(WO) — The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced two major steps toward expanding offshore oil and gas leasing under the Trump administration’s energy agenda and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
BOEM released the Final Notice of Sale for Big Beautiful Gulf 1 (BBG1)—the first of 30 lease sales required in the Gulf of America—and the Proposed Notice of Sale for Big Beautiful Cook Inlet 1 (BBC1), the first of six planned in Alaska’s Cook Inlet. Both initiatives are part of a congressionally mandated framework to increase domestic offshore energy production.
The BBG1 sale will make about 80 million acres available for leasing across the Gulf of America. The Final Notice will be published on Nov. 10, 2025, with bid opening scheduled for Dec. 10, 2025. BOEM has set a 12.5% royalty rate—the lowest permitted by statute—to encourage strong industry participation.
The Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf spans roughly 160 million acres, with an estimated 29.6 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 54.8 Tcf of natural gas. Exclusions include previously withdrawn areas, portions beyond the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Eastern Gap, and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
In Alaska, the BBC1 lease sale proposes to open approximately 1 million acres in Cook Inlet, marking the first of six required sales between 2026 and 2032. It also carries the minimum 12.5% royalty rate to foster investment in the region’s offshore resources.
According to BOEM, offshore leasing revenues remain a key contributor to federal and state programs that support coastal restoration, infrastructure, and energy security. The Trump administration has positioned these lease sales as part of a long-term effort to expand domestic oil and gas supply while reinforcing the role of U.S. offshore production in global energy markets.
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