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Annular Casing Pressure Management for Offshore Wells
This final rule will establish regulations to address sustained casing pressure in oil and gas wells completed in the Outer Continental Shelf. Sustained casing pressure is a problem that, if left untreated, could cause serious harm to human life and the environment. The final rule will establish criteria for monitoring and testing of wells with...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Oil and Gas Production Requirements
The MMS is amending the regulations regarding oil and natural gas production requirements. This is a complete rewrite of these regulations, addressing issues such as production rates, burning oil, and venting and flaring natural gas, to ensure appropriate development of these natural resources. The final rule eliminates most restrictions on...
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Requirements for Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment
The MMS is incorporating by reference the Eleventh Edition of the American Petroleum Institute's Specification for Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment (API Spec 14A) into its regulations. The MMS is incorporating the Eleventh Edition of API Spec 14A because it updated the design validation and functional testing requirements, incorporated new...
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Outer Continental Shelf-Technical Corrections
This document makes technical changes to regulations that were published in various Federal Register documents and are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as announcing the approval by the Office of Management and Budget of information collection requirements contained in two previously published regulations.
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Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf
The MMS is publishing final regulations to establish a program to grant leases, easements, and rights-of-way (ROW) for renewable energy project activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), as well as certain previously unauthorized activities that involve the alternate use of existing facilities located on the OCS; and to establish the...
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Revisions to Subpart A-General; Subpart I-Platforms and Structures; and Subpart J-Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way
The MMS is amending its regulations to require lessees, lease operators, and pipeline right-of-way holders to submit a report if a facility or pipeline is damaged by a hurricane or other natural phenomena. The final rule also requires operators to provide assessment information on the structural integrity of Outer Continental Shelf platforms;...
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Outer Continental Shelf Regulations-Technical Corrections
This document makes minor technical changes to regulations that were published in various Federal Register documents and are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. These changes will correct various citations and typographical errors in 30 CFR parts 250, 270, 281, and 282.
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Outer Continental Shelf Regulations-Technical Amendments
This document makes minor technical changes to regulations that were published in various Federal Register documents and are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. These changes will correct form names in 30 CFR parts 250 and 251, as well as various citations and typographical errors in 30 CFR parts 203, 250, 251, and 260.
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Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Plans and Information-Protection of Marine Mammals and Threatened and Endangered Species
This final rule requires lessees of Federal oil and gas leases in the OCS to provide information on how they will conduct their proposed activities in a manner consistent with provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). It identifies environmental, monitoring, and mitigation information that...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Update of New and Reaffirmed Documents Incorporated by Reference
This final rule incorporates 33 new editions and 37 reaffirmed editions of documents previously incorporated by reference in regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The new and reaffirmed editions of these documents will ensure that lessees use the best and safest technologies available...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf and Oil Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore Facilities-Civil Penalties
The MMS is required to review the maximum daily civil penalty assessment allowable under 43 U.S.C. 1350 at least once every 3 years for the purpose of adjusting this amount in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. The same review and adjustment process is required every...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Incorporate API RP 65 for Cementing Shallow Water Flow Zones
MMS is incorporating by reference the First Edition of the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice (RP) for Cementing Shallow Water Flow (SWF) Zones in Deep Water Wells (API RP 65) into MMS regulations. From 1987 to 2004, at least 113 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) wells encountered SWF to varying degrees. While the majority of these...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and Oil-Spill Response Requirements for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line-Change in Reference to Official Title
MMS is changing the title ``District Supervisor'' to ``District Manager'' in regulations to make them consistent with a change in the title within MMS.
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Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations and Leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Recovery of Costs Related to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Activities on the OCS
MMS is implementing regulations which impose new fees to process certain plans, applications, and permits. The service fees will offset MMS's costs of processing these plans, applications, and permits.
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), 30 CFR 250 Subpart A, General-Data Release and Definitions
This final rule will revise certain existing definitions, clarify the basis upon which the Regional Director invokes the requirement for an archaeological survey on a lease area, add notification requirements on production status of wells, and update both public information and Information Collection sections. MMS recently redesigned and renamed...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Minimum Blowout Prevention (BOP) System Requirements for Well-Workover Operations Performed Using Coiled Tubing With the Production Tree in Place
This rule upgrades minimum blowout prevention and well control requirements for well-workover operations on the OCS performed using coiled tubing with the production tree in place. Since 1997, there have been eight coiled tubing-related incidents on OCS facilities. The rule helps prevent losses of well control, and provides for increased safety...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Suspension of Operations (SOO) for Ultra-Deep Drilling
MMS is modifying its regulations which govern Suspensions of Operations (SOOs) for oil and gas leases on the OCS. The revision will allow MMS to grant an SOO a to lessee or operator to encourage the drilling of ultra-deep wells (i.e., wells below 25,000 feet true vertical depth below the datum at mean sea level). MMS is making this revision...
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Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations and Leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Waiver of Fees
In light of the interruption of operations of the MMS Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR) in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this rule waives until January 3, 2006, the payment of certain existing cost recovery fees that would be paid to MMS.
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Plans and Information
This rule reorganizes and updates 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, Gas, and Sulphur Operations and Leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-Cost Recovery
MMS is changing some existing fees and implementing several new fees to offset MMS's costs of performing certain services relating to its minerals programs.