tlantic OCS Area
The MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Office conducts all leasing and resource
management functions on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for the Gulf of Mexico
Region and the Atlantic OCS Area.
The Atlantic OCS Area is divided into four planning areas along the Atlantic
seaboard:
Additional information on oil and gas leasing activities in the Atlantic can
be found within Frequently Asked Questions.
Virginia
Lease Sale 220 Information
Atlantic Seismic Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS)
Historical Background
Ten oil and gas lease sales were held in the Atlantic between 1976 and 1983.
Fifty-one (51)
wells were drilled in the Atlantic OCS; five
(5) Continental Offshore Stratigraphic Test (COST) wells
between 1975 and 1979, and forty-six (46) industry wells
between 1977 and 1984. Five wells offshore New Jersey had successful
drillstem tests of natural gas and/or condensate and can be found in
mid Atlantic wells. These five wells were abandoned as
non-commercial, at the time. A
summary document of
the eight exploratory wells drilled in the North Atlantic is currently available.
Reports on each of the eight
exploratory and two COST wells drilled in the North Atlantic Planning Area are available
and reports on ten of the thirty-four (34) wells drilled in the Mid Atlantic
Planning Area available in this release.
(Accounting for the two COST wells, 32 wells were drilled in the Mid-Atlantic
Planning Area).
Sand Resources
There is also interest in non-energy OCS resources (sand) for beach
renourishment projects. MMS's Marine Minerals Program provides policy direction
and guidance for the development of marine mineral resources on the OCS.
To date, MMS has conveyed rights to about 30
million cubic yards of OCS sand for 23 coastal restoration projects in 5 states.
These projects have resulted in the restoration
of 125 miles of the Nation’s coastline, protecting billions of dollars of
infrastructure as well as important ecological habitat. Some of these
projects were done on an emergency basis, where immanent breaching of barrier
islands was prevented by the rapid placement of OCS sand. Most of these
projects used sand that was previously identified by the MMS through its
cooperative sand evaluation program with coastal states. For more
information, visit
http://www.mms.gov/sandandgravel/.
Related links:
Atlantic OCS Area Resource Information
Atlantic OCS Fast Facts and Figures
Atlantic OCS Lease Status Information
Atlantic OCS Well
Logs
Historic Atlantic OCS Drilling Activity
North Carolina Manteo Unit Summary
Publications
Related to the Atlantic Coast