Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Sale; 216/222, 29683-29689 [2012-12004]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2012 / Notices
exception of any unleased blocks within
15 mi (24 km) of the Baldwin County,
Alabama coast.
Alternative D—No Action: This
alternative would cancel the proposed
CPA lease sale and is the
environmentally preferred alternative.
BOEM has determined that the
economic and energy security benefits
of exploring and developing the
domestic energy resources available in
the GOM, including job creation, merit
holding a sale in this area at this time.
Lost production from cancellation of the
sale would likely result in substitution
of resources that would also have
negative environmental impacts.
Moreover, given the long history of
exploration and development in this
area, as well as significant current
activity, the GOM has significant
onshore and offshore infrastructure to
support continuing oil and gas activity.
This infrastructure includes advanced
oil spill response infrastructure that has
been enhanced since the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill due to strengthened
safety and environmental standards and
efforts on the part of industry to comply
with new regulatory requirements and
provide additional resources, including
for example, the readiness of equipment
necessary to contain a subsea spill. After
careful consideration, BOEM has
selected Alternative A, the Proposed
Action.
Record of Decision Availability: To
obtain a single printed or CD–ROM copy
of the Record of Decision for CPA Lease
Sale 216/222, you may contact BOEM,
GOM OCS Region, Public Information
Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394 (1–800–200–
GULF). An electronic copy of the
Record of Decision is available on
BOEM’s Internet Web site at https://
www.boem.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/EnvironmentalAssessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For
more information on the Record of
Decision, you may contact Mr. Gary D.
Goeke, Chief, Regional Assessment
Section, Office of Environment, BOEM,
GOM OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard (MS 5410), New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394, You may also
contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504)
736–3233.
Dated: May 10, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2012–11999 Filed 5–17–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico
Planning Area Sale; 216/222
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Final Notice of Sale.
AGENCY:
On Wednesday, June 20,
2012, BOEM will open and publicly
announce bids received for the blocks
offered in Central Gulf of Mexico
Planning Area (CPA) Sale 216/222, in
accordance with provisions of the OCS
Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331–
1356, as amended) and the regulations
issued thereunder (30 CFR part 556).
The CPA Sale 216/222 Package contains
information essential to potential
bidders, and bidders are charged with
the knowledge of the documents
contained in that package.
DATES: Public bid reading for CPA Sale
216/222 will begin at 9 a.m.,
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, 1500
Sugarbowl Drive, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70112. The lease sale will be
held in the St. Charles Club Room on
the second floor (Loge Level). Entry to
the Superdome will be on the Poydras
Street side of the building through Gate
A on the Ground Level, and parking will
be available at Garage 6. All times
referred to in this document are local
New Orleans time, unless otherwise
specified.
SUMMARY:
Interested parties may
obtain a CPA Sale 216/222 Package by
writing, calling or visiting the Web site:
Gulf of Mexico Region Public
Information Office, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, 1201 Elmwood
Park Boulevard, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394, (504) 736–
2519 or (800) 200–GULF.
BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Internet
Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/
About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Gulf-ofMexico-Region/Index.aspx.
Filing of Bids: Bidders must submit
sealed bids to the address below,
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on normal
working days, and from 8 a.m. to the
Bid Submission Deadline of 10:00 a.m.
on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the day
before the lease sale. If bids are mailed,
please address the envelope containing
all of the sealed bids as follows:
Attention: Leasing and Financial
Responsibility Section, BOEM Gulf of
Mexico Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394.
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
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29683
Contains Sealed Bids for CPA Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 216/222. Please
Deliver to Ms. Nancy Kornrumpf, Ms.
Cindy Thibodeaux, or Ms. Kasey
Couture, 6th Floor, Immediately.
Please note: 1. Bidders mailing bid(s) are
advised to call Ms. Nancy Kornrumpf at (504)
736–2726, Ms. Cindy Thibodeaux at (504)
736–2809, or Ms. Kasey Couture at (504)
736–2909 immediately after putting their
bid(s) in the mail. If BOEM receives bids later
than the Bid Submission Deadline, the BOEM
-Regional Director (RD) will return those bids
unopened to bidders. Should an unexpected
event such as flooding or travel restrictions
be significantly disruptive to bid submission,
BOEM may extend the Bid Submission
Deadline. Bidders may call (504) 736–0557 or
access the BOEM Gulf of Mexico Internet
Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/AboutBOEM/BOEM-Regions/Gulf-of-MexicoRegion/Index.aspx for information about the
possible extension of the Bid Submission
Deadline due to such an event.
2. Blocks or portions of blocks beyond the
United States (U.S.) Exclusive Economic
Zone are offered based upon provisions of
the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.
3. Blocks near the U.S.-Mexico maritime
and continental shelf boundaries could
become subject to the Agreement between the
United States of America and the United
Mexican States Concerning Transboundary
Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of
Mexico (Agreement). Bidders are advised to
refer to the Bids on Blocks Near U.S.-Mexico
Maritime and Continental Shelf Boundary
portion of this document for detailed
information pertaining to the opening of bids
affecting blocks in this area.
Area Offered for Leasing: In CPA Sale
216/222, BOEM is offering to lease all
blocks and partial blocks listed in the
document ‘‘List of Blocks Available for
Leasing’’ included in the CPA Sale 216/
222 Package. All of these blocks are
shown on the following leasing maps
and Official Protraction Diagrams
(OPD’s):
Outer Continental Shelf Leasing
Maps—Louisiana Map Numbers 1
Through 12 (These 30 maps sell for
$2.00 each.)
LA1 West Cameron Area (Revised July 1,
2011)
LA1A West Cameron Area, West Addition
(Revised February 28, 2007)
LA1B West Cameron Area, South Addition
(Revised February 28, 2007)
LA2 East Cameron Area (Revised November
1, 2000)
LA2A East Cameron Area, South Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3 Vermilion Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA3A South Marsh Island Area (Revised
November 1, 2000)
LA3B Vermilion Area, South Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3C South Marsh Island Area, South
Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3D South Marsh Island Area, North
Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
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LA4 Eugene Island Area (Revised
November 1, 2000)
LA4A Eugene Island Area, South Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA5 Ship Shoal Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA5A Ship Shoal Area, South Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6 South Timbalier Area (Revised
November 1, 2000)
LA6A South Timbalier Area, South
Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6B South Pelto Area (Revised November
1, 2000)
LA6C Bay Marchand Area (Revised
November 1, 2000)
LA7 Grand Isle Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA7A Grand Isle Area, South Addition
(Revised February 17, 2004)
LA8 West Delta Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA8A West Delta Area, South Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA9 South Pass Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA9A South Pass Area, South and East
Additions (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA10 Main Pass Area (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA10A Main Pass Area, South and East
Additions (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA10B Breton Sound Area (Revised
November 1, 2000)
LA11 Chandeleur Area (Revised November
1, 2000)
LA11A Chandeleur Area, East Addition
(Revised November 1, 2000)
LA12 Sabine Pass Area (Revised July 1,
2011)
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Outer Continental Shelf Official
Protraction Diagrams (These 19
diagrams sell for $2.00 each.)
NG15–02 Garden Banks (Revised February
28, 2007)
NG15–03 Green Canyon (Revised November
1, 2000)
NG15–05 Keathley Canyon (Revised
February 28, 2007)
NG15–06 Walker Ridge (Revised November
1, 2000)
NG15–08 Sigsbee Escarpment (Revised
February 28, 2007)
NG15–09 Amery Terrace (Revised October
25, 2000)
NG16–01 Atwater Valley (Revised
November 1, 2000)
NG16–02 Lloyd Ridge (Revised August 1,
2008)
NG16–04 Lund (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG16–05 Henderson (Revised August 1,
2008)
NG16–07 Lund South (Revised November
1, 2000)
NG16–08 Florida Plain (Revised February
28, 2007)
NH15–12 Ewing Bank (Revised November
1, 2000)
NH16–04 Mobile (Revised July 1, 2011)
NH16–05 Pensacola (Revised February 28,
2007)
NH16–07 Viosca Knoll (Revised November
1, 2000)
NH16–08 Destin Dome (Revised February
28, 2007)
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NH16–10 Mississippi Canyon (Revised
November 1, 2000)
NH16–11 De Soto Canyon (Revised August
1, 2008)
Please note: A CD–ROM (in ARC/INFO and
Acrobat (.pdf) format) containing all of the
Gulf of Mexico (GOM) leasing maps and
OPD’s, except those not yet converted to
digital format, is available from the GOM
Region Public Information Office for a price
of $15.00. In addition, Supplemental Official
OCS Block Diagrams (SOBD’s) are available
for blocks that contain the U.S.-Mexico
Maritime Boundary, the U.S.-Mexico
Continental Shelf Boundary, the U.S. 200
Nautical Mile Limit, and the U.S.-Mexico
Continental Shelf Article IV ‘‘Area’’ Limit
lines (i.e., the 1.4 nautical mile buffer). These
SOBD’s are also available from the GOM
Region Public Information Office.
These GOM leasing maps, SOBD’s,
and OPD’s are also available for free
online at: https://www.boem.gov/Oiland-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-andData/Maps-And-Spatial-Data.aspx.
For the current status of all CPA
leasing maps and OPD’s, please refer to
66 FR 28002 (published May 21, 2001),
69 FR 23211 (published April 28, 2004),
72 FR 27590 (published May 16, 2007),
72 FR 35720 (published June 29, 2007),
73 FR 63505 (published October 24,
2008), and 76 FR 54787 (published
September 2, 2011).
All blocks are shown on these leasing
maps and OPD’s. The available Federal
acreage of all whole and partial blocks
in this lease sale is shown in the
document ‘‘List of Blocks Available for
Leasing’’ included in the CPA Sale 216/
222 Package. Some of these blocks may
be partially leased or deferred, or
transected by administrative lines such
as the Federal/state jurisdictional line.
