The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has introduced a long-term schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
The inclusion of at least 30 lease sales in the Gulf of America underscores the region’s indispensable role in America’s energy ecosystem, accounting for roughly 14–15% of U.S. crude oil production and serving as the linchpin of offshore energy output. These scheduled sales are designed offer the oil and gas sector much-needed clarity and stability, encouraging continued investment in deepwater infrastructure, which is foundational to national energy resilience.
The Gulf supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, contributes tens of billions to GDP annually and generates substantial federal and state revenues. The economic and energy-security gains from these sales are expected to be both immediate and long-lasting.
Alaska plays a vital role in America’s energy future, and Cook Inlet, along Alaska’s south-central coast near Anchorage, is at the center of that opportunity. By including six lease sales in Cook Inlet through 2032, the plan ensures Alaskans benefit from new jobs, stronger local economies and long-term investment in their communities. Alaska’s unique position as both a strategic energy hub and a gateway to the Arctic makes it essential to U.S. energy security. Responsible development in Cook Inlet will help reduce reliance on foreign imports while supporting the state’s decades-long tradition of powering America with reliable, homegrown energy.
The first sale is set for Dec. 10, 2025. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will publish the final notice at least 30 days before the sale.
Offshore Lease Sale Schedule
| Year | Cook Inlet Sale | Gulf of America Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | Dec. 10 |
| 2026 | March | March, August |
| 2027 | March | March, August |
| 2028 | March | March, August |
| 2029 | — | March, August |
| 2030 | March | March, August |
| 2031 | March | March, August |
| 2032 | March | March, August |
| 2033–2039 | — | March, August |
| 2040 | — | March |
More information on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s leasing process is available at boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing.
BOEM is responsible for all Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing policy and program development issues for oil, gas and other marine minerals.
- National Program
- Individual oil and gas lease sales
- Regional Leasing
- Official maps and GIS data.
Many different disciplines contribute to and support the overall leasing program–from the initial assessment of resources to environmental considerations to the final determination of what is actually offered for lease.
- Fair Market Value – economic analyses, fair market value procedures, economic databases & modeling, post-sale activities and rejected bid appeals.
- Forms – for all phases of leasing, development and production.
- Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
- Royalty Relief – design of policies, reviews requests for royalty rate reductions, generates economic assumptions.
- Resource Evaluation – geological and geophysical evaluations; engineering assessments of mineral resource potential.
- Leasing Statistics: Monthly Statistics and Summary Statistics for All Sales
- Regional Leasing Information
- Alaska Leasing Activities | Alaska Plans
- Gulf of America lease information
- Pacific lease information
