News Release

For Release:  March 11, 2009              
Contact:  David Christy, (916) 985-4474
CA-CC-09-43

BLM Oil and Gas Lease Auction Tops $63,000

Eleven oil and gas lease parcels in Kern County were auctioned for a total of $63,223 in revenues, including administrative fees, by the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office today.

Occidental Petroleum, Bakersfield, was the per-acre high bidder at $42.50 per acre for a 40-acre lease in Kern County. Occidental Petroleum, Inc. was the highest bidder by total at $11,857.50.

Results by parcel were:

• Parcel 3-09-1:  1,400 acres, $8 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-2:  525 acres, $12 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-3:  480 acres, $11 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-4:  520 acres, $2 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-5:  639 acres, $19.50 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-6:  200 acres, $30 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-7:  279 acres, $42.50 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-8:  42 acres, $11 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-9:  729 acres, $7 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-10: 320 acres, $10.50 per acre.
• Parcel 3-09-11: 80 acres, $2 per acre.

BLM is required by law to periodically offer federal lands for lease for oil and gas exploration and development. The oil and gas industry is encouraged to submit an "expression of interest" for federal land parcels in California that have potential for development.   BLM is currently accepting “expressions of interest” for review to include in the lease auction planned for December 9, 2009.

The next lease auction is scheduled for June 23, 2009, in Sacramento.

Further information regarding the lease auctions can be obtained from Laurie Moore at the BLM California State Office, telephone (916) 978-4377; Nora DeDios at the BLM Bakersfield Field Office, telephone (661) 391-6129, or on the web go to http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/energy/og/instructions.html

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