The Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR), Office of Mineral Resources announced today that it will be placing back on the market for mineral leasing approximately 46,000 acres in the next several weeks.  The available acreage comes from parts of three existing state mineral leases which originated some 70 years ago.

According to DNR Secretary Scott Angelle, it was back in 1936, that the Mineral Board awarded State Leases 335, 340 and 341 to William Burton, who then, granted subleases to Texaco. While portions of these specific mineral leases are still viable, aggressive title and research work performed by the Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) has identified thousands of acres located in Vermillion, Iberia, St. Mary, and Terrebonne parishes to be cleared and released back to the state for future development and exploration. Angelle said, “This is a real big accomplishment, we stayed focused on obtaining the necessary documentation required in order to get further economic value from these old oil and gas fields.”

The acreage includes approximately:
24,300 acres from the Lighthouse Point Field (from State Lease 340)
  3,426 acres from the Mound Point Field (from State Lease 340)
  5,156 acres from the Bayou Sale/Horseshoe Bayou Fields (from State Lease 340)
  3,200 acres from the Rabbit Island Field (from State Lease 340)
  3,782 acres from the West Cote Blanche Bay Field (from State Lease 340)
  1,061 acres from the Bateman Lake Field (from State Lease 341)
  5,500 acres from the Delacroix Island Field (from State Lease 335)

See these map images for graphical location:     WEST MAP     EAST MAP

The State Mineral Board has the authority to advertise and grant leases on land and water bottoms that belong to the state. Secretary Angelle and State Mineral Board Secretary Marjorie McKeithen have worked together over many months now, and they give credit to the OMR staff of specialists for the coordinated effort. The state treasury would collect rental, royalties and bonuses from these newly released areas once lease awards are granted by the Board.

Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) President Don Briggs said, “Knowing that opportunity is knocking at the door, is always a good thing for our members and for the state. I think the department has been real aggressive in looking for an edge for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. This is great.”