eCFR 30 CFR Part 250

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

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
Subpart A General
Authority and Definition of Terms
§ 250.101 Authority and applicability.
§ 250.102 What does this part do?
§ 250.103 Where can I find more information about the requirements in this part?
§ 250.104 How may I appeal a decision made under BSEE regulations?
§ 250.105 Definitions.
Performance Standards
§ 250.106 What standards will the Director use to regulate lease operations?
§ 250.107 What must I do to protect health, safety, property, and the environment?
§ 250.108 What requirements must I follow for cranes and other material-handling
equipment?
§ 250.109 What documents must I prepare and maintain related to welding?
§ 250.110 What must I include in my welding plan?
§ 250.111 Who oversees operations under my welding plan?
§ 250.112 What standards must my welding equipment meet?
§ 250.113 What procedures must I follow when welding?
§ 250.114 How must I install, maintain, and operate electrical equipment?
§ 250.115 What are the procedures for, and effects of, incorporation of documents by
reference in this part?
§§ 250.116-250.117 [Reserved]
Gas Storage or Injection
§ 250.118 Will BSEE approve gas injection?
§ 250.119 [Reserved]
§ 250.120 How does injecting, storing, or treating gas affect my royalty payments?
§ 250.121 What happens when the reservoir contains both original gas in place and injected
gas?
§ 250.122 What effect does subsurface storage have on the lease term?
§ 250.123 [Reserved]
§ 250.124 Will BSEE approve gas injection into the cap rock containing a sulphur deposit?
Fees
§ 250.125 Service fees.
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 1 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.126 Electronic payment instructions.
Inspections of Operations
§ 250.130 Why does BSEE conduct inspections?
§ 250.131 Will BSEE notify me before conducting an inspection?
§ 250.132 What must I do when BSEE conducts an inspection?
§ 250.133 Will BSEE reimburse me for my expenses related to inspections?
Disqualification
§ 250.135 What will BSEE do if my operating performance is unacceptable?
§ 250.136 How will BSEE determine if my operating performance is unacceptable?
Special Types of Approvals
§ 250.140 When will I receive an oral approval?
§ 250.141 May I ever use alternate procedures or equipment?
§ 250.142 How do I receive approval for departures?
§§ 250.143-250.144 [Reserved]
§ 250.145 How do I designate an agent or a local agent?
§ 250.146 Who is responsible for fulfilling leasehold obligations?
Naming and Identifying Facilities and Wells (Does Not Include
MODUs)
§ 250.150 How do I name facilities and wells in the Gulf of Mexico Region?
§ 250.151 How do I name facilities in the Pacific Region?
§ 250.152 How do I name facilities in the Alaska Region?
§ 250.153 Do I have to rename an existing facility or well?
§ 250.154 What identification signs must I display?
§§ 250.160-250.167 [Reserved]
Suspensions
§ 250.168 May operations or production be suspended?
§ 250.169 What effect does suspension have on my lease?
§ 250.170 How long does a suspension last?
§ 250.171 How do I request a suspension?
§ 250.172 When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOO or SOP?
§ 250.173 When may the Regional Supervisor direct an SOO or SOP?
§ 250.174 When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?
§ 250.175 When may the Regional Supervisor grant an SOO?
§ 250.176 Does a suspension affect my royalty payment?
§ 250.177 What additional requirements may the Regional Supervisor order for a
suspension?
Primary Lease Requirements, Lease Term Extensions, and Lease
Cancellations
§ 250.180 What am I required to do to keep my lease term in effect?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 2 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§§ 250.181-250.185 [Reserved]
Information and Reporting Requirements
§ 250.186 What reporting information and report forms must I submit?
§ 250.187 What are BSEE's incident reporting requirements?
§ 250.188 What incidents must I report to BSEE and when must I report them?
§ 250.189 Reporting requirements for incidents requiring immediate notification.
§ 250.190 Reporting requirements for incidents requiring written notification.
§ 250.191 How does BSEE conduct incident investigations?
§ 250.192 What reports and statistics must I submit relating to a hurricane, earthquake, or
other natural occurrence?
§ 250.193 Reports and investigations of possible violations.
§ 250.194 How must I protect archaeological resources?
§ 250.195 What notification does BSEE require on the production status of wells?
§ 250.196 Reimbursements for reproduction and processing costs.
§ 250.197 Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection.
References
§ 250.198 Documents incorporated by reference.
§ 250.199 Paperwork Reduction Act statements—information collection.
Subpart B Plans and Information
General Information
§ 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 Do I have to conduct post-approval monitoring?
Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP)
§ 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?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 3 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

Subpart C Pollution Prevention and Control
§ 250.300 Pollution prevention.
§ 250.301 Inspection of facilities.
Subpart D Oil and Gas Drilling Operations
General Requirements
§ 250.400 General requirements.
§§ 250.401-250.403 [Reserved]
§ 250.404 What are the requirements for the crown block?
§ 250.405 What are the safety requirements for diesel engines used on a drilling rig?
§ 250.406 [Reserved]
§ 250.407 What tests must I conduct to determine reservoir characteristics?
§ 250.408 May I use alternative procedures or equipment during drilling operations?
§ 250.409 May I obtain departures from these drilling requirements?
Applying for a Permit To Drill
§ 250.410 How do I obtain approval to drill a well?
§ 250.411 What information must I submit with my application?
§ 250.412 What requirements must the location plat meet?
§ 250.413 What must my description of well drilling design criteria address?
§ 250.414 What must my drilling prognosis include?
§ 250.415 What must my casing and cementing programs include?
§ 250.416 What must I include in the diverter description?
§ 250.417 [Reserved]
§ 250.418 What additional information must I submit with my APD?
Casing and Cementing Requirements
§ 250.420 What well casing and cementing requirements must I meet?
§ 250.421 What are the casing and cementing requirements by type of casing string?
§ 250.422 When may I resume drilling after cementing?
§ 250.423 What are the requirements for casing and liner installation?
§§ 250.424-250.426 [Reserved]
§ 250.427 What are the requirements for pressure integrity tests?
§ 250.428 What must I do in certain cementing and casing situations?
Diverter System Requirements
§ 250.430 When must I install a diverter system?
§ 250.431 What are the diverter design and installation requirements?
§ 250.432 How do I obtain a departure to diverter design and installation requirements?
§ 250.433 What are the diverter actuation and testing requirements?
§ 250.434 What are the recordkeeping requirements for diverter actuations and tests?
§§ 250.440-250.451 [Reserved]
§ 250.452 What are the real-time monitoring requirements for Arctic OCS exploratory drilling
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 4 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

operations?
Drilling Fluid Requirements
§ 250.455 What are the general requirements for a drilling fluid program?
§ 250.456 What safe practices must the drilling fluid program follow?
§ 250.457 What equipment is required to monitor drilling fluids?
§ 250.458 What quantities of drilling fluids are required?
§ 250.459 What are the safety requirements for drilling fluid-handling areas?
Other Drilling Requirements
§ 250.460 What are the requirements for conducting a well test?
§ 250.461 What are the requirements for directional and inclination surveys?
§ 250.462 What are the source control, containment, and collocated equipment
requirements?
§ 250.463 Who establishes field drilling rules?
Applying for a Permit To Modify and Well Records
§ 250.465 When must I submit an Application for Permit to Modify (APM) or an End of
Operations Report to BSEE?
§§ 250.466-250.469 [Reserved]
Additional Arctic OCS Requirements
§ 250.470 What additional information must I submit with my APD for Arctic OCS
exploratory drilling operations?
§ 250.471 What are the requirements for Arctic OCS source control and containment?
§ 250.472 What are the relief rig requirements for the Arctic OCS?
§ 250.473 What must I do to protect health, safety, property, and the environment while
operating on the Arctic OCS?
Hydrogen Sulfide
§ 250.490 Hydrogen sulfide.
Subpart E Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations
§ 250.500
General requirements.
§ 250.501
Definition.
§ 250.502 [Reserved]
§ 250.503
Emergency shutdown system.
§ 250.504
Hydrogen sulfide.
§ 250.505
Subsea completions.
§§ 250.506-250.508 [Reserved]
§ 250.509
Well-completion structures on fixed platforms.
§ 250.510
Diesel engine air intakes.
§ 250.511
Traveling-block safety device.
§ 250.512
Field well-completion rules.
§ 250.513
Approval and reporting of well-completion operations.
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 5 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.514
Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
§§ 250.515-250.517 [Reserved]
§ 250.518
Tubing and wellhead equipment.
Casing Pressure Management
§ 250.519 What are the requirements for casing pressure management?
§ 250.520 How often do I have to monitor for casing pressure?
§ 250.521 When do I have to perform a casing diagnostic test?
§ 250.522 How do I manage the thermal effects caused by initial production on a newly
completed or recompleted well?
§ 250.523 When do I have to repeat casing diagnostic testing?
§ 250.524 How long do I keep records of casing pressure and diagnostic tests?
§ 250.525 When am I required to take action from my casing diagnostic test?
§ 250.526 What do I submit if my casing diagnostic test requires action?
§ 250.527 What must I include in my notification of corrective action?
§ 250.528 What must I include in my casing pressure request?
§ 250.529 What are the terms of my casing pressure request?
§ 250.530 What if my casing pressure request is denied?
§ 250.531 When does my casing pressure request approval become invalid?
Subpart F Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations
§ 250.600 General requirements.
§ 250.601 Definitions.
§ 250.602 [Reserved]
§ 250.603 Emergency shutdown system.
§ 250.604 Hydrogen sulfide.
§ 250.605 Subsea workovers.
§§ 250.606-250.608 [Reserved]
§ 250.609 Well-workover structures on fixed platforms.
§ 250.610 Diesel engine air intakes.
§ 250.611 Traveling-block safety device.
§ 250.612 Field well-workover rules.
§ 250.613 Approval and reporting for well-workover operations.
§ 250.614 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
§§ 250.615-250.618 [Reserved]
§ 250.619 Tubing and wellhead equipment.
§ 250.620 Wireline operations.
Subpart G Well Operations and Equipment
General Requirements
§ 250.700 What operations and equipment does this subpart cover?
§ 250.701 May I use alternate procedures or equipment during operations?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 6 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.702 May I obtain departures from these requirements?
§ 250.703 What must I do to keep wells under control?
Rig Requirements
§ 250.710 What instructions must be given to personnel engaged in well operations?
§ 250.711 What are the requirements for well-control drills?
§ 250.712 What rig unit movements must I report?
§ 250.713 What must I provide if I plan to use a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) for well
operations?
§ 250.714 Do I have to develop a dropped objects plan?
§ 250.715 Do I need a global positioning system (GPS) for all MODUs?
Well Operations
§ 250.720 When and how must I secure a well?
§ 250.721 What are the requirements for pressure testing casing and liners?
§ 250.722 What are the requirements for prolonged operations in a well?
§ 250.723 What additional safety measures must I take when I conduct operations on a
platform that has producing wells or has other hydrocarbon flow?
§ 250.724 What are the real-time monitoring requirements?
Blowout Preventer (BOP) System Requirements
§ 250.730 What are the general requirements for BOP systems and system components?
§ 250.731 What information must I submit for BOP systems and system components?
§ 250.732 What are the independent third party requirements for BOP systems and system
components?
§ 250.733 What are the requirements for a surface BOP stack?
§ 250.734 What are the requirements for a subsea BOP system?
§ 250.735 What associated systems and related equipment must all BOP systems include?
§ 250.736 What are the requirements for choke manifolds, kelly-type valves inside BOPs,
and drill string safety valves?
§ 250.737 What are the BOP system testing requirements?
§ 250.738 What must I do in certain situations involving BOP equipment or systems?
§ 250.739 What are the BOP maintenance and inspection requirements?
Records and Reporting
§ 250.740 What records must I keep?
§ 250.741 How long must I keep records?
§ 250.742 What well records am I required to submit?
§ 250.743 What are the well activity reporting requirements?
§ 250.744 What are the end of operation reporting requirements?
§ 250.745 What other well records could I be required to submit?
§ 250.746 What are the recordkeeping requirements for casing, liner, and BOP tests, and
inspections of BOP systems and marine risers?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 7 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

Coiled Tubing Operations
§ 250.750 What are the coiled tubing requirements?
§ 250.751 Coiled tubing testing requirements.
Snubbing Operations
§ 250.760 What are the snubbing requirements?
Subpart H Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems
General Requirements
§ 250.800
General.
§ 250.801
Safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE) certification.
§ 250.802
Requirements for SPPE.
§ 250.803
What SPPE failure reporting procedures must I follow?
§ 250.804
Additional requirements for subsurface safety valves (SSSVs) and
related equipment installed in high pressure high temperature (HPHT)
environments.
§ 250.805
Hydrogen sulfide.
§§ 250.806-250.809 [Reserved] 2
Surface and Subsurface Safety Systems—Dry Trees
§ 250.810 Dry tree subsurface safety devices—general.
§ 250.811 Specifications for SSSVs—dry trees.
§ 250.812 Surface-controlled SSSVs—dry trees.
§ 250.813 Subsurface-controlled SSSVs.
§ 250.814 Design, installation, and operation of SSSVs—dry trees.
§ 250.815 Subsurface safety devices in shut-in wells—dry trees.
§ 250.816 Subsurface safety devices in injection wells—dry trees.
§ 250.817 Temporary removal of subsurface safety devices for routine operations.
§ 250.818 Additional safety equipment—dry trees.
§ 250.819 Specification for surface safety valves (SSVs).
§ 250.820 Use of SSVs.
§ 250.821 Emergency action and safety system shutdown—dry trees.
§§ 250.822-250.824 [Reserved]
Subsea and Subsurface Safety Systems—Subsea Trees
§ 250.825 Subsea tree subsurface safety devices—general.
§ 250.826 Specifications for SSSVs—subsea trees.
§ 250.827 Surface-controlled SSSVs—subsea trees.
§ 250.828 Design, installation, and operation of SSSVs—subsea trees.
§ 250.829 Subsurface safety devices in shut-in wells—subsea trees.
§ 250.830 Subsurface safety devices in injection wells—subsea trees.
§ 250.831 Alteration or disconnection of subsea pipeline or umbilical.
§ 250.832 Additional safety equipment—subsea trees.
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 8 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.833 Specification for underwater safety valves (USVs).
§ 250.834 Use of USVs.
§ 250.835 Specification for all boarding shutdown valves (BSDVs) associated with subsea
systems.
§ 250.836 Use of BSDVs.
§ 250.837 Emergency action and safety system shutdown—subsea trees.
§ 250.838 What are the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic bleeding
requirements for an electro-hydraulic control system?
§ 250.839 What are the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic bleeding
requirements for a direct-hydraulic control system?
Production Safety Systems
§ 250.840 Design, installation, and maintenance—general.
§ 250.841 Platforms.
§ 250.842 Approval of safety systems design and installation features.
§§ 250.843-250.849 [Reserved]
Additional Production System Requirements
§ 250.850 Production system requirements—general.
§ 250.851 Pressure vessels (including heat exchangers) and fired vessels.
§ 250.852 Flowlines/Headers.
§ 250.853 Safety sensors.
§ 250.854 Floating production units equipped with turrets and turret-mounted systems.
§ 250.855 Emergency shutdown (ESD) system.
§ 250.856 Engines.
§ 250.857 Glycol dehydration units.
§ 250.858 Gas compressors.
§ 250.859 Firefighting systems.
§ 250.860 Chemical firefighting system.
§ 250.861 Foam firefighting systems.
§ 250.862 Fire and gas-detection systems.
§ 250.863 Electrical equipment.
§ 250.864 Erosion.
§ 250.865 Surface pumps.
§ 250.866 Personnel safety equipment.
§ 250.867 Temporary quarters and temporary equipment.
§ 250.868 Non-metallic piping.
§ 250.869 General platform operations.
§ 250.870 Time delays on pressure safety low (PSL) sensors.
§ 250.871 Welding and burning practices and procedures.
§ 250.872 Atmospheric vessels.
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 9 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.873 Subsea gas lift requirements.
§ 250.874 Subsea water injection systems.
§ 250.875 Subsea pump systems.
§ 250.876 Fired and exhaust heated components.
§§ 250.877-250.879 [Reserved]
Safety Device Testing
§ 250.880 Production safety system testing.
§§ 250.881-250.889 [Reserved]
Records and Training
§ 250.890 Records.
§ 250.891 Safety device training.
§§ 250.892-250.899 [Reserved]
Subpart I Platforms and Structures
General Requirements for Platforms
§ 250.900 What general requirements apply to all platforms?
§ 250.901 What industry standards must your platform meet?
§ 250.902 What are the requirements for platform removal and location clearance?
§ 250.903 What records must I keep?
Platform Approval Program
§ 250.904 What is the Platform Approval Program?
§ 250.905 How do I get approval for the installation, modification, or repair of my platform?
§ 250.906 What must I do to obtain approval for the proposed site of my platform?
§ 250.907 Where must I locate foundation boreholes?
§ 250.908 What are the minimum structural fatigue design requirements?
Platform Verification Program
§ 250.909 What is the Platform Verification Program?
§ 250.910 Which of my facilities are subject to the Platform Verification Program?
§ 250.911 If my platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program, what must I do?
§ 250.912 What plans must I submit under the Platform Verification Program?
§ 250.913 When must I resubmit Platform Verification Program plans?
§ 250.914 How do I nominate a CVA?
§ 250.915 What are the CVA's primary responsibilities?
§ 250.916 What are the CVA's primary duties during the design phase?
§ 250.917 What are the CVA's primary duties during the fabrication phase?
§ 250.918 What are the CVA's primary duties during the installation phase?
Inspection, Maintenance, and Assessment of Platforms
§ 250.919 What in-service inspection requirements must I meet?
§ 250.920 What are the BSEE requirements for assessment of fixed platforms?
§ 250.921 How do I analyze my platform for cumulative fatigue?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 10 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

Subpart J Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way
§ 250.1000 General requirements.
§ 250.1001 Definitions.
§ 250.1002 Design requirements for DOI pipelines.
§ 250.1003 Installation, testing, and repair requirements for DOI pipelines.
§ 250.1004 Safety equipment requirements for DOI pipelines.
§ 250.1005 Inspection requirements for DOI pipelines.
§ 250.1006 How must I decommission and take out of service a DOI pipeline?
§ 250.1007 What to include in applications.
§ 250.1008 Reports.
§ 250.1009 Requirements to obtain pipeline right-of-way grants.
§ 250.1010 General requirements for pipeline right-of-way holders.
§ 250.1011 [Reserved]
§ 250.1012 Required payments for pipeline right-of-way holders.
§ 250.1013 Grounds for forfeiture of pipeline right-of-way grants.
§ 250.1014 When pipeline right-of-way grants expire.
§ 250.1015 Applications for pipeline right-of-way grants.
§ 250.1016 Granting pipeline rights-of-way.
§ 250.1017 Requirements for construction under pipeline right-of-way grants.
§ 250.1018 Assignment of pipeline right-of-way grants.
§ 250.1019 Relinquishment of pipeline right-of-way grants.
Subpart K Oil and Gas Production Requirements
General
§ 250.1150 What are the general reservoir production requirements?
Well Tests and Surveys
§ 250.1151 How often must I conduct well production tests?
§ 250.1152 How do I conduct well tests?
§§ 250.1153-250.1155 [Reserved]
Approvals Prior to Production
§ 250.1156 What steps must I take to receive approval to produce within 500 feet of a unit or
lease line?
§ 250.1157 How do I receive approval to produce gas-cap gas from an oil reservoir with an
associated gas cap?
§ 250.1158 How do I receive approval to downhole commingle hydrocarbons?
Production Rates
§ 250.1159 May the Regional Supervisor limit my well or reservoir production rates?
Flaring, Venting, and Burning Hydrocarbons
§ 250.1160 When may I flare or vent gas?
§ 250.1161 When may I flare or vent gas for extended periods of time?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 11 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.1162 When may I burn produced liquid hydrocarbons?
§ 250.1163 How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon
burning volumes, and what records must I maintain?
§ 250.1164 What are the requirements for flaring or venting gas containing H2S?
Other Requirements
§ 250.1165 What must I do for enhanced recovery operations?
§ 250.1166 What additional reporting is required for developments in the Alaska OCS
Region?
§ 250.1167 What information must I submit with forms and for approvals?
Subpart L Oil and Gas Production Measurement, Surface Commingling, and
Security
§ 250.1200 Question index table.
§ 250.1201 Definitions.
§ 250.1202 Liquid hydrocarbon measurement.
§ 250.1203 Gas measurement.
§ 250.1204 Surface commingling.
§ 250.1205 Site security.
Subpart M Unitization
§ 250.1300 What is the purpose of this subpart?
§ 250.1301 What are the requirements for unitization?
§ 250.1302 What if I have a competitive reservoir on a lease?
§ 250.1303 How do I apply for voluntary unitization?
§ 250.1304 How will BSEE require unitization?
Subpart N Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 12 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Civil Penalties
§ 250.1400 How does BSEE begin the civil penalty process?
§ 250.1401 [Reserved]
§ 250.1402 Definitions.
§ 250.1403 What is the maximum civil penalty?
§ 250.1404 Which violations will BSEE review for potential civil penalties?
§ 250.1405 When is a case file developed?
§ 250.1406 When will BSEE notify me and provide penalty information?
§ 250.1407 How do I respond to the letter of notification?
§ 250.1408 When will I be notified of the Reviewing Officer's decision?
§ 250.1409 What are my appeal rights?
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act Civil Penalties
Definitions
§ 250.1450 What definitions apply to this subpart?
Penalties After a Period To Correct
§ 250.1451 What may BSEE do if I violate a statute, regulation, order, or lease term relating
to a Federal oil and gas lease?
§ 250.1452 What if I correct the violation?
§ 250.1453 What if I do not correct the violation?
§ 250.1454 How may I request a hearing on the record on a Notice of Noncompliance?
§ 250.1455 Does my request for a hearing on the record affect the penalties?
§ 250.1456 May I request a hearing on the record regarding the amount of a civil penalty if I
did not request a hearing on the Notice of Noncompliance?
Penalties Without a Period To Correct
§ 250.1460 May I be subject to penalties without prior notice and an opportunity to correct?
§ 250.1461 How will BSEE inform me of violations without a period to correct?
§ 250.1462 How may I request a hearing on the record on a Notice of Noncompliance
regarding violations without a period to correct?
§ 250.1463 Does my request for a hearing on the record affect the penalties?
§ 250.1464 May I request a hearing on the record regarding the amount of a civil penalty if I
did not request a hearing on the Notice of Noncompliance?
General Provisions
§ 250.1470 How does BSEE decide what the amount of the penalty should be?
§ 250.1471 Does the penalty affect whether I owe interest?
§ 250.1472 How will the Office of Hearings and Appeals conduct the hearing on the record?
§ 250.1473 How may I appeal the Administrative Law Judge's decision?
§ 250.1474 May I seek judicial review of the decision of the Interior Board of Land Appeals?
§ 250.1475 When must I pay the penalty?
§ 250.1476 Can BSEE reduce my penalty once it is assessed?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 13 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.1477 How may BSEE collect the penalty?
Criminal Penalties
§ 250.1480 May the United States criminally prosecute me for violations under Federal oil
and gas leases?
Subpart O Well Control and Production Safety Training
§ 250.1500 Definitions.
§ 250.1501 What is the goal of my training program?
§ 250.1503 What are my general responsibilities for training?
§ 250.1504 May I use alternative training methods?
§ 250.1505 Where may I get training for my employees?
§ 250.1506 How often must I train my employees?
§ 250.1507 How will BSEE measure training results?
§ 250.1508 What must I do when BSEE administers written or oral tests?
§ 250.1509 What must I do when BSEE administers or requires hands-on, simulator, or other
types of testing?
§ 250.1510 What will BSEE do if my training program does not comply with this subpart?
Subpart P Sulphur Operations
§ 250.1600 Performance standard.
§ 250.1601 Definitions.
§ 250.1602 Applicability.
§ 250.1603 Determination of sulphur deposit.
§ 250.1604 General requirements.
§ 250.1605 Drilling requirements.
§ 250.1606 Control of wells.
§ 250.1607 Field rules.
§ 250.1608 Well casing and cementing.
§ 250.1609 Pressure testing of casing.
§ 250.1610 Blowout preventer systems and system components.
§ 250.1611 Blowout preventer systems tests, actuations, inspections, and maintenance.
§ 250.1612 Well-control drills.
§ 250.1613 Diverter systems.
§ 250.1614 Mud program.
§ 250.1615 Securing of wells.
§ 250.1616 Supervision, surveillance, and training.
§ 250.1617 Application for permit to drill.
§ 250.1618 Application for permit to modify.
§ 250.1619 Well records.
§ 250.1620 Well-completion and well-workover requirements.
§ 250.1621 Crew instructions.
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 14 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.1622 Approvals and reporting of well-completion and well-workover operations.
§ 250.1623 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
§ 250.1624 Blowout prevention equipment.
§ 250.1625 Blowout preventer system testing, records, and drills.
§ 250.1626 Tubing and wellhead equipment.
§ 250.1627 Production requirements.
§ 250.1628 Design, installation, and operation of production systems.
§ 250.1629 Additional production and fuel gas system requirements.
§ 250.1630 Safety-system testing and records.
§ 250.1631 Safety device training.
§ 250.1632 Production rates.
§ 250.1633 Production measurement.
§ 250.1634 Site security.
Subpart Q Decommissioning Activities
General
§ 250.1700 What do the terms “decommissioning,” “obstructions,” “facility,” and
“predecessor” mean in this subpart?
§ 250.1701 Who must meet the decommissioning obligations in this subpart?
§ 250.1702 When do I accrue decommissioning obligations?
§ 250.1703 What are the general requirements for decommissioning?
§ 250.1704 What decommissioning applications and reports must I submit and when must I
submit them?
§§ 250.1705-250.1707 [Reserved]
§ 250.1708 How will BSEE enforce accrued decommissioning obligations against
predecessors?
§ 250.1709 [Reserved]
Permanently Plugging Wells
§ 250.1710 When must I permanently plug all wells on a lease?
§ 250.1711 When will BSEE order me to permanently plug a well?
§ 250.1712 What information must I submit before I permanently plug a well or zone?
§ 250.1713 [Reserved]
§ 250.1714 What must I accomplish with well plugs?
§ 250.1715 How must I permanently plug a well?
§ 250.1716 To what depth must I remove wellheads and casings?
§ 250.1717 [Reserved]
Temporary Abandoned Wells
§ 250.1721 If I temporarily abandon a well that I plan to re-enter, what must I do?
§ 250.1722 If I install a subsea protective device, what requirements must I meet?
§ 250.1723 What must I do when it is no longer necessary to maintain a well in temporary
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 15 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

