the requirements of environmental statutes that apply to energy development were before the 113th Congress and are likely to be reintroduced in the 114th Congress. A key question in this discussion is how much oil and gas is produced in the United States each year and how much of that comes from federal versus non-federal areas. Oil production has fluctuated on federal lands over the past five fiscal years but has increased dramatically on non-federal lands. Non-federal crude oil production has been rapidly increasing in the past few years, partly due to favorable geology and the ease of leasing, rising by 3.0 million barrels per day (mbd) between FY2010 and FY2014, causing the federal share of total U.S. crude oil production to fall from 36.4% to 21.4%." This document includes tables and graphs to illustrate the text.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2015-04-03
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U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Non-Federal Areas [March 7, 2013]
"In 2012, oil prices ranged from $80 to $110 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate spot price) and remain high (above $90/barrel) in early 2013. A number of proposals designed to increase domestic energy supply, enhance security, and/or amend the requirements of environmental statutes are before the 113th Congress. A key question in this discussion is how much oil and gas is produced in the United States each year and how much of that comes from federal versus nonfederal areas. Oil production has fluctuated on both federal and non-federal lands over the past five fiscal years.[…] Natural gas prices, on the other hand, have remained low for the past several years, allowing gas to become much more competitive with coal for power generation. The shale gas boom has resulted in rising supplies of natural gas. Overall, U.S. natural gas production rose by four trillion cubic feet (tcf) or 20% since 2007, while production on federal lands (onshore and offshore) fell by about 33% and production on non-federal lands grew by 40% (see Table 2). The big shale gas plays are primarily on non-federal lands and are attracting a significant portion of investment for natural gas development. This report examines U.S. oil and natural gas production data for federal and non-federal areas with an emphasis on the past six years of production."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2013-03-07
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U.S. and World Coal Production, Federal Taxes, and Incentives [March 14, 2013]
"Even though U.S. coal production remained strong over the past decade, reaching record levels of production, coal is losing its share of overall U.S. energy production primarily to natural gas. One of the big questions for the industry is how to penetrate the overseas market, particularly in steam coal, to compensate for declining domestic demand. As U.S. energy policy and environmental regulations are constantly debated, there is ongoing congressional interest in the role of coal in meeting U.S. and global energy needs. The question may not be whether the domestic production of coal is here to stay but, rather, how much U.S. coal will be mined, what type, and under what regulatory framework. Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics show that more than half (55%) of U.S. coal reserves are located in the West, dominated by Montana and Wyoming, which account for 43%. When including the top five producing states (three of which are in the East), 70% of U.S. coal reserves are accounted for. The United States government owns about one third, or 87 billion short tons (BST), of U.S. domestic reserves."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc; Sherlock, Molly F.
2013-03-14
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U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Nonfederal Areas [June 22, 2016]
"A number of legislative proposals designed to increase domestic energy supply, enhance security, and/or amend the requirements of environmental statutes that apply to energy development are before the 114th Congress. Proposals range from leasing primarily in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) via the Proposed Five-Year Program (PP) for FY2017-FY2022 [Fiscal Year] or to implement the Proposed Draft for FY2010-FY2015 (a plan prepared by the Bush Administration), to a proposal to prohibit new fossil fuel leases on federal land. Several proposals include new revenue sharing provisions for coastal states. A key question in this discussion is how much oil and gas is produced in the United States each year and how much of that comes from federal versus nonfederal areas. Oil production has fluctuated on federal lands over the past 10 fiscal years but has increased dramatically on nonfederal lands. Nonfederal crude oil production has rapidly increased in the past few years, partly due to better extraction technology, favorable geology, and the ease of leasing, more than doubling daily production between FY2006 and FY2015 (although because of recent low oil prices, production has dropped somewhat since a peak in mid-2015). The federal share of total U.S. crude oil production fell from its peak at nearly 36% in FY2010 to 21% in FY2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2016-06-22
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U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Non-Federal Areas [February 28, 2013]
