BLM Announces Oil and Gas Lease Sale in California

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans to auction off oil and gas leases on approximately 35,000 acres in California. The sale, set for December 1, includes 43 parcels spanning Kern, Kings, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo counties.

This move comes after years of litigation and environmental review, which cleared the way for federal oil and gas leasing to restart in BLM's Bakersfield and Central Coast planning areas. Kern County hosts the bulk of federal drilling in California, with over 95% of such drilling taking place in established fields.

The annual federal oil and gas royalties from this area range from $65 million to $90 million, with roughly half flowing back to California. The state's refineries have also become increasingly reliant on foreign crude, with imported barrels accounting for 56% of total refinery supply during the first half of 2026.