According to a Feb. 14 report from Bloomberg, Royalties paid to the U.S. by oil and gas companies for offshore production are forecast to increase 68 percent under President Barack Obama’s 2012 budget. Receipts will reach $5.97 billion in the year that starts Oct. 1, from $3.56 billion in 2010. Obama also is proposing $25 million in fees from energy companies that hold nonproducing oil and gas leases, part of the administration’s effort to provide taxpayers with higher revenue from minerals development.
(Source: Bloomberg)