abandoned status?
Removing Platforms and Other Facilities
§ 250.1725 When do I have to remove platforms and other facilities?
§ 250.1726 When must I submit an initial platform removal application and what must it
include?
§ 250.1727 What information must I include in my final application to remove a platform or
other facility?
§ 250.1728 To what depth must I remove a platform or other facility?
§ 250.1729 After I remove a platform or other facility, what information must I submit?
§ 250.1730 When might BSEE approve partial structure removal or toppling in place?
§ 250.1731 Who is responsible for decommissioning an OCS facility subject to an Alternate
Use RUE?
Site Clearance for Wells, Platforms, and Other Facilities
§ 250.1740 How must I verify that the site of a permanently plugged well, removed platform,
or other removed facility is clear of obstructions?
§ 250.1741 If I drag a trawl across a site, what requirements must I meet?
§ 250.1742 What other methods can I use to verify that a site is clear?
§ 250.1743 How do I certify that a site is clear of obstructions?
Pipeline Decommissioning
§ 250.1750 When may I decommission a pipeline in place?
§ 250.1751 How do I decommission a pipeline in place?
§ 250.1752 How do I remove a pipeline?
§ 250.1753 After I decommission a pipeline, what information must I submit?
§ 250.1754 When must I remove a pipeline decommissioned in place?
Subpart R [Reserved]
Subpart S Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS)
§ 250.1900 Must I have a SEMS program?
§ 250.1901 What is the goal of my SEMS program?
§ 250.1902 What must I include in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1903 Acronyms and definitions.
§ 250.1904 Special instructions.
§§ 250.1905-250.1908 [Reserved]
§ 250.1909 What are management's general responsibilities for the SEMS program?
§ 250.1910 What safety and environmental information is required?
§ 250.1911 What hazards analysis criteria must my SEMS program meet?
§ 250.1912 What criteria for management of change must my SEMS program meet?
§ 250.1913 What criteria for operating procedures must my SEMS program meet?
§ 250.1914 What criteria must be documented in my SEMS program for safe work practices
and contractor selection?
30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05) (enhanced display)

page 16 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Part 250 (2023-06-05)

§ 250.1915 What training criteria must be in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1916 What criteria for mechanical integrity must my SEMS program meet?
§ 250.1917 What criteria for pre-startup review must be in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1918 What criteria for emergency response and control must be in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1919 What criteria for investigation of incidents must be in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1920 What are the auditing requirements for my SEMS program?
§ 250.1921 What qualifications must the ASP meet?
§ 250.1922 What qualifications must an AB meet?
§ 250.1923 [Reserved]
§ 250.1924 How will BSEE determine if my SEMS program is effective?
§ 250.1925 May BSEE direct me to conduct additional audits?
§ 250.1926 [Reserved]
§ 250.1927 What happens if BSEE finds shortcomings in my SEMS program?
§ 250.1928 What are my recordkeeping and documentation requirements?
§ 250.1929 What are my responsibilities for submitting OCS performance measure data?
§ 250.1930 What must be included in my SEMS program for SWA?
§ 250.1931 What must be included in my SEMS program for UWA?
§ 250.1932 What are my EPP requirements?
§ 250.1933 What procedures must be included for reporting unsafe working conditions?

PART 250—OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1751, 31 U.S.C. 9701, 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(1)(C), 43 U.S.C. 1334.
Source: 76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 250 appear at 77 FR 50891, Aug. 22, 2012.
Subpart A—General
AUTHORITY AND DEFINITION OF TERMS
§ 250.101 Authority and applicability.
The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) authorized the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to
regulate oil, gas, and sulphur exploration, development, and production operations on the Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS). Under the Secretary's authority, the Director requires that all operations:
(a) Be conducted according to the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), the regulations in this part, BSEE orders, the lease
or right-of-way, and other applicable laws, regulations, and amendments; and
30 CFR 250.101(a) (enhanced display)

page 17 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.101(b)

(b) Conform to sound conservation practice to preserve, protect, and develop mineral resources of the OCS
to:
(1) Make resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs;
(2) Balance orderly energy resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal
environments;
(3) Ensure the public receives a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS;
(4) Preserve and maintain free enterprise competition; and
(5) Minimize or eliminate conflicts between the exploration, development, and production of oil and
natural gas and the recovery of other resources.

§ 250.102 What does this part do?
(a) This part 250 contains the regulations of the BSEE Offshore program that govern oil, gas, and sulphur
exploration, development, and production operations on the OCS. When you conduct operations on the
OCS, you must submit requests, applications, and notices, or provide supplemental information for BSEE
approval.
(b) The following table of general references shows where to look for information about these processes.
For information about . . .

Refer to . . .

(1) Applications for permit to drill,

30 CFR part 250, subpart D.

(2) Development and Production Plans (DPP),

30 CFR part 550, subpart B.

(3) Downhole commingling,

30 CFR part 250, subpart K.

(4) Exploration Plans (EP),

30 CFR part 550, subpart B.

(5) Flaring,

30 CFR part 250, subpart K.

(6) Gas measurement,

30 CFR part 250, subpart L.

(7) Off-lease geological and geophysical permits,

30 CFR part 551.

(8) Oil spill financial responsibility coverage,

30 CFR part 553.

(9) Oil and gas production safety systems,

30 CFR part 250, subpart H.

(10) Oil spill response plans,

30 CFR part 254.

(11) Oil and gas well-completion operations,

30 CFR part 250, subpart E.

(12) Oil and gas well-workover operations,

30 CFR part 250, subpart F.

(13) Decommissioning Activities,

30 CFR part 250, subpart Q.

(14) Platforms and structures,

30 CFR part 250, subpart I.

(15) Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way,

30 CFR part 250, subpart J and 30 CFR part 550,
subpart J.

(16) Sulphur operations,

30 CFR part 250, subpart P.

(17) Training,

30 CFR part 250, subpart O.

(18) Unitization,

30 CFR part 250, subpart M.

(19) Safety and Environmental Management Systems
(SEMS),

30 CFR part 250, subpart S.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 36148, June 6, 2016]
30 CFR 250.102(b) (enhanced display)

page 18 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.103

§ 250.103 Where can I find more information about the requirements in this part?
BSEE may issue Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that clarify, supplement, or provide more detail about
certain requirements. NTLs may also outline what you must provide as required information in your various
submissions to BSEE.

§ 250.104 How may I appeal a decision made under BSEE regulations?
To appeal orders or decisions issued under BSEE regulations in 30 CFR parts 250 to 282, follow the procedures in
30 CFR part 290.

§ 250.105 Definitions.
Terms used in this part will have the meanings given in the Act and as defined in this section:
Act

means the OCS Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

Affected State means with respect to any program, plan, lease sale, or other activity proposed, conducted, or
approved under the provisions of the Act, any State:
(1) The laws of which are declared, under section 4(a)(2) of the Act, to be the law of the United States
for the portion of the OCS on which such activity is, or is proposed to be, conducted;
(2) Which is, or is proposed to be, directly connected by transportation facilities to any artificial island or
installation or other device permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed;
(3) Which is receiving, or according to the proposed activity, will receive oil for processing, refining, or
transshipment that was extracted from the OCS and transported directly to such State by means of
vessels or by a combination of means including vessels;
(4) Which is designated by the Secretary as a State in which there is a substantial probability of
significant impact on or damage to the coastal, marine, or human environment, or a State in which
there will be significant changes in the social, governmental, or economic infrastructure, resulting
from the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas anywhere on the OCS; or
(5) In which the Secretary finds that because of such activity there is, or will be, a significant risk of
serious damage, due to factors such as prevailing winds and currents to the marine or coastal
environment in the event of any oil spill, blowout, or release of oil or gas from vessels, pipelines, or
other transshipment facilities.
Air pollutant means any airborne agent or combination of agents for which the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has established, under section 109 of the Clean Air Act, national primary or secondary ambient air
quality standards.
Analyzed geological information means data collected under a permit or a lease that have been analyzed.
Analysis may include, but is not limited to, identification of lithologic and fossil content, core analysis,
laboratory analyses of physical and chemical properties, well logs or charts, results from formation fluid
tests, and descriptions of hydrocarbon occurrences or hazardous conditions.
Ancillary activities mean those activities on your lease or unit that you:
(1) Conduct to obtain data and information to ensure proper exploration or development of your lease or
unit; and
30 CFR 250.105 “Ancillary activities” (1) (enhanced display)

page 19 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Ancillary activities” (2)

(2) Can conduct without Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approval of an application or
permit.
Archaeological interest means capable of providing scientific or humanistic understanding of past human
behavior, cultural adaptation, and related topics through the application of scientific or scholarly
techniques, such as controlled observation, contextual measurement, controlled collection, analysis,
interpretation, and explanation.
Archaeological resource means any material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years of age
and that are of archaeological interest.
Arctic OCS means the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas (for more information on these areas, see
the Proposed Final OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012–2017 (June 2012) at
http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/2012-2017/Program-AreaMaps/index.aspx).
Arctic OCS conditions means, for the purposes of this part, the conditions operators can reasonably expect
during operations on the Arctic OCS. Such conditions, depending on the time of year, include, but are not
limited to: Extreme cold, freezing spray, snow, extended periods of low light, strong winds, dense fog, sea
ice, strong currents, and dangerous sea states. Remote location, relative lack of infrastructure, and the
existence of subsistence hunting and fishing areas are also characteristic of the Arctic region.
Attainment area means, for any air pollutant, an area that is shown by monitored data or that is calculated by air
quality modeling (or other methods determined by the Administrator of EPA to be reliable) not to exceed
any primary or secondary ambient air quality standards established by EPA.
Best available and safest technology (BAST) means the best available and safest technologies that the BSEE
Director determines to be economically feasible wherever failure of equipment would have a significant
effect on safety, health, or the environment.
Best available control technology (BACT) means an emission limitation based on the maximum degree of
reduction for each air pollutant subject to regulation, taking into account energy, environmental and
economic impacts, and other costs. The Regional Supervisor will verify the BACT on a case-by-case basis,
and it may include reductions achieved through the application of processes, systems, and techniques for
the control of each air pollutant.
Cap and flow system means an integrated suite of equipment and vessels, including a capping stack and
associated flow lines, that, when installed or positioned, is used to control the flow of fluids escaping from
the well by conveying the fluids to the surface to a vessel or facility equipped to process the flow of oil,
gas, and water. A cap and flow system is a high pressure system that includes the capping stack and
piping necessary to convey the flowing fluids through the choke manifold to the surface equipment.
Capping stack means a mechanical device, including one that is pre-positioned, that can be installed on top of a
subsea or surface wellhead or blowout preventer to stop the uncontrolled flow of fluids into the
environment.
Coastal environment means the physical, atmospheric, and biological components, conditions, and factors that
interactively determine the productivity, state, condition, and quality of the terrestrial ecosystem from the
shoreline inward to the boundaries of the coastal zone.
Coastal zone means the coastal waters (including the lands therein and thereunder) and the adjacent
shorelands (including the waters therein and thereunder) strongly influenced by each other and in
proximity to the shorelands of the several coastal States. The coastal zone includes islands, transition
30 CFR 250.105 “Coastal zone” (enhanced display)

page 20 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Competitive reservoir”

and intertidal areas, salt marshes, wetlands, and beaches. The coastal zone extends seaward to the outer
limit of the U.S. territorial sea and extends inland from the shorelines to the extent necessary to control
shorelands, the uses of which have a direct and significant impact on the coastal waters, and the inward
boundaries of which may be identified by the several coastal States, under the authority in section
305(b)(1) of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972.
Competitive reservoir means a reservoir in which there are one or more producible or producing well
completions on each of two or more leases or portions of leases, with different lease operating interests,
from which the lessees plan future production.
Containment dome means a non-pressurized container that can be used to collect fluids escaping from the well
or equipment below the sea surface or from seeps by suspending the device over the discharge or seep
location. The containment dome includes all of the equipment necessary to capture and convey fluids to
the surface.
Correlative rights when used with respect to lessees of adjacent leases, means the right of each lessee to be
afforded an equal opportunity to explore for, develop, and produce, without waste, minerals from a
common source.
Data means facts and statistics, measurements, or samples that have not been analyzed, processed, or
interpreted.
Departures mean approvals granted by the appropriate BSEE or BOEM representative for operating
requirements/procedures other than those specified in the regulations found in this part. These
requirements/procedures may be necessary to control a well; properly develop a lease; conserve natural
resources, or protect life, property, or the marine, coastal, or human environment.
Development means those activities that take place following discovery of minerals in paying quantities,
including but not limited to geophysical activity, drilling, platform construction, and operation of all directly
related onshore support facilities, and which are for the purpose of producing the minerals discovered.
Development geological and geophysical (G&G) activities mean those G&G and related data-gathering activities
on your lease or unit that you conduct following discovery of oil, gas, or sulphur in paying quantities to
detect or imply the presence of oil, gas, or sulphur in commercial quantities.
Director means the Director of BSEE of the U.S. Department of the Interior, or an official authorized to act on the
Director's behalf.
District Manager means the BSEE officer with authority and responsibility for operations or other designated
program functions for a district within a BSEE Region. For activities on the Alaska OCS, any reference in
this part to District Manager means the BSEE Regional Supervisor.
Eastern Gulf of Mexico means all OCS areas of the Gulf of Mexico the BOEM Director decides are adjacent to the
State of Florida. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico is not the same as the Eastern Planning Area, an area
established for OCS lease sales.
Emission offsets mean emission reductions obtained from facilities, either onshore or offshore, other than the
facility or facilities covered by the proposed Exploration Plan (EP) or Development and Production Plan
(DPP).
Enhanced recovery operations mean pressure maintenance operations, secondary and tertiary recovery, cycling,
and similar recovery operations that alter the natural forces in a reservoir to increase the ultimate recovery
of oil or gas.
30 CFR 250.105 “Enhanced recovery operations” (enhanced display)

page 21 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Existing facility”

Existing facility, as used in 30 CFR 550.303, means an OCS facility described in an Exploration Plan or a
Development and Production Plan approved before June 2, 1980.
Exploration means the commercial search for oil, gas, or sulphur. Activities classified as exploration include but
are not limited to:
(1) Geophysical and geological (G&G) surveys using magnetic, gravity, seismic reflection, seismic
refraction, gas sniffers, coring, or other systems to detect or imply the presence of oil, gas, or
sulphur; and
(2) Any drilling conducted for the purpose of searching for commercial quantities of oil, gas, and sulphur,
including the drilling of any additional well needed to delineate any reservoir to enable the lessee to
decide whether to proceed with development and production.
Facility means:
(1) As used in § 250.130, all installations permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed on the OCS
(including manmade islands and bottom-sitting structures). They include mobile offshore drilling
units (MODUs) or other vessels engaged in drilling or downhole operations, used for oil, gas or
sulphur drilling, production, or related activities. They include all floating production systems (FPSs),
variously described as column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading
facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. They also include facilities for product
measurement and royalty determination (e.g., lease Automatic Custody Transfer Units, gas meters)
of OCS production on installations not on the OCS. Any group of OCS installations interconnected
with walkways, or any group of installations that includes a central or primary installation with
processing equipment and one or more satellite or secondary installations is a single facility. The
Regional Supervisor may decide that the complexity of the individual installations justifies their
classification as separate facilities.
(2) As used in 30 CFR 550.303, means all installations or devices permanently or temporarily attached to
the seabed. They include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), even while operating in the “tender
assist” mode (i.e., with skid-off drilling units) or other vessels engaged in drilling or downhole
operations. They are used for exploration, development, and production activities for oil, gas, or
sulphur and emit or have the potential to emit any air pollutant from one or more sources. They
include all floating production systems (FPSs), including column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating
production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. During
production, multiple installations or devices are a single facility if the installations or devices are at a
single site. Any vessel used to transfer production from an offshore facility is part of the facility
while it is physically attached to the facility.
(3) As used in § 250.490(b), means a vessel, a structure, or an artificial island used for drilling, well
completion, well-workover, or production operations.
(4) As used in §§ 250.900 through 250.921, means all installations or devices permanently or
temporarily attached to the seabed. They are used for exploration, development, and production
activities for oil, gas, or sulphur and emit or have the potential to emit any air pollutant from one or
more sources. They include all floating production systems (FPSs), including column-stabilized-units
(CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs);
spars, etc. During production, multiple installations or devices are a single facility if the installations
or devices are at a single site. Any vessel used to transfer production from an offshore facility is part
of the facility while it is physically attached to the facility.
30 CFR 250.105 “Facility” (4) (enhanced display)

page 22 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Facility” (5)

(5) As used in subpart S of this part, all types of structures permanently or temporarily attached to the
seabed (e.g., mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs); floating production systems; floating
production, storage and offloading facilities; tension-leg platforms; and spars) that are used for
exploration, development, and production activities for oil, gas, or sulphur in the OCS. Facilities also
include DOI-regulated pipelines.
Flaring means the burning of natural gas as it is released into the atmosphere.
Gas reservoir means a reservoir that contains hydrocarbons predominantly in a gaseous (single-phase) state.
Gas-well completion means a well completed in a gas reservoir or in the associated gas-cap of an oil reservoir.
Geological and geophysical (G&G) explorations mean those G&G surveys on your lease or unit that use seismic
reflection, seismic refraction, magnetic, gravity, gas sniffers, coring, or other systems to detect or imply
the presence of oil, gas, or sulphur in commercial quantities.
Governor means the Governor of a State, or the person or entity designated by, or under, State law to exercise
the powers granted to such Governor under the Act.
H2S absent means:
(1) Drilling, logging, coring, testing, or producing operations have confirmed the absence of H2S in
concentrations that could potentially result in atmospheric concentrations of 20 ppm or more of H2S;
or
(2) Drilling in the surrounding areas and correlation of geological and seismic data with equivalent
stratigraphic units have confirmed an absence of H2S throughout the area to be drilled.
H2S present means drilling, logging, coring, testing, or producing operations have confirmed the presence of H2S
in concentrations and volumes that could potentially result in atmospheric concentrations of 20 ppm or
more of H2S.
H2S unknown means the designation of a zone or geologic formation where neither the presence nor absence of
H2S has been confirmed.
Human environment means the physical, social, and economic components, conditions, and factors that
interactively determine the state, condition, and quality of living conditions, employment, and health of
those affected, directly or indirectly, by activities occurring on the OCS.
Interpreted geological information means geological knowledge, often in the form of schematic cross sections,
3-dimensional representations, and maps, developed by determining the geological significance of data
and analyzed geological information.
Interpreted geophysical information means geophysical knowledge, often in the form of schematic cross
sections, 3-dimensional representations, and maps, developed by determining the geological significance
of geophysical data and analyzed geophysical information.
Lease means an agreement that is issued under section 8 or maintained under section 6 of the Act and that
authorizes exploration for, and development and production of, minerals. The term also means the area
covered by that authorization, whichever the context requires.
Lease term pipelines mean those pipelines owned and operated by a lessee or operator that are completely
contained within the boundaries of a single lease, unit, or contiguous (not cornering) leases of that lessee
or operator.
30 CFR 250.105 “Lease term pipelines” (enhanced display)

page 23 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Lessee”

Lessee means a person who has entered into a lease with the United States to explore for, develop, and produce
the leased minerals. The term lessee also includes the BOEM-approved assignee of the lease, and the
owner or the BOEM-approved assignee of operating rights for the lease.
Major Federal action means any action or proposal by the Secretary that is subject to the provisions of section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. (2)(C) (i.e., an action that will have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment requiring preparation of an environmental
impact statement under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act).
Marine environment means the physical, atmospheric, and biological components, conditions, and factors that
interactively determine the productivity, state, condition, and quality of the marine ecosystem. These
include the waters of the high seas, the contiguous zone, transitional and intertidal areas, salt marshes,
and wetlands within the coastal zone and on the OCS.
Material remains mean physical evidence of human habitation, occupation, use, or activity, including the site,
location, or context in which such evidence is situated.
Maximum efficient rate (MER) means the maximum sustainable daily oil or gas withdrawal rate from a reservoir
that will permit economic development and depletion of that reservoir without detriment to ultimate
recovery.
Maximum production rate (MPR) means the approved maximum daily rate at which oil or gas may be produced
from a specified oil-well or gas-well completion.
Minerals include oil, gas, sulphur, geopressured-geothermal and associated resources, and all other minerals
that are authorized by an Act of Congress to be produced.
Natural resources include, without limiting the generality thereof, oil, gas, and all other minerals, and fish, shrimp,
oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters, sponges, kelp, and other marine animal and plant life but does not include
water power or the use of water for the production of power.
Nonattainment area means, for any air pollutant, an area that is shown by monitored data or that is calculated by
air quality modeling (or other methods determined by the Administrator of EPA to be reliable) to exceed
any primary or secondary ambient air quality standard established by EPA.
Nonsensitive reservoir means a reservoir in which ultimate recovery is not decreased by high reservoir
production rates.
Oil reservoir means a reservoir that contains hydrocarbons predominantly in a liquid (single-phase) state.
Oil reservoir with an associated gas cap means a reservoir that contains hydrocarbons in both a liquid and
gaseous (two-phase) state.
Oil-well completion means a well completed in an oil reservoir or in the oil accumulation of an oil reservoir with
an associated gas cap.
Operating rights mean any interest held in a lease with the right to explore for, develop, and produce leased
substances.
Operator means the person the lessee(s) designates as having control or management of operations on the
leased area or a portion thereof. An operator may be a lessee, the BSEE-approved or BOEM-approved
designated agent of the lessee(s), or the holder of operating rights under a BOEM-approved operating
rights assignment.

