Royalty Relief-Ultra-Deep Gas Wells and Deep Gas Wells on Leases in the Gulf of Mexico; Extension of Royalty Relief Provisions to Leases Offshore of Alaska

Résumé

This final rule amends existing deep gas royalty relief regulations to reflect statutory changes enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It provides additional royalty relief for certain ultra- deep wells on Outer Continental Shelf leases in shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico. It extends both the existing and the additional deep gas royalty relief to Outer Continental Shelf leases in deeper water than before. Finally, this final rule applies discretionary royalty relief procedures that have been used by deepwater leases in the Gulf of Mexico to leases offshore of Alaska.