{
  "id": "RS22567",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORT",
  "number": "RS22567",
  "active": false,
  "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department, EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87387/",
      "id": "RS22567_2009Feb04",
      "date": "2009-04-04",
      "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21",
      "title": "Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases",
      "summary": "This report discusses the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS) leasing system including recovery relief and deepwater development as well as Congressional concerns and legislative actions.  Various forms of royalty relief are the most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337).",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Oil fields",
          "name": "Oil fields"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Oil well drilling",
          "name": "Oil well drilling"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Petroleum reserves",
          "name": "Petroleum reserves"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Oil and gas leases",
          "name": "Oil and gas leases"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Petroleum law and legislation",
          "name": "Petroleum law and legislation"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 414691,
      "date": "2009-02-04",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T22:31:47.698432",
      "title": "Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases",
      "summary": "The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production (43 U.S.C. 1337). The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary\u2019s royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS).\nAs oil and gas prices hit record levels during 2006, allegations arose about missteps at the Minerals Management Service (MMS) regarding the collection of royalties for oil and gas production on the outer continental shelf (OCS). Of particular concern to Congress was that price thresholds for royalty relief in deepwater leases were omitted from deepwater lease sales held in 1998 and 1999. Such thresholds establish a maximum price per barrel of oil or million Btu of natural gas where producers may receive royalty relief; above the threshold price, royalties must be paid. Except for the 1998 and 1999 lease sales, the thresholds are included in all leases eligible (leases issued between 1996-2000) for automatic royalty relief under the Deepwater Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA, P.L. 104-58). Without the price thresholds, oil and gas can be produced from a lease up to a specified volume without being subject to royalties, no matter how high the price goes. A recent U.S. District Court decision, however, which was upheld by a 3-member panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals, ruled that the Secretary of the Interior had no authority to impose price thresholds for oil and gas leases held under the DWRRA . Based on the court ruling, the lessees, therefore, should have the right to produce up to the specified volume of oil and gas in the lease, regardless of the price. This ruling could cost the federal treasury as much as $1.8 billion in refunds according to the MMS and between $21-$53 billion over 25 years according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).\nThe policy concern for some is not only to amend the 1998 and 1999 leases to include price thresholds but also address the Secretary\u2019s authority to impose price thresholds in any of the DWRRA leases issued from 1996-2000.\nThere are discussions underway in the 111th Congress on how to address the royalty relief issue involving price thresholds and DWRRA leases. In the 110th Congress, the House passed H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. Under Title I, this legislation would have, among other things, required the Secretary of the Interior to accept a lessee\u2019s request to modify those leases without price thresholds (\u201ccovered leases\u201d) to include price thresholds. The bill would not have made new oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico available to lessees holding \u201ccovered leases\u201d unless current leases included price thresholds or the lessee agreed to pay the proposed \u201cconservation of resources fee.\u201d The bill also would have affirmed the Secretary\u2019s authority to impose a price threshold in certain leases. The royalty relief provisions were not enacted into law.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": true,
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815873/",
      "id": "RS22567_2008Oct18",
      "date": "2008-10-18",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10686/",
      "id": "RS22567_2008Sep18",
      "date": "2008-09-18",
      "retrieved": "2008-12-11T20:32:01",
      "title": "Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases",
      "summary": "The most common incentives for offshore oil and gas development include various forms of royalty relief. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to promote increased oil and gas production. The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA) expanded the Secretary's royalty relief authority in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). This report outlines the ongoing controversy over royalty relief, related legislation, and related court rulings.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
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      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Energy",
          "name": "Energy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Oil and gas leases",
          "name": "Oil and gas leases"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Marine resources",
          "name": "Marine resources"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Petroleum in submerged lands",
          "name": "Petroleum in submerged lands"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Oil and gas royalties",
          "name": "Oil and gas royalties"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Submarine oil well drilling",
          "name": "Submarine oil well drilling"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811165/",
      "id": "RS22567_2008Feb27",
      "date": "2008-02-27",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc806268/",
      "id": "RS22567_2007Dec07",
      "date": "2007-12-07",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
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      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822244/",
      "id": "RS22567_2007Aug08",
      "date": "2007-08-08",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812794/",
      "id": "RS22567_2007Aug01",
      "date": "2007-08-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814707/",
      "id": "RS22567_2007Mar19",
      "date": "2007-03-19",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822192/",
      "id": "RS22567_2007Jan16",
      "date": "2007-01-16",
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  "topics": [
    "Energy Policy"
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}