A bid on a block must include all of the
available Federal acreage of that block.
Also, information on the unleased
portions of such blocks is found in the
document ‘‘Central Planning Area,
Consolidated Lease Sale 216/222, June
20, 2012—Unleased Split Blocks and
Available Unleased Acreage of Blocks
with Aliquots and Irregular Portions
Under Lease or Deferred’’ included in
the CPA Sale 216/222 Package.
For additional information, please call
Mr. Lenny Coats, Chief of the Mapping
and Automation Section, at (504) 736–
1457.
Areas Not Available for Leasing: The
following whole and partial blocks are
not offered for lease in this sale:
Whole and partial blocks that lie
within the former Western Gap and are
within 1.4 nautical miles north of the
continental shelf boundary between the
United States and Mexico:
PO 00000
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Amery Terrace (OPD NG 15–09)
Whole Blocks: 280, 281, 318 through
320, and 355 through 359
Portions of Blocks: 235 through 238, 273
through 279, and 309 through 317
Sigsbee Escarpment (OPD NG 15–08)
Whole Blocks: 239, 284, and 331
through 341
Portions of Blocks: 151, 195, 196, 240,
241, 285 through 298, and 342
through 349
Whole blocks and portions of blocks
that lie adjacent to or beyond the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone, in or
adjoining the area known as the
northern portion of the Eastern Gap:
Lund South (OPD NG 16–07)
Whole Blocks: 128, 129, 169 through
173, 208, through 217, 248 through
261, 293 through 305, and 349
Henderson (OPD NG 16–05)
Whole Blocks: 466, 508 through 510,
551 through 554, 594 through 599,
637 through 643, 679 through 687,
722 through 731, 764 through 775,
807 through 819, 849 through 862,
891 through 905, 933 through 949,
and 975 through 992
Portions of Blocks: 467, 511, 555, 556,
600, 644, 688, 732, 776, 777, 820, 821,
863, 864, 906, 907, 950, 993, and 994
Florida Plain (OPD NG 16–08)
Whole Blocks: 5 through 24, 46 through
67, 89 through 110, 133 through 154,
177 through 197, 221 through 240,
265 through 283, 309 through 327,
and 363 through 370
Whole blocks and portions of blocks
deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy
Security Act of 2006:
Pensacola (OPD NH 16–05)
Blocks: 751 through 754, 793 through
798, 837 through 842, 881 through
886, 925 through 930, and 969
through 975
Destin Dome (OPD NH 16–08)
Whole Blocks: 1 through 7, 45 through
51, 89 through 96, 133 through 140,
177 through 184, 221 through 228,
265 through 273, 309 through 317,
353 through 361, 397 through 405,
441 through 450, 485 through 494,
529 through 538, 573 through 582,
617 through 627, 661 through 671,
705 through 715, 749 through 759,
793 through 804, 837 through 848,
881 through 892, 925 through 936,
and 969 through 981
DeSoto Canyon (OPD NH 16–11)
Whole Blocks: 1 through 15, 45 through
59, and 92 through 102
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Portions of Blocks: 16, 60, 61, 89
through 91, 103 through 105, and 135
through 147
Henderson (OPD NG 16–05)
Portions of Blocks: 114, 158, 202, 246,
290, 334, 335, 378, 379, 422, and 423
The following block is deferred until
measures to ensure the safety of
decommissioning operations are
completed:
Green Canyon (OPD NG15–03)
Block 20
The following blocks are under appeal
and bids will not be accepted:
OCS G 22966 Green Canyon 478
OCS G 22975 Green Canyon 536
OCS G 22983 Green Canyon 581
OCS G 22921 Mississippi Canyon 999
OCS G 22922 Mississippi Canyon 1000
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Note: Bids on Blocks Near the U.S.-Mexico
Maritime and Continental Shelf Boundary.
The following definitions apply to this
section: ‘‘Agreement’’ refers to the agreement
between the United Mexican States and the
United States of America that addresses
identification and unitization of
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs,
allocation of production, inspections, safety,
and environmental protection. ‘‘Boundary
Area,’’ means an area comprised of any and
all blocks in the CPA, that are located or
partially located within three statute miles of
the maritime and continental shelf boundary
with Mexico, as that maritime boundary is
delimited in the November 24, 1970 Treaty
to Resolve Pending Boundary Differences and
Maintain the Rio Grande and Colorado River
as the International Boundary, the May 4,
1978 Treaty on Maritime Boundaries between
the United Mexican States and the United
States of America, and the June 9, 2000
Treaty on the Continental Shelf between the
Government of the United Mexican States
and the Government of the United States of
America. A copy of the Agreement can be
found at the Department of the Interior Web
site at: https://www.boem.gov/BOEMNewsroom/Library/Boundaries-Mexico.aspx.
The Agreement was signed on
February 20, 2012, but has not yet been
bilaterally approved. Bids submitted on
any block in the ‘‘Boundary Area’’ (as
defined above) may be segregated from
bids submitted on blocks outside the
Boundary Area. Bids submitted on
blocks outside the Boundary Area will
be opened on the date scheduled for
sale. Bids submitted on blocks in the
Boundary Area may not be opened on
the date scheduled for the sale, but may
be opened at a later date. Within 30
days after the approval of the Agreement
or December 31, 2012, whichever occurs
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first, the Secretary of the Interior will
determine whether it is in the best
interest of the United States either to
open bids for Boundary Area blocks or
to return the bids unopened.
In the event the Secretary decides to
open bids on blocks in the Boundary
Area, BOEM will notify such bidders at
least 30 days prior to opening such bids,
and will describe the terms of the
Agreement under which leases in the
Boundary Area will be issued. Bidders
on these blocks may withdraw their bids
at any time after such notice up until 10
a.m. (New Orleans local time) of the day
before bid opening. If BOEM does not
give notice within 30 days of bilateral
approval of the Agreement or by
December 31, 2012, whichever comes
first, BOEM will return the bids
unopened. This timing will allow
companies to make decisions regarding
the next annual CPA lease sale
anticipated in 2013, which may also
offer blocks in this area. BOEM reserves
the right to return these bids at any
time. BOEM will not disclose which
blocks received bids or the names of
bidders in this area unless and until the
bids are opened. BOEM currently
anticipates that blocks in the Boundary
Area that are not awarded as a result of
Lease Sale 216/222 would be reoffered
in the next lease sale for the CPA in
2013.
The following blocks comprise the
Boundary Area:
Sigsbee Escarpment—151, 152, 195,
196, 197, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 284,
285, 286, 287, 288*, 289*, 290*, 291,
292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299,
300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 331, 332,
333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340,
341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348,
349
Amery Terrace—118, 119, 120*, 121*,
122*, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160,
161, 162, 163, 164*, 165*, 166*, 167,
168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175,
193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211,
212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219,
232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239,
240, 241, 242, 243, 265, 266, 267, 271,
272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279,
280, 281, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314,
315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 355, 356,
357, 358, 359
Lund South—133, 134, 135, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 177,
178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185,
186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193,
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201,
202, 203, 204, 205, 232, 233, 234, 235,
PO 00000
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236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243,
244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251,
252, 293, 294, 295, 296
*—Leased.
Statutes and Regulations: Each lease
is issued pursuant to OCSLA,
regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto, other applicable statutes and
regulations in existence upon the
Effective Date of the lease, and those
applicable statutes enacted (including
amendments to OCSLA or other
statutes) and regulations promulgated
thereafter, except to the extent they
explicitly conflict with an express
provision of the lease. It is expressly
understood that amendments to existing
statutes and regulations, including but
not limited to OCSLA, as well as the
enactment of new statutes and
promulgation of new regulations, which
do not explicitly conflict with an
express provision of the lease will apply
to the leases issued as a result of this
sale. Moreover, the lessee expressly
bears the risk that such new statutes and
regulations (i.e., that do not explicitly
conflict with an express provision of the
lease) may increase or decrease the
lessee’s obligation under the lease.
BOEM will use Form BOEM–2005
(October 2011) to convey leases
resulting from this sale. This lease form
may be viewed on the BOEM Web site
at: https://www.boem.gov/About- BOEM/
Procurement-Business-Opportunities/
BOEM-OCS-Operation-Forms/BOEMOCS-Operation-Forms.aspx. The lease
form will be amended to conform with
the specific terms, conditions, and
stipulations applicable to the individual
lease. The terms, conditions, and
stipulations applicable to this sale are
set forth below.
Lease Terms and Conditions: Initial
periods, extensions of initial periods,
minimum bonus bid amounts, rental
rates, escalating rental rates for leases
with an approved extension of the
initial 5-year period, royalty rate,
minimum royalty, and royalty
suspension provisions, if any,
applicable to this sale are noted below.
Additionally, these terms and
conditions are depicted on the map
‘‘Final, Consolidated Central Gulf of
Mexico Planning Area Sale 216/222,
June 20, 2012, Lease Terms and
Economic Conditions,’’ for leases
resulting from this lease sale.
Initial Periods: Initial periods are
summarized in the following table:
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Water depth in
meters
Initial periods
0 to <400 ..............................
5 years extended to 8 years if a well is spudded during the initial 5-year period targeting hydrocarbons below
25,000 feet True Vertical Depth Subsea (TVD SS).
5 years extended to 8 years if a well is spudded during the initial 5-year period.
7 years extended to 10 years if a well is spudded during the initial 7-year period.
10 years.
400 to <800 ..........................
800 to <1,600 .......................
1,600+ ..................................
