Allegations that Oil and Gas Company Submitted False Refund Requests Unfounded

OIG initiated an investigation after receiving allegations that a major oil and gas company submitted false refund requests to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR). The series of refund requests were submitted near the end of the 6-year adjustment period allowed by ONRR regulations, and increased the transportation allowances on oil and gas originally sold during January through December 2009 by over $6 million.

 

We found no evidence to support the allegations and determined the company did not change the royalty values in question, did not inflate its refund requests, and did not receive any money in response to the refund requests.