Buoyed by Small Oil Price Recovery, Agency Doles out $7B
View on EnergyWire website"Interior attributed this fiscal year's increase to larger lease sales, regulatory reductions and one element beyond the federal government's control — recovering oil and gas prices. The latter contributor likely carried the largest influence, said Nathan Ratledge, a consultant for Resources for the Future. In fiscal 2016, royalties accounted for roughly 85 percent of ONRR's reported revenues, according to agency statistics. Rent and bonus payments — which could be bolstered by additional leasing — accounted for the remainder. 'The major story here is what's happening with oil prices,' Ratledge said."
