eCFR 30 CFR 250, Subpart B

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eCFR :: 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart B -- Plans and Information

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Title 30 - Mineral Resources
Chapter II - Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior
Subchapter B - Offshore
Part 250 - Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf
ENHANCED CONTENT - TABLE OF CONTENTS

Subpart B
Plans and Information
250.200 – 250.295
General Information
250.200 – 250.205
§ 250.200 Definitions.
§ 250.201 What plans and information must I submit before I conduct any activities on my lease or unit?
§§ 250.202-250.203 [Reserved]
§ 250.204 How must I protect the rights of the Federal government?
§ 250.205 Are there special requirements if my well affects an adjacent property?
Post-Approval Requirements for the EP, DPP, and DOCD
250.282
§ 250.282 Do I have to conduct post-approval monitoring?
Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP)
250.286 – 250.295
§ 250.286 What is a DWOP?
§ 250.287 For what development projects must I submit a DWOP?
§ 250.288 When and how must I submit the Conceptual Plan?
§ 250.289 What must the Conceptual Plan contain?
§ 250.290 What operations require approval of the Conceptual Plan?
§ 250.291 When and how must I submit the DWOP?
§ 250.292 What must the DWOP contain?
§ 250.293 What operations require approval of the DWOP?
§ 250.294 May I combine the Conceptual Plan and the DWOP?
§ 250.295 When must I revise my DWOP?

EDITORIAL NOTE ON PART 250

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 250 appear at 77 FR 50891, Aug. 22, 2012.
Subpart 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.

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eCFR :: 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart B -- Plans and Information

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]

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eCFR :: 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart B -- Plans and Information

You must
submit a(n) . . .
(4) Deepwater
Operations
Plan (DWOP),

Before you . . .
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

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eCFR :: 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart B -- Plans and Information

(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;
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(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;
(p) If you propose to use a pipeline free standing hybrid riser (FSHR) on a permanent installation that utilizes a buoyancy air
can suspended from the top of the riser, you must provide the following information in your DWOP in the discussions
required by paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section:
(1) A detailed description and drawings of the FSHR, buoy, and the associated connection system;
(2) Detailed information regarding the system used to connect the FSHR to the buoyancy air can, and associated
redundancies; and
(3) Descriptions of your monitoring system and monitoring plan to monitor the pipeline FSHR and the associated
connection system for fatigue, stress, and any other abnormal condition (e.g., corrosion) that may negatively impact
the riser system's integrity.
(q) Payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26017, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21973, May 15, 2019]

§ 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?
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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.

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