CORE Act of 2025
The Comprehensive Offshore Resource Enhancement Act of 2025 (CORE Act of 2025) aims to strengthen U.S. national security and energy independence by building a rigorous, government-wide program to assess and map offshore energy resources. Key features include a formal assessment of offshore oil and gas resources, with a strong emphasis on transboundary reservoirs shared with neighboring countries (notably Canada); regular updating and standardization of offshore exploration and resource reporting; and a comparative analysis of offshore production practices by major producing countries. The bill also calls for adopting advanced data technologies (including AI, models, and quantum computing) and increasing interagency collaboration (with agencies such as NSF, NOAA, and ONR) to improve data collection and resource estimates. It envisions Congress receiving periodic reports and ensuring consistent methodologies across agencies to inform decision-making on leases, development, and energy policy. The bill was introduced in the House (as H.R. 2556) by Mr. Hunt in 2025 and referred to multiple committees. If enacted, it would require a series of joint reports, regular model reviews, and public-facing comparative analyses that could influence offshore leasing decisions, international diplomacy on boundaries, and regional economic impacts, while expanding the scope of offshore data collection to include non-energy minerals and critical resources.
Key Points
- 1Transboundary reservoirs and cooperation: Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretaries (Energy, Interior, State) must jointly deliver a report identifying existing and potential transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, analyze treaties and dispute mechanisms, assess economic/environmental/geopolitical implications, and propose ways to improve US cooperation with neighboring countries (including information sharing, joint exploration/development, and dispute resolution). The report also includes data from US-Canada collaboration and explores unresolved US-Canada maritime boundaries and possible involvement of international judicial bodies.
- 2Standardization and inclusions in reporting: The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to require regular (at least every 5 years) standardized inventories and analyses of offshore resources. New inclusions cover undiscovered resources in major regions (Atlantic, Pacific near CA/OR/WA/Hawaii, Alaska, Gulf of America, and US territories), economic and employment impacts, and how land withdrawals and sanctuary designations affect exploration, national security, jobs, and state/coastal revenues. The section also covers non-energy minerals (e.g., stone, sand, gravel, offshore critical minerals) and a detailed global/economic context.
- 3Model updating and transparency: The Act mandates periodic assessments of the models used to inventory and analyze offshore resources, with the first assessment due within 1 year and updates at least every 10 years. Any model updates must be published with a clear explanation, an evaluation of improvements in accuracy and cost-effectiveness, and justification if recommended updates are not incorporated. The process involves coordination with the National Petroleum Council, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the United States Association for Energy Economics.
- 4Comparative offshore production practices: Within 1 year of enactment (and every 10 years thereafter), the Interior Department, with State and Energy, must publish a comparative analysis of offshore exploration, development, and production practices for major offshore producing countries. This includes data on lease offerings, auction frequency, lease structures/fiscal terms, production volumes, regional market demands, export capabilities, and collaboration with USGS to assess undiscovered and discovered offshore resources (with probabilistic estimates).
- 5Emphasis on advanced data and collaboration: The bill prioritizes advanced geophysical, geological, and geotechnical data; adoption of new modeling/analytic technologies (including AI, GIS, and quantum computing) to narrow uncertainty ranges; and coordination with federal science and research agencies to utilize existing vessels and mapping capabilities.