Extensions of Initial Periods
A. The 5-year initial period for a lease
in water depths of less than 400 meters
may be extended to 8 years if the
operator, targeting hydrocarbons below
25,000 feet TVD SS, spuds a well within
the 5- year initial period. The lessee will
receive the 3-year extension in cases
where the well is drilled to a target
below 25,000 feet TVD SS and may also
receive an extension in cases where the
well targets, but does not reach a depth
below 25,000 feet TVD SS due to
mechanical or safety reasons. Operators
who do not target hydrocarbons with a
depth of at least 25,000 feet within the
initial 5-year period may not receive an
extension of the lease.
In order for the 5-year initial period
to be extended to 8 years, the lessee is
required to submit to the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement
(BSEE), GOM Regional Supervisor for
Production and Development, 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, Mail Stop
5300, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70123–
2394, within 30 days after completion of
the drilling operation, a letter providing
the well number, spud date, information
demonstrating whether the target below
25,000 feet TVD SS was reached, and if
applicable, any safety or mechanical
problems encountered that prevented
the well from reaching a depth below
25,000 feet TVD SS. The BSEE Regional
Supervisor for Production and
Development must concur in writing
that the conditions have been met to
extend the initial period by 3 years. The
BSEE Regional Supervisor for
Production and Development will
provide written confirmation of any
lease extension within 30 days of
receipt of the letter provided.
A lease that has earned a 3-year
extension by spudding a well during the
5-year initial period with a hydrocarbon
target below 25,000 feet TVD SS,
confirmed by BSEE, will not be eligible
for a suspension for that same period
under the regulations at 30 CFR 250.175
because the lease is not at risk of
expiring.
B. The 5-year initial period for a lease
in water depths of 400 meters to less
than 800 meters issued from this sale
will be extended to 8 years if the
operator spuds a well within the initial
5-year period.
In order for the 5-year initial period
to be extended to 8 years, the lessee is
required to submit to the appropriate
BSEE District Manager, within 30 days
after spudding a well, a letter providing
the well number and spud date, and
requesting confirmation of a 3-year
extension of the initial period. The
BSEE District Manager will review the
request and make a determination. A
written response will be sent to the
lessee documenting the BSEE District
Manager’s decision within 30 days of
receipt of the request. For an extension
to be granted, the BSEE District Manager
must concur in writing that the
conditions have been met to extend the
initial period by 3 years.
C. The 7-year initial period for a lease
in water depths of 800 meters to less
than 1,600 meters issued from this sale
will be extended to 10 years if the
operator spuds a well within the initial
7-year period.
In order for the 7-year initial period
to be extended to 10 years, the lessee is
required to submit to the appropriate
BSEE District Manager, within 30 days
after spudding a well, a letter providing
the well number and spud date, and
requesting confirmation of a 3-year
extension of the initial period. The
BSEE District Manager will review the
request and make a determination. A
written response will be sent to the
lessee documenting the BSEE District
Manager’s decision within 30 days of
receipt of the request. For an extension
to be granted, the BSEE District Manager
must concur in writing that the
conditions have been met to extend the
initial period by 3 years.
Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25
per acre or fraction thereof for blocks in
water depths of less than 400 meters
and $100 per acre or fraction thereof for
blocks in water depths of 400 meters or
deeper.
A bonus bid will not be considered
for acceptance unless it provides for a
cash bonus in the amount equal to, or
exceeding, the minimum bid of $25 per
acre or fraction thereof for blocks in
water depths of less than 400 meters,
and $100 per acre or fraction thereof for
blocks in water depths of 400 meters or
deeper. To confirm the exact calculation
of the minimum bonus bid amount for
each block, see ‘‘List of Blocks Available
for Leasing,’’ contained in the CPA Sale
216/222 Package, which will become
available approximately 30 days before
the scheduled sale date. Please note that
bonus bids must be in whole dollar
amounts. BOEM will disregard partial
dollar amounts.
Rental Rates: Annual rental rates are
summarized in the following table:
RENTAL RATES PER ACRE OR FRACTION THEREOF
Years 1–5
Years 6, 7, & 8+
0 to <200 ...............................................................................................................................................
200 to <400 ...........................................................................................................................................
400 to <800 ...........................................................................................................................................
800+ .......................................................................................................................................................
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Water depth in meters
$7.00
$11.00
$11.00
$11.00
$14.00, $21.00 & $28.00
$22.00, $33.00 & $44.00
$16.00
$16.00
Escalating Rental Rates for leases with
an approved extension: Any lease in
water depths less than 400 meters and
granted a 3-year extension beyond the 5year initial period will pay an escalating
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rental rate as shown above. The
escalating rental rates after the 5th year
for blocks in less than 400 meters will
become fixed and no longer escalate if
another well is spudded during the 3-
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year extended term of the lease that
targets hydrocarbons below 25,000 feet
TVD SS, and BSEE concurs that such a
well has been spudded. In this case, the
rental rate will become fixed at the
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rental rate in effect during the lease year
in which the additional well was
spudded.
Royalty Rate: 18.75 percent.
Minimum Royalty: $7.00 per acre or
fraction thereof per year for blocks in
water depths of less than 200 meters
and $11.00 per acre or fraction thereof
per year for blocks in water depths of
200 meters or deeper.
Royalty Suspension Provisions: Leases
with royalty suspension volumes (RSVs)
are authorized under existing BSEE
regulations at 30 CFR Part 203 and
BOEM regulations at 30 CFR Part 560.
Deep and Ultra-Deep Gas Royalty
Suspensions: A lease issued as a result
of this sale may be eligible for RSV
incentives for deep and ultra-deep wells
pursuant to 30 CFR Part 203. These RSV
incentives are conditioned upon
applicable price thresholds.
• Certain wells on leases in 0 to less
than 200 meters of water depth
completed to a drilling depth of 20,000
feet TVD SS or deeper may receive an
RSV of 35 billion cubic feet of natural
gas.
• Certain wells on leases in 200 to
less than 400 meters of water depth
completed to a drilling depth of 20,000
feet TVD SS or deeper may receive an
RSV of 35 billion cubic feet of natural
gas. Wells completed from 15,000 to
20,000 feet TVD SS that begin
production before May 3, 2013, may
receive smaller RSV incentives.
Deepwater Royalty Suspensions: No
deepwater royalty suspension
provisions will be offered for leases
issued from this sale.
Lease Stipulations: The map ‘‘Final,
Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico
Planning Area Sale 216/222, June 20,
2012, Stipulations and Deferred Blocks’’
depicts the blocks on which one or more
of ten lease stipulations apply: (1)
Topographic Features; (2) Live Bottoms;
(3) Military Areas; (4) Evacuation; (5)
Coordination; (6) Blocks South of
Baldwin County, Alabama; (7) Law of
the Sea Convention Royalty Payment;
(8) Protected Species; (9) Below Seabed
Operations; and (10) Agreement
between the United States of America
and the United Mexican States
Concerning Transboundary
Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of
Mexico.
The texts of the stipulations are
contained in the document ‘‘Lease
Stipulations, Consolidated Central Gulf
of Mexico Planning Area Sale 216/222,
Final Notice of Sale’’ included in the
CPA Sale 216/222 Package. In addition,
the ‘‘List of Blocks Available for
Leasing’’ contained in the CPA Sale
216/222 Package identifies for each
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Jkt 226001
block listed the lease stipulations
applicable to that block.
Information to Lessees: The CPA Sale
216/222 Package contains an
‘‘Information To Lessees’’ document
that provides information on certain
issues pertaining to this oil and gas
lease sale.
Method of Bidding: For each block bid
upon, a bidder must submit a separate
signed bid in a sealed envelope. The
outside of the envelope should be
labeled ‘‘Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas
Lease Sale 216/222, not to be opened
until 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 20,
2012.’’ The submitting company’s name,
its GOM company number, the map
name, map number, and block number
should be clearly identified on the
outside of the envelope.
The sealed bid should list the total
amount of the bid in a whole dollar
amount, as well as, the sale number, the
sale date, the submitting company’s
name, its GOM company number, the
map name, map number, and the block
number clearly identified. The
information required on the bid(s) and
the bid envelope(s) are specified in the
document ‘‘Bid Form and Envelope’’
contained in the CPA Sale 216/222
Package. A blank bid form has been
provided therein for convenience and
may be copied and filled in. The CPA
Sale 216/222 Package includes a sample
bid envelope for reference.
The CPA Sale 216/222 Package also
includes a form for the telephone
numbers and addresses of bidders.
BOEM requests that bidders provide this
information in the suggested format
prior to or at the time of bid submission.
The Telephone Numbers/Addresses of
Bidders Form should not be enclosed
inside the sealed bid envelope.
BOEM published a list of restricted
joint bidders for this lease sale in the
Federal Register at 77 FR 24980 on
April 26, 2012. Please also refer to joint
bidding provisions at 30 CFR 556.41 for
additional information. All bidders
must execute all documents in
conformance with signatory
authorizations on file in BOEM’s Gulf of
Mexico (GOM) Region Adjudication
Section. Designated signatories must be
authorized to bind their respective legal
business entities (e.g., a corporation,
partnership, or LLC) and must have an
incumbency certificate setting forth the
authorized signatories on file with the
GOM Region Adjudication Section.
Bidders submitting joint bids must
include on the bid form the
proportionate interest of each
participating bidder, stated as a
percentage, using a maximum of five
decimal places (e.g., 33.33333 percent)
with total interest equaling 100 percent.
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29687
BOEM may require bidders to submit
other documents in accordance with 30
CFR 556.46. BOEM warns bidders
against violation of 18 U.S.C. 1860
prohibiting unlawful combination or
intimidation of bidders. Bidders are
advised that BOEM considers the signed
bid to be a legally binding obligation on
the part of the bidder(s) to comply with
all applicable regulations, including
payment of one-fifth of the bonus bid on
all high bids. A statement to this effect
must be included on each bid form (see
the document ‘‘Bid Form and Envelope’’
contained in the CPA 216/222 Package).