"In 2012, oil prices ranged from $80 to $110 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate spot price) and remain high in early 2013. Congress is faced with proposals designed to increase domestic energy supply, enhance security, and/or amend the requirements of environmental statutes. A key question in this discussion is how much oil and gas is produced each year and how much of that comes from federal and non-federal areas. On non-federal lands, there were modest fluctuations in oil production from fiscal years (FY) 2008-2010, then a significant increase from FY2010 to FY2012 increasing total U.S. oil production by about 1.1 million barrels per day over FY2007 production levels. All of the increase from FY2007 to FY2012 took place on non-federal lands, and the federal share of total U.S. crude oil production fell by about seven percentage points."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2013-02-28
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Outer Continental Shelf: Debate Over Oil and Gas Leasing and Revenue Sharing [Updated January 22, 2008]
"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 (tcf) of natural gas. Another 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 tcf of natural gas are classified as undiscovered resources. Congress has imposed moratoria on much 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. Several bills related to oil and gas leasing in the OCS were introduced in the 109th Congress. On June 29, 2006, the House approved H.R. 4761, the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act of 2006, by a vote of 232-187. The bill would have allowed states, using specified criteria, to petition the Secretary of the Interior to lease the OCS adjacent to state waters. The Senate proposed an offshore leasing bill that was much more narrow in scope (S. 3711). The bill would make available about 8.3 million acres, provide coastal states with a share of the revenues generated from offshore leases (37.5%), extend the buffer zone within which drilling will not be allowed to 125 miles from parts of Florida, and provide a share of the revenues (12.5%) to the Land and Water Conservation Fund state-run programs. On August 1, 2006, the Senate approved S. 3711 by a vote of 71-25."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-01-22
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Outer Continental Shelf: Debate Over Oil and Gas Leasing and Revenue Sharing [Updated October 27, 2005]
"Budget reconciliation provisions approved by the House Resources Committee October 26, 2005, would allow states to opt out of longstanding moratoria on oil and gas leasing on the outer continental shelf (OCS). States that agreed to allow such leasing would receive a larger share of royalty revenues. The OCS moratoria, which prohibit leasing on most federal offshore lands, have been an important issue in the debate over energy security and the potential availability of additional domestic oil and gas resources. Congress has enacted the moratoria for each of fiscal years 1982-2006 in the annual Interior Appropriations bill. Proponents of the moratoria contend that offshore drilling would pose unacceptable environmental risks and threaten coastal tourism industries. President George H.W. Bush, in 1990, responding to pressure from the states of Florida and California, and others concerned about protecting the ocean and coastal environments, issued a Presidential Directive ordering the Department of the Interior not to conduct offshore leasing or preleasing activity in places other than Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and parts of Alaska -- areas covered by the annual legislative moratoria -- until 2000. In 1998 President Clinton extended the prohibition until 2012."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2005-10-27
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Outer Continental Shelf Leasing: Side-by-Side Comparison of Five Legislative Proposals [Updated September 16, 2008]
"This report provides a side-by-side comparison of three bills and two proposals, each of which addresses oil and gas development in the outer continental shelf (OCS). None of the bills has passed its respective chamber. One of the proposals, H.R. 6899, the 'Comprehensive American Energy Security and Taxpayer Protection Act,' is expected to come to the House floor the week of September 15, 2008. The moratoria on oil and gas leasing in much of the OCS has become a major issue in Congress and also in the Presidential campaign. This report describes the background of OCS leasing and the various positions taken by proponents and opponents of leasing. It then compares the provisions of three bills that have been introduced with reported summaries of the House proposal and the Senate proposal, the 'New Energy Reform Act of 2008.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-09-16
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Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases [Updated September 18, 2008]
"The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). Controversy over royalty relief currently focuses on the lack of price thresholds in Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS lease sales held in 1998 and 1999. Without the price thresholds, deepwater producers continued to benefit from royalty relief, even as oil prices hit record levels. In an unresolved issue over the Secretary of the Interior's authority and discretion to impose price thresholds, the Department of the Interior asserts that the Secretary of the Interior is not required to impose price thresholds in each lease (but has the discretion to do so). All lease sales held since the enactment of DWRRA included price thresholds, except those held in 1998 and 1999. According to the MMS and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), omitting price thresholds for those two years could cost the federal government as much as $10 billion. This situation has prompted efforts to amend the 1998 and 1999 leases to include price thresholds. A recent court decision, however, ruled that the Secretary of the Interior does not have authority to impose price thresholds in those DWRRA leases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-09-18