30 CFR 250.105 “Operator” (enhanced display)

page 24 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)”

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) means all submerged lands lying seaward and outside of the area of lands
beneath navigable waters as defined in section 2 of the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301) whose
subsoil and seabed appertain to the United States and are subject to its jurisdiction and control.
Person includes a natural person, an association (including partnerships, joint ventures, and trusts), a State, a
political subdivision of a State, or a private, public, or municipal corporation.
Pipelines are the piping, risers, and appurtenances installed for transporting oil, gas, sulphur, and produced
waters.
Processed geological or geophysical information means data collected under a permit or a lease that have been
processed or reprocessed. Processing involves changing the form of data to facilitate interpretation.
Processing operations may include, but are not limited to, applying corrections for known perturbing
causes, rearranging or filtering data, and combining or transforming data elements. Reprocessing is the
additional processing other than ordinary processing used in the general course of evaluation.
Reprocessing operations may include varying identified parameters for the detailed study of a specific
problem area.
Production means those activities that take place after the successful completion of any means for the removal
of minerals, including such removal, field operations, transfer of minerals to shore, operation monitoring,
maintenance, and workover operations.
Production areas are those areas where flammable petroleum gas, volatile liquids or sulphur are produced,
processed (e.g., compressed), stored, transferred (e.g., pumped), or otherwise handled before entering the
transportation process.
Projected emissions mean emissions, either controlled or uncontrolled, from a source or sources.
Prospect means a geologic feature having the potential for mineral deposits.
Regional Director means the BSEE officer with responsibility and authority for a Region within BSEE.
Regional Supervisor means the BSEE officer with responsibility and authority for operations or other designated
program functions within a BSEE Region.
Right-of-Use and Easement (RUE) means a right to use a portion of the seabed at an OCS site, other than on a
lease you own, to construct, secure to the seafloor, use, modify, or maintain platforms, sea floor
production equipment, artificial islands, facilities, installations, and other devices, established to support
the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas, mineral, or energy resources from an OCS or
State submerged lands lease.
Right-of-way pipelines are those pipelines that are contained within:
(1) The boundaries of a single lease or unit, but are not owned and operated by a lessee or operator of
that lease or unit;
(2) The boundaries of contiguous (not cornering) leases that do not have a common lessee or operator;
(3) The boundaries of contiguous (not cornering) leases that have a common lessee or operator but are
not owned and operated by that common lessee or operator; or
(4) An unleased block(s).
Routine operations, for the purposes of subpart F, mean any of the following operations conducted on a well
with the tree installed:
30 CFR 250.105 “Routine operations” (enhanced display)

page 25 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Routine operations” (1)

(1) Cutting paraffin;
(2) Removing and setting pump-through-type tubing plugs, gas-lift valves, and subsurface safety valves
that can be removed by wireline operations;
(3) Bailing sand;
(4) Pressure surveys;
(5) Swabbing;
(6) Scale or corrosion treatment;
(7) Caliper and gauge surveys;
(8) Corrosion inhibitor treatment;
(9) Removing or replacing subsurface pumps;
(10) Through-tubing logging (diagnostics);
(11) Wireline fishing;
(12) Setting and retrieving other subsurface flow-control devices; and
(13) Acid treatments.
Sensitive reservoir means a reservoir in which the production rate will affect ultimate recovery.
Significant archaeological resource means those archaeological resources that meet the criteria of significance
for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places as defined in 36 CFR 60.4, or its successor.
Source control and containment equipment (SCCE) means the capping stack, cap and flow system, containment
dome, and/or other subsea and surface devices, equipment, and vessels the collective purpose of which
is to control a spill source and stop the flow of fluids into the environment or to contain fluids escaping
into the environment. “Surface devices” refers to equipment mounted or staged on a barge, vessel, or
facility to separate, treat, store and/or dispose of fluids conveyed to the surface by the cap and flow
system or the containment dome. “Subsea devices” includes, but is not limited to, remotely operated
vehicles, anchors, buoyancy equipment, connectors, cameras, controls and other subsea equipment
necessary to facilitate the deployment, operation, and retrieval of the SCCE. The SCCE does not include a
blowout preventer.
Suspension means a granted or directed deferral of the requirement to produce (Suspension of Production
(SOP)) or to conduct leaseholding operations (Suspension of Operations (SOO)).
Venting means the release of gas into the atmosphere without igniting it. This includes gas that is released
underwater and bubbles to the atmosphere.
Waste of oil, gas, or sulphur means:
(1) The physical waste of oil, gas, or sulphur;
(2) The inefficient, excessive, or improper use, or the unnecessary dissipation of reservoir energy;
(3) The locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of any oil, gas, or sulphur well(s) in
a manner that causes or tends to cause a reduction in the quantity of oil, gas, or sulphur ultimately
recoverable under prudent and proper operations or that causes or tends to cause unnecessary or
excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or gas; or
30 CFR 250.105 “Waste of oil, gas, or sulphur” (3) (enhanced display)

page 26 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.105 “Waste of oil, gas, or sulphur” (4)

(4) The inefficient storage of oil.
Welding means all activities connected with welding, including hot tapping and burning.
Wellbay is the area on a facility within the perimeter of the outermost wellheads.
Well-completion operations mean the work conducted to establish production from a well after the productioncasing string has been set, cemented, and pressure-tested.
Well-control fluid means drilling mud, completion fluid, or workover fluid as appropriate to the particular
operation being conducted.
Western Gulf of Mexico means all OCS areas of the Gulf of Mexico except those the BOEM Director decides are
adjacent to the State of Florida. The Western Gulf of Mexico is not the same as the Western Planning
Area, an area established for OCS lease sales.
Workover operations mean the work conducted on wells after the initial well-completion operation for the
purpose of maintaining or restoring the productivity of a well.
You

means a lessee, the owner or holder of operating rights, a designated operator or agent of the lessee(s), a
pipeline right-of-way holder, or a State lessee granted a right-of-use and easement.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20439, Apr. 5, 2013; 81 FR 46560, July 15, 2016; 88 FR 23579, Apr. 18, 2023]

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
§ 250.106 What standards will the Director use to regulate lease operations?
The Director will regulate all operations under a lease, right-of-use and easement, or right-of-way to:
(a) Promote orderly exploration, development, and production of mineral resources;
(b) Prevent injury or loss of life;
(c) Prevent damage to or waste of any natural resource, property, or the environment; and
(d) Cooperate and consult with affected States, local governments, other interested parties, and relevant
Federal agencies.

§ 250.107 What must I do to protect health, safety, property, and the environment?
(a) You must protect health, safety, property, and the environment by:
(1) Performing all operations in a safe and workmanlike manner;
(2) Maintaining all equipment and work areas in a safe condition;
(3) Utilizing recognized engineering practices that reduce risks to the lowest level practicable when
conducting design, fabrication, installation, operation, inspection, repair, and maintenance activities;
and
(4) Complying with all lease, plan, and permit terms and conditions.
(b) You must immediately control, remove, or otherwise correct any hazardous oil and gas accumulation or
other health, safety, or fire hazard.
30 CFR 250.107(b) (enhanced display)

page 27 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.107(c)

(c) Best available and safest technology.
(1) On all new drilling and production operations and, except as provided in paragraph (c)(3) of this
section, on existing operations, you must use the best available and safest technologies (BAST)
which the Director determines to be economically feasible whenever the Director determines that
failure of equipment would have a significant effect on safety, health, or the environment, except
where the Director determines that the incremental benefits are clearly insufficient to justify the
incremental costs of utilizing such technologies.
(2) Conformance with BSEE regulations will be presumed to constitute the use of BAST unless and until
the Director determines that other technologies are required pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this
section.
(3) The Director may waive the requirement to use BAST on a category of existing operations if the
Director determines that use of BAST by that category of existing operations would not be
practicable. The Director may waive the requirement to use BAST on an existing operation at a
specific facility if you submit a waiver request demonstrating that the use of BAST would not be
practicable.
(d) BSEE may issue orders to ensure compliance with this part, including, but not limited to, orders to produce
and submit records and to inspect, repair, and/or replace equipment. BSEE may also issue orders to shutin operations of a component or facility because of a threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate harm to
health, safety, property, or the environment posed by those operations or because the operations violate
law, including a regulation, order, or provision of a lease, plan, or permit.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26014, Apr. 29, 2016; 81 FR 61915, Sept. 7, 2016]

§ 250.108 What requirements must I follow for cranes and other material-handling equipment?
(a) All cranes installed on fixed platforms must be operated in accordance with American Petroleum
Institute's Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, API RP 2D (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(b) All cranes installed on fixed platforms must be equipped with a functional anti-two block device.
(c) If a fixed platform is installed after March 17, 2003, all cranes on the platform must meet the requirements
of American Petroleum Institute Specification for Offshore Pedestal Mounted Cranes, API Spec 2C (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(d) All cranes manufactured after March 17, 2003, and installed on a fixed platform, must meet the
requirements of API Spec 2C.
(e) You must maintain records specific to a crane or the operation of a crane installed on an OCS fixed
platform, as follows:
(1) Retain all design and construction records, including installation records for any anti-two block safety
devices, for the life of the crane. The records must be kept at the OCS fixed platform.
(2) Retain all inspection, testing, and maintenance records of cranes for at least 4 years. The records
must be kept at the OCS fixed platform.
(3) Retain the qualification records of the crane operator and all rigger personnel for at least 4 years. The
records must be kept at the OCS fixed platform.
30 CFR 250.108(e)(3) (enhanced display)

page 28 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.108(f)

(f) You must operate and maintain all other material-handling equipment in a manner that ensures safe
operations and prevents pollution.

§ 250.109 What documents must I prepare and maintain related to welding?
(a) You must submit a Welding Plan to the District Manager before you begin drilling or production activities
on a lease. You may not begin welding until the District Manager has approved your plan.
(b) You must keep the following at the site where welding occurs:
(1) A copy of the plan and its approval letter; and
(2) Drawings showing the designated safe-welding areas.

§ 250.110 What must I include in my welding plan?
You must include all of the following in the welding plan that you prepare under § 250.109:
(a) Standards or requirements for welders;
(b) How you will ensure that only qualified personnel weld;
(c) Practices and procedures for safe welding that address:
(1) Welding in designated safe areas;
(2) Welding in undesignated areas, including wellbay;
(3) Fire watches;
(4) Maintenance of welding equipment; and
(5) Plans showing all designated safe-welding areas.
(d) How you will prevent spark-producing activities (i.e., grinding, abrasive blasting/cutting and arc-welding) in
hazardous locations.

§ 250.111 Who oversees operations under my welding plan?
A welding supervisor or a designated person in charge must be thoroughly familiar with your welding plan. This
person must ensure that each welder is properly qualified according to the welding plan. This person also must
inspect all welding equipment before welding.

§ 250.112 What standards must my welding equipment meet?
Your welding equipment must meet the following requirements:
(a) All engine-driven welding equipment must be equipped with spark arrestors and drip pans;
(b) Welding leads must be completely insulated and in good condition;
(c) Hoses must be leak-free and equipped with proper fittings, gauges, and regulators; and
(d) Oxygen and fuel gas bottles must be secured in a safe place.

30 CFR 250.112(d) (enhanced display)

page 29 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.113

§ 250.113 What procedures must I follow when welding?
(a) Before you weld, you must move any equipment containing hydrocarbons or other flammable substances
at least 35 feet horizontally from the welding area. You must move similar equipment on lower decks at
least 35 feet from the point of impact where slag, sparks, or other burning materials could fall. If moving
this equipment is impractical, you must protect that equipment with flame-proofed covers, shield it with
metal or fire-resistant guards or curtains, or render the flammable substances inert.
(b) While you weld, you must monitor all water-discharge-point sources from hydrocarbon-handling vessels. If
a discharge of flammable fluids occurs, you must stop welding.
(c) If you cannot weld in one of the designated safe-welding areas that you listed in your safe welding plan,
you must meet the following requirements:
(1) You may not begin welding until:
(i)

The welding supervisor or designated person in charge advises in writing that it is safe to weld.

(ii) You and the designated person in charge inspect the work area and areas below it for potential
fire and explosion hazards.
(2) During welding, the person in charge must designate one or more persons as a fire watch. The fire
watch must:
(i)

Have no other duties while actual welding is in progress;

(ii) Have usable firefighting equipment;
(iii) Remain on duty for 30 minutes after welding activities end; and
(iv) Maintain a continuous surveillance with a portable gas detector during the welding and burning
operation if welding occurs in an area not equipped with a gas detector.
(3) You may not weld piping, containers, tanks, or other vessels that have contained a flammable
substance unless you have rendered the contents inert and the designated person in charge has
determined it is safe to weld. This does not apply to approved hot taps.
(4) You may not weld within 10 feet of a wellbay unless you have shut in all producing wells in that
wellbay.
(5) You may not weld within 10 feet of a production area, unless you have shut in that production area.
(6) You may not weld while you drill, complete, workover, or conduct wireline operations unless:
(i)

The fluids in the well (being drilled, completed, worked over, or having wireline operations
conducted) are noncombustible; and

(ii) You have precluded the entry of formation hydrocarbons into the wellbore by either mechanical
means or a positive overbalance toward the formation.

§ 250.114 How must I install, maintain, and operate electrical equipment?
The requirements in this section apply to all electrical equipment on all platforms, artificial islands, fixed structures,
and their facilities.

30 CFR 250.114 (enhanced display)

page 30 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.114(a)

(a) You must classify all areas according to API RP 500, Recommended Practice for Classification of
Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2
(as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), or API RP 505, Recommended Practice for Classification of
Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone
2 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(b) Employees who maintain your electrical systems must have expertise in area classification and the
performance, operation and hazards of electrical equipment.
(c) You must install all electrical systems according to API RP 14F, Recommended Practice for Design and
Installation of Electrical Systems for Fixed and Floating Offshore Petroleum Facilities for Unclassified and
Class I, Division 1, and Division 2 Locations (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), or API RP 14FZ,
Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Electrical Systems for Fixed and Floating Offshore
Petroleum Facilities for Unclassified and Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 Locations (as incorporated
by reference in § 250.198).
(d) On each engine that has an electric ignition system, you must use an ignition system designed and
maintained to reduce the release of electrical energy.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.115 What are the procedures for, and effects of, incorporation of documents by reference
in this part?
For the documents incorporated by reference in this part:
(a) Incorporation by reference of a document is limited to the edition of the document, or the specific edition
and supplement or addendum, that is cited in § 250.198. Future amendments or revisions of the
incorporated document are not included. BSEE will publish any changes to the incorporation of the
document in the FEDERAL REGISTER and amend § 250.198 as appropriate.
(b) BSEE may make a rule amending the incorporation of a document effective without prior opportunity for
public comment when BSEE determines:
(1) That the revisions to the document result in safety improvements or represent new industry standard
technology and do not impose undue costs on the affected parties; and
(2) BSEE meets the requirements for making a rule immediately effective under 5 U.S.C. 553.
(c) The effect of incorporation by reference of a document into the regulations in this part is that the
incorporated document is a requirement. When a section in this part refers to an incorporated document,
you are responsible for complying with the provisions of that entire document, except to the extent that
the section that refers to the document provides otherwise. When a section in this part refers to a part of
an incorporated document, you are responsible for complying with that part of the document as provided
in that section.
(d) Under §§ 250.141 and 250.142, you may comply with a later edition of a specific document incorporated
by reference, provided:
(1) You show that complying with the later edition provides a degree of protection, safety, or
performance equal to or better than would be achieved by compliance with the listed edition; and
(2) You obtain prior written approval for alternative compliance from the authorized BSEE official.
30 CFR 250.115(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 31 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.116-250.117

[84 FR 21968, May 15, 2019]

§§ 250.116-250.117 [Reserved]
GAS STORAGE OR INJECTION
§ 250.118 Will BSEE approve gas injection?
The Regional Supervisor may authorize you to inject gas on the OCS, on and off-lease, to promote conservation of
natural resources and to prevent waste.
(a) To receive BSEE approval for injection, you must:
(1) Show that the injection will not result in undue interference with operations under existing leases;
and
(2) Submit a written application to the Regional Supervisor for injection of gas.
(b) The Regional Supervisor will approve gas injection applications that:
(1) Enhance recovery;
(2) Prevent flaring of casinghead gas; or
(3) Implement other conservation measures approved by the Regional Supervisor.

§ 250.119 [Reserved]
§ 250.120 How does injecting, storing, or treating gas affect my royalty payments?
(a) If you produce gas from an OCS lease and inject it into a reservoir on the lease or unit for the purposes
cited in § 250.118(b), you are not required to pay royalties until you remove or sell the gas from the
reservoir.
(b) If you produce gas from an OCS lease and store it according to 30 CFR 550.119, you must pay royalty
before injecting it into the storage reservoir.
(c) If you produce gas from an OCS lease and treat it at an off-lease or off-unit location, you must pay
royalties when the gas is first produced.

§ 250.121 What happens when the reservoir contains both original gas in place and injected gas?
If the reservoir contains both original gas in place and injected gas, when you produce gas from the reservoir you
must use a BSEE-approved formula to determine the amounts of injected or stored gas and gas original to the
reservoir.

§ 250.122 What effect does subsurface storage have on the lease term?
If you use a lease area for subsurface storage of gas, it does not affect the continuance or expiration of the lease.

§ 250.123 [Reserved]

30 CFR 250.123 (enhanced display)

page 32 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.124

§ 250.124 Will BSEE approve gas injection into the cap rock containing a sulphur deposit?
To receive the Regional Supervisor's approval to inject gas into the cap rock of a salt dome containing a sulphur
deposit, you must show that the injection:
(a) Is necessary to recover oil and gas contained in the cap rock; and
(b) Will not significantly increase potential hazards to present or future sulphur mining operations.

FEES
§ 250.125 Service fees.
(a) The table in this paragraph (a) shows the fees that you must pay to BSEE for the services listed. The fees
will be adjusted periodically according to the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product by
publication of a document in the FEDERAL REGISTER. If a significant adjustment is needed to arrive at the
new actual cost for any reason other than inflation, then a proposed rule containing the new fees will be
published in the FEDERAL REGISTER for comment.
Service—processing of the
following:

Fee amount

30 CFR citation

(1) Suspension of Operations/
Suspension of Production (SOO/
SOP) Request

$2,469

§ 250.171(e).

(2) Deepwater Operations Plan
(DWOP)

$4,186

§ 250.292(q).

(3) Application for Permit to Drill
(APD; Form BSEE–0123)

$2,458 for initial applications only; no fee for
revisions

§ 250.410(d); §
250.513(b); §
250.1617(a).

(4) Application for Permit to
Modify (APM; Form BSEE–0124)

$145

§ 250.465(b); §
250.513(b); §
250.613(b); §
250.1618(a); §
250.1704(g).

(5) New Facility Production Safety
System Application for facility with
more than 125 components

$6,312
A $16,610 additional fee will be charged if BSEE
conducts a pre-production inspection of a
facility offshore, and $8,638 for an inspection of
a facility while in a shipyard
A component is a piece of equipment or
ancillary system that is protected by one or
more of the safety devices required by API RP
14C (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198)

§ 250.842.

(6) New Facility Production Safety
System Application for facility with
25–125 components

$1,528
A $10,430 additional fee will be charged if BSEE
conducts a pre-production inspection of a
facility offshore, and $5,980 for an inspection of
a facility while in a shipyard

§ 250.842.

30 CFR 250.125(a) (enhanced display)

page 33 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Service—processing of the
following:

Fee amount

30 CFR 250.125(a)

30 CFR citation

(7) New Facility Production Safety
System Application for facility with
fewer than 25 components

$758

§ 250.842.

(8) Production Safety System
Application—Modification with
more than 125 components
reviewed

$704

§ 250.842.

(9) Production Safety System
Application—Modification with
25–125 components reviewed

$252

§ 250.842.

(10) Production Safety System
Application—Modification with
fewer than 25 components
reviewed

$107

§ 250.842.

(11) Platform
Application—Installation—Under
the Platform Verification Program

$26,444

§ 250.905(l).

(12) Platform
Application—Installation—Fixed
Structure Under the Platform
Approval Program

$3,787

§ 250.905(l).

(13) Platform
$1,927
Application—Installation—Caisson/
Well Protector

§ 250.905(l).

(14) Platform
Application—Modification/Repair

$4,518

§ 250.905(l).

(15) New Pipeline Application
(Lease Term)

$4,119

§ 250.1000(b).

(16) Pipeline
Application—Modification (Lease
Term)

$2,392

§ 250.1000(b).

(17) Pipeline
Application—Modification (ROW)

$4,849

§ 250.1000(b).

(18) Pipeline Repair Notification

$451

§ 250.1008(e).

(19) Pipeline Right-of-Way (ROW)
Grant Application

$3,223

§ 250.1015(a).

(20) Pipeline Conversion of Lease
Term to ROW

$275

§ 250.1015(a).

(21) Pipeline ROW Assignment

$234

§ 250.1018(b).

(22) 500 Feet from Lease/Unit Line $4,527
Production Request

§ 250.1156(a).

(23) Gas Cap Production Request

$5,761

§ 250.1157(b).

(24) Downhole Commingling
Request

$6,722

§ 250.1158(a).

30 CFR 250.125(a) (enhanced display)

page 34 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Service—processing of the
following:

Fee amount

30 CFR 250.125(b)

30 CFR citation

(25) Complex Surface
Commingling and Measurement
Application

$4,718

§ 250.1202(a); §
250.1203(b); §
250.1204(a).

(26) Simple Surface Commingling
and Measurement Application

$1,595

§ 250.1202(a); §
250.1203(b); §
250.1204(a).

(27) Voluntary Unitization Proposal $14,678
or Unit Expansion

§ 250.1303(d).

(28) Unitization Revision

$1,042

§ 250.1303(d).

(29) Application to Remove a
Platform or Other Facility

$5,448

§ 250.1727.

(30) Application to Decommission
a Pipeline (Lease Term)

$1,328

§ 250.1751(a) or §
250.1752(a).

(31) Application to Decommission
a Pipeline (ROW)

$2,524

§ 250.1751(a) or §
250.1752(a).

(b) Payment of the fees listed in paragraph (a) of this section must accompany the submission of the
document for approval or be sent to an office identified by the Regional Director. Once a fee is paid, it is
nonrefundable, even if an application or other request is withdrawn. If your application is returned to you
as incomplete, you are not required to submit a new fee when you submit the amended application.
(c) Verbal approvals are occasionally given in special circumstances. Any action that will be considered a
verbal permit approval requires either a paper permit application to follow the verbal approval or an
electronic application submittal within 72 hours. Payment must be made with the completed paper or
electronic application.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50891, Aug. 22, 2012; 78 FR 60213, Oct. 1, 2013; 81 FR 26014, Apr. 29, 2016;
81 FR 61916, Sept. 7, 2016; 87 FR 19803, Apr. 6, 2022]

§ 250.126 Electronic payment instructions.
(a) You must file all payments electronically through the Fees for Services Page on the BSEE website at
https://www.bsee.gov/who-we-are/working-with-us/Fees-for-Services. This includes, but is not limited to,
all OCS applications, permits, or any filing fees. You must include a copy of the Pay.gov confirmation
receipt page with your application, permit, or filing fee.
(b) If you submitted an application or permit through eWell, you must use the interactive payment feature in
that system, which directs you through Pay.gov to make a payment. It is recommended that you keep a
copy of your payment confirmation receipt in the event that any questions arise regarding your
transaction.
[81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016; as amended at 87 FR 19803, Apr. 6, 2022]

INSPECTIONS OF OPERATIONS

30 CFR 250.126(b) (enhanced display)

page 35 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.130

§ 250.130 Why does BSEE conduct inspections?
BSEE will inspect OCS facilities and any vessels engaged in drilling or other downhole operations. These include
facilities under jurisdiction of other Federal agencies that we inspect by agreement. We conduct these inspections:
(a) To verify that you are conducting operations according to the Act, the regulations, the lease, right-of-way,
the BOEM-approved Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plans; or right-of-use and easement,
and other applicable laws and regulations; and
(b) To determine whether equipment designed to prevent or ameliorate blowouts, fires, spillages, or other
major accidents has been installed and is operating properly according to the requirements of this part.

