The AFMSS project was originally sponsored by Joe Chesser in the BLM New Mexico State Office.  AFMSS replaced two PC-based systems:  The Automated Inspection Records system (AIRS) which contained district office oil and gas information, and the Monthly Report of Operations (MRO) that contained copies of the Minerals Management Service's production information.  AFMSS also provides additional functionality not found in either of these two old systems.

AFMSS went into production in the BLM field offices in 1997, and officially entered operations and maintenance status in 1998.  The original versions of AFMSS included an AIX client.  However, since AFMSS v2.3, the client portion of AFMSS only runs on the Windows platform.

AFMSS is used to track oil and gas information on public and Indian land.  It contains data concerning lease and agreement ownership, well identification, location and history, including casing information, geologic formations, resource protection, production, and operator compliance.  The system has an electronic commerce module to interface with the oil and gas industry.

AFMSS is used in all BLM field offices and State Offices which are involved in supporting the Fluid Minerals Program.