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Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases [Updated August 8, 2007]
"The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). Controversy over royalty relief currently focuses on the lack of price thresholds in Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS lease sales held in 1998 and 1999. Without the price thresholds, deepwater producers continued to benefit from royalty relief, even as oil prices hit record levels. How these price thresholds were omitted is the subject of ongoing congressional and administrative investigations. In an unresolved issue over the Secretary of the Interior's authority and discretion to impose price thresholds, the Department of the Interior asserts that the Secretary of the Interior is not required to impose price thresholds in each lease (but has the discretion to do so). However, all lease sales held since the enactment of DWRRA included price thresholds, except those held in 1998 and 1999. According to the MMS and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), omitting price thresholds for those two years could cost the federal government at least $10 billion. This situation has prompted efforts to amend the 1998 and 1999 leases to include price thresholds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2007-08-08
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Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases [Updated March 19, 2007]
"The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). Controversy over royalty relief currently focuses on the lack of price thresholds in Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS lease sales held in 1998 and 1999. Without the price thresholds, deepwater producers continued to benefit from royalty relief, even as oil prices hit record levels. How these price thresholds were omitted is the subject of ongoing congressional and administrative investigations. In an unresolved issue over the Secretary of the Interior's authority and discretion to impose price thresholds, the Department of the Interior asserts that the Secretary of the Interior is not required to impose price thresholds in each lease (but has the discretion to do so). However, all lease sales held since the enactment of DWRRA included price thresholds, except those held in 1998 and 1999. According to the MMS and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), omitting price thresholds for those two years could cost the federal government at least $10 billion. This situation has prompted efforts to amend the 1998 and 1999 leases to include price thresholds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2007-03-19
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Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases [Updated January 16, 2007]
"The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). Controversy over royalty relief currently focuses on the lack of price thresholds in Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS lease sales held in 1998 and 1999. Without the price thresholds, deepwater producers continued to benefit from royalty relief, even as oil prices hit record levels. How these price thresholds were omitted is the subject of ongoing congressional and administrative investigations. In an unresolved issue over the Secretary of the Interior's authority and discretion to impose price thresholds, the Department of the Interior asserts that the Secretary of the Interior is not required to impose price thresholds in each lease (but has the discretion to do so). However, all lease sales held since the enactment of DWRRA included price thresholds, except those held in 1998 and 1999. According to the MMS and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), omitting price thresholds for those two years could cost the federal government at least $10 billion. This situation has prompted efforts to amend the 1998 and 1999 leases to include price thresholds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2007-01-16
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Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain [December 16, 2013]
"The concentration of production of rare earth elements (REEs) outside the United States raises the important issue of supply vulnerability. REEs are used for new energy technologies and national security applications. Two key questions of interest to Congress are: (1) Is the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions of REEs? (2) Are these elements essential to U.S. national security and economic well-being? There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs), 15 within the chemical group called lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium. […] The United States was once self-reliant in domestically produced REEs, but over the past 15 years has become 100% reliant on imports, primarily from China, because of lower-cost operations. U.S.-based Molycorp has begun production at its Mountain Pass mine and anticipates production at full capacity (19,050 metric tons) in 2014. […] In March 2012, the Obama Administration announced the filing of a World Trade Organization case against China, citing unfair trade practices in rare earths. A final decision is expected to be announced in early 2014. Several legislative proposals have been introduced in the 113th Congress in the House and Senate to address the potential of U.S. supply vulnerability and to support domestic production of REEs and other critical minerals because of their applications for national security/defense systems and clean energy technologies. On September 18, 2013, the House passed H.R. 761, The 'National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013'."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2013-12-16
