Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced 

from Federal and Indian Lands, 

FY 2003 through FY 2012

May 2013

Independent Statistics & Analysis

www.eia.gov

U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585
U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 ii

This report was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and 

analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analyses, and forecasts are 

independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government. The views 

in this report therefore should not be construed as representing those of the Department of Energy or 

other federal agencies.
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 1

Summary 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that sales of fossil fuels from production on 

federal lands decreased by 4 percent during fiscal year1

EIA’s estimates are based on data provided by the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of Natural 

Resources Revenue (ONRR) and include sales from federal onshore and offshore lands, and from Indian 

lands.

(FY) 2012. For the same period, EIA estimates 

that sales of fossil fuels from production on Indian lands were nearly unchanged. 

2 EIA summarizes total sales of fossil fuels produced on federal and Indian lands in common energy 

units (British thermal units, or Btus) to allow for aggregation across fuels including crude oil and lease 

condensate, natural gas, natural gas plant liquids (NGPL), and coal (Tables 1-A and 1-B). The data 

presented in this paper update data previously reported by EIA3 for FY 2003 through FY 2011.

Sales from production on federal lands

The 4-percent decrease of fossil fuels sales from production on federal lands in FY 2012 (Table 1-A) was 

largely driven by declines in offshore oil and natural gas production and onshore coal production. In 

particular:

• Sales of crude oil4 from federal lands decreased 5 percent to 596 million barrels in FY 2012. An 

8-percent decrease in federal offshore volumes was partially offset by an 8-percent increase in 

the much smaller federal onshore volumes (Table 2). Onshore crude oil production increases 

came mainly from New Mexico and North Dakota. Crude oil and lease condensate production 

on federal lands dropped to 26 percent of total U.S. production in FY 2012, down from 31

percent in FY 2011. In contrast, total U.S. crude oil production (from public and private lands)

increased by 15 percent because of rapid growth in production of tight oil from resources on 

private lands.

5

• Sales of natural gas from federal lands decreased 7 percent in FY 2012 to 4,262 billion cubic feet, 

with offshore volumes down 19 percent and onshore volumes virtually unchanged (Table 3). 

Onshore federal natural gas production increases in Wyoming and New Mexico offset decreases 

in Texas, Utah, Colorado, and other states. Natural gas production on federal lands dropped to 

18 percent of the U.S. total in FY 2012, down from 20 percent in FY 2011 (Table 1-A).

• Sales of NGPL produced on federal lands decreased by 4 percent to 114 million barrels in FY 

2012, following a 2-percent drop in FY 2011 from the level in FY 2010, which was the peak year 

of NGPL production over the FY 2003-FY 2012 period covered by this report (Table 4). An 

 1 The U.S. government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar 

year in which it ends. 

2 Includes offshore and onshore areas the federal government owns or administers, including American Indian lands. 

3 Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced from Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2011, EIA, March 2012, found at 

http://www.eia.gov/analysis/requests/federallands/archive/2012/pdf/eia-federallandsales-031412.pdf 4 Includes lease condensate.

5 http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbblpd_a.htm
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 2

increase of nearly 3 percent in federal onshore volumes, consistent with industry efforts to 

maximize recovery from liquids-rich areas, was more than offset by a 14-percent decrease in 

offshore volumes in FY 2012. 

• Coal sales from production on federal lands decreased by 1 percent to 442 million short tons in

FY 2012, contributing to a 8-percent decrease since its peak in FY 2008 (Table 5). Sales of coal 

produced on federal lands accounted for almost 42 percent of the U.S. total in FY 2012, up from 

41 percent in FY 2011.

Sales from production on Indian lands

Total fossil fuels sales from production on Indian lands were virtually unchanged in FY 2012 (Table 1-B), 

but there were offsetting changes in the individual fuels:

• Sales of crude oil produced on Indian lands increased 56 percent to 31 million barrels in FY 2012

(Table 2), reaching the highest recorded level over the period for which data are available (FY 

2003-FY 2012). Almost all of the FY 2012 increase came from North Dakota and, to a lesser 

extent, Utah. 

• Sales of natural gas from Indian lands decreased by 1 percent to 251 billion cubic feet in FY 2012

(Table 3).

• Sales of natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) produced on Indian lands increased by 11 percent in FY 

2012 to 4 million barrels (Table 4). 

• Sales of coal from production on Indian lands dropped 14 percent to 19 million short tons in FY 

2012 (Table 5).

DOI program offices continually collect sales and royalty payment data on fossil fuel sales of production 

from federal and Indian lands. Around February of each year, ONRR reports sales data it has collected. 

Sales are assigned to the fiscal year in which they occur, not necessarily the same year royalties were 

collected. Audits conducted by ONRR result in revisions to data previously reported.

