OFFICE OF MINERAL RESOURCES (OMR)
SPECIAL NOTICES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING FOR THE PROPOSED NEW LEASE FORM
February 19, 2019
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
The State Mineral and Energy Board will hold a special board meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. to be held in the LaBelle Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to discuss Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 17 of the Proposed New Lease Form and discuss any comments submitted by industry representatives and the public in reference to these specific articles.
All comments from industry and the public must be received by Suzanne Hyatt by either U.S. Mail or by email: suzanne.hyatt@la.gov by close of business on March 6, 2019 to be considered at the special meeting. Comments received can be viewed on the Public Comments for the Proposed New Lease Form page.
Industry representatives and the public are encouraged to attend these meetings and will be provided an opportunity to comment on the articles of the proposed new Lease Form that will be addressed at these meetings.
Please Note: This meeting will be held in addition to the regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Below is a comparison of the 2019 Proposed New Lease Form with the 2000 State Lease Form currently being used:
Comparison of the 2019 Proposed New Lease Form to 2000 Form
2000 State Mineral Lease Form (currently being used)
OMR ANNOUNCES ACREAGE RETURNED TO COMMERCE
February 18, 2019
The Office of Mineral Resources announces 1,322.324 acres has been released and returned back to commerce. This acreage is located in Caddo, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Red River, St. Mary and St. Bernard, and is now available for leasing by the public.
Please use the following link for more information:
LATEST RELEASE LIST
LEASING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN LOUISIANA
September 7, 2018
The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below regarding leasing opportunities available in Louisiana:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
FORCE MAJEURE
May 1, 2018
Download: Force Majuere Memorandum - May 2018
How to Report Force Majeure Online
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
March 19, 2018
The Austin Chalk play in Louisiana is experiencing a resurgence in drilling activity. The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY MAIN PAGE
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY REPORT
REGISTRATION REMINDER
November 13, 2017
The Office of Mineral Resources would like to remind applicants, prospective and current leaseholders of a state mineral lease to renew their registration this month.
Please use the following link for more information:
OMR ATTENDS NAPE EXPO IN HOUSTON
February 21, 2017
State of optimism at this year’s NAPE industry conference in Houston
Word from Houston - drilling is coming back. So it could be heard at last week’s North America Prospect Expo (NAPE) gathering in Houston where the Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Mineral Resources officials worked an exhibit booth, encouraging industry leaders to take a good look at Louisiana for mineral exploration and production in 2017.
Mineral Resources’ Assistant Secretary David Boulet said that oil and gas prices continue to rise from last year’s lows and the conference’s large turnout of some 11,000 attendees was a real good sign that companies are resurging. “We showed landmen, company executives, and hundreds of NAPE participants that there is productive acreage available across north and south Louisiana,” Boulet said.
Louisiana continues to be a world class destination to drill and produce. According to a state “Economic Outlook: 2016-2017 Report” by economists Loren Scott and James Richardson, projections indicate that oil prices will rebound to $60 a barrel this year, while natural gas prices should also climb because of an increase in industrial demand.
Read more –2/16/17 Houston Chronicle http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Gloom-lifts-from-industry-as-oil-deal-makers-come-10939204.php
NOTICE TO ROYALTY PAYORS
Resolution #15-08-012 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that upon satisfaction of all requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act, OMR Staff is directed to commence assessing to Payors a fee of Sixty-Five ($65.00) Dollars per hour to recoup the costs incurred by OMR for processing requests for reimbursement of overpayments of royalties. This Resolution is effective on all requests for a recoupment received after October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-013 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary be and are hereby authorized to evaluate and process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) and La. R.S 30:136.B(3) in amounts up to Twenty-Five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars. This Resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-014 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) in accordance with the set protocol.This resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
NOTICES REGARDING ASSIGNMENTS
Proposed new Form A, entitled Acknowledgment and Estoppel Certification, recently noticed for public comment, is currently under revision and later will be posted for further comment.
Similarly, Form D, entitled Designation of Joint Account Lessee, implemented by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its meeting on September 9, 2015, is under revision based upon concerns raised by industry representatives. For this reason, this form need not currently be included in any request for approval of an assignment or other transfer of interest in a State Lease.
Form B (Statement of Conveyance) and Form C (Certification of Bankruptcy Status) still must be submitted for consideration by the Board with any request for approval of an assignment or other transfer.
Resolution #15-07-052 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its July 8, 2015 meeting. This Resolution applies to the fee authorized by La. R.S. 30:128 in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for reviewing, researching, and processing requested transfers and assignments of Leases of minerals or mineral rights owned by the State. This fee will be applied to each Lease for which an interest is requested to be transferred or assigned. This Resolution is effective as of July 8, 2015.
This is a change from the fee assessment of $100.00 for each individual document of conveyance, regardless of the number of Leases to which the document may apply, to a fee of $100.00 for each Lease within an individual document of conveyance for which a transfer or assignment is requested.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Effective August 1, 2015, Act 362 of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session changed the oil and gas regulatory fund fee from $5.00 to $15.00. The $15 fee for the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund remains unchanged. Therefore, the $20 per acre fee will now be $30 per acre. A separate check in this amount made payable to the Office of Mineral Resources shall accompany the original bid (inside the sealed bid envelope).
LIGNITE LEASE FORM
The new Lignite or Coal Mining Lease Form was adopted by The State Mineral and Energy Board on September 9, 2015.
The State Mineral and Energy Board is considering a proposed new mineral lease form for lignite. A draft of the full text of the proposed lease form may be accessed by clicking here.
Important Information for Bidders
Criteria for Waiver of Liquidated Damages for the Late Release of a State Mineral Lease
Royalty Adjustments Resolution effective 7/14/2010