Skip to main content

Lapse in Appropriations

Please note that a lapse in appropriations has caused GAO to shut down its operations. Therefore, GAO will not be able to publish reports or otherwise update this website until GAO resumes operations. In addition, the vast majority of GAO personnel are not permitted to work. Consequently, calls or emails to agency personnel may not be returned until GAO resumes operations. For details on how the bid protest process will be handled during the shutdown, please see the legal decisions page. For information related to the GAO Personnel Appeals Board (PAB), please see the PAB webpage.

Naval Petroleum Reserves-1: Data Corrections Made but More Accurate Reserve Data Needed

RCED-88-174 Published: Jun 28, 1988. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 1988.
Jump To:

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) actions to correct Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 (NPR-1) production data inaccuracies which GAO believed: (1) resulted from a lack of effective internal controls; (2) caused incorrect computation of NPR-1 maximum efficient production rates; and (3) could result in the government's not receiving its entire share of remaining recoverable reserves if NPR-1 were sold.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should authorize the Director, Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves, to exercise the government's option for phase IVb under the current contract to obtain more detailed geologic and engineering data needed to accurately determine the ownership of oil produced to date.
Closed – Implemented
DOE exercised option IVa of the contract so that additional geological and engineering data about the reserves could be obtained. However, DOE let the contract expire without exercising the phase IVb option.

Full Report

Full Report (20 pages)

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek
Managing Director
Office of Public Affairs
media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Contact Us

Topics

Energy
Contract optionsData integrityDomestic crude oilErrorsFederal property managementInternal controlsOil resourcesPetroleum storageProgram managementData errors