Withdrawal of Bids: Once submitted,
bid(s) may not be withdrawn unless the
BOEM Regional Director (RD) receives a
written request for withdrawal from the
company who submitted the bid(s),
prior to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 19,
2012. This request must be typed on
company letterhead and must contain
the submitting company’s name, its
company number, the map name/
number and block number of the bid(s)
to be withdrawn. The request must be
in conformance with signatory
authorizations on file in BOEM’s GOM
Region Adjudication Section.
Signatories must be authorized to bind
their respective legal business entities
(e.g., a corporation, partnership, or LLC)
and must have: (i) An incumbency
certificate and/or specific power of
attorney setting forth express authority
to act on the business entity’s behalf for
purposes of bidding and lease execution
under OCSLA and (ii) the authorized
signatories on file with BOEM’s GOM
Region Adjudication Section. The name
and title of said signatory must be typed
under the signature block on the
withdrawal letter. Should the BOEM RD
or the BOEM RD’s designee approve
such a request, he or she will indicate
approval by affixing his or her signature
and the date to the submitting
company’s request for withdrawal.
Rounding: The following procedure
must be used to calculate the minimum
bonus bid, annual rental, and minimum
royalty: Round up to the next whole
acre if the block acreage contains a
decimal figure prior to calculating the
minimum bonus bid, annual rental, and
minimum royalty amounts. The
appropriate rate per acre is applied to
the whole (rounded up) acreage.
The bonus bid must be in whole
dollar amounts and greater than or equal
to the minimum bonus bid. The
appropriate minimum bid per-acre rate
is applied to the whole (rounded up)
acreage and the resultant calculation is
rounded up to the next whole dollar
amount if the calculation results in any
cents. The minimum bonus bid
calculation, including all rounding, is
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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
shown in the document ‘‘List of Blocks
Available for Leasing’’ included in the
CPA Sale 216/222 Package.
Bonus Bid Deposit: Each bidder
submitting an apparent high bid must
submit a bonus bid deposit to the U.S.
Department of the Interior’s Office of
Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR)
equal to one-fifth of the bonus bid
amount for each such bid. A copy of the
notification of the high bidder’s onefifth bonus liability may be obtained at
the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Area outside the Bid Reading Room on
the day of the bid opening or it may be
obtained on the BOEM Web site at:
https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-GasEnergy-Program/Leasing/RegionalLeasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/LeaseSales/216-222/Central-Planning-AreaLease-Sale-216-222-Information.aspx
under the heading ‘‘Notification of EFT
1⁄5 Bonus Liability.’’ All payments must
be electronically deposited into an
interest-bearing account in the U.S.
Treasury by 11 a.m. Eastern Standard
Time the day following bid reading (no
exceptions). Account information is
provided in the ‘‘Instructions for
Making Electronic Funds Transfer
Bonus Payments’’ found on the BOEM
Web site identified above.
Under the authority granted by 30
CFR 556.46(b), BOEM requires bidders
to use EFT procedures for payment of
one-fifth bonus bid deposits for CPA
Sale 216/222, following the detailed
instructions contained on the Payment
Information Web page that may be
found on the ONRR Web site at:
https://www.onrr.gov/FM/PayInfo.htm.
Acceptance of a deposit does not
constitute and shall not be construed as
acceptance of any bid on behalf of the
United States. If a lease is awarded,
ONRR requests that only one transaction
be used for payment of the four-fifths
bonus bid amount and the first year’s
rental.
Note: Certain bid submitters (i.e., those that
are not currently an OCS mineral lease record
title holder or designated operator or those
that have ever defaulted on a one-fifth bonus
bid payment (EFT or otherwise)) are required
to guarantee (secure) their one-fifth bonus bid
payment prior to the submission of bids. For
those who must secure the EFT one-fifth
bonus bid payment, the EFT instructions
specify the requirements for each of the
following four options:
(a) Provide a third-party guarantee;
(b) amend bond coverage;
(c) provide a letter of credit; or
(d) provide a lump sum payment in
advance via EFT.
Withdrawal of Blocks: The United
States reserves the right to withdraw
any block from this lease sale prior to
issuance of a written acceptance of a bid
for the block.
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18:21 May 17, 2012
Jkt 226001
Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of
Bids: The United States reserves the
right to reject any and all bids. In any
case, no bid will be accepted, and no
lease for any block will be awarded to
any bidder, unless (1) the bidder has
complied with all requirements of this
Notice of Sale (NOS), including those
set forth in the documents contained in
the associated CPA Sale 216/222
Package and applicable regulations; (2)
the bid is the highest valid bid; and (3)
the amount of the bid has been
determined to be adequate by the
authorized officer. Any bid submitted
that does not conform to the
requirements of this NOS, OCSLA, and
other applicable regulations may be
returned to the bidder submitting that
bid by the RD and not be considered for
acceptance. The U.S. Attorney General
and the Federal Trade Commission will
review the results of the lease sale for
antitrust issues prior to the issuance of
leases.
To ensure that the Federal
Government receives a fair return for the
conveyance of lease rights for this lease
sale, BOEM will evaluate high bids in
accordance with its bid adequacy
procedures. A copy of current
procedures, ‘‘Modifications to the Bid
Adequacy Procedures’’ at 64 FR 37560
(July 12, 1999), can be obtained from the
BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Public
Information Office or via the BOEM Gulf
of Mexico Region Internet Web site at:
https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-GasEnergy-Program/Leasing/RegionalLeasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/BidAdequacy-Procedures.aspx. In the
existing bid adequacy procedures, water
depth categories in the Gulf of Mexico
are specified as (1) less than 800 meters
and (2) 800 meters or more. Per 64 FR
37560, if different water depth
categories are used for a Gulf of Mexico
sale, they are specified in the final NOS.
For CPA Sale 216/222, the water depth
categories are specified as (1) less than
400 meters and (2) 400 meters or more.
Successful Bidders: BOEM requires
each company that has been awarded a
lease to (1) execute all copies of the
lease (Form BOEM–2005 (October
2011), as amended), (2) pay by EFT the
balance of the bonus bid amount and
the first year’s rental for each lease
issued in accordance with the
requirements of 30 CFR 218.155 and
556.47(f); and (3) satisfy the bonding
requirements of 30 CFR Part 556,
subpart I, as amended.
Affirmative Action: BOEM requests
that, prior to bidding, the bidder file
Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action
Representation Form BOEM-2032
(October 2011) and Equal Opportunity
Compliance Report Certification Form
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Frm 00101
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
BOEM-2033 (October 2011) in the
BOEM GOM Region Adjudication
Section. This certification is required by
41 CFR Part 60 and Executive Order No.
11246 of September 24, 1965, as
amended by Executive Order No. 11375
of October 13, 1967. In any event, prior
to the execution of any lease contract,
both forms are required to be on file for
the bidder in the GOM Region
Adjudication Section.
Geophysical Data and Information
Statement: Pursuant to 30 CFR 551.12,
BOEM has a right to access geophysical
data and information collected under a
permit in the OCS.
Every bidder submitting a bid on a
block in CPA Sale 216/222, or
participating as a joint bidder in such a
bid, must submit at the time of bid
submission a Geophysical Data and
Information Statement (GDIS) in a
separate and sealed envelope,
identifying any proprietary and/or
reprocessed geophysical data and
information generated or used as part of
the decision to bid or participate in a
bid on the block (including, but not
limited to, seismic, controlled source
electromagnetic, and gravity data). The
data identified in the GDIS should
clearly state whether the data or
information are speculative data sets
available directly from geophysical
contractors or proprietary data sets
specially processed/reprocessed for or
by bidders. In addition, the GDIS should
clearly identify the data type (e.g., 2–D,
3–D or 4–D, pre-stack or post-stack and
time or depth); areal extent (i.e., number
of line miles for 2–D or number of
blocks for 3–D) and migration algorithm
(e.g., Kirchoff Migration, Wave Equation
Migration, Reverse Migration, Reverse
Time Migration) of the data, velocity
models used and information. The
statement must also include the name,
the phone number, and full address of
a contact person, and an alternate, who
are both knowledgeable about the
information and data listed and
available for 30 days post-sale, the
processing company, date processing
was completed, owner of the original
data set (who initially acquired the
data), original data survey name, and
permit number. BOEM reserves the right
to query about alternate data sets and to
quality check and compare the listed
and alternative data sets to determine
which data set most closely meets the
needs of the fair market value
determination process.
The statement must also identify each
block upon which the bidder submitted
a bid or participated as a partner in a
bid, but for which it did not use
enhanced or reprocessed pre- or poststack geophysical data and information
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2012 / Notices
as part of the decision to bid or to
participate in the bid. The GDIS must be
submitted even if no proprietary/
reprocessed geophysical data and
information were used in bid
preparation for the block.
In the event a company supplies any
type of data to BOEM, that company
must meet the following requirements to
qualify for reimbursement:
1. The company must be registered
with the Central Contractor Registration
(CCR). The initial registration is valid
for one year and must be updated
annually thereafter. The Web site for
registering is: https://www.ccr.gov. This
requirement was implemented on
October 1, 2003, and requires all entities
doing business with the Federal
Government to complete a business
profile in the CCR. Payments are made
electronically based on the banking
information contained in the CCR.
Therefore, if the company is not actively
registered in the CCR, BOEM will not be
able to reimburse or pay that company
for any data supplied.
2. Effective May 1, 2011, the
Department of the Interior is requiring
all of its agencies and bureaus to use the
Department of Treasury’s Internet
Payment Platform (IPP) for electronic
invoicing. The Web site for registering
is: https://www.ipp.gov. The company
must enroll at the IPP Web site if it has
not already done so. Access will then be
granted to use IPP for submitting
requests for payment. When a request
for payment is submitted, it must
include the assigned Purchase Order
Number on the request.
