OFFICE OF MINERAL RESOURCES (OMR)
SPECIAL NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special Notice Regarding Resolution No. 25-02-005, House Bill No. 24 (Act 17)
House Bill No. 24 (Act 17) was passed by the Louisiana State Legislature during the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session, allowing for the increase of certain administrative fees associated with the State of Louisiana’s mineral leasing process due to inflationary adjustments.
During its February 2025 meeting, the State Mineral and Energy Board adopted Resolution No. 25-02-005, granting the Office of Mineral Resources the authority to implement the following fee increases:
• The application for lease fee will increase from $400 to $600.
• The request to furnish proof of publication will increase from $20 to $35.
• State lease transfers or assignments will increase from $100 to $175, per State Lease No.
• The application for a storage lease will increase from $50 to $100.
In accordance with the terms of Resolution No. 25-02-005, these fee increases will take effect on June 1, 2025.
Special Notice Regarding Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Operating Agreements
The State Mineral and Energy Board approved the final public draft of the Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Operating Agreement Procurement Guidelines on May 14, 2025. This is the process for submitting and evaluating proposals for carbon dioxide sequestration operating agreements on state-owned lands and water bottoms. The final draft can be found here.
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING CARBON CAPTURE SEQUESTRATION AND WIND ENERGY AGREEMENTS
FORCE MAJEURE - May 1, 2025
Download: Force Majeure Memorandum - May 1, 2025
Download: Force Majeure Affidavit - May 1, 2025
How to Report Force Majeure Online
MAY 1, 2025 For Informational Purposes -- No Action Is Required At This Time
Memorandum Regarding Force Majeure To State Lease Operators
The Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) wishes to remind our lessees that the 2025 Hurricane Season begins June 1st. Please take a moment to review the State Mineral and Energy Board’s (Board) Force Majeure Policy and OMR’s “How-To” guide for reporting force majeure events, which are both accessible on the Department of Energy and Natural Resources website. Please note:
- The Board requires lessees to report force majeure conditions that result in the shutting-in of state leases.
- The Board requires lessees to report force majeure condition in a timely manner, which is before the lease would normally expire under its own terms.
- Lessees must maintain state leases under their operative payment provisions (i.e., rental, shut-in, deferred development, etc.) when possible. Force majeure status is available only when triggered by the circumstances delineated in the lease and/or the Board’s Policy.
- All new requests for force majeure recognition should be submitted using the online force majeure reporting system. Lessees who are unable to connect to the reporting system should complete the Excel spreadsheet and forward it to the Office of Mineral Resources by e-mail.
- Upon receipt of a report, the OMR staff will request additional information and/or provide instruction.
- All state leases that do not include force majeure language may need to be amended to include the current force majeure language.
Finally, we encourage all lessees to review and update their hurricane preparedness and emergency evacuation plans and verify emergency contact information of employees, support services, and government representatives.
If you have any questions concerning force majeure, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Talbot directly at (225) 342-4621 or by email at Jason.Talbot@la.gov.
Andrew B. Young
Assistant Secretary
Office of Mineral Resources
Department of Energy and Natural Resources
Special Notice Regarding the State Mineral and Energy Board Meeting and Lease Sale for July 9, 2025
The State Mineral and Energy Board will hold the July 9, 2025 Board Meeting and Lease Sale at the LaSalle Office Building, LaBelle Hearing Room, 1st floor. The opening of bids will begin at 8:30 A.M. and the Board Meeting will commence at 9:30 A.M.
The Board Meeting and Lease Sale Agenda will be posted here when available.
Further information about the Board Meeting and Lease Sale can be found here.
Extension Notice Regarding the 2024 Royalty Reduction Program
The State Mineral and Energy Board has authorized an extension of the 2024 Royalty Reduction Program (RRP) with the approval of Resolution 24-12-004. The RRP will continue through December 31, 2025.
Notice Regarding the 2024 Royalty Reduction Program
The State Mineral and Energy Board has authorized the 2024 Royalty Reduction Program (RRP) as an incentive to encourage the exploration and production of the State's minerals for the public good. Please visit the 2024 Royalty Reduction Program page for further information.
- July 22, 2024 Royalty Reduction Program Press Release
- 2024 Royalty Reduction Program Resolution #24-06-003
- 2024 RRP Application Form (only applies to leases awarded between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024)
Final Carbon Capture Sequestration and Wind Energy Operating Agreements
CS01A Operating Agreement - Air Products Blue Energy
CS01B Operating Agreement - Air Products Blue Energy
CS01C Operating Agreement - Air Products Blue Energy
CS02A Operating Agreement - Capio Sequestration
CS02B Operating Agreement - Capio Sequestration
CS003 Operating Agreement - Venture Global CCS Plaquemines, LLC
CS004 Operating Agreement - Venture Global CCS Cameron, LLC
CS05A Operating Agreement - High West Sequestration, LLC
CS05B Operating Agreement - High West Sequestration, LLC
CS05C Operating Agreement - High West Sequestration, LLC
CS006 Operating Agreement - Castex Carbon Solutions, LLC
WE001 Operating Agreement - Cajun Wind, LLC
WE002 Operating Agreement - DOW LA Gulf Wind, LLC
Carbon Sequestration Agreement Template
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING CARBON CAPTURE SEQUESTRATION AND WIND ENERGY AGREEMENTS
OMR Announces Acreage Returned To Commerce June 17, 2025
The Office of Mineral Resources announced 6,924.36 acres have been released and returned back to commerce. This acreage is located in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, St. Bernard and Terrebonne Parishes and is now available for leasing by the public.
Please use the following link for more information:
LATEST RELEASE LIST
Special Notice Regarding Data Storage Requirement Changes
Beginning January 1, 2024, the Office of Mineral Resources will no longer accept Compact Discs (CD's) for Nomination or Bid packets, Releases or any other instrument that would require data storage. A Thumb Drive will be the new required data storage practice. If you would like your Thumb Drive returned to you after it is processed, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the Nomination or Bid packet and it will be mailed back. Any questions regarding this new procedure may be directed to the Petroleum Lands Director, Greg Roberts at (225) 342-1080.
Registration Reminder for all Applicants, Prospective and Current Leaseholders of a State Mineral Lease
Anyone wanting to submit an application to nominate state owned lands or waterbottoms for mineral leasing or to submit a bid for a mineral lease, exclusive geophysical agreement, or wind lease given by the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board is required to register, and renew registration annually, with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources' Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) prior to submitting an application or bid. In accordance with LA Statute 30:123.1, all current and prospective leaseholders of the Office of Minerals must be registered and update their information each year during the month of January. Failure to register shall subject a required party to a penalty of $100 per day from January 31 until the date of registration.
Please contact Angie Patterson at (225) 342-4519 or angela.patterson@la.gov for questions concerning registration.
New 2019 State Lease Form
The Office of Mineral Resources is pleased to announce that the State Mineral and Energy Board approved a new State Lease Form at the October 9, 2019 Board Meeting. The new Lease Form will apply to all leases awarded beginning with the December 2019 Lease Sale.
History of the State Mineral Lease Form and a Discussion of the Proposed New Draft by Jamie S. Manuel
Presented at the 66th Mineral Law Institute Conference held on March 15, 2019
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
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
March 19, 2018
The Austin Chalk play in Louisiana has experienced 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
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 Dollars ($65.00) 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 Dollars ($25,000.00). 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 will be posted later 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) must still be submitted for consideration by the State Mineral and Energy Board with all requests 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 one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each individual document of conveyance, regardless of the number of Leases to which the document may apply, to a fee of one hundred dollars ($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