Focus on Oil and Gas

Chapter 1 examines how BLM's actual costs and potential oil and gas well liabilities have changed for fiscal years 2010 through 2017 and the extent to which BLM has implemented its well and bond review policies. Chapter 2 reviews oil and gas lease suspensions on federal lands managed by BLM and examines the extent of and reasons for such suspensions and the approach BLM uses to monitor the status of lease suspensions. Chapter 3 describes the distribution of BLM's oil and gas Inspection and Enforcement program's workload and workforce among agency field offices for the most recent 5 years for fiscal years 2012 through 2016 and examines the extent to which BLM conducted internal control reviews in accordance with its July 2012 oversight policy for fiscal years 2013 through 2018. U.S. oil and natural gas production has increased substantially since 2008. These increases have important policy implications for energy markets, infrastructure, security, and the environment as reported in chapter 4. Chapter 5 discusses the recent oil market trends and geopolitical factors that have contributed to price escalation since the start of 2018. Chapter 6 reviews the federal government's response, restoration, and research efforts after the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills. This chapter examines how the trustee councils have used the restoration trust funds and the status of restoration and the interagency committee's coordination of oil spill research efforts.