[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 54054] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-25830] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Announcement of Posting of Invitation for Exchange of Natural Gas From Federal Properties in the Gulf of Mexico AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of invitation for exchange of Federal royalty gas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service will post on MMS's Internet Home Page, and make available in hard copy, a public competitive offering of approximately 260 million cubic feet per day of natural gas, to be taken as royalty-in-kind from Federal properties in the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR) under an Invitation For Exchange (IFE), Number MMS-RIK-2000-GOMR-001. DATES: The IFE will be posted on MMS's Internet Home Page on or about October 8, 1999. Bids will be due to MMS, at the posted receipt location, on or about October 22, 1999. MMS will notify successful bidders on or about October 29, 1999. The Federal Government will begin actual taking of awarded royalty gas volumes for delivery to successful bidders for a 4-month period beginning on December 1, 1999. A preliminary list of properties from which MMS is considering taking royalty gas was posted September 27, 1999, on MMS's Internet Home Page. ADDRESSES: The IFE will be posted on MMS's Home Page at http:// www.mms.gov under the icon ``What's New.'' The IFE may also be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Del-Colle at the address in the FURTHER INFORMATION section. Bids should be submitted to the address provided in the IFE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on MMS's RIK pilots, contact.Mr. Bonn J. Macy, Minerals Management Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., MS-4230, Washington D.C. 20240; telephone number (202) 208-3827; fax (202) 208-3918; e-mail Bonn.M[email protected]. For additional information concerning the IFE document, terms, and process for Federal leases, contact Mr. Michael Del-Colle, Minerals Management Service, MS- 2510, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4817; telephone number (703) 787-1375; fax (703) 787-1009; e-mail Michael.Del-C[email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This offering of natural gas in the IFE begins the third of MMS's three planned RIK pilots and will involve Federal properties in the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR). The first Pilot involved crude oil from Federal and State of Wyoming properties in Wyoming and the second was limited to Federal properties in the 8(g) zone of the GOMR, offshore of Texas. MMS's objective in this third pilot, as in all its pilots, is to identify the circumstances in which taking oil and gas royalties as a share of production (RIK) is a viable alternative to its usual practice of collecting oil and gas royalties as a share of the value received by the lessee for sale of the production. This third pilot is expected to last 2 to 3 years. This IFE will offer approximately 260 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from about 146 Federal properties located in the High Island, East and West Cameron, and Sabine Pass areas of the GOMR. The royalty gas flows through about 75 facility measurement points (FMP's) on five pipeline systems. Purchasers may bid on production from individual properties and/or on groups of properties. Under the terms of the offer, successful bidders would take the royalty gas from specified properties and locations near the lease and, in return, deliver natural gas in equivalent amounts and qualities to a specified location. Bids will be due as specified in the IFE on October 22, 1999; successful bidders will be notified on or about October 29, 1999. The following are some of the additional details regarding the offering that will be posted in the IFE on or about October 8, 1999.List of specific properties; For each property--FMP location and identification number, average daily royalty volume, quality, current operator; and other pipeline information. Bid basis; Reporting requirements; Terms and conditions; and Contract format. Information on the internet posting and availability of the IFE in hard copy are being made available to oil and gas trade journals as well as in this Federal Register notice. Dated: September 29, 1999. Walter D. Cruickshank, Associate Director for Policy and Management Improvement. [FR Doc. 99-25830 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P