The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management lowered the shallow-water
royalty rate for proposed Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale 249 in the
Gulf of Mexico to 12.5% from the original 18.75%. The new rate, which is
the same as the one for federal onshore oil and gas royalties, would
apply in water less than 200 m, the US Department of the Interior agency
reported on July 7 after completing an analysis of its royalty rates.