Shell

Rule Changes

Announced major Gulf oil discovery in January 2026; active bidder in Trump-era lease auctions

Donald Trump's second-term energy agenda has moved from a single Gulf auction to a full-scale offshore transformation. The December 10 Gulf lease sale—81.2 million acres at a 12.5% royalty rate, generating $279.4 million—was just the opening move. By year's end, the administration had proposed a sweeping 2026-2031 leasing plan covering 1.27 billion acres off California, Florida and Alaska, scheduled a second Gulf sale for March 11, 2026, and simultaneously halted all five major East Coast offshore wind projects, claiming national security risks. A major Shell-INEOS oil discovery south of New Orleans in early January underscored the industry bet on deepwater Gulf prospects.

Updated Jan 8