§ 250.131 Will BSEE notify me before conducting an inspection?
BSEE conducts both scheduled and unscheduled inspections.

§ 250.132 What must I do when BSEE conducts an inspection?
(a) When BSEE conducts an inspection, you must provide:
(1) Access to all platforms, artificial islands, and other installations on your leases or associated with
your lease, right-of-use and easement, or right-of-way; and
(2) Helicopter landing sites and refueling facilities for any helicopters we use to regulate offshore
operations.
(b) You must make the following available for us to inspect:
(1) The area covered under a lease, right-of-use and easement, right-of-way, or permit;
(2) All improvements, structures, and fixtures on these areas; and
(3) All records of design, construction, operation, maintenance, repairs, or investigations on or related to
the area.

§ 250.133 Will BSEE reimburse me for my expenses related to inspections?
Upon request, BSEE will reimburse you for food, quarters, and transportation that you provide for BSEE
representatives while they inspect lease facilities and operations. You must send us your reimbursement request
within 90 days of the inspection.

DISQUALIFICATION
§ 250.135 What will BSEE do if my operating performance is unacceptable?
BSEE will determine if your operating performance is unacceptable. BSEE will refer a determination of unacceptable
performance to BOEM, who may disapprove or revoke your designation as operator on a single facility or multiple
facilities. We will give you adequate notice and opportunity for a review by BSEE officials before making a
determination that your operating performance is unacceptable.

§ 250.136 How will BSEE determine if my operating performance is unacceptable?
In determining if your operating performance is unacceptable, BSEE will consider, individually or collectively:
30 CFR 250.136 (enhanced display)

page 36 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.136(a)

(a) Accidents and their nature;
(b) Pollution events, environmental damages and their nature;
(c) Incidents of noncompliance;
(d) Civil penalties;
(e) Failure to adhere to OCS lease obligations; or
(f) Any other relevant factors.

SPECIAL TYPES OF APPROVALS
§ 250.140 When will I receive an oral approval?
When you apply for BSEE approval of any activity, we normally give you a written decision. The following table
shows circumstances under which we may give an oral approval.
When
you . . .

We may . . .

And . . .

(a)
Request
approval
orally

Give you an You must then confirm the oral request by sending us a written request within 72
oral
hours.
approval,

(b)
Request
approval
in
writing,

Give you an We will send you a written approval afterward. It will include any conditions that
oral
we place on the oral approval.
approval if
quick
action is
needed,

(c)
Request
approval
orally for
gas
flaring,

Give you an You don't have to follow up with a written request unless the Regional Supervisor
oral
requires it. When you stop the approved flaring, you must promptly send a letter
approval,
summarizing the location, dates and hours, and volumes of liquid hydrocarbons
produced and gas flared by the approved flaring (see 30 CFR 250, subpart K).

§ 250.141 May I ever use alternate procedures or equipment?
You may use alternate procedures or equipment after receiving approval as described in this section.
(a) Any alternate procedures or equipment that you propose to use must provide a level of safety and
environmental protection that equals or surpasses current BSEE requirements.
(b) You must receive the District Manager's or Regional Supervisor's written approval before you can use
alternate procedures or equipment.
(c) To receive approval, you must either submit information or give an oral presentation to the appropriate
Regional Supervisor. Your presentation must describe the site-specific application(s), performance
characteristics, and safety features of the proposed procedure or equipment.
30 CFR 250.141(c) (enhanced display)

page 37 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.142

§ 250.142 How do I receive approval for departures?
We may approve departures to the operating requirements. You may apply for a departure by writing to the District
Manager or Regional Supervisor.

§§ 250.143-250.144 [Reserved]
§ 250.145 How do I designate an agent or a local agent?
(a) You or your designated operator may designate for the Regional Supervisor's approval, or the Regional
Director may require you to designate an agent empowered to fulfill your obligations under the Act, the
lease, or the regulations in this part.
(b) You or your designated operator may designate for the Regional Supervisor's approval a local agent
empowered to receive notices and submit requests, applications, notices, or supplemental information.

§ 250.146 Who is responsible for fulfilling leasehold obligations?
(a) When you are not the sole lessee, you and your co-lessee(s) are jointly and severally responsible for
fulfilling your obligations under the provisions of 30 CFR parts 250 through 282 and 30 CFR parts 550
through 582 unless otherwise provided in these regulations.
(b) If your designated operator fails to fulfill any of your obligations under 30 CFR parts 250 through 282 and
30 CFR parts 550 through 582, the Regional Supervisor may require you or any or all of your co-lessees to
fulfill those obligations or other operational obligations under the Act, the lease, or the regulations.
(c) Whenever the regulations in 30 CFR parts 250 through 282 and 30 CFR parts 550 through 582 require the
lessee to meet a requirement or perform an action, the lessee, operator (if one has been designated), and
the person actually performing the activity to which the requirement applies are jointly and severally
responsible for complying with the regulation.

NAMING AND IDENTIFYING FACILITIES AND WELLS (DOES NOT INCLUDE MODUS)
§ 250.150 How do I name facilities and wells in the Gulf of Mexico Region?
(a) Assign each facility a letter designation except for those types of facilities identified in paragraph (c)(1) of
this section. For example, A, B, CA, or CB.
(1) After a facility is installed, rename each predrilled well that was assigned only a number and was
suspended temporarily at the mudline or at the surface. Use a letter and number designation. The
letter used must be the same as that of the production facility, and the number used must
correspond to the order in which the well was completed, not necessarily the number assigned when
it was drilled. For example, the first well completed for production on Facility A would be renamed
Well A–1, the second would be Well A–2, and so on; and
(2) When you have more than one facility on a block, each facility installed, and not bridge-connected to
another facility, must be named using a different letter in sequential order. For example, EC 222A, EC
222B, EC 222C.

30 CFR 250.150(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 38 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.150(a)(3)

(3) When you have more than one facility on multiple blocks in a local area being co-developed, each
facility installed and not connected with a walkway to another facility should be named using a
different letter in sequential order with the block number corresponding to the block on which the
platform is located. For example, EC 221A, EC 222B, and EC 223C.
(b) In naming multiple well caissons, you must assign a letter designation.
(c) In naming single well caissons, you must use certain criteria as follows:
(1) For single well caissons not attached to a facility with a walkway, use the well designation. For
example, Well No. 1;
(2) For single well caissons attached to a facility with a walkway, use the same designation as the
facility. For example, rename Well No.10 as A–10; and
(3) For single well caissons with production equipment, use a letter designation for the facility name and
a letter plus number designation for the well. For example, the Well No. 1 caisson would be
designated as Facility A, and the well would be Well A–1.

§ 250.151 How do I name facilities in the Pacific Region?
The operator assigns a name to the facility.

§ 250.152 How do I name facilities in the Alaska Region?
Facilities will be named and identified according to the Regional Director's directions.

§ 250.153 Do I have to rename an existing facility or well?
You do not have to rename facilities installed and wells drilled before January 27, 2000, unless the Regional Director
requires it.

§ 250.154 What identification signs must I display?
(a) You must identify all facilities, artificial islands, and mobile offshore drilling units with a sign maintained in
a legible condition.
(1) You must display an identification sign that can be viewed from the waterline on at least one side of
the platform. The sign must use at least 3-inch letters and figures.
(2) When helicopter landing facilities are present, you must display an additional identification sign that
is visible from the air. The sign must use at least 12-inch letters and figures and must also display
the weight capacity of the helipad unless noted on the top of the helipad. If this sign is visible to both
helicopter and boat traffic, then the sign in paragraph (a)(1) of this section is not required.
(3) Your identification sign must:
(i)

List the name of the lessee or designated operator;

(ii) In the GOM OCS Region, list the area designation or abbreviation and the block number of the
facility location as depicted on OCS Official Protraction Diagrams or leasing maps;
(iii) In the Pacific OCS Region, list the lease number on which the facility is located; and
(iv) List the name of the platform, structure, artificial island, or mobile offshore drilling unit.
30 CFR 250.154(a)(3)(iv) (enhanced display)

page 39 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.154(b)

(b) You must identify singly completed wells and multiple completions as follows:
(1) For each singly completed well, list the lease number and well number on the wellhead or on a sign
affixed to the wellhead;
(2) For wells with multiple completions, downhole splitter wells, and multilateral wells, identify each
completion in addition to the well name and lease number individually on the well flowline at the
wellhead; and
(3) For subsea wells that flow individually into separate pipelines, affix the required sign on the pipeline
or surface flowline dedicated to that subsea well at a convenient location on the receiving platform.
For multiple subsea wells that flow into a common pipeline or pipelines, no sign is required.

§§ 250.160-250.167 [Reserved]
SUSPENSIONS
§ 250.168 May operations or production be suspended?
(a) You may request approval of a suspension, or the Regional Supervisor may direct a suspension (Directed
Suspension), for all or any part of a lease or unit area.
(b) Depending on the nature of the suspended activity, suspensions are labeled either Suspensions of
Operations (SOO) or Suspensions of Production (SOP).

§ 250.169 What effect does suspension have on my lease?
(a) A suspension may extend the term of a lease (see § 250.180(b), (d), and (e)). The extension is equal to the
length of time the suspension is in effect, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) A Directed Suspension does not extend the term of a lease when the Regional Supervisor directs a
suspension because of:
(1) Gross negligence; or
(2) A willful violation of a provision of the lease or governing statutes and regulations.

§ 250.170 How long does a suspension last?
(a) BSEE may issue suspensions for up to 5 years per suspension. The Regional Supervisor will set the length
of the suspension based on the conditions of the individual case involved. BSEE may grant consecutive
suspension periods.
(b) An SOO ends automatically when the suspended operation commences.
(c) An SOP ends automatically when production begins.
(d) A Directed Suspension normally ends as specified in the letter directing the suspension.
(e) BSEE may terminate any suspension when the Regional Supervisor determines the circumstances that
justified the suspension no longer exist or that other lease conditions warrant termination. The Regional
Supervisor will notify you of the reasons for termination and the effective date.

30 CFR 250.170(e) (enhanced display)

page 40 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.171

§ 250.171 How do I request a suspension?
You must submit your request for a suspension to the Regional Supervisor, and BSEE must receive the request
before the end of the lease term (i.e., end of primary term, end of the 1-year period following the last leaseholding
operation, and end of a current suspension). Your request must include:
(a) The justification for the suspension including the length of suspension requested;
(b) A reasonable schedule of work leading to the commencement or restoration of the suspended activity;
(c) A statement that a well has been drilled on the lease and determined to be producible according to §
250.1603 (SOP only), 30 CFR 550.115, or 30 CFR 550.116;
(d) A commitment to production (SOP only); and
(e) The service fee listed in § 250.125 of this subpart.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 82 FR 26744, June 9, 2017]

§ 250.172 When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOO or SOP?
The Regional Supervisor may grant or direct an SOO or SOP under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When necessary to comply with judicial decrees prohibiting any activities or the permitting of those
activities. The effective date of the suspension will be the effective date required by the action of the
court;
(b) When activities pose a threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate harm or damage. This would include a
threat to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, any mineral deposit, or the marine, coastal, or
human environment. BSEE may require you to do a site-specific study (see § 250.177(a)).
(c) When necessary for the installation of safety or environmental protection equipment;
(d) When necessary to carry out the requirements of NEPA or to conduct an environmental analysis; or
(e) When necessary to allow for inordinate delays encountered in obtaining required permits or consents,
including administrative or judicial challenges or appeals.

§ 250.173 When may the Regional Supervisor direct an SOO or SOP?
The Regional Supervisor may direct a suspension when:
(a) You failed to comply with an applicable law, regulation, order, or provision of a lease or permit; or
(b) The suspension is in the interest of National security or defense.

§ 250.174 When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?
The Regional Supervisor may grant or direct an SOP when the suspension is in the National interest, and it is
necessary because the suspension will meet one of the following criteria:
(a) It will allow you to properly develop a lease, including time to construct and install production facilities;
(b) It will allow you time to obtain adequate transportation facilities;
30 CFR 250.174(b) (enhanced display)

page 41 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.174(c)

(c) It will allow you time to enter a sales contract for oil, gas, or sulphur. You must show that you are making
an effort to enter into the contract(s); or
(d) It will avoid continued operations that would result in premature abandonment of a producing well(s).

§ 250.175 When may the Regional Supervisor grant an SOO?
(a) The Regional Supervisor may grant an SOO when necessary to allow you time to begin drilling or other
operations when you are prevented by reasons beyond your control, such as unexpected weather,
unavoidable accidents, or drilling rig delays.
(b) The Regional Supervisor may grant an SOO when all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The lease was issued with a primary lease term of 5 years, or with a primary term of 8 years with a
requirement to drill within 5 years;
(2) Before the end of the third year of the primary term, you or your predecessor in interest must have
acquired and interpreted geophysical information that indicates:
(i)

The presence of a salt sheet;

(ii) That all or a portion of a potential hydrocarbon-bearing formation may lie beneath or adjacent
to the salt sheet; and
(iii) The salt sheet interferes with identification of the potential hydrocarbon-bearing formation.
(3) The interpreted geophysical information required under paragraph (b)(2) of this section must include
full 3–D depth migration beneath the salt sheet and over the entire lease area.
(4) Before requesting the suspension, you have conducted or are conducting additional data processing
or interpretation of the geophysical information with the objective of identifying a potential
hydrocarbon-bearing formation.
(5) You demonstrate that additional time is necessary to:
(i)

Complete current processing or interpretation of existing geophysical data or information;

(ii) Acquire, process, or interpret new geophysical data or information; or
(iii) Drill into the potential hydrocarbon-bearing formation identified as a result of the activities
conducted in paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(4), and (b)(5) of this section.
(c) The Regional Supervisor may grant an SOO to conduct additional geological and geophysical data
analysis that may lead to the drilling of a well below 25,000 feet true vertical depth below the datum at
mean sea level (TVD SS) when all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The lease was issued with a primary lease term of:
(i)

Five years; or

(ii) Eight years with a requirement to drill within 5 years.
(2) Before the end of the fifth year of the primary term, you or your predecessor in interest must have
acquired and interpreted geophysical information that:
(i)

Indicates that all or a portion of a potential hydrocarbon-bearing formation lies below 25,000
feet TVD SS; and

30 CFR 250.175(c)(2)(i) (enhanced display)

page 42 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.175(c)(2)(ii)

(ii) Includes full 3–D depth migration over the entire lease area.
(3) Before requesting the suspension, you have conducted or are conducting additional data processing
or interpretation of the geophysical information with the objective of identifying a potential
hydrocarbon-bearing geologic structure or stratigraphic trap lying below 25,000 feet TVD SS.
(4) You demonstrate that additional time is necessary to:
(i)

Complete current processing or interpretation of existing geophysical data or information;

(ii) Acquire, process, or interpret new geophysical or geological data or information that would
affect the decision to drill the same geologic structure or stratigraphic trap, as determined by
the Regional Supervisor, identified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section; or
(iii) Drill a well below 25,000 feet TVD SS into the geologic structure or stratigraphic trap identified
as a result of the activities conducted in paragraphs (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4)(i) and (ii) of this
section.

§ 250.176 Does a suspension affect my royalty payment?
A directed suspension may affect the payment of rental or royalties for the lease as provided in 30 CFR 1218.154.

§ 250.177 What additional requirements may the Regional Supervisor order for a suspension?
If BSEE grants or directs a suspension under paragraph § 250.172(b), the Regional Supervisor may require you to:
(a) Conduct a site-specific study.
(1) The Regional Supervisor must approve or prescribe the scope for any site-specific study that you
perform.
(2) The study must evaluate the cause of the hazard, the potential damage, and the available mitigation
measures.
(3) You must pay for the study unless you request, and the Regional Supervisor agrees to arrange,
payment by another party.
(4) You must furnish copies and results of the study to the Regional Supervisor.
(5) BSEE will make the results available to other interested parties and to the public.
(6) The Regional Supervisor will use the results of the study and any other information that becomes
available:
(i)

To decide if the suspension can be lifted; and

(ii) To determine any actions that you must take to mitigate or avoid any damage to the
environment, life, or property.
(b) Submit a revised Exploration Plan (including any required mitigating measures);
(c) Submit a revised Development and Production Plan (including any required mitigating measures); or
(d) Submit a revised Development Operations Coordination Document according to 30 CFR part 550, subpart
B.

30 CFR 250.177(d) (enhanced display)

page 43 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.180

PRIMARY LEASE REQUIREMENTS, LEASE TERM EXTENSIONS, AND LEASE CANCELLATIONS
§ 250.180 What am I required to do to keep my lease term in effect?
(a) If your lease is in its primary term:
(1) You must submit a report to the District Manager according to paragraphs (h) and (i) of this section
whenever production begins initially, whenever production ceases during the last year of the primary
term, and whenever production resumes during the last year of the primary term.
(2) Your lease expires at the end of its primary term unless you are conducting operations on your lease
(see 30 CFR part 556). For purposes of this section, the term operations means, drilling, wellreworking, or production in paying quantities. The objective of the drilling or well-reworking must be
to establish production in paying quantities on the lease.
(b) If you stop conducting operations during the last year of your primary lease term, your lease will expire
unless you either resume operations or receive an SOO or an SOP from the Regional Supervisor under §
250.172, § 250.173, § 250.174, or § 250.175 before the end of the year after you stop operations.
(c) If you extend your lease term under paragraph (b) of this section, you must pay rental or minimum royalty,
as appropriate, for each year or part of the year during which your lease continues in force beyond the end
of the primary lease term.
(d) If you stop conducting operations on a lease that has continued beyond its primary term, your lease will
expire unless you resume operations or receive an SOO or an SOP from the Regional Supervisor under §
250.172, § 250.173, § 250.174, or § 250.175 before the end of the year after you stop operations.
(e) You may ask the Regional Supervisor to allow you more than a year to resume operations on a lease
continued beyond its primary term when operating conditions warrant. The request must be in writing and
explain the operating conditions that warrant a longer period. In allowing additional time, the Regional
Supervisor must determine that the longer period is in the National interest, and it conserves resources,
prevents waste, or protects correlative rights.
(f) When you begin conducting operations on a lease that has continued beyond its primary term, you must
immediately notify the District Manager either orally or by fax or e-mail and follow up with a written report
according to paragraph (g) of this section.
(g) If your lease is continued beyond its primary term, you must submit a report to the District Manager under
paragraphs (h) and (i) of this section whenever production begins initially, whenever production ceases,
whenever production resumes before the end of the 1-year period after having ceased, or whenever
drilling or well-reworking operations begin before the end of the 1-year period.
(h) The reports required by paragraphs (a) and (g) of this section must contain:
(1) Name of lessee or operator;
(2) The well number, lease number, area, and block;
(3) As appropriate, the unit agreement name and number; and
(4) A description of the operation and pertinent dates.
(i)

You must submit the reports required by paragraphs (a) and (g) of this section within the following
timeframes:

30 CFR 250.180(i) (enhanced display)

page 44 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.180(i)(1)

(1) Initialization of production—within 5 days of initial production.
(2) Cessation of production—within 15 days after the first full month of zero production.
(3) Resumption of production—within 5 days of resuming production after ceasing production under
paragraph (i)(2) of this section.
(4) Drilling or well reworking operations—within 5 days of beginning and completing the leaseholding
operations.
(j)

For leases continued beyond the primary term, you must immediately report to the District Manager if
operations do not begin before the end of the 1-year period.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 82 FR 26744, June 9, 2017]

§§ 250.181-250.185 [Reserved]
INFORMATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.186 What reporting information and report forms must I submit?
(a) You must submit information and reports as BSEE requires.
(1) You may obtain copies of forms from, and submit completed forms to, the District Manager or
Regional Supervisor.
(2) Instead of paper copies of forms available from the District Manager or Regional Supervisor, you may
use your own computer-generated forms that are equal in size to BSEE's forms. You must arrange
the data on your form identical to the BSEE form. If you generate your own form and it omits terms
and conditions contained on the official BSEE form, we will consider it to contain the omitted terms
and conditions.
(3) You may submit digital data when the Region/District is equipped to accept it.
(b) When BSEE specifies, you must include, for public information, an additional copy of such reports.
(1) You must mark it Public Information
(2) You must include all required information, except information exempt from public disclosure under §
250.197 or otherwise exempt from public disclosure under law or regulation.

§ 250.187 What are BSEE's incident reporting requirements?
(a) You must report all incidents listed in § 250.188(a) and (b) to the District Manager. The specific reporting
requirements for these incidents are contained in §§ 250.189 and 250.190.
(b) These reporting requirements apply to incidents that occur on the area covered by your lease, right-of-use
and easement, pipeline right-of-way, or other permit issued by BOEM or BSEE, and that are related to
operations resulting from the exercise of your rights under your lease, right-of-use and easement, pipeline
right-of-way, or permit.
(c) Nothing in this subpart relieves you from making notifications and reports of incidents that may be
required by other regulatory agencies.
(d) You must report all spills of oil or other liquid pollutants in accordance with 30 CFR 254.46.
30 CFR 250.187(d) (enhanced display)

page 45 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.188

§ 250.188 What incidents must I report to BSEE and when must I report them?
(a) You must report the following incidents to the District Manager immediately via oral communication, and
provide a written follow-up report (hard copy or electronically transmitted) within 15 calendar days after
the incident:
(1) All fatalities.
(2) All injuries that require the evacuation of the injured person(s) from the facility to shore or to another
offshore facility.
(3) All losses of well control. “Loss of well control” means:
(i)

Uncontrolled flow of formation or other fluids. The flow may be to an exposed formation (an
underground blowout) or at the surface (a surface blowout);

(ii) Flow through a diverter; or
(iii) Uncontrolled flow resulting from a failure of surface equipment or procedures.
(4) All fires and explosions.
(5) All reportable releases of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas, as defined in § 250.490(l).
(6) All collisions that result in property or equipment damage greater than $25,000. “Collision” means
the act of a moving vessel (including an aircraft) striking another vessel, or striking a stationary
vessel or object (e.g., a boat striking a drilling rig or platform). “Property or equipment damage”
means the cost of labor and material to restore all affected items to their condition before the
damage, including, but not limited to, the OCS facility, a vessel, helicopter, or equipment. It does not
include the cost of salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing, dry docking, or demurrage.
(7) All incidents involving structural damage to an OCS facility. “Structural damage” means damage
severe enough so that operations on the facility cannot continue until repairs are made.
(8) All incidents involving crane or personnel/material handling operations.
(9) All incidents that damage or disable safety systems or equipment (including firefighting systems).
(b) You must provide a written report of the following incidents to the District Manager within 15 calendar
days after the incident:
(1) Any injuries that result in one or more days away from work or one or more days on restricted work
or job transfer. One or more days means the injured person was not able to return to work or to all of
their normal duties the day after the injury occurred;
(2) All gas releases that initiate equipment or process shutdown;
(3) All incidents that require operations personnel on the facility to muster for evacuation for reasons
not related to weather or drills;
(4) All other incidents, not listed in paragraph (a) of this section, resulting in property or equipment
damage greater than $25,000.
(c) On the Arctic OCS, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, you must
provide to the BSEE inspector on location, if one is present, or to the Regional Supervisor, both of the
following:
30 CFR 250.188(c) (enhanced display)

page 46 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.188(c)(1)

(1) An immediate oral report if any of the following occur:
(i)

Any sea ice movement or condition that has the potential to affect your operation or trigger ice
management activities;

(ii) The start and termination of ice management activities; or
(iii) Any “kicks” or operational issues that are unexpected and could result in the loss of well
control.
(2) Within 24 hours after completing ice management activities, a written report of such activities that
conforms to the content requirements in § 250.190.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 46560, July 15, 2016]

§ 250.189 Reporting requirements for incidents requiring immediate notification.
For an incident requiring immediate notification under § 250.188(a), you must notify the District Manager via oral
communication immediately after aiding the injured and stabilizing the situation. Your oral communication must
provide the following information:
(a) Date and time of occurrence;
(b) Operator, and operator representative's, name and telephone number;
(c) Contractor, and contractor representative's name and telephone number (if a contractor is involved in the
incident or injury/fatality);
(d) Lease number, OCS area, and block;
(e) Platform/facility name and number, or pipeline segment number;
(f) Type of incident or injury/fatality;
(g) Operation or activity at time of incident (i.e., drilling, production, workover, completion, pipeline, crane,
etc.); and
(h) Description of the incident, damage, or injury/fatality.