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China's Mineral Industry and U.S. Access to Strategic and Critical Minerals: Issues for Congress [January 9, 2015]
"China is the world's leading producer and consumer of many minerals and metals that are in high demand in the United States and on which the United States is highly import dependent. In the near future, China anticipates rapid urbanization, a rising middle class, and increased product manufacturing of high-value, high-quality goods and increased consumption. As China pursues this development path, will adequate supplies of critical and strategic raw materials and metals be available to the U.S. economy from reliable suppliers? Is there a possibility of material shortfalls? If China uses more of its raw materials and metals for its own downstream manufacturing sector instead of exporting them, as well as competing for raw materials and metals from outside China, then there may be a cause for concern. Materials such as the platinum group metals (PGMs), niobium, tantalum, manganese, and cobalt are heavily imported by the United States and China. […] China's dominance in the supply and demand of global raw materials could be addressed, if needed, through consistent development of alternate sources of supply, alternative materials (substitutes) when possible, efficiency gains, aggressive R&D [Research and Development], and comprehensive minerals information to support this effort. There may not be an immediate crisis, but China is likely entering an era of fewer raw material exports over the long run, which requires some type of long-term planning by the private sector and government entities that want to meet U.S. national security, economic, and energy policy interests and challenges. Congress is likely to keep an eye on free trade issues, such as export restrictions on rare earth oxides and other raw materials, which were brought before the World Trade Organization by the United States, Europe, and Japan and won against China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2015-01-09
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North American Oil Sands: History of Development, Prospects for the Future [Updated December 11, 2007]
"When it comes to future reliable oil supplies, Canada's oil sands will likely account for a greater share of U.S. oil imports. Oil sands account for about 46% of Canada's total oil production and oil sands production is increasing as conventional oil production declines. Since 2004, when a substantial portion of Canada's oil sands were deemed economic, Canada, with about 175 billion barrels of proved oil sands reserves, has ranked second behind Saudi Arabia in oil reserves. Canadian crude oil exports were about 1.82 million barrels per day (mbd) in 2006, of which 1.8 mbd or 99% went to the United States. Canadian crude oil accounts for about 18% of U.S. net imports and about 12% of all U.S. crude oil supply. Oil sands, a mixture of sand, bitumen (a heavy crude that does not flow naturally), and water, can be mined or the oil can be extracted in-situ using thermal recovery techniques. Typically, oil sands contain about 75% inorganic matter, 10% bitumen, 10% silt and clay, and 5% water. Oil sand is sold in two forms: as a raw bitumen that must be blended with a diluent for transport and as a synthetic crude oil (SCO) after being upgraded to constitute a light crude. Bitumen is a thick tar-like substance that must be upgraded by adding hydrogen or removing some of the carbon. Exploitation of oil sands in Canada began in 1967, after decades of research and development that began in the early 1900s."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2007-12-11
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U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes [June 30, 2011]
"Access to potential oil and gas resources under the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) continues to be controversial. Moratoria on leasing and development in certain areas were largely eliminated in 2008 and 2009, although a few areas remain legislatively off limits to leasing. The 112th Congress may be unlikely to reinstate broad leasing moratoria, but some Members have expressed interest in protecting areas (e.g., the Georges Bank or Northern California) or establishing protective coastal buffers. Pressure to expand oil and gas supplies and protect coastal environments and communities will likely lead Congress and the Administration to consider carefully which areas to keep open to leasing and which to protect from development. The oil spill that occurred on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico brought increased attention to offshore drilling risks. Consideration of offshore development for any purpose has raised concerns over the protection of the marine and coastal environment. In addition to the oil spill, historical events associated with offshore oil production, such as the large oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA, in 1969, cause both opponents and proponents of offshore development to consider the risks and to weigh those risks against the economic and social benefits of the development. […] The ultimate impact of oil and gas development in offshore areas will depend on oil and gas prices, volumes of resources actually discovered, infrastructure development, and restrictions placed on development, all of which currently carry significant uncertainties."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc; Pirog, Robert L.; Whitney, Gene