3. In addition, the company must
complete an on-line Representations
and Certifications application at:
www.bpn.gov. Even though the
company may have never provided this
information previously, it must now do
so in order to do business with the
Federal Government or receive
reimbursement.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Note: The GDIS Information Table can be
submitted digitally on a CD or DVD as an
Excel Spreadsheet. If you have any questions,
please contact Dee Smith at (504) 736–2706
or John Johnson at (504) 736–2455.
Force Majeure: The BOEM RD has the
discretion to change any date, time,
and/or location specified in the CPA
Sale 216/222 Package in case of a force
majeure event that the RD deems may
interfere with the carrying out of a fair
and proper lease sale process. Such
events may include, but are not limited
to, natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes,
hurricanes, and floods), wars, riots, acts
of terrorism, fire, strikes, civil disorder,
or other events of a similar nature. In
case of such events, bidders should call
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18:21 May 17, 2012
Jkt 226001
(504) 736–0557 or access the BOEM
Web site at: https://www.boem.gov for
information about any changes.
Dated: May 10, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2012–12004 Filed 5–17–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 2877]
Receipt of Amended Complaint;
Solicitation of Comments Relating to
the Public Interest
U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. International Trade
Commission has received an amended
complaint entitled Certain Radio
Frequency Integrated Circuits and
Devices Containing Same, DN 2877; the
Commission is soliciting comments on
any public interest issues raised by the
amended complaint or complainant’s
filing under section 210.8(b) of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (19 CFR 210.8(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Secretary to the
Commission, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
205–2000. The public version of the
complaint can be accessed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov, and will be
available for inspection during official
business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.)
in the Office of the Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436,
telephone (202) 205–2000.
General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its Internet server (https://
www.usitc.gov). The public record for
this investigation may be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov. Hearingimpaired persons are advised that
information on this matter can be
obtained by contacting the
Commission’s TDD terminal on (202)
205–1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Commission has received an amended
complaint and a submission pursuant to
section 210.8(b) of the Commission’s
Rules of Practice and Procedure filed on
behalf of Peregrine Semiconductor
SUMMARY:
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29689
Corporation on May 11, 2012. The
complaint alleges violations of section
337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
§ 1337) in the importation into the
United States, the sale for importation,
and the sale within the United States
after importation of certain radio
frequency integrated circuits and
devices containing same. The complaint
names as respondents RF Micro
Devices, Inc. of NC; Motorola Mobility,
Inc. of IL; HTC America, Inc. of WA;
and HTC Corporation of Taiwan.
Proposed respondents, other
interested parties, and members of the
public are invited to file comments, not
to exceed five (5) pages in length,
inclusive of attachments, on any public
interest issues raised by the complaint
or section 210.8(b) filing. Comments
should address whether issuance of the
relief specifically requested by the
complainant in this investigation would
affect the public health and welfare in
the United States, competitive
conditions in the United States
economy, the production of like or
directly competitive articles in the
United States, or United States
consumers.
In particular, the Commission is
interested in comments that:
(i) Explain how the articles
potentially subject to the requested
remedial orders are used in the United
States;
(ii) Identify any public health, safety,
or welfare concerns in the United States
relating to the requested remedial
orders;
(iii) Identify like or directly
competitive articles that complainant,
its licensees, or third parties make in the
United States which could replace the
subject articles if they were to be
excluded;
(iv) Indicate whether complainant,
complainant’s licensees, and/or third
party suppliers have the capacity to
replace the volume of articles
potentially subject to the requested
exclusion order and/or a cease and
desist order within a commercially
reasonable time; and
(v) Explain how the requested
remedial orders would impact United
States consumers.
Written submissions must be filed no
later than by close of business, eight
calendar days after the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. There will be further
opportunities for comment on the
public interest after the issuance of any
final initial determination in this
investigation.
Persons filing written submissions
must file the original document
electronically on or before the deadlines
E:\FR\FM\18MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29683-29689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12004]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico
Planning Area Sale; 216/222
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Final Notice of Sale.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On Wednesday, June 20, 2012, BOEM will open and publicly
announce bids received for the blocks offered in Central Gulf of Mexico
Planning Area (CPA) Sale 216/222, in accordance with provisions of the
OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended) and the
regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 556). The CPA Sale 216/222
Package contains information essential to potential bidders, and
bidders are charged with the knowledge of the documents contained in
that package.
DATES: Public bid reading for CPA Sale 216/222 will begin at 9 a.m.,
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, 1500
Sugarbowl Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112. The lease sale will be
held in the St. Charles Club Room on the second floor (Loge Level).
Entry to the Superdome will be on the Poydras Street side of the
building through Gate A on the Ground Level, and parking will be
available at Garage 6. All times referred to in this document are local
New Orleans time, unless otherwise specified.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may obtain a CPA Sale 216/222 Package by
writing, calling or visiting the Web site:
Gulf of Mexico Region Public Information Office, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-
2394, (504) 736-2519 or (800) 200-GULF.
BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Index.aspx.
Filing of Bids: Bidders must submit sealed bids to the address
below, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on normal working days, and from 8
a.m. to the Bid Submission Deadline of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 19,
2012, the day before the lease sale. If bids are mailed, please address
the envelope containing all of the sealed bids as follows:
Attention: Leasing and Financial Responsibility Section, BOEM Gulf of
Mexico Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123-2394.
Contains Sealed Bids for CPA Oil and Gas Lease Sale 216/222. Please
Deliver to Ms. Nancy Kornrumpf, Ms. Cindy Thibodeaux, or Ms. Kasey
Couture, 6th Floor, Immediately.
Please note: 1. Bidders mailing bid(s) are advised to call Ms.
Nancy Kornrumpf at (504) 736-2726, Ms. Cindy Thibodeaux at (504)
736-2809, or Ms. Kasey Couture at (504) 736-2909 immediately after
putting their bid(s) in the mail. If BOEM receives bids later than
the Bid Submission Deadline, the BOEM -Regional Director (RD) will
return those bids unopened to bidders. Should an unexpected event
such as flooding or travel restrictions be significantly disruptive
to bid submission, BOEM may extend the Bid Submission Deadline.
Bidders may call (504) 736-0557 or access the BOEM Gulf of Mexico
Internet Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Index.aspx for information about the possible
extension of the Bid Submission Deadline due to such an event.
2. Blocks or portions of blocks beyond the United States (U.S.)
Exclusive Economic Zone are offered based upon provisions of the
1982 Law of the Sea Convention.
3. Blocks near the U.S.-Mexico maritime and continental shelf
boundaries could become subject to the Agreement between the United
States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning
Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico
(Agreement). Bidders are advised to refer to the Bids on Blocks Near
U.S.-Mexico Maritime and Continental Shelf Boundary portion of this
document for detailed information pertaining to the opening of bids
affecting blocks in this area.
Area Offered for Leasing: In CPA Sale 216/222, BOEM is offering to
lease all blocks and partial blocks listed in the document ``List of
Blocks Available for Leasing'' included in the CPA Sale 216/222
Package. All of these blocks are shown on the following leasing maps
and Official Protraction Diagrams (OPD's):
Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Maps--Louisiana Map Numbers 1 Through
12 (These 30 maps sell for $2.00 each.)
LA1 West Cameron Area (Revised July 1, 2011)
LA1A West Cameron Area, West Addition (Revised February 28, 2007)
LA1B West Cameron Area, South Addition (Revised February 28, 2007)
LA2 East Cameron Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA2A East Cameron Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3 Vermilion Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3A South Marsh Island Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3B Vermilion Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA3C South Marsh Island Area, South Addition (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA3D South Marsh Island Area, North Addition (Revised November 1,
2000)
[[Page 29684]]
LA4 Eugene Island Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA4A Eugene Island Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA5 Ship Shoal Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA5A Ship Shoal Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6 South Timbalier Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6A South Timbalier Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6B South Pelto Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA6C Bay Marchand Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA7 Grand Isle Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA7A Grand Isle Area, South Addition (Revised February 17, 2004)
LA8 West Delta Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA8A West Delta Area, South Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA9 South Pass Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA9A South Pass Area, South and East Additions (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA10 Main Pass Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA10A Main Pass Area, South and East Additions (Revised November 1,
2000)
LA10B Breton Sound Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA11 Chandeleur Area (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA11A Chandeleur Area, East Addition (Revised November 1, 2000)
LA12 Sabine Pass Area (Revised July 1, 2011)
Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams (These 19
diagrams sell for $2.00 each.)
NG15-02 Garden Banks (Revised February 28, 2007)
NG15-03 Green Canyon (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG15-05 Keathley Canyon (Revised February 28, 2007)
NG15-06 Walker Ridge (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG15-08 Sigsbee Escarpment (Revised February 28, 2007)
NG15-09 Amery Terrace (Revised October 25, 2000)
NG16-01 Atwater Valley (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG16-02 Lloyd Ridge (Revised August 1, 2008)
NG16-04 Lund (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG16-05 Henderson (Revised August 1, 2008)
NG16-07 Lund South (Revised November 1, 2000)
NG16-08 Florida Plain (Revised February 28, 2007)
NH15-12 Ewing Bank (Revised November 1, 2000)
NH16-04 Mobile (Revised July 1, 2011)
NH16-05 Pensacola (Revised February 28, 2007)
NH16-07 Viosca Knoll (Revised November 1, 2000)
NH16-08 Destin Dome (Revised February 28, 2007)
NH16-10 Mississippi Canyon (Revised November 1, 2000)
NH16-11 De Soto Canyon (Revised August 1, 2008)
Please note: A CD-ROM (in ARC/INFO and Acrobat (.pdf) format)
containing all of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) leasing maps and OPD's,
except those not yet converted to digital format, is available from
the GOM Region Public Information Office for a price of $15.00. In
addition, Supplemental Official OCS Block Diagrams (SOBD's) are
available for blocks that contain the U.S.-Mexico Maritime Boundary,
the U.S.-Mexico Continental Shelf Boundary, the U.S. 200 Nautical
Mile Limit, and the U.S.-Mexico Continental Shelf Article IV
``Area'' Limit lines (i.e., the 1.4 nautical mile buffer). These
SOBD's are also available from the GOM Region Public Information
Office.
