Seismic Data Inventory

This report catalogs the current and historical geological and geophysical (G&G) data permitting activities and G&G data purchases of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Resource Evaluation Program. The report includes G&G data and information associated with both oil and gas activities and marine and strategic minerals activities, but does not include an inventory of G&G data associated with renewable energy activities.

BOEM’s regulations (30 CFR § 551) govern the process for pre-lease G&G exploration for oil, gas, and sulphur resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Part 551 applies to both G&G exploration and scientific research. The purpose of these regulations is to prescribe when a permit or the filing of a notice is required to conduct G&G activities on the OCS, the operating procedures for conducting exploration activities, requirements for disclosing data and information, conditions for reimbursing permittees for certain costs, and other conditions under which exploration must be conducted. Similar regulations addressing pre-lease prospecting activities for minerals other than oil, gas, or sulphur can be found in 30 CFR § 580.

This report focuses primarily on the aggregation and summary of administrative data, such as the totals for permits issued, data acquired, and expenditures for these data. These items are influenced by a number of factors, including overall trends of oil and gas prices, access to OCS acreage, and the shift of industry investment to international and onshore opportunities.