The potential for oil and gas occurrence in the Planning Area ranges from high to low, depending on location, as documented in the RFD. The RFD for oil and gas in the Planning Area analyzed the potential for anticipated drilling activity over the next 20 years. Lands in the Planning Area are classified as having moderate to no potential for development of oil and gas resources, depending on location and based on projected drilling densities (BLM 2009u). Drilling in existing fields accounts for a large proportion of the growth, with a lesser share attributed to additional new discoveries in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. The RFD considers the potential for development of CBNG in the Planning Area, depending on location, to be low, very low, or nonexistent.

There could be adverse impacts to oil and gas exploration and development activities from management actions that restrict or constrain the potential for oil and gas leasing, development, and exploration. Constraints to oil and gas development include NSO, CSU restrictions, timing limitations (TLS), or the allocation of public land for management of other resource objectives that limit or prohibit oil and gas exploration and development (e.g., visual resource management [VRM] allocations). Additional adverse impacts to exploration and development of oil and gas resources can result from specific management actions that require mitigation, certain BMPs, or other lease stipulations to protect resources that may increase project costs and timeframes. Beneficial impacts related to oil and gas exploration and development can result from management actions that ease restrictions or open areas for oil and gas exploration and development, thereby increasing the potential for leasing, exploration, and development.

Management actions to protect other resource values may directly and indirectly impact new oil and gas leases, exploration, and development. A direct impact is one that either specifically prohibits or permits oil and gas leasing, exploration, or development. Direct impacts include managing areas as administratively unavailable for new oil and gas leasing. Indirect impacts result from management actions that may place or remove surface use restrictions or additional requirements on oil and gas exploration and development (e.g., BMPs or mitigation). These actions do not explicitly permit or prohibit oil and gas exploration and development activity, but may influence an operator’s decision about whether to proceed. An example of an indirect impact would be a seasonal restriction on entering a greater sage-grouse Key Habitat Area for part of the year.