These GOM leasing maps, SOBD's, and OPD's are also available for
free online at: https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-and-Data/Maps-And-Spatial-Data.aspx.
For the current status of all CPA leasing maps and OPD's, please
refer to 66 FR 28002 (published May 21, 2001), 69 FR 23211 (published
April 28, 2004), 72 FR 27590 (published May 16, 2007), 72 FR 35720
(published June 29, 2007), 73 FR 63505 (published October 24, 2008),
and 76 FR 54787 (published September 2, 2011).
All blocks are shown on these leasing maps and OPD's. The available
Federal acreage of all whole and partial blocks in this lease sale is
shown in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing'' included
in the CPA Sale 216/222 Package. Some of these blocks may be partially
leased or deferred, or transected by administrative lines such as the
Federal/state jurisdictional line. A bid on a block must include all of
the available Federal acreage of that block. Also, information on the
unleased portions of such blocks is found in the document ``Central
Planning Area, Consolidated Lease Sale 216/222, June 20, 2012--Unleased
Split Blocks and Available Unleased Acreage of Blocks with Aliquots and
Irregular Portions Under Lease or Deferred'' included in the CPA Sale
216/222 Package.
For additional information, please call Mr. Lenny Coats, Chief of
the Mapping and Automation Section, at (504) 736-1457.
Areas Not Available for Leasing: The following whole and partial
blocks are not offered for lease in this sale:
Whole and partial blocks that lie within the former Western Gap and
are within 1.4 nautical miles north of the continental shelf boundary
between the United States and Mexico:
Amery Terrace (OPD NG 15-09)
Whole Blocks: 280, 281, 318 through 320, and 355 through 359
Portions of Blocks: 235 through 238, 273 through 279, and 309 through
317
Sigsbee Escarpment (OPD NG 15-08)
Whole Blocks: 239, 284, and 331 through 341
Portions of Blocks: 151, 195, 196, 240, 241, 285 through 298, and 342
through 349
Whole blocks and portions of blocks that lie adjacent to or beyond
the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, in or adjoining the area known as the
northern portion of the Eastern Gap:
Lund South (OPD NG 16-07)
Whole Blocks: 128, 129, 169 through 173, 208, through 217, 248 through
261, 293 through 305, and 349
Henderson (OPD NG 16-05)
Whole Blocks: 466, 508 through 510, 551 through 554, 594 through 599,
637 through 643, 679 through 687, 722 through 731, 764 through 775, 807
through 819, 849 through 862, 891 through 905, 933 through 949, and 975
through 992
Portions of Blocks: 467, 511, 555, 556, 600, 644, 688, 732, 776, 777,
820, 821, 863, 864, 906, 907, 950, 993, and 994
Florida Plain (OPD NG 16-08)
Whole Blocks: 5 through 24, 46 through 67, 89 through 110, 133 through
154, 177 through 197, 221 through 240, 265 through 283, 309 through
327, and 363 through 370
Whole blocks and portions of blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico
Energy Security Act of 2006:
Pensacola (OPD NH 16-05)
Blocks: 751 through 754, 793 through 798, 837 through 842, 881 through
886, 925 through 930, and 969 through 975
Destin Dome (OPD NH 16-08)
Whole Blocks: 1 through 7, 45 through 51, 89 through 96, 133 through
140, 177 through 184, 221 through 228, 265 through 273, 309 through
317, 353 through 361, 397 through 405, 441 through 450, 485 through
494, 529 through 538, 573 through 582, 617 through 627, 661 through
671, 705 through 715, 749 through 759, 793 through 804, 837 through
848, 881 through 892, 925 through 936, and 969 through 981
DeSoto Canyon (OPD NH 16-11)
Whole Blocks: 1 through 15, 45 through 59, and 92 through 102
[[Page 29685]]
Portions of Blocks: 16, 60, 61, 89 through 91, 103 through 105, and 135
through 147
Henderson (OPD NG 16-05)
Portions of Blocks: 114, 158, 202, 246, 290, 334, 335, 378, 379, 422,
and 423
The following block is deferred until measures to ensure the safety
of decommissioning operations are completed:
Green Canyon (OPD NG15-03)
Block 20
The following blocks are under appeal and bids will not be
accepted:
OCS G 22966 Green Canyon 478
OCS G 22975 Green Canyon 536
OCS G 22983 Green Canyon 581
OCS G 22921 Mississippi Canyon 999
OCS G 22922 Mississippi Canyon 1000
Note: Bids on Blocks Near the U.S.-Mexico Maritime and
Continental Shelf Boundary. The following definitions apply to this
section: ``Agreement'' refers to the agreement between the United
Mexican States and the United States of America that addresses
identification and unitization of transboundary hydrocarbon
reservoirs, allocation of production, inspections, safety, and
environmental protection. ``Boundary Area,'' means an area comprised
of any and all blocks in the CPA, that are located or partially
located within three statute miles of the maritime and continental
shelf boundary with Mexico, as that maritime boundary is delimited
in the November 24, 1970 Treaty to Resolve Pending Boundary
Differences and Maintain the Rio Grande and Colorado River as the
International Boundary, the May 4, 1978 Treaty on Maritime
Boundaries between the United Mexican States and the United States
of America, and the June 9, 2000 Treaty on the Continental Shelf
between the Government of the United Mexican States and the
Government of the United States of America. A copy of the Agreement
can be found at the Department of the Interior Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/BOEM-Newsroom/Library/Boundaries-Mexico.aspx.
The Agreement was signed on February 20, 2012, but has not yet been
bilaterally approved. Bids submitted on any block in the ``Boundary
Area'' (as defined above) may be segregated from bids submitted on
blocks outside the Boundary Area. Bids submitted on blocks outside the
Boundary Area will be opened on the date scheduled for sale. Bids
submitted on blocks in the Boundary Area may not be opened on the date
scheduled for the sale, but may be opened at a later date. Within 30
days after the approval of the Agreement or December 31, 2012,
whichever occurs first, the Secretary of the Interior will determine
whether it is in the best interest of the United States either to open
bids for Boundary Area blocks or to return the bids unopened.
In the event the Secretary decides to open bids on blocks in the
Boundary Area, BOEM will notify such bidders at least 30 days prior to
opening such bids, and will describe the terms of the Agreement under
which leases in the Boundary Area will be issued. Bidders on these
blocks may withdraw their bids at any time after such notice up until
10 a.m. (New Orleans local time) of the day before bid opening. If BOEM
does not give notice within 30 days of bilateral approval of the
Agreement or by December 31, 2012, whichever comes first, BOEM will
return the bids unopened. This timing will allow companies to make
decisions regarding the next annual CPA lease sale anticipated in 2013,
which may also offer blocks in this area. BOEM reserves the right to
return these bids at any time. BOEM will not disclose which blocks
received bids or the names of bidders in this area unless and until the
bids are opened. BOEM currently anticipates that blocks in the Boundary
Area that are not awarded as a result of Lease Sale 216/222 would be
reoffered in the next lease sale for the CPA in 2013.
The following blocks comprise the Boundary Area:
Sigsbee Escarpment--151, 152, 195, 196, 197, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243,
284, 285, 286, 287, 288*, 289*, 290*, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296,
297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335,
336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349
Amery Terrace--118, 119, 120*, 121*, 122*, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159,
160, 161, 162, 163, 164*, 165*, 166*, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172,
173, 174, 175, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203,
204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 232,
233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 265, 266, 267,
271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 309, 310, 311,
312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359
Lund South--133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144,
177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190,
191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204,
205, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244,
245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 293, 294, 295, 296
*--Leased.
Statutes and Regulations: Each lease is issued pursuant to OCSLA,
regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, other applicable statutes and
regulations in existence upon the Effective Date of the lease, and
those applicable statutes enacted (including amendments to OCSLA or
other statutes) and regulations promulgated thereafter, except to the
extent they explicitly conflict with an express provision of the lease.
It is expressly understood that amendments to existing statutes and
regulations, including but not limited to OCSLA, as well as the
enactment of new statutes and promulgation of new regulations, which do
not explicitly conflict with an express provision of the lease will
apply to the leases issued as a result of this sale. Moreover, the
lessee expressly bears the risk that such new statutes and regulations
(i.e., that do not explicitly conflict with an express provision of the
lease) may increase or decrease the lessee's obligation under the
lease.
BOEM will use Form BOEM-2005 (October 2011) to convey leases
resulting from this sale. This lease form may be viewed on the BOEM Web
site at: https://www.boem.gov/About- BOEM/Procurement-Business-
Opportunities/BOEM-OCS-Operation-Forms/BOEM-OCS-Operation-Forms.aspx.
The lease form will be amended to conform with the specific terms,
conditions, and stipulations applicable to the individual lease. The
terms, conditions, and stipulations applicable to this sale are set
forth below.
Lease Terms and Conditions: Initial periods, extensions of initial
periods, minimum bonus bid amounts, rental rates, escalating rental
rates for leases with an approved extension of the initial 5-year
period, royalty rate, minimum royalty, and royalty suspension
provisions, if any, applicable to this sale are noted below.
Additionally, these terms and conditions are depicted on the map
``Final, Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Sale 216/
222, June 20, 2012, Lease Terms and Economic Conditions,'' for leases
resulting from this lease sale.
Initial Periods: Initial periods are summarized in the following
table:
[[Page 29686]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water depth in meters Initial periods
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 to <400.................... 5 years extended to 8 years if a well is
spudded during the initial 5-year period
targeting hydrocarbons below 25,000 feet
True Vertical Depth Subsea (TVD SS).