§ 250.190 Reporting requirements for incidents requiring written notification.
(a) For any incident covered under § 250.188, you must submit a written report within 15 calendar days after
the incident to the District Manager. The report must contain the following information:
(1) Date and time of occurrence;
(2) Operator, and operator representative's name and telephone number;
(3) Contractor, and contractor representative's name and telephone number (if a contractor is involved in
the incident or injury);
(4) Lease number, OCS area, and block;
(5) Platform/facility name and number, or pipeline segment number;
(6) Type of incident or injury;
30 CFR 250.190(a)(6) (enhanced display)

page 47 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.190(a)(7)

(7) Operation or activity at time of incident (i.e., drilling, production, workover, completion, pipeline, crane
etc.);
(8) Description of incident, damage, or injury (including days away from work, restricted work or job
transfer), and any corrective action taken; and
(9) Property or equipment damage estimate (in U.S. dollars).
(b) You may submit a report or form prepared for another agency in lieu of the written report required by
paragraph (a) of this section, provided the report or form contains all required information.
(c) The District Manager may require you to submit additional information about an incident on a case-bycase basis.

§ 250.191 How does BSEE conduct incident investigations?
Any investigation that BSEE conducts under the authority of sections 22(d)(1) and (2) of the Act (43 U.S.C.
1348(d)(1) and (2)) is a fact-finding proceeding with no adverse parties. The purpose of the investigation is to
prepare a public report that determines the cause or causes of the incident. The investigation may involve panel
meetings conducted by a chairperson appointed by BSEE. The following requirements apply to any panel meetings
involving persons giving testimony:
(a) A person giving testimony may have legal or other representative(s) present to provide advice or counsel
while the person is giving testimony. The chairperson may require a verbatim transcript to be made of all
oral testimony. The chairperson also may accept a sworn written statement in lieu of oral testimony.
(b) Only panel members, and any experts the panel deems necessary, may address questions to any person
giving testimony.
(c) The chairperson may issue subpoenas to persons to appear and provide testimony or documents at a
panel meeting. A subpoena may not require a person to attend a panel meeting held at a location more
than 100 miles from where a subpoena is served.
(d) Any person giving testimony may request compensation for mileage, and fees for services, within 90 days
after the panel meeting. The compensated expenses must be similar to mileage and fees the U.S. District
Courts allow.

§ 250.192 What reports and statistics must I submit relating to a hurricane, earthquake, or
other natural occurrence?
(a) You must submit evacuation statistics to the Regional Supervisor for a natural occurrence, such as a
hurricane, a tropical storm, or an earthquake. Statistics include facilities and rigs evacuated and the
amount of production shut-in for gas and oil. You must:
(1) Submit the statistics by fax or e-mail (for activities in the BSEE GOM OCS Region, use Form
BSEE–0132) as soon as possible when evacuation occurs. In lieu of submitting your statistics by fax
or e-mail, you may submit them electronically in accordance with 30 CFR 250.186(a)(3);
(2) Submit the statistics on a daily basis by 11 a.m., as conditions allow, during the period of shut-in and
evacuation;
(3) Inform BSEE when you resume production; and
(4) Submit the statistics either by BSEE district, or the total figures for your operations in a BSEE region.
30 CFR 250.192(a)(4) (enhanced display)

page 48 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.192(b)

(b) If your facility, production equipment, or pipeline is damaged by a natural occurrence, you must:
(1) Submit an initial damage report to the Regional Supervisor within 48 hours after you complete your
initial evaluation of the damage. You must use Form BSEE–0143, Facility/Equipment Damage
Report, to make this and all subsequent reports. In lieu of submitting Form BSEE–0143 by fax or email, you may submit the damage report electronically in accordance with 30 CFR 250.186(a)(3). In
the report, you must:
(i)

Name the items damaged (e.g., platform or other structure, production equipment, pipeline);

(ii) Describe the damage and assess the extent of the damage (major, medium, minor); and
(iii) Estimate the time it will take to replace or repair each damaged structure and piece of
equipment and return it to service. The initial estimate need not be provided on the form until
availability of hardware and repair capability has been established (not to exceed 30 days from
your initial report).
(2) Submit subsequent reports monthly and immediately whenever information submitted in previous
reports changes until the damaged structure or equipment is returned to service. In the final report,
you must provide the date the item was returned to service.

§ 250.193 Reports and investigations of possible violations.
(a) Any person may report to BSEE any hazardous or unsafe working condition on any facility engaged in OCS
activities, and any possible violation or failure to comply with:
(1) Any provision of the Act,
(2) Any provision of a lease, approved plan, or permit issued under the Act,
(3) Any provision of any regulation or order issued under the Act, or
(4) Any other Federal law relating to safety of offshore oil and gas operations.
(b) To make a report under this section, a person is not required to know whether any legal requirement listed
in paragraph (a) of this section has been violated.
(c) When BSEE receives a report of a possible violation, or when a BSEE employee detects a possible
violation, BSEE will investigate according to BSEE procedures and notify any other Federal agency(ies) for
further investigation, as appropriate.
(d) BSEE investigations of possible violations may include:
(1) Conducting interviews of personnel;
(2) Requiring the prompt production of documents, data, and other evidence;
(3) Requiring the preservation of all relevant evidence and access for BSEE investigators to such
evidence; and
(4) Taking other actions and imposing other requirements as necessary to investigate possible
violations and assure an orderly investigation.
(e)
(1) Reports should contain sufficient credible information to establish a reasonable basis for BSEE to
investigate whether a violation or other hazardous or unsafe working condition exists.
30 CFR 250.193(e)(1) (enhanced display)

page 49 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.193(e)(2)

(2) To report hazardous or unsafe working conditions or a possible violation:
(i)

Contact BSEE by:
(A) Phone at 1–877–440–0173 (BSEE Toll-free Safety Hotline),
(B) Internet at www.bsee.gov, or
(C) Mail to: U.S. DOI/BSEE, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 5438, Washington, DC 20240
Attention: IRU Hotline Operations.

(ii) Include the following items in the report:
(A) Name, address, and telephone number should be provided if you do not want to remain
anonymous;
(B) The specific concern, provision or Federal law, if known, referenced in (a) that a person
violated or with which a person failed to comply; and
(C) Any other facts, data, and applicable information.
(f) When a possible violation is reported, BSEE will protect a person's identity to the extent authorized by law.
[78 FR 20439, Apr. 5, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.194 How must I protect archaeological resources?
(a)–(b) [Reserved]
(c) If you discover any archaeological resource while conducting operations in the lease or right-of-way area,
you must immediately halt operations within the area of the discovery and report the discovery to the
BSEE Regional Director. If investigations determine that the resource is significant, the Regional Director
will tell you how to protect it.

§ 250.195 What notification does BSEE require on the production status of wells?
You must notify the appropriate BSEE District Manager when you successfully complete or recomplete a well for
production. You must:
(a) Notify the District Manager within 5 working days of placing the well in a production status. You must
confirm oral notification by telefax or e-mail within those 5 working days.
(b) Provide the following information in your notification:
(1) Lessee or operator name;
(2) Well number, lease number, and OCS area and block designations;
(3) Date you placed the well on production (indicate whether or not this is first production on the lease);
(4) Type of production; and
(5) Measured depth of the production interval.

30 CFR 250.195(b)(5) (enhanced display)

page 50 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.196

§ 250.196 Reimbursements for reproduction and processing costs.
(a) BSEE will reimburse you for costs of reproducing data and information that the Regional Director requests
if:
(1) You deliver geophysical and geological (G&G) data and information to BSEE for the Regional Director
to inspect or select and retain;
(2) BSEE receives your request for reimbursement and the Regional Director determines that the
requested reimbursement is proper; and
(3) The cost is at your lowest rate or at the lowest commercial rate established in the area, whichever is
less.
(b) BSEE will reimburse you for the costs of processing geophysical information (that does not include cost
of data acquisition):
(1) If, at the request of the Regional Director, you processed the geophysical data or information in a
form or manner other than that used in the normal conduct of business; or
(2) If you collected the information under a permit that BSEE issued to you before October 1, 1985, and
the Regional Director requests and retains the information.
(c) When you request reimbursement, you must identify reproduction and processing costs separately from
acquisition costs.
(d) BSEE will not reimburse you for data acquisition costs or for the costs of analyzing or processing
geological information or interpreting geological or geophysical information.

§ 250.197 Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection.
BSEE will protect data and information that you submit under this part, and 30 CFR part 203, as described in this
section. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section describe what data and information will be made available to the
public without the consent of the lessee, under what circumstances, and in what time period. Paragraph (c) of this
section describes what data and information will be made available for limited inspection without the consent of the
lessee, and under what circumstances.
(a) All data and information you submit on BSEE forms will be made available to the public upon submission,
except as specified in the following table:
On form . . .
(1)
BSEE–0123,
Application
for Permit to
Drill,

Data and information not immediately
available are . . .
Items 15, 16, 22 through 25,

(2)
Items 3, 7, 8, 15 and 17,
BSEE–0123S,
Supplemental
APD
Information
30 CFR 250.197(a) (enhanced display)

Excepted data will be made available . . .
When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier.

When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier.

page 51 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Data and information not immediately
available are . . .

On form . . .

30 CFR 250.197(b)

Excepted data will be made available . . .

Sheet,
(3)
BSEE–0124,
Application
for Permit to
Modify,

Item 17,

When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier.

(4)
BSEE–0125,
End of
Operations
Report,

Items 12, 13, 17, 21, 22, 26 through 38,

When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier. However, items 33 through
38 will not be released when the well goes on
production unless the period of time in the table
in paragraph (b) has expired.

(5)
Item 101,
BSEE–0126,
Well Potential
Test Report,

2 years after you submit it.

(6)
[Reserved]
(7)
BSEE–0133
Well Activity
Report,

Item 10 Fields [WELLBORE START DATE,
TD DATE, OP STATUS, END DATE, MD,
TVD, AND MW PPG]. Item 11 Fields
[WELLBORE START DATE, TD DATE,
PLUGBACK DATE, FINAL MD, AND
FINAL TVD] and Items 12 through 15,

When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier.

(8)
BSEE–0133S
Open Hole
Data Report,

Boxes 7 and 8,

When the well goes on production or according
to the table in paragraph (b) of this section,
whichever is earlier.

(9)
[Reserved]
(10)
[Reserved]

(b) BSEE will release lease and permit data and information that you submit and BSEE retains, but that are not
normally submitted on BSEE forms, according to the following table:
If . . .
(1) The Director determines
that data and information
are needed for specific
scientific or research
purposes for the
Government,
30 CFR 250.197(b) (enhanced display)

BSEE will
release . . .
Geophysical
data,
Geological
data
Interpreted
G&G
information,

At this time . . .
At any time,

Special provisions . . .
BSEE will release data and
information only if release would
further the National interest without
unduly damaging the competitive
position of the lessee.

page 52 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If . . .

BSEE will
release . . .

At this time . . .

30 CFR 250.197(b)

Special provisions . . .

Processed
G&G
information,
Analyzed
geological
information,
(2) Data or information is
collected with highresolution systems (e.g.,
bathymetry, side-scan sonar,
subbottom profiler, and
magnetometer) to comply
with safety or environmental
protection requirements,

60 days after BSEE
receives the data or
information, if the
Regional Supervisor
deems it necessary,

BSEE will release the data and
information earlier than 60 days if
the Regional Supervisor determines
it is needed by affected States to
make decisions under 30 CFR 550,
subpart B. The Regional Supervisor
will reconsider earlier release if you
satisfy him/her that it would unduly
damage your competitive position.

(3) Your lease is no longer in Geophysical
effect,
data,
Geological
data,
Processed
G&G
information
Interpreted
G&G
information,
Analyzed
geological
information,

When your lease
terminates,

This release time applies only if the
provisions in this table governing
high-resolution systems and the
provisions in 30 CFR 552.7 do not
apply. The release time applies to
the geophysical data and
information only if acquired
postlease for a lessee's exclusive
use.

(4) Your lease is still in
effect,

Geophysical
data,
Processed
geophysical
information,
Interpreted
G&G
information,

10 years after you
submit the data and
information,

This release time applies only if the
provisions in this table governing
high-resolution systems and the
provisions in 30 CFR 552.7 do not
apply. This release time applies to
the geophysical data and
information only if acquired
postlease for a lessee's exclusive
use.

(5) Your lease is still in
effect and within the
primary term specified in
the lease,

Geological
data,
Analyzed
geological
information,

2 years after the
required submittal
date or 60 days after
a lease sale if any
portion of an offered

These release times apply only if
the provisions in this table
governing high-resolution systems
and the provisions in 30 CFR 552.7
do not apply. If the primary term

30 CFR 250.197(b) (enhanced display)

Geophysical
data,
Geological
data,
Interpreted
G&G
information,
Processed
geological
information,
Analyzed
geological
information,

page 53 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

BSEE will
release . . .

If . . .

30 CFR 250.197(c)

At this time . . .

Special provisions . . .

lease is within 50
miles of a well,
whichever is later,

specified in the lease is extended
under the heading of “Suspensions”
in this subpart, the extension
applies to this provision.

(6) Your lease is in effect
and beyond the primary
term specified in the lease,

Geological
data,
Analyzed
geological
information,

2 years after the
required submittal
date,

None.

(7) Data or information is
submitted on well
operations,

Descriptions
of downhole
locations,
operations,
and
equipment,

When the well goes
on production or
when geological data
is released according
to §§ 250.197(b)(5)
and (b)(6), whichever
occurs earlier,

Directional survey data may be
released earlier to the owner of an
adjacent lease according to Subpart
D of this part.

(8) Data and information are Any data or
obtained from beneath
information
unleased land as a result of obtained,
a well deviation that has not
been approved by the
District Manager or Regional
Supervisor,

At any time,

None.

(9) Except for highresolution data and
information released under
paragraph (b)(2) of this
section data and
information acquired by a
permit under 30 CFR part
551 are submitted by a
lessee under 30 CFR part
203, 30 CFR part 250, or 30
CFR part 550,

Geological data and
information: 10 years
after BOEM issues
the permit;
Geophysical data: 50
years after BOEM
issues the permit;
Geophysical
information: 25 years
after BOEM issues
the permit,

None.

G&G data,
analyzed
geological
information,
processed
and
interpreted
G&G
information,

(c) BSEE may allow limited inspection, but only by persons with a direct interest in related BSEE decisions and
issues in specific geographic areas, and who agree in writing to its confidentiality, of G&G data and
information submitted under this part or 30 CFR part 203 that BSEE uses to:
(1) Make unitization determinations on two or more leases;
(2) Make competitive reservoir determinations;
(3) Ensure proper plans of development for competitive reservoirs;
(4) Promote operational safety;
(5) Protect the environment;
30 CFR 250.197(c)(5) (enhanced display)

page 54 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.197(c)(6)

(6) [Reserved]; or
(7) Determine eligibility for royalty relief.

REFERENCES
§ 250.198 Documents incorporated by reference.
Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. All incorporated material is available for inspection at the Houston BSEE
office at 1919 Smith Street Suite 14042, Houston, Texas 77002 and is available from the sources indicated in this
section. It is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). To make an
appointment to inspect incorporated material at the Houston BSEE office, call 1–844–259–4779. For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/
ibr-locations.html.
(a) American Concrete Institute (ACI), ACI Standards, 38800 Country Club Drive, Farmington Hills, MI
48331–3439: http://www.concrete.org; phone: 248–848–3700:
(1) ACI Standard 318–95, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, 1995; incorporated by
reference at § 250.901.
(2) ACI 318R–95, Commentary on Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, 1995;
incorporated by reference at § 250.901.
(3) ACI 357R–84, Guide for the Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore Concrete Structures, 1984;
reapproved 1997, incorporated by reference at § 250.901.
(b) American Gas Association (AGA Reports), 400 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20001,
http://www.aga.org; phone: 202–824–7000;
(1) AGA Report No. 7—Measurement of Natural Gas by Turbine Meters; Revised February 2006;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1203(b);
(2) AGA Report No. 9—Measurement of Gas by Multipath Ultrasonic Meters; Second Edition, April 2007;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1203(b);
(3) AGA Report No. 10—Speed of Sound in Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbon Gases; Copyright
2003; incorporated by reference at § 250.1203(b).
(c) American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. (AISC), AISC Standards, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 700,
Chicago, IL 60601–1802; http://www.aisc.org; phone: 312–670–2400:
(1) ANSI/AISC 360–05, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, incorporated by reference at §
250.901.
(2) [Reserved]
(d) American National Standards Institute (ANSI), http.www./webstore.ansi.org/; phone: 212–642–4900:
(1) ANSI/ASME B 16.5–2003, Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings, incorporated by reference at §
250.1002;

30 CFR 250.198(d)(1) (enhanced display)

page 55 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(d)(2)

(2) ANSI/ASME B 31.8–2003, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, incorporated by
reference at § 250.1002;
(3) ANSI Z88.2–1992, American National Standard for Respiratory Protection, incorporated by reference
at § 250.490.
(e) American Petroleum Institute (API), API Recommended Practices (RP), Specs, Standards, Manual of
Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS) chapters, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005–4070;
http://www.api.org; phone: 202–682–8000:
(1) API 510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: In-Service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration, Tenth
Edition, May 2014; Addendum 1, May 2017; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.851(a) and
250.1629(b);
(2) API 570, Piping Inspection Code: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping
Systems, Fourth Edition, February 2016; Addendum 1, May 2017; incorporated by reference at §
250.841(b).
(3) API Bulletin 2INT–DG, Interim Guidance for Design of Offshore Structures for Hurricane Conditions,
May 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(4) API Bulletin 2INT–EX, Interim Guidance for Assessment of Existing Offshore Structures for Hurricane
Conditions, May 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(5) API Bulletin 2INT–MET, Interim Guidance on Hurricane Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, May 2007;
incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(6) API Bulletin 92L, Drilling Ahead Safely with Lost Circulation in the Gulf of Mexico, First Edition, August
2015; incorporated by reference at § 250.427(b);
(7) API MPMS Chapter 1—Vocabulary, Second Edition, July 1994; incorporated by reference at §
250.1201;
(8) API MPMS Chapter 2—Tank Calibration, Section 2A—Measurement and Calibration of Upright
Cylindrical Tanks by the Manual Tank Strapping Method, First Edition, February 1995; reaffirmed
August 2017; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(9) API MPMS Chapter 2—Tank Calibration, Section 2B—Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks Using
the Optical Reference Line Method, First Edition, March 1989; reaffirmed April 2019 (including
Addendum 1, October 2019); incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(10) API MPMS Chapter 3—Tank Gauging, Section 1A—Standard Practice for the Manual Gauging of
Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Second Edition, August 2005; incorporated by reference at §
250.1202;
(11) API MPMS Chapter 3—Tank Gauging, Section 1B—Standard Practice for Level Measurement of
Liquid Hydrocarbons in Stationary Tanks by Automatic Tank Gauging, Second Edition, June 2001;
reaffirmed February 2016; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(12) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 1—Introduction, Third Edition, February 2005;
reaffirmed June 2014; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(13) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 2—Displacement Provers, Third Edition, September
2003; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
30 CFR 250.198(e)(13) (enhanced display)

page 56 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(14)

(14) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 4—Tank Provers, Second Edition, May 1998,
reaffirmed May 2015; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(15) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 5—Master-Meter Provers, Second Edition, May 2000,
reaffirmed, August 2005; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(16) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 6—Pulse Interpolation, Second Edition, May 1999;
Errata April 2007; reaffirmed October 2013; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(17) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 7—Field Standard Test Measures, Second Edition,
December 1998; reaffirmed 2003; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(18) API MPMS Chapter 4—Proving Systems, Section 8—Operation of Proving Systems; First Edition,
reaffirmed March 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202(a), (f), and (g);
(19) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 1—General Considerations for Measurement by Meters,
Fourth Edition, September 2005; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(20) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 2—Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Displacement
Meters, Third Edition, September 2005; reaffirmed July 2015; incorporated by reference at §
250.1202;
(21) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 3—Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Turbine Meters,
Fifth Edition, September 2005; reaffirmed August 1, 2014; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(22) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 4—Accessory Equipment for Liquid Meters, Fourth Edition,
September 2005; reaffirmed August 2015; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(23) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 5—Fidelity and Security of Flow Measurement Pulsed-Data
Transmission Systems, Second Edition, August 2005; reaffirmed August 2015; incorporated by
reference at § 250.1202;
(24) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 6—Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters;
First Edition, October 2002; reaffirmed November 2013; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(25) API MPMS Chapter 5—Metering, Section 8—Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Ultrasonic Flow
Meters Using Transit Time Technology; First Edition, February 2005; incorporated by reference at §
250.1202(a);
(26) API MPMS Chapter 6—Metering Assemblies, Section 1—Lease Automatic Custody Transfer (LACT)
Systems, Second Edition, May 1991; reaffirmed May 2012; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(27) API MPMS Chapter 6—Metering Assemblies, Section 6—Pipeline Metering Systems, Second Edition,
May 1991; reaffirmed December 2017; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(28) API MPMS Chapter 6—Metering Assemblies, Section 7—Metering Viscous Hydrocarbons, Second
Edition, May 1991; reaffirmed March 2018; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(29) API MPMS Chapter 7—Temperature Determination, First Edition, June 2001; reaffirmed, March 2007;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(30) API MPMS Chapter 8—Sampling, Section 1—Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum
and Petroleum Products, Third Edition, October 1995; reaffirmed, March 2006; incorporated by
reference at § 250.1202;

30 CFR 250.198(e)(30) (enhanced display)

page 57 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(31)

(31) API MPMS Chapter 8—Sampling, Section 2—Standard Practice for Automatic Sampling of Liquid
Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Second Edition, October 1995; reaffirmed, June 2005;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(32) API MPMS Chapter 9—Density Determination, Section 1—Standard Test Method for Density, Relative
Density (Specific Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by
Hydrometer Method, Second Edition, December 2002; reaffirmed October 2005; incorporated by
reference at § 250.1202(a) and (l);
(33) API MPMS Chapter 9—Density Determination, Section 2—Standard Test Method for Density or
Relative Density of Light Hydrocarbons by Pressure Hydrometer, Second Edition, March 2003;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(34) API MPMS Chapter 10—Sediment and Water, Section 1—Standard Test Method for Sediment in
Crude Oils and Fuel Oils by the Extraction Method, Third Edition, November 2007; reaffirmed October
2012; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(35) API MPMS Chapter 10—Sediment and Water, Section 2—Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oil
by Distillation, Second Edition, November 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(36) API MPMS Chapter 10—Sediment and Water, Section 3—Standard Test Method for Water and
Sediment in Crude Oil by the Centrifuge Method (Laboratory Procedure), Third Edition, May 2008;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(37) API MPMS Chapter 10—Sediment and Water, Section 4—Determination of Water and/or Sediment in
Crude Oil by the Centrifuge Method (Field Procedure), Third Edition, December 1999; incorporated by
reference at § 250.1202;
(38) API MPMS Chapter 10—Sediment and Water, Section 9—Standard Test Method for Water in Crude
Oils by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration, Second Edition, December 2002; reaffirmed 2005;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(39) API MPMS Chapter 11.1—Volume Correction Factors, Volume 1, Table 5A—Generalized Crude Oils
and JP–4 Correction of Observed API Gravity to API Gravity at 60 °F, and Table 6A—Generalized
Crude Oils and JP–4 Correction of Volume to 60 °F Against API Gravity at 60 °F, API Standard 2540,
First Edition, August 1980; reaffirmed March 1997; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(40) API MPMS Chapter 11.2.2—Compressibility Factors for Hydrocarbons: 0.350–0.637 Relative Density
(60 °F/60 °F) and −50 °F to 140 °F Metering Temperature, Second Edition, October 1986; reaffirmed:
December 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(41) API MPMS Chapter 11—Physical Properties Data, Section 1—Temperature and Pressure Volume
Correction Factors for Generalized Crude Oils, Refined Products, and Lubricating Oils; May 2004
(incorporating Addendum 1, September 2007); incorporated by reference at § 250.1202(a), (g), and
(l);
(42) API MPMS Chapter 11—Physical Properties Data, Addendum to Section 2, Part 2—Compressibility
Factors for Hydrocarbons, Correlation of Vapor Pressure for Commercial Natural Gas Liquids, First
Edition, December 1994; reaffirmed, December 2002; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;