This report is based on information reported to and processed by ONRR as of March 15, 2013. The 

recently updated data provided by ONRR for FY 2003 through FY 2011 generally fall within 2 percent of 

the volumes EIA reported previously, with some exceptions. The largest percentage revisions were 18 

percent and 16 percent increases in federal onshore NGPL sales from production in FY 2010 and FY 

2011, respectively. Non-revenue volumes,

6

 6 Non-revenue volumes are sales volumes reported where no royalty is due. This type of reporting is for specific programs that 

are authorized by statute. See http://statistics.onrr.gov/PDF/FAQs.pdf.

which only occur from production on the federal offshore, 

had revisions ranging from -11 percent to 14 percent in FY 2010 and FY 2011 for natural gas and NGPL 

and an upward revision of 12 percent for crude oil in FY 2009.
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 3

Additional data, background information, and discussions of methodology and key drivers contributing 

to trends in sales from production on federal lands during the FY 2003 through FY 2011 period are 

available in the earlier EIA report and on the ONRR website.7

 

 7 http://statistics.onrr.gov/
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 4

Table 1-A. Fossil fuel sales of production from federal lands, FY 2003 – FY 2012

Fiscal 

Year Crude Oil and Lease Condensate Natural Gas Plant Liquids2 Natural Gas Coal Fossil Fuels

million

barrels 1

trillion 

btu

percent of

U.S. total

million

barrels1

trillion

btu

percent of

U.S. total

billion

cubic feet1

trillion 

btu

percent of

U.S. total

million

short tons1

trillion 

btu

percent of

U.S. total

trillion

btu

percent of

U.S. total

2003 679 3,940 33.0% 93 346 14.7% 6,799 6,982 35.7% 436 8,960 40.6% 20,229 36.1%

2004 670 3,884 33.3% 104 386 15.7% 6,374 6,543 34.0% 451 9,226 41.0% 20,040 35.8%

2005 638 3,698 32.8% 96 358 14.7% 6,054 6,221 33.1% 447 9,110 39.6% 19,388 34.8%

2006 571 3,314 31.3% 85 317 13.9% 5,372 5,523 29.6% 429 8,715 37.2% 17,869 32.4%

2007 618 3,586 33.3% 105 387 16.3% 5,559 5,711 29.2% 443 9,017 38.6% 18,700 33.3%

2008 565 3,278 30.7% 104 385 15.6% 5,545 5,695 27.7% 483 9,771 41.6% 19,128 33.3%

2009 647 3,752 33.9% 92 339 13.6% 5,393 5,531 26.2% 462 9,260 41.5% 18,881 33.0%

2010 723 4,192 36.4% 121 445 16.3% 5,088 5,208 24.4% 456 9,177 42.7% 19,022 33.2%

2011 629 3,650 31.0% 119 437 15.1% 4,584 4,686 20.4% 447 9,016 41.1% 17,789 29.8%

2012 596 3,455 26.2% 114 420 13.2% 4,262 4,356 17.8% 442 8,898 42.1% 17,129 27.6% 1

Includes sales volumes for production from federal lands including all classes of land owned by the federal government, including acquired military, Outer Continental Shelf, and 

public lands.

2

Includes only those quantities for which the royalties were paid on the basis of the value of the natural gas plant liquids produced. Additional quantities of natural gas plant 

liquids were produced; however, the royalties paid were based on the value of natural gas processed. These latter quantities are included with natural gas.

Notes: Total fossil fuels equals the sum of crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids, natural gas, and coal. In addition, the sales volumes are reported for the 

fiscal year in which the sales occurred as opposed to the date of the royalty payment. Volumes include fossil fuels for which royalties were paid, as well as those amounts 

exempt from royalty payments, such as additions to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Sources: Physical Data: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, “ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).

Btu Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Btu are calculated using average, calendar-year heat rates for production of each fossil fuel, as reported in the Monthly Energy 

Review (April 2013). The total Btu-content per fossil fuel is calculated by multiplying the physical data by the approximate heat content. The fossil fuel total is the sum of the 

total heat content for crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids, natural gas, and coal.

Percent of Total: Percentages are calculated by dividing sales of production from federal by total U.S. production, then multiplying by 100. Fiscal year values for total U.S. 

production are the sum of October-September values from the Monthly Energy Review (April 2013) and reflect EIA’s current data updates.
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 5

Table 1-B. Fossil fuel sales of production from Indian lands, FY 2003 – FY 2012

Fiscal 

Year Crude Oil and Lease Condensate Natural Gas Plant Liquids2 Natural Gas Coal Fossil Fuels