400 to <800.................. 5 years extended to 8 years if a well is
spudded during the initial 5-year
period.
800 to <1,600................ 7 years extended to 10 years if a well is
spudded during the initial 7-year
period.
1,600+....................... 10 years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extensions of Initial Periods
A. The 5-year initial period for a lease in water depths of less
than 400 meters may be extended to 8 years if the operator, targeting
hydrocarbons below 25,000 feet TVD SS, spuds a well within the 5- year
initial period. The lessee will receive the 3-year extension in cases
where the well is drilled to a target below 25,000 feet TVD SS and may
also receive an extension in cases where the well targets, but does not
reach a depth below 25,000 feet TVD SS due to mechanical or safety
reasons. Operators who do not target hydrocarbons with a depth of at
least 25,000 feet within the initial 5-year period may not receive an
extension of the lease.
In order for the 5-year initial period to be extended to 8 years,
the lessee is required to submit to the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), GOM Regional Supervisor for
Production and Development, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Mail Stop
5300, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70123-2394, within 30 days after
completion of the drilling operation, a letter providing the well
number, spud date, information demonstrating whether the target below
25,000 feet TVD SS was reached, and if applicable, any safety or
mechanical problems encountered that prevented the well from reaching a
depth below 25,000 feet TVD SS. The BSEE Regional Supervisor for
Production and Development must concur in writing that the conditions
have been met to extend the initial period by 3 years. The BSEE
Regional Supervisor for Production and Development will provide written
confirmation of any lease extension within 30 days of receipt of the
letter provided.
A lease that has earned a 3-year extension by spudding a well
during the 5-year initial period with a hydrocarbon target below 25,000
feet TVD SS, confirmed by BSEE, will not be eligible for a suspension
for that same period under the regulations at 30 CFR 250.175 because
the lease is not at risk of expiring.
B. The 5-year initial period for a lease in water depths of 400
meters to less than 800 meters issued from this sale will be extended
to 8 years if the operator spuds a well within the initial 5-year
period.
In order for the 5-year initial period to be extended to 8 years,
the lessee is required to submit to the appropriate BSEE District
Manager, within 30 days after spudding a well, a letter providing the
well number and spud date, and requesting confirmation of a 3-year
extension of the initial period. The BSEE District Manager will review
the request and make a determination. A written response will be sent
to the lessee documenting the BSEE District Manager's decision within
30 days of receipt of the request. For an extension to be granted, the
BSEE District Manager must concur in writing that the conditions have
been met to extend the initial period by 3 years.
C. The 7-year initial period for a lease in water depths of 800
meters to less than 1,600 meters issued from this sale will be extended
to 10 years if the operator spuds a well within the initial 7-year
period.
In order for the 7-year initial period to be extended to 10 years,
the lessee is required to submit to the appropriate BSEE District
Manager, within 30 days after spudding a well, a letter providing the
well number and spud date, and requesting confirmation of a 3-year
extension of the initial period. The BSEE District Manager will review
the request and make a determination. A written response will be sent
to the lessee documenting the BSEE District Manager's decision within
30 days of receipt of the request. For an extension to be granted, the
BSEE District Manager must concur in writing that the conditions have
been met to extend the initial period by 3 years.
Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25 per acre or fraction thereof for
blocks in water depths of less than 400 meters and $100 per acre or
fraction thereof for blocks in water depths of 400 meters or deeper.
A bonus bid will not be considered for acceptance unless it
provides for a cash bonus in the amount equal to, or exceeding, the
minimum bid of $25 per acre or fraction thereof for blocks in water
depths of less than 400 meters, and $100 per acre or fraction thereof
for blocks in water depths of 400 meters or deeper. To confirm the
exact calculation of the minimum bonus bid amount for each block, see
``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' contained in the CPA Sale
216/222 Package, which will become available approximately 30 days
before the scheduled sale date. Please note that bonus bids must be in
whole dollar amounts. BOEM will disregard partial dollar amounts.
Rental Rates: Annual rental rates are summarized in the following
table:
Rental Rates per Acre or Fraction Thereof
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water depth in meters Years 1-5 Years 6, 7, & 8+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 to <200.................... $7.00 $14.00, $21.00 & $28.00
200 to <400.................. $11.00 $22.00, $33.00 & $44.00
400 to <800.................. $11.00 $16.00
800+......................... $11.00 $16.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Escalating Rental Rates for leases with an approved extension: Any
lease in water depths less than 400 meters and granted a 3-year
extension beyond the 5-year initial period will pay an escalating
rental rate as shown above. The escalating rental rates after the 5th
year for blocks in less than 400 meters will become fixed and no longer
escalate if another well is spudded during the 3-year extended term of
the lease that targets hydrocarbons below 25,000 feet TVD SS, and BSEE
concurs that such a well has been spudded. In this case, the rental
rate will become fixed at the
[[Page 29687]]
rental rate in effect during the lease year in which the additional
well was spudded.
Royalty Rate: 18.75 percent.
Minimum Royalty: $7.00 per acre or fraction thereof per year for
blocks in water depths of less than 200 meters and $11.00 per acre or
fraction thereof per year for blocks in water depths of 200 meters or
deeper.
Royalty Suspension Provisions: Leases with royalty suspension
volumes (RSVs) are authorized under existing BSEE regulations at 30 CFR
Part 203 and BOEM regulations at 30 CFR Part 560.
Deep and Ultra-Deep Gas Royalty Suspensions: A lease issued as a
result of this sale may be eligible for RSV incentives for deep and
ultra-deep wells pursuant to 30 CFR Part 203. These RSV incentives are
conditioned upon applicable price thresholds.
Certain wells on leases in 0 to less than 200 meters of
water depth completed to a drilling depth of 20,000 feet TVD SS or
deeper may receive an RSV of 35 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Certain wells on leases in 200 to less than 400 meters of
water depth completed to a drilling depth of 20,000 feet TVD SS or
deeper may receive an RSV of 35 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Wells completed from 15,000 to 20,000 feet TVD SS that begin production
before May 3, 2013, may receive smaller RSV incentives.
Deepwater Royalty Suspensions: No deepwater royalty suspension
provisions will be offered for leases issued from this sale.
Lease Stipulations: The map ``Final, Consolidated Central Gulf of
Mexico Planning Area Sale 216/222, June 20, 2012, Stipulations and
Deferred Blocks'' depicts the blocks on which one or more of ten lease
stipulations apply: (1) Topographic Features; (2) Live Bottoms; (3)
Military Areas; (4) Evacuation; (5) Coordination; (6) Blocks South of
Baldwin County, Alabama; (7) Law of the Sea Convention Royalty Payment;
(8) Protected Species; (9) Below Seabed Operations; and (10) Agreement
between the United States of America and the United Mexican States
Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico.
The texts of the stipulations are contained in the document ``Lease
Stipulations, Consolidated Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Sale
216/222, Final Notice of Sale'' included in the CPA Sale 216/222
Package. In addition, the ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing''
contained in the CPA Sale 216/222 Package identifies for each block
listed the lease stipulations applicable to that block.
Information to Lessees: The CPA Sale 216/222 Package contains an
``Information To Lessees'' document that provides information on
certain issues pertaining to this oil and gas lease sale.
Method of Bidding: For each block bid upon, a bidder must submit a
separate signed bid in a sealed envelope. The outside of the envelope
should be labeled ``Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 216/222, not
to be opened until 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012.'' The submitting
company's name, its GOM company number, the map name, map number, and
block number should be clearly identified on the outside of the
envelope.
The sealed bid should list the total amount of the bid in a whole
dollar amount, as well as, the sale number, the sale date, the
submitting company's name, its GOM company number, the map name, map
number, and the block number clearly identified. The information
required on the bid(s) and the bid envelope(s) are specified in the
document ``Bid Form and Envelope'' contained in the CPA Sale 216/222
Package. A blank bid form has been provided therein for convenience and
may be copied and filled in. The CPA Sale 216/222 Package includes a
sample bid envelope for reference.
The CPA Sale 216/222 Package also includes a form for the telephone
numbers and addresses of bidders. BOEM requests that bidders provide
this information in the suggested format prior to or at the time of bid
submission. The Telephone Numbers/Addresses of Bidders Form should not
be enclosed inside the sealed bid envelope.
BOEM published a list of restricted joint bidders for this lease
sale in the Federal Register at 77 FR 24980 on April 26, 2012. Please
also refer to joint bidding provisions at 30 CFR 556.41 for additional
information. All bidders must execute all documents in conformance with
signatory authorizations on file in BOEM's Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Region
Adjudication Section. Designated signatories must be authorized to bind
their respective legal business entities (e.g., a corporation,
partnership, or LLC) and must have an incumbency certificate setting
forth the authorized signatories on file with the GOM Region
Adjudication Section. Bidders submitting joint bids must include on the
bid form the proportionate interest of each participating bidder,
stated as a percentage, using a maximum of five decimal places (e.g.,
33.33333 percent) with total interest equaling 100 percent. BOEM may
require bidders to submit other documents in accordance with 30 CFR
556.46. BOEM warns bidders against violation of 18 U.S.C. 1860
prohibiting unlawful combination or intimidation of bidders. Bidders
are advised that BOEM considers the signed bid to be a legally binding
obligation on the part of the bidder(s) to comply with all applicable
regulations, including payment of one-fifth of the bonus bid on all
high bids. A statement to this effect must be included on each bid form
(see the document ``Bid Form and Envelope'' contained in the CPA 216/
222 Package).
Withdrawal of Bids: Once submitted, bid(s) may not be withdrawn
unless the BOEM Regional Director (RD) receives a written request for
withdrawal from the company who submitted the bid(s), prior to 10 a.m.
on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. This request must be typed on company
letterhead and must contain the submitting company's name, its company
number, the map name/number and block number of the bid(s) to be
withdrawn. The request must be in conformance with signatory
authorizations on file in BOEM's GOM Region Adjudication Section.
