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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf; Update of International Organization for Standardization Documents Incorporated by Reference
The MMS is proposing to remove API Specification 14A and replace it with a new document incorporated by reference in regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The addition of this document incorporated by reference will ensure that lessees use the best available and safest technologies while...
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National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska-Unitization
This proposed rule would add a new subpart to the Bureau of Land Management's oil and gas regulations implementing new statutory authority allowing operators to form units in the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPRA). Units allow for the sharing of costs and spreading of revenues among several leases, and allow for production from unit...
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Amendments to Gas Valuation Regulations for Indian Leases
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is proposing to remove the special timing requirements for adjustments and audits of royalties on gas produced from Indian leases in Montana and North Dakota. These timing requirements may force tribal and MMS auditors to expend additional time and money or postpone ongoing audits to meet the restricted time...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Oil and Gas Drilling Operations
This proposed rule restructures the requirements for oil and gas drilling operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), adds some new requirements, and converts the rule into plain language. The proposed rule follows the logical sequence of obtaining approval to drill a well and conducting operations. The proposed rule also removes overly...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Decommissioning Activities
This proposed rule would amend MMS regulations governing oil and gas operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to update decommissioning requirements. The new layout of the rule follows the logical sequence of plugging a well, decommissioning the platform and pipeline, and clearing the lease site. The proposed rule also updates...
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Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing
This proposed rule outlines why and how we may issue Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases after November 2000 with royalty suspensions. It also presents a plain-language revision of the existing rules for bidding systems and joint bidding restrictions. It does not change the current policies on royalty suspensions for leases issued before...
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Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates-Deep Water Royalty Relief for OCS Oil and Gas Leases Issued After 2000
This proposed rule revises regulations on royalty relief for oil and gas producers on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). It provides for suspension or reduction of royalty on a case-by-case basis for certain additional categories of OCS leases. Also, it identifies circumstances when we may consider special royalty relief outside our established...
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Solid Minerals Reporting Requirements
MMS is proposing to revise its solid minerals reporting regulations. The new reporting requirements would replace several existing information collections and decrease the reporting burden for solid mineral reporters. The new requirements would also improve MMS's ability to verify that revenues due the government have been paid correctly under...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Document Incorporated by Reference-American Petroleum Institute's Specification 2C for Offshore Cranes
MMS is proposing to incorporate by reference the Fifth Edition of the American Petroleum Institute's Specification for Offshore Cranes (API Spec 2C) into its regulations. MMS is proposing this action to establish a minimum design standard for new cranes installed on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and to require all existing...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Safety Measures and Procedures for Pipeline Modifications and Repairs
The proposed rule pertains to any pipeline modification or repair that involves cutting into a pipeline or opening a pipeline at a flange. It requires that all lessees, lease operators, and pipeline right-of-way holders submit in writing the measures they plan to take and the procedures they plan to follow to ensure the safety of offshore...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Procedures for Dealing With Sustained Casing Pressure
This proposed rulemaking amends Subpart E (Oil and Gas Well- Completion Operations) of MMS operating regulations. It describes procedures for dealing with sustained casing pressure (SCP) in oil and gas wells on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Currently, lessees must request a departure from MMS regulations to operate a well that has SCP. When...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Document Incorporated by Reference-API 510
MMS is proposing to add a document to be incorporated by reference into our regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This revision will ensure that lessees use the best available and safest technologies while operating in the OCS. The new document, API 510, is titled ``Pressure Vessel...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Fixed and Floating Platforms and Documents Incorporated by Reference
We are proposing to amend our regulations to address floating offshore platforms that, until now, have not been expressly covered. These floating production systems (FPSs) are variously described as column-stabilized units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (referred to by industry as ``FPSOs''); tension- leg...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf; Suspension of Operations for Exploration Under Salt Sheets
MMS proposes to modify regulations that govern suspensions of operations for oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). There are instances where oil and gas lessees begin timely analysis of geophysical data early in the lease term, but the analysis proves inconclusive because of problems caused by the existence of salt sheets...
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Coal Management: Noncompetitive Leases; Coal Management Provisions and Limitations
The purposes of this proposed rule are to correct a technical error relating to coal lease modifications made in a final rule published on September 28, 1999 (64 FR 52239)(the 1999 rule), and to amend the regulations to reflect the statutory increase in the maximum acreage of Federal leases for coal that may be held by an individual or entity in...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Plans and Information
This proposed rule would reorganize and update the requirements and processes for submitting various plans and information for MMS review and approval before a lessee or an operator may explore, develop, or produce oil and gas and sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Documents Incorporated by Reference-API RP 14F and API RP 14FZ
MMS is proposing to update one document already incorporated by reference into our regulations, and add another document to be incorporated by reference for the first time into our regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These revisions will ensure that lessees use the best available and...
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Accounting and Auditing Relief for Marginal Properties
MMS is proposing new regulations to implement certain provisions in the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996. These regulations would explain how lessees and their designees could obtain accounting and auditing relief for Federal oil and gas leases and unit and communitization agreements that qualify as marginal...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Revision of Requirements Governing Outer Continental Shelf Rights-of-Use and Easement and Pipeline Rights-of-Way
MMS is proposing to modify requirements governing rights-of- use and easements and pipeline rights-of-way on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These changes will increase rental rates for pipeline rights-of-way and establish rentals for rights-of-use and easements. This change is needed because of requests by lessees and pipeline right-of-way...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Incident Reporting Requirements
This proposed rule revises and clarifies MMS requirements for reporting incidents associated with Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas and other mineral operations. It adds a requirement for written reports and proposes the use of two new MMS report forms. The written reports must be submitted electronically. MMS has developed these...