2011-06-30
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Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain [September 6, 2011]
"The concentration of production of rare earth elements (REEs) outside the United States raises the important issue of supply vulnerability. REEs are used for new energy technologies and national security applications. Is the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions of REEs? Are these elements essential to U.S. national security and economic well-being? [...] Some of the major end uses for rare earth elements include use in automotive catalytic converters, fluid cracking catalysts in petroleum refining, phosphors in color television and flat panel displays (cell phones, portable DVDs, and laptops), permanent magnets and rechargeable batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles, and generators for wind turbines, and numerous medical devices. There are important defense applications, such as jet fighter engines, missile guidance systems, antimissile defense, and space-based satellites and communication systems."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2011-09-06
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North American Oil Sands: History of Development, Prospects for the Future [Updated January 17, 2008]
"When it comes to future reliable oil supplies, Canada's oil sands will likely account for a greater share of U.S. oil imports. Oil sands account for about 46% of Canada's total oil production and oil sands production is increasing as conventional oil production declines. Since 2004, when a substantial portion of Canada's oil sands were deemed economic, Canada, with about 175 billion barrels of proved oil sands reserves, has ranked second behind Saudi Arabia in oil reserves. […] The U.S. experience with oil sands has been much different. The U.S. government collaborated with several major oil companies as early as the 1930s to demonstrate mining of and in-situ production from U.S. oil sand deposits. However, a number of obstacles, including the remote and difficult topography, scattered deposits, and lack of water, have resulted in an uneconomic oil resource base. Only modest amounts are being produced in Utah and California. U.S. oil sands would likely require significant R&D and capital investment over many years to be commercially viable. An issue for Congress might be the level of R&D investment in oil sands over the long term. As oil sands production in Canada is predicted to increase to 2.8 million barrels per day by 2015, environmental issues are a cause for concern. Air quality, land use, and water availability are all impacted. Socio-economic issues such as housing, skilled labor, traffic, and aboriginal concerns may also become a constraint on growth."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-01-17
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Oil Development on Federal Lands and the Outer Continental Shelf [Updated August 6, 2008]
This CRS report "provides an overview of selected legislative initiatives, examines oil production and resource data, and discusses oil development concerns on federal lands, both onshore and on the OCS (Outer Continental Shelf). [...] Over the past year, crude oil prices have nearly doubled, reaching record levels. Proposals before Congress include a number of legislative initiatives to increase domestic oil production. These proposals have fallen into two broad categories: to (1) open areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) which are currently under leasing moratoria; and to (2) encourage companies holding oil and gas leases to diligently develop leases to bring them into production. Proponents of these initiatives argue that promising areas should be open for exploration to maximize domestic oil production as soon as possible."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-08-06
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Outer Continental Shelf: Debate Over Oil and Gas Leasing and Revenue Sharing [July 15, 2008]
"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 (tcf) of natural gas. Another 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 tcf of natural gas are classified as undiscovered resources. Congress has imposed moratoria on much of the OCS since 1982 through the annual Interior appropriation bills. A Presidential Directive issued by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 (and extended by President Clinton until 2012)also banned offshore oil and gas development in much of the OCS. Proponents of the moratoria contend that offshore drilling would pose unacceptable environmental risks and threaten coastal tourism industries. On June 18, 2008, President Bush announced his support for lifting the moratoria on offshore oil and gas development. However, President Bush said that he would not lift the executive ban until Congress acted to lift its ban first. But, on July 14, 2008, President Bush reversed his position and lifted the executive ban on the OCS before Congress acted. […] However, Kerr McGee Oil and Gas Corp. (now Anadarko Petroleum Corp.) filed a lawsuit challenging MMS's [Minerals Management Service] authority to impose price thresholds in the DWRRA [Deep Water Royalty Relief Act] leases. On October 18, 2007, a ruling was issued by the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana, in favor of Kerr McGee."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2008-07-15