Signatories must be authorized to bind their respective legal business
entities (e.g., a corporation, partnership, or LLC) and must have: (i)
An incumbency certificate and/or specific power of attorney setting
forth express authority to act on the business entity's behalf for
purposes of bidding and lease execution under OCSLA and (ii) the
authorized signatories on file with BOEM's GOM Region Adjudication
Section. The name and title of said signatory must be typed under the
signature block on the withdrawal letter. Should the BOEM RD or the
BOEM RD's designee approve such a request, he or she will indicate
approval by affixing his or her signature and the date to the
submitting company's request for withdrawal.
Rounding: The following procedure must be used to calculate the
minimum bonus bid, annual rental, and minimum royalty: Round up to the
next whole acre if the block acreage contains a decimal figure prior to
calculating the minimum bonus bid, annual rental, and minimum royalty
amounts. The appropriate rate per acre is applied to the whole (rounded
up) acreage.
The bonus bid must be in whole dollar amounts and greater than or
equal to the minimum bonus bid. The appropriate minimum bid per-acre
rate is applied to the whole (rounded up) acreage and the resultant
calculation is rounded up to the next whole dollar amount if the
calculation results in any cents. The minimum bonus bid calculation,
including all rounding, is
[[Page 29688]]
shown in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing'' included
in the CPA Sale 216/222 Package.
Bonus Bid Deposit: Each bidder submitting an apparent high bid must
submit a bonus bid deposit to the U.S. Department of the Interior's
Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) equal to one-fifth of the
bonus bid amount for each such bid. A copy of the notification of the
high bidder's one-fifth bonus liability may be obtained at the
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Area outside the Bid Reading Room on
the day of the bid opening or it may be obtained on the BOEM Web site
at: https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Lease-Sales/216-222/Central-Planning-Area-Lease-Sale-216-222-Information.aspx under the heading
``Notification of EFT \1/5\ Bonus Liability.'' All payments must be
electronically deposited into an interest-bearing account in the U.S.
Treasury by 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time the day following bid reading
(no exceptions). Account information is provided in the ``Instructions
for Making Electronic Funds Transfer Bonus Payments'' found on the BOEM
Web site identified above.
Under the authority granted by 30 CFR 556.46(b), BOEM requires
bidders to use EFT procedures for payment of one-fifth bonus bid
deposits for CPA Sale 216/222, following the detailed instructions
contained on the Payment Information Web page that may be found on the
ONRR Web site at: https://www.onrr.gov/FM/PayInfo.htm. Acceptance of a
deposit does not constitute and shall not be construed as acceptance of
any bid on behalf of the United States. If a lease is awarded, ONRR
requests that only one transaction be used for payment of the four-
fifths bonus bid amount and the first year's rental.
Note: Certain bid submitters (i.e., those that are not currently
an OCS mineral lease record title holder or designated operator or
those that have ever defaulted on a one-fifth bonus bid payment (EFT
or otherwise)) are required to guarantee (secure) their one-fifth
bonus bid payment prior to the submission of bids. For those who
must secure the EFT one-fifth bonus bid payment, the EFT
instructions specify the requirements for each of the following four
options:
(a) Provide a third-party guarantee;
(b) amend bond coverage;
(c) provide a letter of credit; or
(d) provide a lump sum payment in advance via EFT.
Withdrawal of Blocks: The United States reserves the right to
withdraw any block from this lease sale prior to issuance of a written
acceptance of a bid for the block.
Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids: The United States
reserves the right to reject any and all bids. In any case, no bid will
be accepted, and no lease for any block will be awarded to any bidder,
unless (1) the bidder has complied with all requirements of this Notice
of Sale (NOS), including those set forth in the documents contained in
the associated CPA Sale 216/222 Package and applicable regulations; (2)
the bid is the highest valid bid; and (3) the amount of the bid has
been determined to be adequate by the authorized officer. Any bid
submitted that does not conform to the requirements of this NOS, OCSLA,
and other applicable regulations may be returned to the bidder
submitting that bid by the RD and not be considered for acceptance. The
U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission will review the
results of the lease sale for antitrust issues prior to the issuance of
leases.
To ensure that the Federal Government receives a fair return for
the conveyance of lease rights for this lease sale, BOEM will evaluate
high bids in accordance with its bid adequacy procedures. A copy of
current procedures, ``Modifications to the Bid Adequacy Procedures'' at
64 FR 37560 (July 12, 1999), can be obtained from the BOEM Gulf of
Mexico Region Public Information Office or via the BOEM Gulf of Mexico
Region Internet Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Bid-Adequacy-Procedures.aspx. In the existing bid adequacy procedures, water depth
categories in the Gulf of Mexico are specified as (1) less than 800
meters and (2) 800 meters or more. Per 64 FR 37560, if different water
depth categories are used for a Gulf of Mexico sale, they are specified
in the final NOS. For CPA Sale 216/222, the water depth categories are
specified as (1) less than 400 meters and (2) 400 meters or more.
Successful Bidders: BOEM requires each company that has been
awarded a lease to (1) execute all copies of the lease (Form BOEM-2005
(October 2011), as amended), (2) pay by EFT the balance of the bonus
bid amount and the first year's rental for each lease issued in
accordance with the requirements of 30 CFR 218.155 and 556.47(f); and
(3) satisfy the bonding requirements of 30 CFR Part 556, subpart I, as
amended.
Affirmative Action: BOEM requests that, prior to bidding, the
bidder file Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Representation Form
BOEM-2032 (October 2011) and Equal Opportunity Compliance Report
Certification Form BOEM-2033 (October 2011) in the BOEM GOM Region
Adjudication Section. This certification is required by 41 CFR Part 60
and Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended by
Executive Order No. 11375 of October 13, 1967. In any event, prior to
the execution of any lease contract, both forms are required to be on
file for the bidder in the GOM Region Adjudication Section.
Geophysical Data and Information Statement: Pursuant to 30 CFR
551.12, BOEM has a right to access geophysical data and information
collected under a permit in the OCS.
Every bidder submitting a bid on a block in CPA Sale 216/222, or
participating as a joint bidder in such a bid, must submit at the time
of bid submission a Geophysical Data and Information Statement (GDIS)
in a separate and sealed envelope, identifying any proprietary and/or
reprocessed geophysical data and information generated or used as part
of the decision to bid or participate in a bid on the block (including,
but not limited to, seismic, controlled source electromagnetic, and
gravity data). The data identified in the GDIS should clearly state
whether the data or information are speculative data sets available
directly from geophysical contractors or proprietary data sets
specially processed/reprocessed for or by bidders. In addition, the
GDIS should clearly identify the data type (e.g., 2-D, 3-D or 4-D, pre-
stack or post-stack and time or depth); areal extent (i.e., number of
line miles for 2-D or number of blocks for 3-D) and migration algorithm
(e.g., Kirchoff Migration, Wave Equation Migration, Reverse Migration,
Reverse Time Migration) of the data, velocity models used and
information. The statement must also include the name, the phone
number, and full address of a contact person, and an alternate, who are
both knowledgeable about the information and data listed and available
for 30 days post-sale, the processing company, date processing was
completed, owner of the original data set (who initially acquired the
data), original data survey name, and permit number. BOEM reserves the
right to query about alternate data sets and to quality check and
compare the listed and alternative data sets to determine which data
set most closely meets the needs of the fair market value determination
process.
The statement must also identify each block upon which the bidder
submitted a bid or participated as a partner in a bid, but for which it
did not use enhanced or reprocessed pre- or post-stack geophysical data
and information
[[Page 29689]]
as part of the decision to bid or to participate in the bid. The GDIS
must be submitted even if no proprietary/reprocessed geophysical data
and information were used in bid preparation for the block.
In the event a company supplies any type of data to BOEM, that
company must meet the following requirements to qualify for
reimbursement:
1. The company must be registered with the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR). The initial registration is valid for one year and
must be updated annually thereafter. The Web site for registering is:
https://www.ccr.gov. This requirement was implemented on October 1,
2003, and requires all entities doing business with the Federal
Government to complete a business profile in the CCR. Payments are made
electronically based on the banking information contained in the CCR.
Therefore, if the company is not actively registered in the CCR, BOEM
will not be able to reimburse or pay that company for any data
supplied.
2. Effective May 1, 2011, the Department of the Interior is
requiring all of its agencies and bureaus to use the Department of
Treasury's Internet Payment Platform (IPP) for electronic invoicing.
The Web site for registering is: https://www.ipp.gov. The company must
enroll at the IPP Web site if it has not already done so. Access will
then be granted to use IPP for submitting requests for payment. When a
request for payment is submitted, it must include the assigned Purchase
Order Number on the request.
3. In addition, the company must complete an on-line
Representations and Certifications application at: www.bpn.gov. Even
though the company may have never provided this information previously,
it must now do so in order to do business with the Federal Government
or receive reimbursement.
Note: The GDIS Information Table can be submitted digitally on a
CD or DVD as an Excel Spreadsheet. If you have any questions, please
contact Dee Smith at (504) 736-2706 or John Johnson at (504) 736-
2455.
Force Majeure: The BOEM RD has the discretion to change any date,
time, and/or location specified in the CPA Sale 216/222 Package in case
of a force majeure event that the RD deems may interfere with the
carrying out of a fair and proper lease sale process. Such events may
include, but are not limited to, natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes,
hurricanes, and floods), wars, riots, acts of terrorism, fire, strikes,
civil disorder, or other events of a similar nature. In case of such
events, bidders should call (504) 736-0557 or access the BOEM Web site
at: https://www.boem.gov for information about any changes.
Dated: May 10, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-12004 Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
