| The primary responsibility of the Resource
Evaluation program is to investigate the mineral potential of the OCS, predominantly for
oil and gas, and to assure the receipt of fair market value for OCS oil and gas leases
that are awarded to private firms through a competitive bidding process. To accomplish
these responsibilities the Resource Evaluation office acquires and analyzes large volumes
of geological and geophysical information. Resource Evaluation also serves as the
regulatory administrator that governs the collection of geological and geophysical data
offshore. Resource Evaluation studies are carried out by a multi-disciplinary staff of
geologists, geophysists, engineers, and other physical scientists. WHERE DOES RESOURCE EVALUATION GET OFFSHORE DATA?
In general, companies wishing to collect geological and geophysical
data on the OCS prior to a lease sale must obtain a permit from the Resource Evaluation
Office of MMS. Permits for data collection are granted after Resource Evaluation evaluates
the permit application for compliance with existing regulations. A data collection permit
imposes terms, conditions, and stipulations upon the data collector that are primarily
aimed at protecting the marine environment. After a permit is granted, Resource Evaluation
monitors all field data collection activities to ensure compliance with the terms of the
permit.
To carry out its mandate to assess the petroleum potential of
offshore U.S. lands, Resource Evaluation is empowered to select and obtain copies of the
geological and geophysical data that are collected under permit by private firms in the
Alaska OCS.
HOW MUCH OIL AND GAS IS PRESENT OFFSHORE AND WHAT IS IT
WORTH?
Resource Evaluation uses reflection seismic (and other) data to
create maps that identify those areas of the Alaska OCS likely to contain oil and gas
accumulations. Maps of specific structures that may have trapped petroleum, called
prospect maps, are used to estimate the quantities of oil and gas that might be produced
from a particular lease or group of leases. Estimates for potential revenues from oil and
gas production are compared to estimates for costs of development to calculate the profit
potential or economic worth of lands. The economic worth ultimately determines the minimum
amount of money that must be offered with a lease sale bid in order to win exploration and
development rights for a particular OCS lease.
Resource Evaluation administrates
the unitization (grouping under common rules) of productive leases and monitors
development to ensure maximum return to the public. When a field is depleted, abandonment
procedures are implemented to restore the area to its original state. The leaseholder then
relinquishes all exploration or development rights and the lease becomes available for
bidding in future lease sales.
Resource Evaluation also carries out regional assessments of the
undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Alaska OCS. These assessments are used to
identify those areas offering the greatest potential and to guide leasing and exploration
policies and programs.
Resource Evaluation prepares reports that describe the geology and
petroleum potential of specific areas within the Alaska OCS. These geologic reports form
part of the public information base for decision-making with regard to lease offerings.
The reports treat a wide range of topics, including regional geology, petroleum geology,
and environmental geology. The geologic reports also identify and characterize geologic or
oceanographic features that may affect exploration or development engineering designs.
Geologic reports published by the Resource Evaluation Office describe the geology or
drilling results in the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, Navarin Basin, Norton Basin, St. George
Basin, North Aleutian Basin, Shumagin Shelf, Kodiak Shelf, and Gulf of Alaska Shelf areas.
Resource Evaluation findings are also published in various professional journals and
presented at geological, geophysical, and engineering conferences.
Reference Materials, Publications,
and Other Information
For Further Information, Contact:
Regional Supervisor for Resource Evaluation
Ph: 907-334-5321; Fax: 907-334-5322
E-mail: rance.wall@mms.gov
Public Affairs Officer
Ph: 907-334-5208; Fax: 907-334-5202
E-mail: robin.cacy@mms.gov
Public Information
Ph: 907-334-5207; Fax: 907-334-5202
E-mail: christine.huffaker@mms.gov
Or Write To:
Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region,
3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500
Anchorage, AK 99503-5820 |