30 CFR 250.198(e)(42) (enhanced display)

page 58 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(43)

(43) API MPMS, Chapter 12—Calculation of Petroleum Quantities, Section 2—Calculation of Petroleum
Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, Part
1—Introduction, Second Edition, May 1995; reaffirmed March 2014; incorporated by reference at §
250.1202;
(44) API MPMS, Chapter 12—Calculation of Petroleum Quantities, Section 2—Calculation of Petroleum
Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, Part
2—Measurement Tickets, Third Edition, June 2003; reaffirmed February 2016; incorporated by
reference at § 250.1202;
(45) API MPMS Chapter 12—Calculation of Petroleum Quantities, Section 2—Calculation of Petroleum
Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, Part
3—Proving Reports; First Edition, October 1998, reaffirmed March 2014; incorporated by reference at
§ 250.1202(a) and (g);
(46) API MPMS Chapter 12—Calculation of Petroleum Quantities, Section 2—Calculation of Petroleum
Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, Part
4—Calculation of Base Prover Volumes by the Waterdraw Method, First Edition, December 1997;
reaffirmed September 2014; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202(a), (f), and (g);
(47) API MPMS Chapter 14—Natural Gas Fluids Measurement, Section 3—Concentric, Square-Edged
Orifice Meters, Part 1—General Equations and Uncertainty Guidelines, Third Edition, September 1990;
reaffirmed, January 2003; incorporated by reference at § 250.1203;
(48) API MPMS Chapter 14—Natural Gas Fluids Measurement, Section 3—Concentric, Square-Edged
Orifice Meters, Part 2—Specification and Installation Requirements, Fourth Edition, April 2000;
reaffirmed March 2006; incorporated by reference at § 250.1203;
(49) API MPMS Chapter 14—Natural Gas Fluids Measurement, Section 3—Concentric, Square-Edged
Orifice Meters; Part 3—Natural Gas Applications; Third Edition, August 1992; Errata March 1994,
reaffirmed, February 2009; incorporated by reference at § 250.1203;
(50) API MPMS, Chapter 14.5/GPA Standard 2172–09; Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Relative
Density, Compressibility and Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content for Natural Gas Mixtures for
Custody Transfer; Third Edition, January 2009; reaffirmed February 2014; incorporated by reference
at § 250.1203;
(51) API MPMS Chapter 14—Natural Gas Fluids Measurement, Section 6—Continuous Density
Measurement, Second Edition, April 1991; reaffirmed, February 2006; incorporated by reference at §
250.1203;
(52) API MPMS Chapter 14—Natural Gas Fluids Measurement, Section 8—Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Measurement, Second Edition, July 1997; reaffirmed, March 2006; incorporated by reference at §
250.1203;
(53) API MPMS Chapter 20—Section 1—Allocation Measurement, First Edition, September 1993;
reaffirmed October 2006; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(54) API MPMS Chapter 21—Flow Measurement Using Electronic Metering Systems, Section 1—Electronic
Gas Measurement, First Edition, August 1993; reaffirmed, July 2005; incorporated by reference at §
250.1203;

30 CFR 250.198(e)(54) (enhanced display)

page 59 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(55)

(55) API MPMS Chapter 21—Flow Measurement Using Electronic Metering Systems, Section 2—Electronic
Liquid Volume Measurement Using Positive Displacement and Turbine Meters; First Edition, June
1998; reaffirmed October 2016; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202(a);
(56) API MPMS Chapter 21—Flow Measurement Using Electronic Metering Systems, Addendum to
Section 2—Flow Measurement Using Electronic Metering Systems, Inferred Mass; First Edition,
reaffirmed February 2006; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202(a);
(57) API RP 2A–WSD, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore
Platforms—Working Stress Design, Twenty-first Edition, December 2000; Errata and Supplement 1,
December 2002; Errata and Supplement 2, September 2005; Errata and Supplement 3, October 2007;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.901, 250.908, 250.919, and 250.920;
(58) API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Sixth Edition, May 2007; incorporated by
reference at § 250.108;
(59) API RP 2FPS, RP for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Floating Production Systems; First
Edition, March 2001; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(60) API RP 2I, In-Service Inspection of Mooring Hardware for Floating Structures; Third Edition, April
2008; incorporated by reference at § 250.901(a) and (d);
(61) ANSI/API RP 2N, Third Edition, “Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing, and Constructing
Structures and Pipelines for Arctic Conditions”, Third Edition, April 2015; incorporated by reference at
§ 250.470(g);
(62) API RP 2RD, Recommended Practice for Design of Risers for Floating Production Systems (FPSs)
and Tension-Leg Platforms (TLPs), First Edition, June 1998; reaffirmed, May 2006, Errata, June 2009;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.733, 250.800(c), 250.901(a), (d), and 250.1002(b);
(63) API RP 2SK, Design and Analysis of Stationkeeping Systems for Floating Structures, Third Edition,
October 2005, Addendum, May 2008, reaffirmed June 2015; incorporated by reference at §§
250.800(c) and 250.901(a) and (d);
(64) API RP 2SM, Recommended Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of
Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore Mooring, First Edition, March 2001, Addendum, May 2007;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.800(c) and 250.901(a) and (d);
(65) API RP 2T, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Tension Leg Platforms,
Second Edition, August 1997; incorporated by reference at § 250.901(a) and (d);
(66) ANSI/API RP 14B, Design, Installation, Operation, Test, and Redress of Subsurface Safety Valve
Systems, Sixth Edition, September 2015; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.802(b), 250.803(a),
250.814(d), 250.828(c), and 250.880(c);
(67) API RP 14C, Recommended Practice for Analysis, Design, Installation, and Testing of Basic Surface
Safety Systems for Offshore Production Platforms, Seventh Edition, March 2001, reaffirmed: March
2007; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.125(a), 250.292(j), 250.841(a), 250.842(a), 250.850,
250.852(a), 250.855, 250.856(a), 250.858(a), 250.862(e), 250.865(a), 250.867(a), 250.869(a) through
(c), 250.872(a), 250.873(a), 250.874(a), 250.880(b) and (c), 250.1002(d), 250.1004(b), 250.1628(c)
and (d), 250.1629(b), and 250.1630(a);

30 CFR 250.198(e)(67) (enhanced display)

page 60 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(68)

(68) API RP 14E, Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform
Piping Systems, Fifth Edition, October 1991; reaffirmed, January 2013; incorporated by reference at
§§ 250.841(b), 250.842(a), and 250.1628(b) and (d);
(69) API RP 14F, Recommended Practice for Design, Installation, and Maintenance of Electrical Systems
for Fixed and Floating Offshore Petroleum Facilities for Unclassified and Class 1, Division 1 and
Division 2 Locations, Upstream Segment, Fifth Edition, July 2008, reaffirmed: April 2013;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.114(c), 250.842(c), 250.862(e), and 250.1629(b);
(70) API RP 14FZ, Recommended Practice for Design, Installation, and Maintenance of Electrical Systems
for Fixed and Floating Offshore Petroleum Facilities for Unclassified and Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1 and
Zone 2 Locations, Second Edition, May 2013; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.114(c), 250.842(c),
250.862(e), and 250.1629(b);
(71) API RP 14G, Recommended Practice for Fire Prevention and Control on Fixed Open-type Offshore
Production Platforms, Fourth Edition, April 2007; Reaffirmed, January 2013; incorporated by
reference at §§ 250.859(a), 250.862(e), 250.880(c), and 250.1629(b);
(72) API RP 14J, Recommended Practice for Design and Hazards Analysis for Offshore Production
Facilities, Second Edition, May 2001; reaffirmed: January 2013; incorporated by reference at §§
250.800(b) and (c), 250.842(c), and 250.901(a) and (d);
(73) API RP 17H, Remotely Operated Tools and Interfaces on Subsea Production Systems, Second
Edition, June 2013; Errata, January 2014; incorporated by reference at § 250.734(a);
(74) API RP 65, Recommended Practice for Cementing Shallow Water Flow Zones in Deepwater Wells,
First Edition, September 2002; incorporated by reference at § 250.415;
(75) API RP 75, Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management
Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities, Third Edition, May 2004, reaffirmed May 2008;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.1900, 250.1902, 250.1903, 250.1909, 250.1920;
(76) API RP 86, API Recommended Practice for Measurement of Multiphase Flow; First Edition,
September 2005; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.1202(a) and 250.1203(b);
(77) API RP 90, Annular Casing Pressure Management for Offshore Wells, First Edition, August 2006;
incorporated by reference at § 250.519;
(78) API RP 500, Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at
Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2, Third Edition, December 2012;
Errata January 2014, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.114(a), 250.459, 250.842(a), 250.862(a)
and (e), 250.872(a), 250.1628(b) and (d), and 250.1629(b);
(79) API RP 505, Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at
Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2, First Edition, November 1997;
reaffirmed, August 2013; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.114(a), 250.459, 250.842(a),
250.862(a) and (e), 250.872(a), 250.1628(b) and (d), and 250.1629(b);
(80) API RP 2556, Recommended Practice for Correcting Gauge Tables for Incrustation, Second Edition,
August 1993; reaffirmed November 2003; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(81) API Spec. 2C, Specification for Offshore Pedestal Mounted Cranes, Sixth Edition, March 2004,
Effective Date: September 2004; incorporated by reference at § 250.108;
30 CFR 250.198(e)(81) (enhanced display)

page 61 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(82)

(82) ANSI/API Spec. 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition,
October 2010; Addendum 1, November 2011; Errata 2, November 2011; Addendum 2, November
2012; Addendum 3, March 2013; Errata 3, June 2013; Errata 4, August 2013; Errata 5, November
2013; Errata 6, March 2014; Errata 7, December 2014; Errata 8, February 2016; Addendum 4, June
2016; Errata 9, June 2016; Errata 10, August 2016; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.730,
250.802(a), 250.803(a), 250.833, 250.873(b), 250.874(g), and 250.1002(b);
(83) API Spec. 6AV1, Specification for Verification Test of Wellhead Surface Safety Valves and
Underwater Safety Valves for Offshore Service, Second Edition, February 2013; incorporated by
reference at §§ 250.802(a), 250.833, 250.873(b), and 250.874(g);
(84) API STD 6AV2, Installation, Maintenance, and Repair of Surface Safety Valves and Underwater Safety
Valves Offshore; First Edition, March 2014; Errata 1, August 2014; incorporated by reference at §§
250.820, 250.834, 250.836, and 250.880(c)
(85) ANSI/API Spec. 6D, Specification for Pipeline Valves, Twenty-third Edition, April 2008; Effective Date:
October 1, 2008, Errata 1, June 2008; Errata 2, November 2008; Errata 3, February 2009; Addendum 1,
October 2009; Contains API Monogram Annex as Part of U.S. National Adoption; ISO 14313:2007
(Identical), Petroleum and natural gas industries—Pipeline transportation systems—Pipeline valves;
incorporated by reference at § 250.1002(b);
(86) ANSI/API Spec. 11D1, Packers and Bridge Plugs, Second Edition, July 2009; incorporated by
reference at §§ 250.518, 250.619, and 250.1703;
(87) ANSI/API Spec. 14A, Specification for Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment, Eleventh Edition, October
2005, reaffirmed, June 2012; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.802 and 250.803(a);
(88) ANSI/API Spec. 16A, Specification for Drill-through Equipment, Third Edition, June 2004, reaffirmed
August 2010; incorporated by reference at § 250.730;
(89) ANSI/API Spec. 16C, Specification for Choke and Kill Systems, First Edition, January 1993, reaffirmed
July 2010; incorporated by reference at § 250.730;
(90) API Spec. 16D, Specification for Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment and Control
Systems for Diverter Equipment, Second Edition, July 2004, reaffirmed August 2013; incorporated by
reference at § 250.730;
(91) ANSI/API Spec. 17D, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—Subsea Wellhead and
Tree Equipment, Second Edition, May 2011; incorporated by reference at § 250.730;
(92) ANSI/API Spec. 17J, Specification for Unbonded Flexible Pipe, Third Edition, July 2008, incorporated
by reference at §§ 250.852(e), 250.1002(b), and 250.1007(a).
(93) ANSI/API Spec. Q1, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Manufacturing
Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry, Ninth Edition, June 2013; Errata, February
2014; Errata 2, March 2014; Addendum 1, June 2016; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.730 and
250.801(b) and (c);
(94) API Standard 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Fourth Edition, November
2012, Addendum 1, July 2016, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.730, 250.734, 250.735, 250.736,
250.737, and 250.739;
(95) API Standard 65—Part 2, Isolating Potential Flow Zones During Well Construction; Second Edition,
December 2010; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.415(f) and 250.420(a);
30 CFR 250.198(e)(95) (enhanced display)

page 62 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.198(e)(96)

(96) API Standard 2552, USA Standard Method for Measurement and Calibration of Spheres and
Spheroids, First Edition, 1966; reaffirmed, October 2007; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(97) API Standard 2555, Method for Liquid Calibration of Tanks, First Edition, September 1966; reaffirmed
March 2002; incorporated by reference at § 250.1202;
(f) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 22 Law Drive, P.O. Box 2900, Fairfield, NJ
07007–2900; http://www.asme.org; phone: 1–800–843–2763.
(1) 2017 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section I, Rules for Construction of Power
Boilers, 2017 Edition, July 1, 2017, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.851(a) and 250.1629(b).
(2) 2017 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IV, Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers,
2017 Edition, July 1, 2017, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.851(a) and 250.1629(b).
(3) 2017 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure
Vessels; Division 1, 2017 Edition; July 1, 2017, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.851(a) and
250.1629(b).
(4) 2017 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure
Vessels; Division 2: Alternative Rules, 2017 Edition, July 1, 2017, incorporated by reference at §§
250.851(a) and 250.1629(b).
(5) 2017 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure
Vessels; Division 3: Alternative Rules for Construction of High Pressure Vessels, 2017 Edition, July 1,
2017, incorporated by reference at §§ 250.851(a) and 250.1629(b).
(g) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), ASTM Standards, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, P.O. Box
C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959; http://www.astm.org; phone: 1–877–909–2786:
(1) ASTM Standard C 33–07, approved December 15, 2007, Standard Specification for Concrete
Aggregates; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(2) ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M–07, approved January 1, 2007, Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed
Concrete; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(3) ASTM Standard C 150–07, approved May 1, 2007, Standard Specification for Portland Cement;
incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(4) ASTM Standard C 330–05, approved December 15, 2005, Standard Specification for Lightweight
Aggregates for Structural Concrete; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(5) ASTM Standard C 595–08, approved January 1, 2008, Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cements; incorporated by reference at § 250.901;
(h) American Welding Society (AWS), AWS Codes, 8669 NW 36 Street, #130, Miami, FL 33126;
http://www.aws.org;phone: 800–443–9353:
(1) AWS D1.1:2000, Structural Welding Code—Steel, 17th Edition, October 18, 1999; incorporated by
reference at § 250.901;
(2) AWS D1.4–98, Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel, 1998 Edition; incorporated by reference at
§ 250.901;
(3) AWS D3.6M:1999, Specification for Underwater Welding (1999); incorporated by reference at §
250.901.
30 CFR 250.198(h)(3) (enhanced display)

page 63 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

(i)

30 CFR 250.198(i)

National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) International, NACE Standards, Park Ten Place,
Houston, TX 77084; http://www.nace.org; phone: 281–228–6200:
(1) NACE Standard MR0175–2003, Standard Material Requirements, Metals for Sulfide Stress Cracking
and Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance in Sour Oilfield Environments, Revised January 17, 2003;
incorporated by reference at §§ 250.490 and 250.901;
(2) NACE Standard RP0176–2003, Standard Recommended Practice, Corrosion Control of Steel Fixed
Offshore Structures Associated with Petroleum Production; incorporated by reference at § 250.901.

(j)

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH–1211, Geneva 20,
Switzerland; www.iso.org; phone: 41–22–749–01–11:
(1) ISO/IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 17011, Conformity assessment—General
requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies, First edition
2004–09–01; Corrected version 2005–02–15; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.1900, 250.1903,
250.1904, and 250.1922.
(2) ISO/IEC 17021–1, Conformity assessment—Requirements for bodies providing audit and
certification of management systems—Part 1: Requirements, First Edition, June 2015, incorporated
by reference at § 250.730(d).
(3) [Reserved]

(k) Center for Offshore Safety (COS), 1990 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1370, Houston, TX 77056;
www.centerforoffshoresafety.org; phone: 832–495–4925.
(1) COS Safety Publication COS–2–01, Qualification and Competence Requirements for Audit Teams
and Auditors Performing Third-party SEMS Audits of Deepwater Operations, First Edition, Effective
Date October 2012; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.1900, 250.1903, 250.1904, and 250.1921.
(2) COS Safety Publication COS–2–03, Requirements for Third-party SEMS Auditing and Certification of
Deepwater Operations, First Edition, Effective Date October 2012; incorporated by reference at §§
250.1900, 250.1903, 250.1904, and 250.1920.
(3) COS Safety Publication COS–2–04, Requirements for Accreditation of Audit Service Providers
Performing SEMS Audits and Certification of Deepwater Operations, First Edition, Effective Date
October 2012; incorporated by reference at §§ 250.1900, 250.1903, 250.1904, and 250.1922.
[84 FR 21969, May 15, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 84236, Dec. 30, 2020]

§ 250.199 Paperwork Reduction Act statements—information collection.
(a) OMB has approved the information collection requirements in part 250 under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The
table in paragraph (e) of this section lists the subpart in the rule requiring the information and its title,
provides the OMB control number, and summarizes the reasons for collecting the information and how
BSEE uses the information. The associated BSEE forms required by this part are listed at the end of this
table with the relevant information.
(b) Respondents are OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and operators. The requirement to respond to the
information collections in this part is mandated under the Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) and the Act's
Amendments of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Some responses are also required to obtain or retain a

30 CFR 250.199(b) (enhanced display)

page 64 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.199(c)

benefit or may be voluntary. Proprietary information will be protected under § 250.197, Data and
information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection; parts 30 CFR Parts 251, 252; and
the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 2.
(c) The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to inform the public that an agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collections of information under this part, including
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
(e) BSEE is collecting this information for the reasons given in the following table:
30 CFR Subpart, title and/or BSEE Form (OMB
Control No.)
(1) Subpart A, General (1014–0022), including
Forms BSEE–0011, iSEE; BSEE–0132, Evacuation
Statistics; BSEE–0143, Facility/Equipment Damage
Report; BSEE–1832, Notification of Incidents of
Noncompliance

BSEE collects this information and uses it to:
(i) Determine that activities on the OCS comply with
statutory and regulatory requirements; are safe and
protect the environment; and result in diligent
development and production on OCS leases.
(ii) Support the unproved and proved reserve
estimation, resource assessment, and fair market
value determinations.
(iii) Assess damage and project any disruption of oil
and gas production from the OCS after a major
natural occurrence.

(2) Subpart B, Plans and Information (1014–0024)

Evaluate Deepwater Operations Plans for
compliance with statutory and regulatory
requirements

(3) Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control
(1014–0023)

(i) Evaluate measures to prevent unauthorized
discharge of pollutants into the offshore waters.
(ii) Ensure action is taken to control pollution.

(4) Subpart D, Oil and Gas and Drilling Operations
(i) Evaluate the equipment and procedures to be
(1014–0018), including Forms BSEE–0125, End of
used in drilling operations on the OCS.
Operations Report; BSEE–0133, Well Activity Report;
and BSEE–0133S, Open Hole Data Report
(ii) Ensure that drilling operations meet statutory
and regulatory requirements.
(5) Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion
Operations (1014–0004)

(i) Evaluate the equipment and procedures to be
used in well-completion operations on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure that well-completion operations meet
statutory and regulatory requirements.

(6) Subpart F, Oil and Gas Well Workover Operations
(1014–0001)

(i) Evaluate the equipment and procedures to be
used during well-workover operations on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure that well-workover operations meet
statutory and regulatory requirements.

(7) Subpart G, Blowout Preventer Systems
30 CFR 250.199(e) (enhanced display)

(i) Evaluate the equipment and procedures to be
page 65 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Subpart, title and/or BSEE Form (OMB
Control No.)
(1014–0028), including Form BSEE–0144, Rig
Movement Notification Report

30 CFR 250.199(e)

BSEE collects this information and uses it to:
used during well drilling, completion, workover, and
abandonment operations on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure that well operations meet statutory and
regulatory requirements.

(8) Subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety
Systems (1014–0003)

(i) Evaluate the equipment and procedures that will
be used during production operations on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure that production operations meet statutory
and regulatory requirements.

(9) Subpart I, Platforms and Structures
(1014–0011)

(i) Evaluate the design, fabrication, and installation
of platforms on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure the structural integrity of platforms
installed on the OCS.

(10) Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way (i) Evaluate the design, installation, and operation of
(1014–0016), including Form BSEE–0149,
pipelines on the OCS.
Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline Right-of-Way
Grant
(ii) Ensure that pipeline operations meet statutory
and regulatory requirements.
(11) Subpart K, Oil and Gas Production Rates
(1014–0019), including Forms BSEE–0126, Well
Potential Test Report and BSEE–0128, Semiannual
Well Test Report

(i) Evaluate production rates for hydrocarbons
produced on the OCS.

(ii) Ensure economic maximization of ultimate
hydrocarbon recovery.
(12) Subpart L, Oil and Gas Production
Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security
(1014–0002)

(i) Evaluate the measurement of production,
commingling of hydrocarbons, and site security
plans.
(ii) Ensure that produced hydrocarbons are
measured and commingled to provide for accurate
royalty payments and security.

(13) Subpart M, Unitization (1014–0015)

(i) Evaluate the unitization of leases.
(ii) Ensure that unitization prevents waste,
conserves natural resources, and protects
correlative rights.

(14) Subpart N, Remedies and Penalties

(The requirements in subpart N are exempt from the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 according to 5
CFR 1320.4).

(15) Subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety
Training (1014–0008)

(i) Evaluate training program curricula for OCS
workers, course schedules, and attendance.
(ii) Ensure that training programs are technically
accurate and sufficient to meet statutory and
regulatory requirements, and that workers are
properly trained.

(16) Subpart P, Sulfur Operations (1014–0006)
30 CFR 250.199(e) (enhanced display)

(i) Evaluate sulfur exploration and development
page 66 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR Subpart, title and/or BSEE Form (OMB
Control No.)

30 CFR 250.200

BSEE collects this information and uses it to:
operations on the OCS.
(ii) Ensure that OCS sulfur operations meet statutory
and regulatory requirements and will result in
diligent development and production of sulfur
leases.

(17) Subpart Q, Decommissioning Activities
(1014–0010)

Ensure that decommissioning activities, site
clearance, and platform or pipeline removal are
properly performed to meet statutory and regulatory
requirements and do not conflict with other users of
the OCS.

