NTL Info requirements for EPs, DPPs, and DOCDs

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT
NTL No. 2015-N01

Effective Date: January 14, 2015

NATIONAL NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL
OIL AND GAS LEASES AND HOLDERS OF RIGHTS-OF-USE AND
EASEMENTS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS)
Information Requirements for Exploration Plans, Development and Production Plans,
and Development Operations Coordination Documents on the OCS for Worst Case
Discharge and Blowout Scenarios
Purpose
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2010-N06 (effective date June
18, 2010). You must submit the information required by the regulations listed below and outlined
in this NTL for your Exploration Plans (EP) and also for your Development Operations
Coordination Documents (DOCD) or Development and Production Plans (DPP) (collectively
referred to herein as “plans”) if it includes a drilling activity. Pursuant to 30 CFR 550.213(g), an
EP must be accompanied by a blowout scenario description. 30 CFR 550.243(h) imposes the
same requirement for a DPP and a DOCD. Pursuant to 30 CFR 550.219 and 550.250, all plans
must also be accompanied by information regarding potential oil spills, including calculations of
your worst case discharge scenario.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will add information submitted pursuant to
this NTL to its cumulative data library to comprehensively assess what changes may be needed
to BOEM program-wide requirements and to inform its review of future activities under an EP,
DPP or a DOCD.

Authority
Pursuant to 30 CFR 550.103, this NTL provides guidance and a summary of the information
you should submit in order to be in compliance with the regulations cited below:
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30 CFR 550.186(a), which provides that you must submit information and reports as
BOEM requires.
• 30 CFR 550.201(b), which provides that BOEM may require you to submit additional
information to assist BOEM in evaluating a proposed plan or document (i.e., an EP, DPP,
or DOCD).
• 30 CFR 550.202, which requires that your EP, DPP, or DOCD demonstrate that you have
planned, and are prepared to conduct, your proposed activities in a manner that conforms
with applicable laws and regulations, is safe, conforms with conservation practices, does

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not unreasonably interfere with other uses of the OCS, and does not cause undue or
serious harm to the environment.
30 CFR 550.212 and 550.242, which describe the information that must accompany an
EP, DPP, or DOCD and where to find specific information requirements within the
regulations.
30 CFR 550.213 and 550.243, which describe the general information that must
accompany an EP, DPP, or DOCD.
30 CFR 550.213(g) and 550.243(h), which describe the blowout scenario information that
must accompany an EP, DPP, or DOCD.
30 CFR 550.219 and 550.250, which describe the information regarding potential spills
of oil that must accompany an EP, DPP, or DOCD.
30 CFR 550.219(a)(2)(iv) and 550.250(a)(2)(iv), which describe the calculated worst
case discharge spill volume information that must accompany an EP, DPP, or DOCD.
30 CFR 550.284, which provides that BOEM may require you to submit additional
information and to revise your EP, DPP, or DOCD.

Information Requirements
Pursuant to this NTL, to be in compliance with the regulations, you should submit the following
information with your new EP (see 30 CFR 550.213 and 550.219), DPP, or DOCD (see 30 CFR
550.243 and 550.250), or as a supplement to your previously submitted plan:
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A blowout scenario as required by 30 CFR 550.213(g) and 550.243(h). Provide a
scenario for the potential blowout of the proposed well in your plan or document that you
expect will have the highest volume of liquid hydrocarbons. Include the estimated flow
rate, total volume, and maximum duration of the potential blowout. Discuss the potential
for the well to bridge over, the likelihood for surface intervention to stop the blowout, the
availability of a rig to drill a relief well, and rig package constraints. Specify as
accurately as possible the time it would take to contract for a rig, move it onsite, and drill
a relief well, including the possibility of drilling a relief well from a neighboring platform
or an onshore location.
Describe the assumptions and calculations that you used to determine the volume (daily
discharge rate) of your worst case discharge scenario required by 30 CFR
550.219(a)(2)(iv) (for EPs) or 30 CFR 550.250(a)(2)(iv) (for DPPs and DOCDs).
Provide all assumptions you made concerning the well design, reservoir characteristics,
fluid characteristics, and pressure volume temperature (PVT) characteristics; any analog
reservoirs you considered in making those assumptions; an explanation of your reasons
for using those analog reservoirs; and the supporting calculations and models you used to
determine the daily discharge rate possible from the uncontrolled blowout portion of your
worst case discharge scenario for both your proposed or approved EP, DPP, or DOCD

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worst-case discharge scenario and your proposed or approved regional Oil Spill Response
Plan worst-case discharge scenario used in your comparison.
Describe the measures you propose that would enhance your ability to prevent a blowout,
to reduce the likelihood of a blowout, and conduct effective and early intervention in the
event of a blowout, including your arrangements for drilling relief wells, and any other
measures you propose.

Submittal of Additional Information
Submit the additional information described in this NTL by mailing it to the appropriate
Regional Supervisor as listed below:
Regional Supervisor, Office of Leasing and Plans, Plans Section (GM 235D)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Plans
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Alaska OCS Region
3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Regional Supervisor, Office of Strategic Resources, Lease Management Section
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Pacific OCS Region
760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102
Camarillo, California 93010
For any additional information submitted for any approved plans or documents, provide the Plan
Control Number of the referenced plan or document and include the Well Name for which you
provided blowout and worst-case discharge scenario information.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Statement: The information collection referred to in this
NTL provides clarification, description, or interpretation of requirements in BOEM regulations
at 30 CFR 550, Subparts A and B. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved
the information collection requirements in those regulations and assigned OMB Control
Numbers 1010-0114 and 1010-0151, respectively. This NTL does not impose any additional
information collection requirements subject to the PRA.

Contact
If you have any questions regarding this NTL, please contact the:
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region by email at michelle.uli@boem.gov
Alaska OCS Region by email at david.johnston@boem.gov
Pacific OCS Region by email at allan.shareghi@boem.gov