Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

The Atlantic OCS area encompasses nearly 270 million acres, all of which are off-limits to oil and gas leasing or exploration.  The area is estimated to contain over 3.8 billion barrels of oil and nearly 37 trillion feet of natural gas.  No drilling has occurred in the area since 1984 so the estimates are of questionable value.

Between 1959 and 1983 433 tracts totaling almost 2.5 million acres were leased in the Atlantic OCS areas.  In 1976 and 1977 five Continental Offshore Stratigraphic Test (COST) wells were drilled to obtain geologic information before major leasing.  A total of 49 exploratory wells were drilled, none of which made it to commercial production.

The most promising prospect in the Atlantic OCS area was the Manteo unit, about 45 miles offshore of North Carolina.  The state denied approval of the plans for Manteo and the last eight leases in the Atlantic were relinquished in 2000.

No Atlantic lease sales have been held since 1983 and the last exploratory well was drilled in 1984.  A lease sale is proposed for at least 50 miles offshore of Virginia in 2011 at the request of the state of Virginia, but it would only be possible if the presidential withdrawal is lifted and the congressional moratorium discontinued.

Additional Atlantic OCS Resources

Georges Bank Petroleum Exploration

Area Resource Information

Publications Related to Atlantic coast

Atlantic Oil and Gas Activities July 1986 - June 1990

COST Wells and Exploratory Drilling

Planning areas