15,066 blocks up for grabs in next US offshore oil & gas lease sale

February 4, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has taken further steps to conduct the second offshore oil and gas lease sale under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which encompasses thirty Gulf of America (U.S. Gulf of Mexico) oil and gas lease sales.

Illustration. Source: BOEM — Illustration; Source: BOEM

BOEM has released the final notice of sale following the publishing of the proposed notice of sale for Big Beautiful Gulf 2 (BBG2) in the Federal Register on November 20, 2025. The lease sale bidders will be invited to attend the live bid reading on March 11, 2026, starting at 9 a.m. Central Time.

Matt Giacona, BOEM Acting Director, commented: “Lease Sale BBG2 is a key step in advancing BOEM’s offshore oil and gas program in the Gulf of America. Following the strong industry response to Lease Sale BBG1, this proposed sale aims to ensure continued investment in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and support American energy independence.”

This lease sale is said to directly support Executive Order 14154, ‘Unleashing American Energy,’ which directs federal agencies to accelerate offshore oil and gas development to lower energy costs, reinforce national energy security, and enhance America’s global competitiveness, delivering on President Donald J. Trump’s promise to expand U.S. energy production and strengthen energy dominance.

View on Offshore-energy.

BOEM explained: “Certain areas will be excluded from the sale, including blocks subject to the Sept. 8, 2020, presidential withdrawal; blocks adjacent to or beyond the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Eastern Gap; blocks within the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; any block which received a bid in Lease Sale BBG1.”

The lease sale BBG2 proposes to offer approximately 15,066 unleased blocks, covering about 80.4 million acres on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of America. These blocks are located 3 to 231 miles offshore, spanning water depths from 9 feet to more than 11,100 feet.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management underlined: “Offshore oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf generates billions in revenue through lease sales, rental fees, and royalties.

“These funds are distributed to the U.S. Treasury and to states via revenue-sharing programs that support coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and other public services and conservation efforts.”

View on Offshore-energy.

The Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf spans approximately 160 million acres and is estimated to contain 29.59 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 54.84 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The final notice of sale will be published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2026, satisfying the requirement for the notice to publish at least 30 days prior to the scheduled lease sale date.

“American Energy Dominance is a cornerstone of U.S. economic strength, national security, and global stability,” emphasized BOEM.

“President Trump’s dedication to expanding domestic offshore energy capabilities ensures affordable energy for U.S. consumers, further strengthens the United States’s position in the global energy market, and reduces our reliance on foreign sources.”