By the numbers: The Louisiana Mineral and Energy Board collected $307,629 at its January lease sale held on Wednesday in Baton Rouge. The board awarded eight leases covering 867 acres, with nominated tracts covering just over 3,189 acres in DeSoto, Jefferson Davis, Jefferson, Pointe Coupee, Red River and Terrebonne parishes. Thus far in the fiscal year, which began in July, the board has collected $4.4 million through the monthly lease sales. Total collections in the previous fiscal year totaled $14 million, which the board says ultimately netted $432.9 million in royalties for the state.
Help wanted: Initial unemployment insurance claims for the week ending Jan. 9 increased to 4,203 from the previous week’s total of 2,459. The Louisiana Workforce Commission notes the week marked the start of a new quarter for new claims, when some claimants regain their eligibility for benefits, typically resulting in an increase in initial claims. For the comparable week a year ago, ending Jan. 10, 2015, 3,601 initial claims were filed. The four-week moving average of initial claims increased to 2,934 from the previous week’s average of 2,494. LWC has complete details.
Low five: The number of rigs actively exploring for oil or gas in Louisiana fell by five this week to 54, according to the weekly tally released today by Houston-based oilfield services firm Baker Hughes. Nationwide, the rig count fell by 14 to 650. Of those, 515 were exploring for oil, down one from the week previous. The tally of rigs exploring for gas was down 13 to 135 this week. The total rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981, the height of the oil boom. The record low of 488 occurred in 1999.