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Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases [December 7, 2007]
"The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). […] Under Title II, this bill would, among other things, deny new Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases to lessees holding leases without price thresholds or payment of or agreement to pay newly established 'conservation of resources' fees. On January 18, 2007, the House passed H.R. 6, without amendment, by a vote of 264-123. On July 30, 2007, the House introduced H.R. 3221, containing language on offshore royalties (under Title VII) nearly identical to Title II of H.R. 6. The House approved H.R. 3221 on August 4, 2007, by a vote of 241-170, but on December 6, 2007 the House approved the Senate-passed version of energy policy legislation (H.R. 6) without the royalty relief provisions discussed above. The bill is now pending in the Senate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2007-12-07
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Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain [June 8, 2012]
"The concentration of production of rare earth elements (REEs) outside the United States raises the important issue of supply vulnerability. REEs are used for new energy technologies and national security applications. Is the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions of REEs? Are these elements essential to U.S. national security and economic well-being? […] World demand for rare earth elements is estimated at 136,000 tons per year, with global production around 133,600 tons in 2010. The difference is covered by previously mined aboveground stocks. World demand is projected to rise to at least 185,000 tons annually by 2015. Additional mine capacity at Mt. Weld Australia is expected to come onstream in 2012, to help close the raw materials gap in the short term. Other new mining projects could easily take 10 years to reach production. In the long run, however, the USGS expects that global reserves and undiscovered resources are large enough to meet demand. In March 2012, the Obama Administration announced the filing of a World Trade Organization case against China, citing unfair trade practices in rare earths. Several legislative proposals have been introduced in the 112th Congress in the House and Senate to address the potential of U.S. supply vulnerability and to support domestic production and supply chain development of REEs because of their applications for national security/defense systems and clean energy technologies. The House Committee on Natural Resources reported H.R. 2011, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011, on July 20, 2011."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2012-06-08
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U.S. Crude Oil Production in Federal and Non-Federal Areas [March 20, 2012]
"In 2011, oil prices traded between $85-$110 per barrel and remain high in 2012. Congress is faced with proposals designed to enhance domestic energy supply and security as well as the requirements of environmental statutes. A key question in this discussion is how much oil is produced each year and how much of that comes from federal and nonfederal areas. Oil production has fluctuated on both federal and non-federal lands over the past five years. On nonfederal lands, there was a major increase in oil production from 2008-2009 (231,000 barrels per day (b/d)), a significant decline in 2010, then another surge in 2011, increasing total U.S. oil production by nearly 530,000 b/d over 2007 production levels. About 96% of the increase since 2007 took place on non-federal lands, but the federal share of total U.S. production only fell by about two percentage points. Oil production fluctuated widely in the past five years, thus giving different results when comparing years. For example, when comparing 2010 with 2007, the federal share of the increase over 2007 was about 72% of the total. On federal lands, there was also an increase in production from 2008-2009 and another increase in 2010 (258,000 b/d), then a decline in 2011. Overall, oil production on federal lands is up slightly in 2011 when compared to 2007."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2012-03-20
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U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes [February 10, 2012]
"Access to potential oil and gas resources under the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) continues to be controversial. Moratoria on leasing and development in certain areas were largely eliminated in 2008 and 2009, although a few areas remain legislatively off limits to leasing. The 112th Congress may be unlikely to reinstate broad leasing moratoria, but some Members have expressed interest in protecting areas (e.g., the Georges Bank or Northern California) or establishing protective coastal buffers. Pressure to expand oil and gas supplies and protect coastal environments and communities will likely lead Congress and the Administration to consider carefully which areas to keep open to leasing and which to protect from development. The oil spill that occurred on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico brought increased attention to offshore drilling risks. Consideration of offshore development for any purpose has raised concerns over the protection of the marine and coastal environment. […] On December 14, 2011, the Obama Administration held lease sale 218 in the Western Gulf of Mexico, the first sale since the oil spill. A combined lease sale in the Central Gulf of Mexico (sale 216 and 222) is scheduled for June 20, 2012, the final sale of the 2007-2012 leasing program. […] The ultimate impact of oil and gas development in offshore areas will depend on oil and gas prices, volumes of resources actually discovered, infrastructure development, and restrictions placed on development, all of which currently carry significant uncertainties."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pirog, Robert L.; Humphries, Marc