(18) Subpart S, Safety and Environmental
Management Systems (1014–0017), including
Form BSEE–0131, Performance Measures Data

(i) Evaluate operators' policies and procedures to
assure safety and environmental protection while
conducting OCS operations (including those
operations conducted by contractor and
subcontractor personnel).
(ii) Evaluate Performance Measures Data relating to
risk and number of accidents, injuries, and oil spills
during OCS activities.

(19) Application for Permit to Drill (APD, Revised
APD), Form BSEE–0123; and Supplemental APD
Information Sheet, Form BSEE–0123S, and all
supporting documentation (1014–0025)

(i) Evaluate and approve the adequacy of the
equipment, materials, and/or procedures that the
lessee or operator plans to use during drilling.
(ii) Ensure that applicable OCS operations meet
statutory and regulatory requirements.

(20) Application for Permit to Modify (APM), Form
BSEE–0124, and supporting documentation
(1014–0026)

(i) Evaluate and approve the adequacy of the
equipment, materials, and/or procedures that the
lessee or operator plans to use during drilling and to
evaluate well plan modifications and changes in
major equipment.
(ii) Ensure that applicable OCS operations meet
statutory and regulatory requirements.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26015, Apr. 29, 2016; 81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

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.
30 CFR 250.200(a) “BOEM” (enhanced display)

page 67 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.200(a) “BSEE”

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
30 CFR 250.201 (enhanced display)

page 68 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.201(a)

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.

30 CFR 250.204(b) (enhanced display)

page 69 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.204(c)

(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.

30 CFR 250.288 (enhanced display)

page 70 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.289

§ 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;

30 CFR 250.292(j) (enhanced display)

page 71 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.292(k)

(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?
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.

Subpart C—Pollution Prevention and Control

30 CFR 250.295 (enhanced display)

page 72 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.300

§ 250.300 Pollution prevention.
(a) During the exploration, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas or sulphur, the lessee
shall take measures to prevent unauthorized discharge of pollutants into the offshore waters. The lessee
shall not create conditions that will pose unreasonable risk to public health, life, property, aquatic life,
wildlife, recreation, navigation, commercial fishing, or other uses of the ocean.
(1) When pollution occurs as a result of operations conducted by or on behalf of the lessee and the
pollution damages or threatens to damage life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, any
mineral deposits (in areas leased or not leased), or the marine, coastal, or human environment, the
control and removal of the pollution to the satisfaction of the District Manager shall be at the
expense of the lessee. Immediate corrective action shall be taken in all cases where pollution has
occurred. Corrective action shall be subject to modification when directed by the District Manager.
(2) If the lessee fails to control and remove the pollution, the Director, in cooperation with other
appropriate Agencies of Federal, State, and local governments, or in cooperation with the lessee, or
both, shall have the right to control and remove the pollution at the lessee's expense. Such action
shall not relieve the lessee of any responsibility provided for by law.
(b)
(1) The District Manager may restrict the rate of drilling fluid discharges or prescribe alternative
discharge methods. The District Manager may also restrict the use of components that could cause
unreasonable degradation to the marine environment. No petroleum-based substances, including
diesel fuel, may be added to the drilling mud system without prior approval of the District Manager.
For Arctic OCS exploratory drilling, you must capture all petroleum-based mud to prevent its
discharge into the marine environment. The Regional Supervisor may also require you to capture,
during your Arctic OCS exploratory drilling operations, all water-based mud from operations after
completion of the hole for the conductor casing to prevent its discharge into the marine
environment, based on various factors including, but not limited to:
(i)

The proximity of your exploratory drilling operation to subsistence hunting and fishing locations;

(ii) The extent to which discharged mud may cause marine mammals to alter their migratory
patterns in a manner that impedes subsistence users' access to, or use of, those resources, or
increases the risk of injury to subsistence users; or
(iii) The extent to which discharged mud may adversely affect marine mammals, fish, or their
habitat.
(2) You must obtain approval from the District Manager of the method you plan to use to dispose of drill
cuttings, sand, and other well solids. For Arctic OCS exploratory drilling, you must capture all cuttings
from operations that utilize petroleum-based mud to prevent their discharge into the marine
environment. The Regional Supervisor may also require you to capture, during your Arctic OCS
exploratory drilling operations, all cuttings from operations that utilize water-based mud after
completion of the hole for the conductor casing to prevent their discharge into the marine
environment, based on various factors including, but not limited to:
(i)

The proximity of your exploratory drilling operation to subsistence hunting and fishing locations;

(ii) The extent to which discharged cuttings may cause marine mammals to alter their migratory
patterns in a manner that impedes subsistence users' access to, or use of, those resources, or
increases the risk of injury to subsistence users; or
30 CFR 250.300(b)(2)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 73 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.300(b)(2)(iii)

(iii) The extent to which discharged cuttings may adversely affect marine mammals, fish, or their
habitat.
(3) All hydrocarbon-handling equipment for testing and production such as separators, tanks, and
treaters shall be designed, installed, and operated to prevent pollution. Maintenance or repairs which
are necessary to prevent pollution of offshore waters shall be undertaken immediately.
(4) Curbs, gutters, drip pans, and drains shall be installed in deck areas in a manner necessary to collect
all contaminants not authorized for discharge. Oil drainage shall be piped to a properly designed,
operated, and maintained sump system which will automatically maintain the oil at a level sufficient
to prevent discharge of oil into offshore waters. All gravity drains shall be equipped with a water trap
or other means to prevent gas in the sump system from escaping through the drains. Sump piles
shall not be used as processing devices to treat or skim liquids but may be used to collect treatedproduced water, treated-produced sand, or liquids from drip pans and deck drains and as a final trap
for hydrocarbon liquids in the event of equipment upsets. Improperly designed, operated, or
maintained sump piles which do not prevent the discharge of oil into offshore waters shall be
replaced or repaired.
(5) On artificial islands, all vessels containing hydrocarbons shall be placed inside an impervious berm
or otherwise protected to contain spills. Drainage shall be directed away from the drilling rig to a
sump. Drains and sumps shall be constructed to prevent seepage.
(6) Disposal of equipment, cables, chains, containers, or other materials into offshore waters is
prohibited.
(c) Materials, equipment, tools, containers, and other items used in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) which
are of such shape or configuration that they are likely to snag or damage fishing devices shall be handled
and marked as follows:
(1) All loose material, small tools, and other small objects shall be kept in a suitable storage area or a
marked container when not in use and in a marked container before transport over offshore waters;
(2) All cable, chain, or wire segments shall be recovered after use and securely stored until suitable
disposal is accomplished;
(3) Skid-mounted equipment, portable containers, spools or reels, and drums shall be marked with the
owner's name prior to use or transport over offshore waters; and
(4) All markings must clearly identify the owner and must be durable enough to resist the effects of the
environmental conditions to which they may be exposed.
(d) Any of the items described in paragraph (c) of this section that are lost overboard shall be recorded on the
facility's daily operations report, as appropriate, and reported to the District Manager.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 46560, July 15, 2016]

§ 250.301 Inspection of facilities.
Drilling and production facilities shall be inspected daily or at intervals approved or prescribed by the District
Manager to determine if pollution is occurring. Necessary maintenance or repairs shall be made immediately.
Records of such inspections and repairs shall be maintained at the facility or at a nearby manned facility for 2 years.

Subpart D—Oil and Gas Drilling Operations
30 CFR 250.301 (enhanced display)

page 74 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.400

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.400 General requirements.
Drilling operations must be conducted in a safe manner to protect against harm or damage to life (including fish
and other aquatic life), property, natural resources of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), including any mineral
deposits (in areas leased and not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human
environment. In addition to the requirements of this subpart, you must also follow the applicable requirements of
subpart G of this part.
[81 FR 26017, Apr. 29, 2016]

§§ 250.401-250.403 [Reserved]
§ 250.404 What are the requirements for the crown block?
You must have a crown block safety device that prevents the traveling block from striking the crown block. You
must check the device for proper operation at least once per week and after each drill-line slipping operation and
record the results of this operational check in the driller's report.

§ 250.405 What are the safety requirements for diesel engines used on a drilling rig?
You must equip each diesel engine with an air intake device to shut down the diesel engine in the event of a
runaway.
(a) For a diesel engine that is not continuously manned, you must equip the engine with an automatic
shutdown device;
(b) For a diesel engine that is continuously manned, you may equip the engine with either an automatic or
remote manual air intake shutdown device;
(c) You do not have to equip a diesel engine with an air intake device if it meets one of the following criteria:
(1) Starts a larger engine;
(2) Powers a firewater pump;
(3) Powers an emergency generator;
(4) Powers a BOP accumulator system;
(5) Provides air supply to divers or confined entry personnel;
(6) Powers temporary equipment on a nonproducing platform;
(7) Powers an escape capsule; or
(8) Powers a portable single-cylinder rig washer.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.406 [Reserved]

30 CFR 250.406 (enhanced display)

page 75 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.407

§ 250.407 What tests must I conduct to determine reservoir characteristics?
You must determine the presence, quantity, quality, and reservoir characteristics of oil, gas, sulphur, and water in the
formations penetrated by logging, formation sampling, or well testing.

§ 250.408 May I use alternative procedures or equipment during drilling operations?
You may use alternative procedures or equipment during drilling operations after receiving approval from the
District Manager. You must identify and discuss your proposed alternative procedures or equipment in your
Application for Permit to Drill (APD) (Form BSEE–0123) (see § 250.414(h)). Procedures for obtaining approval are
described in § 250.141 of this part.

§ 250.409 May I obtain departures from these drilling requirements?
The District Manager may approve departures from the drilling requirements specified in this subpart. You may
apply for a departure from drilling requirements by writing to the District Manager. You should identify and discuss
the departure you are requesting in your APD (see § 250.414(h)).

APPLYING FOR A PERMIT TO DRILL
§ 250.410 How do I obtain approval to drill a well?
You must obtain written approval from the District Manager before you begin drilling any well or before you
sidetrack, bypass, or deepen a well. To obtain approval, you must:
(a) Submit the information required by §§ 250.411 through 250.418;
(b) Include the well in your approved Exploration Plan (EP), Development and Production Plan (DPP), or
Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD);
(c) Meet the oil spill financial responsibility requirements for offshore facilities as required by 30 CFR part
553; and
(d) Submit the following to the District Manager:
(1) An original and two complete copies of Form BSEE–0123, Application for Permit to Drill (APD), and
Form BSEE–0123S, Supplemental APD Information Sheet;
(2) A separate public information copy of forms BSEE–0123 and BSEE–0123S that meets the
requirements of § 250.186; and
(3) Payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125.

§ 250.411 What information must I submit with my application?
In addition to forms BSEE–0123 and BSEE–0123S, you must include the information required in this subpart and
subpart G of this part, including the following:
Information that you must include with an APD

Where to find a description

(a) Plat that shows locations of the proposed well,

§ 250.412.

(b) Design criteria used for the proposed well,

§ 250.413.

(c) Drilling prognosis,

§ 250.414.

30 CFR 250.411 (enhanced display)

page 76 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Information that you must include with an APD

30 CFR 250.412

Where to find a description

(d) Casing and cementing programs,

§ 250.415.

(e) Diverter systems descriptions,

§ 250.416.

(f) BOP system descriptions,

§ 250.731.

(g) Requirements for using a MODU, and

§ 250.713.

(h) Additional information.

§ 250.418.

[81 FR 26017, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.412 What requirements must the location plat meet?
The location plat must:
(a) Have a scale of 1:24,000 (1 inch = 2,000 feet);
(b) Show the surface and subsurface locations of the proposed well and all the wells in the vicinity;
(c) Show the surface and subsurface locations of the proposed well in feet or meters from the block line;
(d) Contain the longitude and latitude coordinates, and either Universal Transverse Mercator grid-system
coordinates or state plane coordinates in the Lambert or Transverse Mercator Projection system for the
surface and subsurface locations of the proposed well; and
(e) State the units and geodetic datum (including whether the datum is North American Datum 27 or 83) for
these coordinates. If the datum was converted, you must state the method used for this conversion, since
the various methods may produce different values.

§ 250.413 What must my description of well drilling design criteria address?
Your description of well drilling design criteria must address:
(a) Pore pressures;
(b) Formation fracture gradients, adjusted for water depth;
(c) Potential lost circulation zones;
(d) Drilling fluid weights;
(e) Casing setting depths;
(f) Maximum anticipated surface pressures. For this section, maximum anticipated surface pressures are the
pressures that you reasonably expect to be exerted upon a casing string and its related wellhead
equipment. In calculating maximum anticipated surface pressures, you must consider: drilling,
completion, and producing conditions; drilling fluid densities to be used below various casing strings;
fracture gradients of the exposed formations; casing setting depths; total well depth; formation fluid
types; safety margins; and other pertinent conditions. You must include the calculations used to
determine the pressures for the drilling and the completion phases, including the anticipated surface
pressure used for designing the production string;

30 CFR 250.413(f) (enhanced display)

page 77 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.413(g)

(g) A single plot containing curves for estimated pore pressures, formation fracture gradients, proposed
drilling fluid weights (surface and downhole), planned safe drilling margin, and casing setting depths in
true vertical measurements;
(h) A summary report of the shallow hazards site survey that describes the geological and manmade
conditions if not previously submitted; and
(i)

Permafrost zones, if applicable.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26017, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21973, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.414 What must my drilling prognosis include?
Your drilling prognosis must include a brief description of the procedures you will follow in drilling the well. This
prognosis includes but is not limited to the following:
(a) Projected plans for coring at specified depths;
(b) Projected plans for logging;
(c) Planned safe drilling margin that is between the estimated pore pressure and the lesser of estimated
fracture gradients or casing shoe pressure integrity test and that is based on a risk assessment
consistent with expected well conditions and operations.
(1) Your safe drilling margin must also include use of equivalent downhole mud weight that is:
(i)

Greater than the estimated pore pressure; and

(ii) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a minimum of 0.5 pound per gallon below
the lower of the casing shoe pressure integrity test or the lowest estimated fracture gradient.
(2) In lieu of meeting the criteria in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, you may use an equivalent
downhole mud weight as specified in your APD, provided that you submit adequate documentation
(such as risk modeling data, off-set well data, analog data, seismic data) to justify the alternative
equivalent downhole mud weight. You may submit such justification in advance of your full APD, and
BSEE may consider such justification for approval when submitted. Any such approval will be
contingent upon your confirmation in the APD that your plans and the information underlying your
approved justification have not changed.
(3) When determining the pore pressure and lowest estimated fracture gradient for a specific interval,
you must consider related off-set and analogous well behavior observations, if available.
(d) Estimated depths to the top of significant marker formations;
(e) Estimated depths to significant porous and permeable zones containing fresh water, oil, gas, or
abnormally pressured formation fluids;
(f) Estimated depths to major faults;
(g) Estimated depths of permafrost, if applicable;
(h) A list and description of all requests for using alternate procedures or departures from the requirements
of this subpart in one place in the APD. You must explain how the alternate procedures afford an equal or
greater degree of protection, safety, or performance, or why the departures are requested;
30 CFR 250.414(h) (enhanced display)

page 78 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.414(i)

(i)

Projected plans for well testing (refer to § 250.460);

(j)

The type of wellhead system and liner hanger system to be installed and a descriptive schematic, which
includes but is not limited to pressure ratings, dimensions, valves, load shoulders, and locking
mechanisms, if applicable; and

(k) Any additional information required by the District Manager needed to clarify or evaluate your drilling
prognosis.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26017, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21973, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.415 What must my casing and cementing programs include?
Your casing and cementing programs must include:
(a) The following well design information:
(1) Hole sizes;
(2) Bit depths (including measured and true vertical depth (TVD));
(3) Casing information, including sizes, weights, grades, collapse and burst values, types of connection,
and setting depths (measured and TVD) for all sections of each casing interval; and
(4) Locations of any installed rupture disks (indicate if burst or collapse and rating);
(b) Casing design safety factors for tension, collapse, and burst with the assumptions made to arrive at these
values;
(c) Type and amount of cement (in cubic feet) planned for each casing string;
(d) In areas containing permafrost, setting depths for conductor and surface casing based on the anticipated
depth of the permafrost. Your program must provide protection from thaw subsidence and freezeback
effect, proper anchorage, and well control;
(e) A statement of how you evaluated the best practices included in API RP 65, Recommended Practice for
Cementing Shallow Water Flow Zones in Deep Water Wells (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), if
you drill a well in water depths greater than 500 feet and are in either of the following two areas:
(1) An “area with an unknown shallow water flow potential” is a zone or geologic formation where
neither the presence nor absence of potential for a shallow water flow has been confirmed.
(2) An “area known to contain a shallow water flow hazard” is a zone or geologic formation for which
drilling has confirmed the presence of shallow water flow; and
(f) A written description of how you evaluated the best practices included in API Standard 65—Part 2,
Isolating Potential Flow Zones During Well Construction, Second Edition (as incorporated by reference in
§ 250.198). Your written description must identify the mechanical barriers and cementing practices you
will use for each casing string (reference API Standard 65—Part 2, Sections 4 and 5).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50891, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26018, Apr. 29, 2016]

30 CFR 250.415(f) (enhanced display)

page 79 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.416

§ 250.416 What must I include in the diverter description?
You must include in the diverter description:
(a) A description of the diverter system and its operating procedures;
(b) A schematic drawing of the diverter system (plan and elevation views) that shows:
(1) The size of the element installed in the diverter housing;
(2) Spool outlet internal diameter(s);
(3) Diverter-line lengths and diameters; burst strengths and radius of curvature at each turn; and
(4) Valve type, size, working pressure rating, and location.
[81 FR 26018, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.417 [Reserved]
§ 250.418 What additional information must I submit with my APD?
You must include the following with the APD:
(a) Rated capacities of the drilling rig and major drilling equipment, if not already on file with the appropriate
District office;
(b) A drilling fluids program that includes the minimum quantities of drilling fluids and drilling fluid materials,
including weight materials, to be kept at the site;
(c) A proposed directional plot if the well is to be directionally drilled;
(d) A Hydrogen Sulfide Contingency Plan (see § 250.490), if applicable, and not previously submitted;
(e) A welding plan (see §§ 250.109 to 250.113) if not previously submitted;
(f) In areas subject to subfreezing conditions, evidence that the drilling equipment, BOP systems and
components, diverter systems, and other associated equipment and materials are suitable for operating
under such conditions;
(g) A request for approval, if you plan to wash out or displace cement to facilitate casing removal upon well
abandonment. Your request must include a description of how far below the mudline you propose to
displace cement and how you will visually monitor returns;
(h) Certification of your casing and cementing program as required in § 250.420(a)(7); and
(i)

Such other information as the District Manager may require.

(j)

For Arctic OCS exploratory drilling operations, you must provide the information required by § 250.470.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50892, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26018, Apr. 29, 2016; 81 FR 46561, July 15, 2016]

CASING AND CEMENTING REQUIREMENTS

30 CFR 250.418(j) (enhanced display)

page 80 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.420

§ 250.420 What well casing and cementing requirements must I meet?
You must case and cement all wells. Your casing and cementing programs must meet the applicable requirements
of this subpart and of subpart G of this part.
(a) Casing and cementing program requirements. Your casing and cementing programs must:
(1) Properly control formation pressures and fluids;
(2) Prevent the direct or indirect release of fluids from any stratum through the wellbore into offshore
waters;
(3) Prevent communication between separate hydrocarbon-bearing strata;
(4) Protect freshwater aquifers from contamination;
(5) Support unconsolidated sediments;
(6) Provide adequate centralization consistent with the guidelines of API Standard 65—Part 2 (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198); and
(7)
(i)

Include a certification signed by a registered professional engineer that the casing and
cementing design is appropriate for the purpose for which it is intended under expected
wellbore conditions, and is sufficient to satisfy the tests and requirements of this section and §
250.423. Submit this certification with your APD (Form BSEE–0123).

(ii) You must have the registered professional engineer involved in the casing and cementing
design process.
(iii) The registered professional engineer must be registered in a state of the United States and have
sufficient expertise and experience to perform the certification.
(b) Casing requirements.
(1) You must design casing (including liners) to withstand the anticipated stresses imposed by tensile,
compressive, and buckling loads; burst and collapse pressures; thermal effects; and combinations
thereof.
(2) The casing design must include safety measures that ensure well control during drilling and safe
operations during the life of the well.
(3) On all wells that use subsea BOP stacks, you must include two independent barriers, including one
mechanical barrier, in each annular flow path (examples of barriers include, but are not limited to,
primary cement job and seal assembly). For the final casing string (or liner if it is your final string),
you must install one mechanical barrier in addition to cement to prevent flow in the event of a failure
in the cement. A dual float valve, by itself, is not considered a mechanical barrier. These barriers
cannot be modified prior to or during completion or abandonment operations. The BSEE District
Manager may approve alternative options under § 250.141. You must submit documentation of this
installation to BSEE in the End-of-Operations Report (Form BSEE–0125).
(4) If you need to substitute a different size, grade, or weight of casing than what was approved in your
APD, you must contact the District Manager for approval prior to installing the casing.
(c) Cementing requirements.
30 CFR 250.420(c) (enhanced display)

page 81 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.420(c)(1)

(1) You must design and conduct your cementing jobs so that cement composition, placement
techniques, and waiting times ensure that the cement placed behind the bottom 500 feet of casing
attains a minimum compressive strength of 500 psi before drilling out the casing or before
commencing completion operations. (If a liner is used refer to § 250.421(f)).
(2) You must use a weighted fluid during displacement to maintain an overbalanced hydrostatic
pressure during the cement setting time, except when cementing casings or liners in riserless hole
sections.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50892, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26018, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21973, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.421 What are the casing and cementing requirements by type of casing string?
The table in this section identifies specific design, setting, and cementing requirements for casing strings and liners.
For the purposes of subpart D, the casing strings in order of normal installation are as follows: drive or structural,
conductor, surface, intermediate, and production casings (including liners). The District Manager may approve or
prescribe other casing and cementing requirements where appropriate.
Casing type

Casing requirements

Cementing requirements

(a) Drive or
Structural

Set by driving, jetting, or drilling to the minimum
depth as approved or prescribed by the District
Manager

If you drilled a portion of this hole, you
must use enough cement to fill the
annular space back to the mudline.

(b)
Conductor

Design casing and select setting depths based on
relevant engineering and geologic factors. These
factors include the presence or absence of
hydrocarbons, potential hazards, and water depths
Set casing immediately before drilling into
formations known to contain oil or gas. If you
encounter oil or gas or unexpected formation
pressure before the planned casing point, you
must set casing immediately and set it above the
encountered zone

Use enough cement to fill the
calculated annular space back to the
mudline.
Verify annular fill by observing cement
returns. If you cannot observe cement
returns, use additional cement to
ensure fill-back to the mudline.
For drilling on an artificial island or
when using a well cellar, you must
discuss the cement fill level with the
District Manager.

(c) Surface

Design casing and select setting depths based on
relevant engineering and geologic factors. These
factors include the presence or absence of
hydrocarbons, potential hazards, and water depths

Use enough cement to fill the
calculated annular space to at least
200 feet measured depth (MD) inside
the conductor casing.
When geologic conditions such as
near-surface fractures and faulting
exist, you must use enough cement to
fill the calculated annular space to the
mudline.

(d)
Design casing and select setting depth based on
Intermediate anticipated or encountered geologic
characteristics or wellbore conditions

30 CFR 250.421 (enhanced display)

Use enough cement to cover and
isolate all hydrocarbon-bearing zones
and isolate abnormal pressure
intervals from normal pressure
intervals in the well.
As a minimum, you must cement the
page 82 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Casing type

Casing requirements

30 CFR 250.422

Cementing requirements
annular space 500 feet MD above the
casing shoe and 500 feet MD above
each zone to be isolated.

(e)
Production

Design casing and select setting depth based on
anticipated or encountered geologic
characteristics or wellbore conditions

Use enough cement to cover or isolate
all hydrocarbon-bearing zones above
the shoe.
As a minimum, you must cement the
annular space at least 500 feet MD
above the casing shoe and 500 feet
MD above the uppermost hydrocarbonbearing zone.

