Making history in more ways than one, United States Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 248 not only became the first livestreamed sale. It also set record lows for the number of companies bidding, blocks receiving and total bonus bids since 1983, according to Hart Energy.

Only three companies submitted bids on 24 of about 4,400 tracts offered. Blocks ranging from nine to over 250 miles near offshore Texas were offered. The lease sale generated a little over $18 million in bids.

Gulf of Mexico region director for the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Mike Celata attributed the turnout to the continued low price of oil as abundant supplies of oil have outpaced demand across the world.

Learn more: Hart Energy > US GoM Oil, Gas Lease Marks A First. Sets Record Lows