2012-02-10
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U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes [April 26, 2010]
"Access to potential oil and gas resources under the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) continues to be controversial. Moratoria on leasing and development in certain areas were established by Congress (beginning in 1981) and by the President (beginning in 1990). These moratoria were largely eliminated in 2008 and 2009, although a few areas remain legislatively off limits to leasing. The 111th Congress may be unlikely to reinstate broad leasing moratoria, but some members have expressed interest in protecting areas (e.g., the Georges Bank or Northern California) or establishing protective coastal buffers. Pressure to expand oil and gas supplies and protect coastal environments and communities will likely lead Congress and the Administration to consider carefully which areas to keep open to leasing and which to protect from development. On April 2, 2010, the Obama Administration announced Preliminary Revised Program (PRP) for the remainder of the 2007-2012 OCS Leasing Program. […]. Consideration of offshore development for any purpose may raise concerns over the protection of the marine and coastal environment. […]. One characteristic of the U.S. oil market, as well as of world oil markets, is that the access to supply tends to be sequential. Normally, the first source of oil used by a nation is domestic production, if available. Typically, the next source of supply is imports from countries not party to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Finally, residual demand is met by OPEC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc; Pirog, Robert L.; Whitney, Gene
2010-04-26
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Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain [July 28, 2010]
"The concentration of production of rare earth elements (REEs) outside the United States raises the important issue of supply vulnerability. REEs are used for new energy technologies and national security applications. Is the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions of REEs? Are these elements essential to U.S. national security and economic well-being? There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs), 15 within the chemical group called lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium. The lanthanides consist of the following: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Rare earths are moderately abundant in the earth's crust, some even more abundant than copper, lead, gold, and platinum. While more abundant than many other minerals, REE are not concentrated enough to make them easily exploitable economically. The United States was once self-reliant in domestically produced REEs, but over the past 15 years has become 100% reliant on imports, primarily from China, because of lower-cost operations. There is no rare earth mine production in the United States. U.S.-based Molycorp operates a separation plant at Mountain Pass, CA, and sells the rare earth concentrates and refined products from previously mined above-ground stocks. Neodymium, praseodymium, and lanthanum oxides are produced for further processing but these materials are not turned into rare earth metal in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2010-07-28
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Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain [September 30, 2010]
"The concentration of production of rare earth elements (REEs) outside the United States raises the important issue of supply vulnerability. REEs are used for new energy technologies and national security applications. Is the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions of REEs? Are these elements essential to U.S. national security and economic well-being? There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs), 15 within the chemical group called lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium. The lanthanides consist of the following: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Rare earths are moderately abundant in the earth's crust, some even more abundant than copper, lead, gold, and platinum. While more abundant than many other minerals, REE are not concentrated enough to make them easily exploitable economically. The United States was once self-reliant in domestically produced REEs, but over the past 15 years has become 100% reliant on imports, primarily from China, because of lower-cost operations. There is no rare earth mine production in the United States. U.S.-based Molycorp operates a separation plant at Mountain Pass, CA, and sells the rare earth concentrates and refined products from previously mined above-ground stocks. Neodymium, praseodymium, and lanthanum oxides are produced for further processing but these materials are not turned into rare earth metal in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphries, Marc
2010-09-30
