Around 50% of oil & over 25% of natural gas (that lies beneath the 99 million acres federal lands) is inaccessible, the US govt. said in the report highlighting environmental & other hurdles in the development of US energy sector. Energy firms say that many regions are technically accessible but are off

limit due to major restrictions hindering the development in those regions.

Oil & gas industry that is looking for more public land access, welcomed the assessment but environmental groups have accused BLM (Bureau of Land Management) of disregarding economics & science in the report.

BLM analyzed the 99 million acres federal land in the report. About 50% of oil in the region cannot be drilled, leaving accessible oil at around 743 million barrels. Over 25% of natural gas in the region is also off-limit.

BLM report found that around 47 trillion cu. ft. of gas reserves are entirely inaccessible, while about 114 trillion cu. ft. can be drilled with some restrictions. Over 25 trillion cu. ft. can be drilled without limitations.

Oil reserves of around 10.5 billion barrels couldn't be tapped, as most of them are in Alaska & Arctic National Advertisement Wildlife Refuge, a region that govt. has been eyeing for years for drilling. Nearly, 10 billion barrels of oil reserves can be developed with some limitations.

For years, energy firms have been pushing for access to those federal lands & environmentalists are against the drillings, as it will disturb the environment & wildlife. Energy firms have shown frustrations due to the limitations on drilling as regions like national parks & wildlife areas cannot be drilled for energy reserves.

Environmentalists are right to some extent but the restrictions are not allowing US to raise domestic supplies. This is adversely affecting the oil prices as they continue to rise along with reliance on imported oil & gas. Access & uncertainty issues are restricting investments in the sector.

An analyst at RNCOS said, "Though the world is gearing towards renewable & alternative energies, domestic resources couldn't be overlooked. Federal land access is not the only solution to energy problems but is a key growth factor for the US energy sector."