 |
|
VICTORIA – The Feb. 20, 2008
sale of oil and gas rights brings B.C.’s fiscal
year total to an all-time high of $1.07 billion. The $116.9 million generated in
bonus bids makes it the first time the province has reached over $1 billion in
land rights revenues in a fiscal year and follows a billion-dollar,
record-setting 2007 calendar year, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Minister Richard Neufeld announced today.
“British Columbia is attracting unprecedented
interest and investment from oil and gas companies,” said Neufeld. “Over a
billion in revenue from oil and gas rights sales contributes to B.C.’s bottom
line, the long-term success of our province and the benefits of living in the
best place on Earth.”
The fiscal year total of oil and gas rights
for 2007-2008 surpasses the previous record of $625.7 million set in 2003-2004.
Sixty-six parcels covering 53,555 hectares were offered in
the Feb. 20, 2008 sale, and bids were accepted on 65 parcels for an average
price of $2,214 per hectare.
The key areas in the sale were a group of six drilling licences located within the Horn River Basin north of Fort Nelson that generated bids totalling more than $67 million. In addition, two drilling licences south of Fort St. John collected over $18.5 million on average prices in the $10,000 per hectare range. A lease parcel near the Buick Creek field north of Fort St. John earned over $1 million averaging over $3,764 per hectare.
The next sale is scheduled for March 26, 2008 and will offer 81 parcels covering 89,752 hectares.
Complete results of the sale and additional
statistics are posted on the Ministry of Energy,
Mines and Petroleum Resources website: www.em.gov.bc.ca/Subwebs/Landsale/results/default.htm
-30-
|
contact: |
Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell) |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
