eCFR as of 7-30-2012 for 30 CFR 250 subpart B

Title 30: Mineral Resources PART 250—OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Browse PreviousSubpart B—Plans and Information General Information § 250.200 Definitions. Acronyms and terms used in this subpart have the following meanings: (a) Acronyms used frequently in this subpart are listed alphabetically below: BOEM means Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the Department of the Interior. BSEE means Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement of the Department of the Interior. CID means Conservation Information Document. CZMA means Coastal Zone Management Act. DOCD means Development Operations Coordination Document. DPP means Development and Production Plan. DWOP means Deepwater Operations Plan. EIA means Environmental Impact Analysis. EP means Exploration Plan. NPDES means National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. NTL means Notice to Lessees and Operators. OCS means Outer Continental Shelf. (b) Terms used in this subpart are listed alphabetically below: Amendment means a change you make to an EP, DPP, or DOCD that is pending before BOEM for a decision (see 30 CFR 550.232(d) and 550.267(d)). Modification means a change required by the Regional Supervisor to an EP, DPP, or DOCD (see 30 CFR 550.233(b)(2) and 550.270(b)(2)) that is pending before BOEM for a decision because the OCS plan is inconsistent with applicable requirements. New or unusual technology means equipment or procedures that: (1) Have not been used previously or extensively in a BSEE OCS Region; (2) Have not been used previously under the anticipated operating conditions; or (3) Have operating characteristics that are outside the performance parameters established by this part. Non-conventional production or completion technology includes, but is not limited to, floating production systems, tension leg platforms, spars, floating production, storage, and offloading systems, guyed towers, compliant towers, subsea manifolds, and other subsea production components that rely on a remote site or host facility for utility and well control services. Offshore vehicle means a vehicle that is capable of being driven on ice. Resubmitted OCS plan means an EP, DPP, or DOCD that contains changes you make to an OCS plan that BOEM has disapproved (see 30 CFR 550.234(b), 550.272(a), and 550.273(b)). Revised OCS plan means an EP, DPP, or DOCD that proposes changes to an approved OCS plan, such as those in the location of a well or platform, type of drilling unit, or location of the onshore support base (see 30 CFR 550.283(a)). Supplemental OCS plan means an EP, DPP, or DOCD that proposes the addition to an approved OCS plan of an activity that requires approval of an application or permit (see 30 CFR 550.283(b)). § 250.201 What plans and information must I submit before I conduct any activities on my lease or unit? (a) Plans and documents. Before you conduct the activities on your lease or unit listed in the following table, you must submit, and BSEE must approve, the listed plans and documents. Your plans and documents may cover one or more leases or units.
You must submit a(n) . . .	Before you . . .
(1) [Reserved]
(2) [Reserved]
(3) [Reserved]
(4) Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP),	Conduct post-drilling installation activities in any water depth associated with a development project that will involve the use of a non-conventional production or completion technology.
(5) [Reserved]
(6) [Reserved]
(b) Submitting additional information. On a case-by-case basis, the Regional Supervisor may require you to submit additional information if the Regional Supervisor determines that it is necessary to evaluate your proposed plan or document. (c) Limiting information. The Regional Director may limit the amount of information or analyses that you otherwise must provide in your proposed plan or document under this subpart when: (1) Sufficient applicable information or analysis is readily available to BSEE; (2) Other coastal or marine resources are not present or affected; (3) Other factors such as technological advances affect information needs; or (4) Information is not necessary or required for a State to determine consistency with their CZMA Plan. (d) Referencing. In preparing your proposed plan or document, you may reference information and data discussed in other plans or documents you previously submitted or that are otherwise readily available to BSEE. §§ 250.202-250.203 [Reserved] § 250.204 How must I protect the rights of the Federal government? (a) To protect the rights of the Federal government, you must either: (1) Drill and produce the wells that the Regional Supervisor determines are necessary to protect the Federal government from loss due to production on other leases or units or from adjacent lands under the jurisdiction of other entities ( e.g., State and foreign governments); or (2) Pay a sum that the Regional Supervisor determines as adequate to compensate the Federal government for your failure to drill and produce any well. (b) Payment under paragraph (a)(2) of this section may constitute production in paying quantities for the purpose of extending the lease term. (c) You must complete and produce any penetrated hydrocarbon-bearing zone that the Regional Supervisor determines is necessary to conform to sound conservation practices. § 250.205 Are there special requirements if my well affects an adjacent property? For wells that could intersect or drain an adjacent property, the Regional Supervisor may require special measures to protect the rights of the Federal government and objecting lessees or operators of adjacent leases or units. Post-Approval Requirements for the EP, DPP, and DOCD § 250.282 Do I have to conduct post-approval monitoring? The Regional Supervisor may direct you to conduct monitoring programs. You must retain copies of all monitoring data obtained or derived from your monitoring programs and make them available to BSEE upon request. The Regional Supervisor may require you to: (a) Monitoring plans. Submit monitoring plans for approval before you begin work; and (b) Monitoring reports. Prepare and submit reports that summarize and analyze data and information obtained or derived from your monitoring programs. The Regional Supervisor will specify requirements for preparing and submitting these reports. Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP) § 250.286 What is a DWOP? (a) A DWOP is a plan that provides sufficient information for BSEE to review a deepwater development project, and any other project that uses non-conventional production or completion technology, from a total system approach. The DWOP does not replace, but supplements other submittals required by the regulations such as BOEM Exploration Plans, Development and Production Plans, and Development Operations Coordination Documents. BSEE will use the information in your DWOP to determine whether the project will be developed in an acceptable manner, particularly with respect to operational safety and environmental protection issues involved with non-conventional production or completion technology. (b) The DWOP process consists of two parts: a Conceptual Plan and the DWOP. Section 250.289 prescribes what the Conceptual Plan must contain, and §250.292 prescribes what the DWOP must contain. § 250.287 For what development projects must I submit a DWOP? You must submit a DWOP for each development project in which you will use non-conventional production or completion technology, regardless of water depth. If you are unsure whether BSEE considers the technology of your project non-conventional, you must contact the Regional Supervisor for guidance. § 250.288 When and how must I submit the Conceptual Plan? You must submit four copies, or one hard copy and one electronic version, of the Conceptual Plan to the Regional Director after you have decided on the general concept(s) for development and before you begin engineering design of the well safety control system or subsea production systems to be used after well completion. § 250.289 What must the Conceptual Plan contain? In the Conceptual Plan, you must explain the general design basis and philosophy that you will use to develop the field. You must include the following information: (a) An overview of the development concept(s); (b) A well location plat; (c) The system control type ( i.e., direct hydraulic or electro-hydraulic); and (d) The distance from each of the wells to the host platform. § 250.290 What operations require approval of the Conceptual Plan? You may not complete any production well or install the subsea wellhead and well safety control system (often called the tree) before BSEE has approved the Conceptual Plan. § 250.291 When and how must I submit the DWOP? You must submit four copies, or one hard copy and one electronic version, of the DWOP to the Regional Director after you have substantially completed safety system design and before you begin to procure or fabricate the safety and operational systems (other than the tree), production platforms, pipelines, or other parts of the production system. § 250.292 What must the DWOP contain? You must include the following information in your DWOP: (a) A description and schematic of the typical wellbore, casing, and completion; (b) Structural design, fabrication, and installation information for each surface system, including host facilities; (c) Design, fabrication, and installation information on the mooring systems for each surface system; (d) Information on any active stationkeeping system(s) involving thrusters or other means of propulsion used with a surface system; (e) Information concerning the drilling and completion systems; (f) Design and fabrication information for each riser system ( e.g., drilling, workover, production, and injection); (g) Pipeline information; (h) Information about the design, fabrication, and operation of an offtake system for transferring produced hydrocarbons to a transport vessel; (i) Information about subsea wells and associated systems that constitute all or part of a single project development covered by the DWOP; (j) Flow schematics and Safety Analysis Function Evaluation (SAFE) charts (API RP 14C, subsection 4.3c, incorporated by reference in §250.198) of the production system from the Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (SCSSV) downstream to the first item of separation equipment; (k) A description of the surface/subsea safety system and emergency support systems to include a table that depicts what valves will close, at what times, and for what events or reasons; (l) A general description of the operating procedures, including a table summarizing the curtailment of production and offloading based on operational considerations; (m) A description of the facility installation and commissioning procedure; (n) A discussion of any new technology that affects hydrocarbon recovery systems; (o) A list of any alternate compliance procedures or departures for which you anticipate requesting approval; and (p) Payment of the service fee listed in §250.125. § 250.293 What operations require approval of the DWOP? You may not begin production until BSEE approves your DWOP. § 250.294 May I combine the Conceptual Plan and the DWOP? If your development project meets the following criteria, you may submit a combined Conceptual Plan/DWOP on or before the deadline for submitting the Conceptual Plan. (a) The project is located in water depths of less than 400 meters (1,312 feet); and (b) The project is similar to projects involving non-conventional production or completion technology for which you have obtained approval previously. § 250.295 When must I revise my DWOP? You must revise either the Conceptual Plan or your DWOP to reflect changes in your development project that materially alter the facilities, equipment, and systems described in your plan. You must submit the revision within 60 days after any material change to the information required for that part of your plan.