Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas One Big Beautiful Bill Act Lease Sale 1
Published Date: 2/2/2026
Notice
Summary
On March 4, 2026, the government will hold a big lease sale for oil and gas drilling spots in Cook Inlet’s Outer Continental Shelf. Companies interested in bidding must submit their sealed bids by March 3. This sale follows rules from a previous 2017 lease sale and aims to boost energy development while sticking to set terms and conditions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 8 costs, 0 mixed.
Minimum bonus bid set at $25 per hectare
The minimum bonus bid for every block in the sale is $25 per hectare (or fraction thereof); BOEM will not accept any bonus bid below that amount. BOEM will round up block acreage to the next whole hectare before applying the minimum rate.
12.5% royalty and $20/ha minimum royalty; no relief
Leases will carry a royalty rate of 12.5 percent and a minimum royalty of $20 per hectare (or fraction thereof) per year. The sale explicitly offers no royalty relief.
One‑fifth bonus deposit and strict payment timing
Apparent high bidders must submit a bonus bid deposit equal to one‑fifth (1/5) of the bonus bid amount to ONRR; deposits must be in an interest‑bearing U.S. Treasury account by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day following the bid reading, and bidders are urged to submit payments to their bank no later than 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day of bid reading. Non‑record title holders or bidders who previously defaulted must secure the one‑fifth deposit before bid submission by third‑party guarantee, bond rider, letter of credit, or lump sum EFT.
Large acreage and multi‑year sales mandate
BOEM will offer all available unleased acreage in the Cook Inlet OCS, about 442,537 hectares (1.09 million acres). The OBBBA requires at least six Cook Inlet lease sales through 2032 and directs not fewer than one sale in each calendar year 2026–2028 and 2030–2032, and the Secretary must offer at least 1 million acres (or all available unleased acres if less).
Annual rental rate schedule
Annual rentals for all blocks are $13 per hectare (or fraction thereof) each year until the start of year eight of the primary term or until a discovery; after that point the annual rate is $20 per hectare (or fraction thereof).
Primary lease term of 10 years
Leases issued from this sale will have a primary term of 10 years as required by the statute (Section 50102).
Geophysical data (GDIS) and reimbursement rules
Every bidder must submit a Geophysical Data and Information Statement (GDIS) at bid time (statement, table, maps) and, if requested, must submit proprietary data within 30 days after the sale. To qualify for reimbursement of production costs, a data supplier must be registered in SAM.gov, enrolled in the U.S. Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP), and have a current online representations and certifications record.
Lease stipulations protecting marine resources
Leases may include stipulations such as Protection of Fisheries, Protection of Biological Resources, Protection of Beluga Whale Critical Habitat and Nearshore Feeding Areas, Protection of Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat, and Protection of Gillnet Fishery; applicable blocks and stipulations are shown on BOEM maps and in the Final NOS package.
Firm sale date and bid deadline
BOEM will open and publicly announce bids at 10:00 a.m. Alaska time on March 4, 2026. All sealed bids must be received before 10:00 a.m. Alaska time on March 3, 2026, or they will be returned unopened unless BOEM extends the deadline.
No in‑person bidding; mail‑only submissions
BOEM eliminated in‑person bidding for this sale: bids may be submitted by mail only through parcel delivery services and each bid must be in a separate sealed envelope with specific labeling. The bid opening will not be open to the public but will be livestreamed on BOEM's website.
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