Federal Lands Really Are Contributing Less To Total US Energy Picture -- Obama Administration

Yes, we've been saying that for quite some time now. Finally, the Obama administration admits as much. 

The EIA reports:

Despite strong total U.S. oil and gas production figures overall in FY2013, the sales volume of combined fossil fuels recovered on federal and Indian lands fell by 7 percent last year, compared with figures for FY 2012, the Energy Information Administration said in a recent report.

Crude oil volumes were actually up in FY2013 from year-earlier figures. However, the drop-off reflected a drop in other fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas and natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), the July 7 report said.

The decline was the latest in a succession of declines on federal and Indian lands that have occurred since 2003. Combined offshore and onshore natural gas figures on federal lands in 2003 were about 35 percent of the total U.S. natural gas production, but by 2013, they were just over 15 percent of the total.

The drop in the total contribution of natural gas recovered from federal lands since 2003 came because the general increase in onshore natural gas production on federal lands during that time failed to offset a drop in recoveries offshore during the same time period. In 2007, rising gas production on federal lands in sales volumes overtook a general decline in offshore production, the EIA said.

And so it goes.