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US leases first oil tracts in Gulf of Mexico since BP spill
Dec 14, 2011, 22:34 GMT
Washington - The United States auctioned off leases for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday for the first time since the months-long BP oil spill in 2010.
The Department of the Interior received some 337.7 million dollars in winning bids for 191 tracts in the oil-rich Gulf.
The move follows an announcement by US President Barack Obama in May ordering more exploration for oil in some areas that have traditionally been off limits, or at least contentious due to environmental concerns.
Oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico has been a sore subject since last year's massive oil spill following the explosion of the Deep Horizon oil rig.
BP was among the large oil companies that secured leases.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, 'Today's lease sale, the first since the tragic events of Deepwater Horizon, continues the Obama administration's commitment to a balanced and comprehensive energy plan.'
He pointed to reforms designed to make drilling safer and prevent similar ecological disasters.
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