million

barrels 1 trillion btu

percent of

U.S. total

million

barrels1 trillionbtu

percent of

U.S. total

billion

cubic feet1 trillion btu

percent of

U.S. total

million

short tons1 trillionbtu

percent of

U.S. total

trillion

btu

percent of

U.S. total

2003 10 59 0.5% 2 6 0.3% 283 291 1.5% 30 616 2.8% 972 1.7%

2004 10 58 0.5% 2 7 0.3% 312 320 1.7% 33 667 3.0% 1,052 1.9%

2005 10 59 0.5% 2 7 0.3% 326 335 1.8% 34 698 3.0% 1,099 2.0%

2006 10 57 0.5% 2 7 0.3% 308 316 1.7% 29 593 2.5% 973 1.8%

2007 10 56 0.5% 3 10 0.4% 284 292 1.5% 27 558 2.4% 916 1.6%

2008 10 57 0.5% 3 11 0.4% 271 279 1.4% 26 527 2.2% 874 1.5%

2009 10 61 0.5% 3 10 0.4% 265 272 1.3% 26 521 2.3% 864 1.5%

2010 13 77 0.7% 3 11 0.4% 250 256 1.2% 22 435 2.0% 780 1.4%

2011 20 115 1.0% 3 12 0.4% 253 259 1.1% 22 444 2.0% 830 1.4%

2012 31 179 1.4% 4 14 0.4% 251 256 1.0% 19 382 1.8% 831 1.3% 1

Includes sales volumes for production from Indian lands.

2

Includes only those quantities for which the royalties were paid on the basis of the value of the natural gas plant liquids produced. Additional quantities of natural gas plant 

liquids were produced; however, the royalties paid were based on the value of natural gas processed. These latter quantities are included with natural gas.

Notes: Total fossil fuels equals the sum of crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids, natural gas, and coal. In addition, the sales volumes are reported for the 

fiscal year in which the sales occurred as opposed to the date of the royalty payment. Volumes include fossil fuels for which royalties were paid, as well as those amounts 

exempt from royalty payments, such as additions to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Sources: Physical Data: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, “ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).

Btu Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Btu are calculated using average, calendar-year heat rates for production of each fossil fuel, as reported in the Monthly Energy 

Review (April 2013). The total Btu-content per fossil fuel is calculated by multiplying the physical data by the approximate heat content. The fossil fuel total is the sum of the 

total heat content for crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids, natural gas, and coal.

Percent of Total: Percentages are calculated by dividing sales of production from Indian lands by total U.S. production, then multiplying by 100. Fiscal year values for total U.S. 

production are the sum of October-September values from the Monthly Energy Review (April 2013) and reflect EIA’s current data updates.
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 6

Table 2. Sales of crude oil and lease condensate production from federal and Indian lands, FY 2003 –

FY 2012 (million barrels)

Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. Onshore federal excludes volumes on 

Indian Lands. Offshore federal only includes areas in federal waters.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue. “ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).

Table 3. Sales of natural gas production from federal and Indian lands, FY 2003 – FY 2012 

(billion cubic feet)

Fiscal Year Offshore Federal Onshore Federal Total Federal Indian Lands

2003 4,522 2,277 6,799 283 

2004 4,025 2,349 6,374 312 

2005 3,523 2,532 6,054 326 

2006 2,755 2,617 5,372 308 

2007 2,706 2,853 5,559 284 

2008 2,497 3,049 5,545 271 

2009 2,215 3,179 5,393 265 

2010 2,052 3,036 5,088 250 

2011 1,660 2,925 4,584 253 

2012 1,338 2,924 4,262 251 

Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. Onshore federal excludes volumes on 

Indian lands. Offshore federal only includes areas in federal waters.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue. “ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).

Fiscal Year Offshore Federal Onshore Federal Total Federal Indian Lands

2003 579 101 679 10 

2004 572 97 670 10 

2005 541 96 638 10 

2006 471 100 571 10 

2007 514 105 618 10 

2008 462 103 565 10 

2009 542 105 647 10 

2010 615 108 723 13 

2011 516 113 629 20 

2012 474 122 596 31 
May 2013

U.S. Energy Information Administration | Sales of Fossil Fuels Produced on Federal and Indian Lands, FY 2003 through FY 2012 7

Table 4. Sales of natural gas plant liquids production from federal and Indian lands, FY 2003 – FY 2012 

(million barrels)

Fiscal Year Offshore Federal Onshore Federal Total Federal Indian Lands

2003 51 42 93 2 

2004 62 41 104 2 

2005 56 40 96 2 

2006 46 40 85 2 

2007 59 45 105 3 

2008 53 51 104 3 

2009 45 46 92 3 

2010 57 64 121 3 

2011 50 69 119 3 

2012 43 71 114 4 

Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. Onshore federal excludes volumes on 

Indian lands. Offshore federal only includes areas in federal waters.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources

Revenue. “ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).

Table 5. Sales of coal production from federal and Indian lands, FY 2003 – FY 2012 (million short tons)

Fiscal Year Offshore Federal Onshore Federal Indian Lands

2003 NA 436 30

2004 NA 451 33 

2005 NA 447 34 

2006 NA 429 29 

2007 NA 443 27 

2008 NA 483 26 

2009 NA 462 26 

2010 NA 456 22 

2011 NA 447 22 

2012 NA 442 19 

Notes: NA=not applicable. Total may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding.

Onshore federal excludes volumes on Indian lands. Offshore federal only includes areas in federal waters.

 Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

“ONRR Statistical Information Site” (http://statistics.onrr.gov).