(f) Liners

If you use a liner as surface casing, you must set
the top of the liner at least 200 feet MD above the
previous casing/liner shoe.
If you use a liner as an intermediate string below a
surface string or production casing below an
intermediate string, you must set the top of the
liner at least 100 feet MD above the previous
casing shoe.
You may not use a liner as conductor casing.
A subsea well casing string whose top is above
the mudline and that has been cemented back to
the mudline will not be considered a liner.

Same as cementing requirements for
specific casing types. For example, a
liner used as intermediate casing must
be cemented according to the
cementing requirements for
intermediate casing.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26018, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21974, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.422 When may I resume drilling after cementing?
(a) After cementing surface, intermediate, or production casing (or liners), you may resume drilling after the
cement has been held under pressure for 12 hours. For conductor casing, you may resume drilling after
the cement has been held under pressure for 8 hours. One acceptable method of holding cement under
pressure is to use float valves to hold the cement in place.
(b) If you plan to nipple down your diverter or BOP stack during the 8- or 12-hour waiting time, you must
determine, before nippling down, when it will be safe to do so. You must base your determination on a
knowledge of formation conditions, cement composition, effects of nippling down, presence of potential
drilling hazards, well conditions during drilling, cementing, and post cementing, as well as past
experience.

§ 250.423 What are the requirements for casing and liner installation?
You must ensure proper installation of casing in the subsea wellhead or liner in the liner hanger.
(a) You must ensure that the latching mechanisms or lock down mechanisms are engaged upon successfully
installing the casing string.
(b) If you run a liner that has a latching mechanism or lock down mechanism, you must ensure that the
latching mechanisms or lock down mechanisms are engaged upon successfully installing the liner.
30 CFR 250.423(b) (enhanced display)

page 83 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.423(c)

(c) You must perform a pressure test on the casing seal assembly to ensure proper installation of casing or
liner. You must perform this test for the intermediate and production casing strings or liners.
(1) You must submit for approval with your APD, test procedures and criteria for a successful test.
(2) You must document all your test results and make them available to BSEE upon request.
[81 FR 26019, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21974, May 15, 2019]

§§ 250.424-250.426 [Reserved]
§ 250.427 What are the requirements for pressure integrity tests?
You must conduct a pressure integrity test below the surface casing or liner and all intermediate casings or liners.
The District Manager may require you to run a pressure-integrity test at the conductor casing shoe if warranted by
local geologic conditions or the planned casing setting depth. You must conduct each pressure integrity test after
drilling at least 10 feet but no more than 50 feet of new hole below the casing shoe. You must test to either the
formation leak-off pressure or to an equivalent drilling fluid weight if identified in an approved APD.
(a) You must use the pressure integrity test and related hole-behavior observations, such as pore-pressure
test results, gas-cut drilling fluid, and well kicks to adjust the drilling fluid program and the setting depth of
the next casing string. You must record all test results and hole-behavior observations made during the
course of drilling related to formation integrity and pore pressure in the driller's report.
(b) While drilling, you must maintain the safe drilling margin identified in § 250.414. When you cannot
maintain the safe drilling margin, you must:
(1) Suspend drilling operations and submit proposed remedial actions to the District Manager. The
District Manager must review and approve your proposed remedial actions, which may include
limited drilling through a lost circulation zone; or
(2) Notify the District Manager and take further action in accordance with API Bulletin 92L (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198), if appropriate. You must submit a revised permit
documenting any responsive actions taken.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26019, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21974, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.428 What must I do in certain cementing and casing situations?
The table in this section describes actions that lessees must take when certain situations occur during casing and
cementing activities.
If you encounter the
following situation:

Then you must . . .

(a) Have unexpected
formation pressures
or conditions that
warrant revising your
casing design,

Submit a revised casing program to the District Manager for approval.

(b) Need to change
casing setting depths

Submit those changes to the District Manager for approval and include a
certification by a professional engineer (PE) that he or she reviewed and approved

30 CFR 250.428 (enhanced display)

page 84 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you encounter the
following situation:

30 CFR 250.428

Then you must . . .

or hole interval drilling the proposed changes.
depth (for a BHA with
an under-reamer, this
means bit depth)
more than 100 feet
true vertical depth
(TVD) from the
approved APD due to
conditions
encountered during
drilling operations,
(c) Have indication of
inadequate cement
job (such as
unplanned lost
returns, no cement
returns to mudline or
expected height,
cement channeling, or
failure of equipment),

(1) Locate the top of cement by:
(i) Running a temperature survey;
(ii) Running a cement evaluation log;
(iii) Using tracers in the cement and logging them prior to drill out; or
(iv) Using a combination of these techniques.
(2) Determine if your cement job is inadequate. If your cement job is determined to
be inadequate, refer to paragraph (d) of this section.
(3) If your cement job is determined to be adequate, report the results to the
District Manager in your submitted WAR.

(d) Inadequate
cement job,

Comply with § 250.428(c)(1) and take remedial actions. The District Manager
must review and approve all remedial actions either through a previously approved
contingency plan within the permit or remedial actions included in a revised permit
before you may take them, unless immediate actions must be taken to ensure the
safety of the crew or to prevent a well-control event. If you complete any
immediate action to ensure the safety of the crew or to prevent a well-control
event, submit a description of the action to the District Manager when that action
is complete. Any changes to the well program, that are not included in the
approved permit, will require submittal of a certification by a professional engineer
(PE) certifying that they have reviewed and approved the proposed changes. You
must also meet any other requirements of the District Manager for remedial
actions.

(e) Primary cement
job that did not
isolate abnormal
pressure intervals,

Isolate those intervals from normal pressures by squeeze cementing before you
complete; suspend operations; or abandon the well, whichever occurs first.

(f) Decide to produce
a well that was not
originally
contemplated for
production,

Have at least two cemented casing strings (does not include liners) in the well.
Note: All producing wells must have at least two cemented casing strings.

(g) Want to drill a well
without setting
conductor casing,

Submit geologic data and information to the District Manager that demonstrates
the absence of shallow hydrocarbons or hazards. This information must include
logging and drilling fluid-monitoring from wells previously drilled within 500 feet of
the proposed well path down to the next casing point.

(h) Need to use less

Submit information to the District Manager that demonstrates the use of less

30 CFR 250.428 (enhanced display)

page 85 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you encounter the
following situation:

30 CFR 250.430

Then you must . . .

than required cement
for the surface casing
during floating drilling
operations to provide
protection from burst
and collapse
pressures,

cement is necessary.

(i) Cement across a
permafrost zone,

Use cement that sets before it freezes and has a low heat of hydration.

(j) Leave the annulus
opposite a
permafrost zone
uncemented,

Fill the annulus with a liquid that has a freezing point below the minimum
permafrost temperature and minimizes opposite a corrosion.

(k) Plan to use a
valve(s) on the drive
pipe during
cementing operations
for the conductor
casing, surface
casing, or liner,

Include a description of the plan in your APD. Your description must include a
schematic of the valve and height above the water line. The valve must be
remotely operated and full opening with visual observation while taking returns.
The person in charge of observing returns must be in communication with the drill
floor. You must record in your daily report and in the WAR if cement returns were
observed. If cement returns are not observed, you must contact the District
Manager and obtain approval of proposed plans to locate the top of cement
before continuing with operations.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50892, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26019, Apr. 29, 2016; 84 FR 21974, May 15, 2019]

DIVERTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.430 When must I install a diverter system?
You must install a diverter system before you drill a conductor or surface hole. The diverter system consists of a
diverter sealing element, diverter lines, and control systems. You must design, install, use, maintain, and test the
diverter system to ensure proper diversion of gases, water, drilling fluid, and other materials away from facilities and
personnel.

§ 250.431 What are the diverter design and installation requirements?
You must design and install your diverter system to:
(a) Use diverter spool outlets and diverter lines that have a nominal diameter of at least 10 inches for surface
wellhead configurations and at least 12 inches for floating drilling operations;
(b) Use dual diverter lines arranged to provide for downwind diversion capability;
(c) Use at least two diverter control stations. One station must be on the drilling floor. The other station must
be in a readily accessible location away from the drilling floor;
(d) Use only remote-controlled valves in the diverter lines. All valves in the diverter system must be fullopening. You may not install manual or butterfly valves in any part of the diverter system;
30 CFR 250.431(d) (enhanced display)

page 86 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.431(e)

(e) Minimize the number of turns (only one 90-degree turn allowed for each line for bottom-founded drilling
units) in the diverter lines, maximize the radius of curvature of turns, and target all right angles and sharp
turns;
(f) Anchor and support the entire diverter system to prevent whipping and vibration; and
(g) Protect all diverter-control instruments and lines from possible damage by thrown or falling objects.

§ 250.432 How do I obtain a departure to diverter design and installation requirements?
The table below describes possible departures from the diverter requirements and the conditions required for each
departure. To obtain one of these departures, you must have discussed the departure in your APD and received
approval from the District Manager.
If you want a departure to:

Then you must . . .

(a) Use flexible hose for diverter lines instead
of rigid pipe,

Use flexible hose that has integral end couplings.

(b) Use only one spool outlet for your diverter
system,

(1) Have branch lines that meet the minimum internal
diameter requirements; and (2) Provide downwind
diversion capability.

(c) Use a spool with an outlet with an internal
diameter of less than 10 inches on a surface
wellhead,

Use a spool that has dual outlets with an internal
diameter of at least 8 inches.

(d) Use a single diverter line for floating
Maintain an appropriate vessel heading to provide for
drilling operations on a dynamically positioned downwind diversion.
drillship,

§ 250.433 What are the diverter actuation and testing requirements?
When you install the diverter system, you must actuate the diverter sealing element, diverter valves, and divertercontrol systems and control stations. You must also flow-test the vent lines.
(a) For drilling operations with a surface wellhead configuration, you must actuate the diverter system at least
once every 24-hour period after the initial test. After you have nippled up on conductor casing, you must
pressure-test the diverter-sealing element and diverter valves to a minimum of 200 psi. While the diverter
is installed, you must conduct subsequent pressure tests within 7 days after the previous test.
(b) For floating drilling operations with a subsea BOP stack, you must actuate the diverter system within 7
days after the previous actuation. For subsequent testing, you may partially actuate the diverter element
and a flow test is not required.
(c) You must alternate actuations and tests between control stations.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 21975, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.434 What are the recordkeeping requirements for diverter actuations and tests?
You must record the time, date, and results of all diverter actuations and tests in the driller's report. In addition, you
must:

30 CFR 250.434 (enhanced display)

page 87 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.434(a)

(a) Record the diverter pressure test on a pressure chart;
(b) Require your onsite representative to sign and date the pressure test chart;
(c) Identify the control station used during the test or actuation;
(d) Identify problems or irregularities observed during the testing or actuations and record actions taken to
remedy the problems or irregularities; and
(e) Retain all pressure charts and reports pertaining to the diverter tests and actuations at the facility for the
duration of drilling the well.

§§ 250.440-250.451 [Reserved]
§ 250.452 What are the real-time monitoring requirements for Arctic OCS exploratory drilling
operations?
(a) When conducting exploratory drilling operations on the Arctic OCS, you must gather and monitor real-time
data using an independent, automatic, and continuous monitoring system capable of recording, storing,
and transmitting data regarding the following:
(1) The BOP control system;
(2) The well's fluid handling systems on the rig; and
(3) The well's downhole conditions as monitored by a downhole sensing system, when such a system is
installed.
(b) During well operations, you must transmit the data identified in paragraph (a) of this section as they are
gathered, barring unforeseeable or unpreventable interruptions in transmission, and have the capability to
monitor the data onshore, using qualified personnel. Onshore personnel who monitor real-time data must
have the capability to contact rig personnel during operations. After well operations, you must store the
data at a designated location for recordkeeping purposes as required in §§ 250.740 and 250.741. You
must provide BSEE with access to your real-time monitoring data onshore upon request.
[81 FR 46561, July 15, 2016]

DRILLING FLUID REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.455 What are the general requirements for a drilling fluid program?
You must design and implement your drilling fluid program to prevent the loss of well control. This program must
address drilling fluid safe practices, testing and monitoring equipment, drilling fluid quantities, and drilling fluidhandling areas.

§ 250.456 What safe practices must the drilling fluid program follow?
Your drilling fluid program must include the following safe practices:
(a) Before starting out of the hole with drill pipe, you must properly condition the drilling fluid. You must
circulate a volume of drilling fluid equal to the annular volume with the drill pipe just off-bottom. You may
omit this practice if documentation in the driller's report shows:
30 CFR 250.456(a) (enhanced display)

page 88 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.456(a)(1)

(1) No indication of formation fluid influx before starting to pull the drill pipe from the hole;
(2) The weight of returning drilling fluid is within 0.2 pounds per gallon (1.5 pounds per cubic foot) of the
drilling fluid entering the hole; and
(3) Other drilling fluid properties are within the limits established by the program approved in the APD.
(b) Record each time you circulate drilling fluid in the hole in the driller's report;
(c) When coming out of the hole with drill pipe, you must fill the annulus with drilling fluid before the
hydrostatic pressure decreases by 75 psi, or every five stands of drill pipe, whichever gives a lower
decrease in hydrostatic pressure. You must calculate the number of stands of drill pipe and drill collars
that you may pull before you must fill the hole. You must also calculate the equivalent drilling fluid volume
needed to fill the hole. Both sets of numbers must be posted near the driller's station. You must use a
mechanical, volumetric, or electronic device to measure the drilling fluid required to fill the hole;
(d) You must run and pull drill pipe and downhole tools at controlled rates so you do not swab or surge the
well;
(e) When there is an indication of swabbing or influx of formation fluids, you must take appropriate measures
to control the well. You must circulate and condition the well, on or near-bottom, unless well or drillingfluid conditions prevent running the drill pipe back to the bottom;
(f) You must calculate and post near the driller's console the maximum pressures that you may safely
contain under a shut-in BOP for each casing string. The pressures posted must consider the surface
pressure at which the formation at the shoe would break down, the rated working pressure of the BOP
stack, and 70 percent of casing burst (or casing test as approved by the District Manager). As a minimum,
you must post the following two pressures:
(1) The surface pressure at which the shoe would break down. This calculation must consider the
current drilling fluid weight in the hole; and
(2) The lesser of the BOP's rated working pressure or 70 percent of casing-burst pressure (or casing test
otherwise approved by the District Manager);
(g) You must install an operable drilling fluid-gas separator and degasser before you begin drilling operations.
You must maintain this equipment throughout the drilling of the well;
(h) Before pulling drill-stem test tools from the hole, you must circulate or reverse-circulate the test fluids in
the hole. If circulating out test fluids is not feasible, you may bullhead test fluids out of the drill-stem test
string and tools with an appropriate kill weight fluid;
(i)

When circulating, you must test the drilling fluid at least once each tour, or more frequently if conditions
warrant. Your tests must conform to industry-accepted practices and include density, viscosity, and gel
strength; hydrogenion concentration; filtration; and any other tests the District Manager requires for
monitoring and maintaining drilling fluid quality, prevention of downhole equipment problems and for kick
detection. You must record the results of these tests in the drilling fluid report; and

(j)

In areas where permafrost and/or hydrate zones are present or may be present, you must control drilling
fluid temperatures to drill safely through those zones.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26020, Apr. 29, 2016]

30 CFR 250.456(j) (enhanced display)

page 89 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.457

§ 250.457 What equipment is required to monitor drilling fluids?
Once you establish drilling fluid returns, you must install and maintain the following drilling fluid-system monitoring
equipment throughout subsequent drilling operations. This equipment must have the following indicators on the rig
floor:
(a) Pit level indicator to determine drilling fluid-pit volume gains and losses. This indicator must include both
a visual and an audible warning device;
(b) Volume measuring device to accurately determine drilling fluid volumes required to fill the hole on trips;
(c) Return indicator devices that indicate the relationship between drilling fluid-return flow rate and pump
discharge rate. This indicator must include both a visual and an audible warning device; and
(d) Gas-detecting equipment to monitor the drilling fluid returns. The indicator may be located in the drilling
fluid-logging compartment or on the rig floor. If the indicators are only in the logging compartment, you
must continually man the equipment and have a means of immediate communication with the rig floor. If
the indicators are on the rig floor only, you must install an audible alarm.

§ 250.458 What quantities of drilling fluids are required?
(a) You must use, maintain, and replenish quantities of drilling fluid and drilling fluid materials at the drill site
as necessary to ensure well control. You must determine those quantities based on known or anticipated
drilling conditions, rig storage capacity, weather conditions, and estimated time for delivery.
(b) You must record the daily inventories of drilling fluid and drilling fluid materials, including weight materials
and additives in the drilling fluid report.
(c) If you do not have sufficient quantities of drilling fluid and drilling fluid material to maintain well control,
you must suspend drilling operations.

§ 250.459 What are the safety requirements for drilling fluid-handling areas?
You must classify drilling fluid-handling areas according to API RP 500, Recommended Practice for Classification of
Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities, Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2 (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198); or API RP 505, Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities, Classified as Class 1, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 (as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198). In areas where dangerous concentrations of combustible gas may accumulate, you must
install and maintain a ventilation system and gas monitors. Drilling fluid-handling areas must have the following
safety equipment:
(a) A ventilation system capable of replacing the air once every 5 minutes or 1.0 cubic feet of air-volume flow
per minute, per square foot of area, whichever is greater. In addition:
(1) If natural means provide adequate ventilation, then a mechanical ventilation system is not necessary;
(2) If a mechanical system does not run continuously, then it must activate when gas detectors indicate
the presence of 1 percent or more of combustible gas by volume; and

30 CFR 250.459(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 90 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.459(a)(3)

(3) If discharges from a mechanical ventilation system may be hazardous, then you must maintain the
drilling fluid-handling area at a negative pressure. You must protect the negative pressure area by
using at least one of the following: a pressure-sensitive alarm, open-door alarms on each access to
the area, automatic door-closing devices, air locks, or other devices approved by the District
Manager;
(b) Gas detectors and alarms except in open areas where adequate ventilation is provided by natural means.
You must test and recalibrate gas detectors quarterly. No more than 90 days may elapse between tests;
(c) Explosion-proof or pressurized electrical equipment to prevent the ignition of explosive gases. Where you
use air for pressuring equipment, you must locate the air intake outside of and as far as practicable from
hazardous areas; and
(d) Alarms that activate when the mechanical ventilation system fails.

OTHER DRILLING REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.460 What are the requirements for conducting a well test?
(a) If you intend to conduct a well test, you must include your projected plans for the test with your APD (form
BSEE–0123) or in an Application for Permit to Modify (APM) (form BSEE–0124). Your plans must include
at least the following information:
(1) Estimated flowing and shut-in tubing pressures;
(2) Estimated flow rates and cumulative volumes;
(3) Time duration of flow, buildup, and drawdown periods;
(4) Description and rating of surface and subsurface test equipment;
(5) Schematic drawing, showing the layout of test equipment;
(6) Description of safety equipment, including gas detectors and fire-fighting equipment;
(7) Proposed methods to handle or transport produced fluids; and
(8) Description of the test procedures.
(b) You must give the District Manager at least 24-hours notice before starting a well test.

§ 250.461 What are the requirements for directional and inclination surveys?
For this subpart, BSEE classifies a well as vertical if the calculated average of inclination readings does not exceed
3 degrees from the vertical.
(a) Survey requirements for a vertical well.
(1) You must conduct inclination surveys on each vertical well and record the results. Survey intervals
may not exceed 1,000 feet during the normal course of drilling;
(2) You must also conduct a directional survey that provides both inclination and azimuth, and digitally
record the results in electronic format:
(i)

Within 500 feet of setting surface or intermediate casing;

30 CFR 250.461(a)(2)(i) (enhanced display)

page 91 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.461(a)(2)(ii)

(ii) Within 500 feet of setting any liner; and
(iii) When you reach total depth.
(b) Survey requirements for a directional well. You must conduct directional surveys on each directional well
and digitally record the results. Surveys must give both inclination and azimuth at intervals not to exceed
500 feet during the normal course of drilling. Intervals during angle-changing portions of the hole may not
exceed 180 feet.
(c) Measurement while drilling. You may use measurement-while-drilling technology if it meets the
requirements of this section.
(d) Composite survey requirements.
(1) Your composite directional survey must show the interval from the bottom of the conductor casing
to total depth. In the absence of conductor casing, the survey must show the interval from the
bottom of the drive or structural casing to total depth; and
(2) You must correct all surveys to Universal-Transverse-Mercator-Grid-north or Lambert-Grid-north after
making the magnetic-to-true-north correction. Surveys must show the magnetic and grid corrections
used and include a listing of the directionally computed inclinations and azimuths.
(e) If you drill within 500 feet of an adjacent lease, the Regional Supervisor may require you to furnish a copy
of the well's directional survey to the affected leaseholder. This could occur when the adjoining
leaseholder requests a copy of the survey for the protection of correlative rights.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 21975, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.462 What are the source control, containment, and collocated equipment requirements?
For drilling operations using a subsea BOP or surface BOP on a floating facility, you must have the ability to control
or contain a blowout event at the sea floor.
(a) To determine your required source control and containment capabilities you must do the following:
(1) Consider a scenario of the wellbore fully evacuated to reservoir fluids, with no restrictions in the well.
(2) Evaluate the performance of the well as designed to determine if a full shut-in can be achieved
without having reservoir fluids broach to the sea floor. If your evaluation indicates that the well can
only be partially shut-in, then you must determine your ability to flow and capture the residual fluids
to a surface production and storage system.
(b) You must have access to and the ability to deploy Source Control and Containment Equipment (SCCE) and
all other necessary supporting and collocated equipment to regain control of the well. SCCE means the
capping stack, cap-and-flow system, containment dome, and/or other subsea and surface devices,
equipment, and vessels, which have the collective purpose to control a spill source and stop the flow of
fluids into the environment or to contain fluids escaping into the environment based on the
determinations outlined in paragraph (a) of this section. This SCCE, supporting equipment, and collocated
equipment may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Subsea containment and capture equipment, including containment domes and capping stacks;
(2) Subsea utility equipment including hydraulic power sources and hydrate control equipment;
30 CFR 250.462(b)(2) (enhanced display)

page 92 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.462(b)(3)

(3) Collocated equipment including dispersant injection equipment;
(4) Riser systems;
(5) Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs);
(6) Capture vessels;
(7) Support vessels; and
(8) Storage facilities.
(c) You must submit a description of your source control and containment capabilities to the Regional
Supervisor and receive approval before BSEE will approve your APD, Form BSEE–0123. The description of
your containment capabilities must contain the following:
(1) Your source control and containment capabilities for controlling and containing a blowout event at
the seafloor;
(2) A discussion of the determination required in paragraph (a) of this section; and
(3) Information showing that you have access to and the ability to deploy all equipment required by
paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) You must contact the District Manager and Regional Supervisor for reevaluation of your source control
and containment capabilities if your:
(1) Well design changes; or
(2) Approved source control and containment equipment is out of service.
(e) You must maintain, test, and inspect the source control, containment, and collocated equipment identified
in the following table according to these requirements:
Equipment
(1) Capping stacks,

Requirements, you must:

Additional information

(i) Function test all pressure containing
critical components on a quarterly
frequency (not to exceed 104 days
between tests),

Pressure containing critical
components are those components
that will experience wellbore pressure
during a shut-in after being functioned.

(ii) Pressure test pressure containing
critical components on a bi-annual
basis, but not later than 210 days from
the last pressure test. All pressure
testing must be witnessed by BSEE (if
available) and an independent third
party.

Pressure containing critical
components are those components
that will experience wellbore pressure
during a shut-in. These components
include, but are not limited to: All blind
rams, wellhead connectors, and outlet
valves.

(iii) Notify BSEE at least 21 days prior to
commencing any pressure testing
(2) Production safety
systems used for flow
and capture
operations,

(i) Meet or exceed the requirements set
forth in Subpart H, excluding required
equipment that would be installed
below the wellhead or that is not
applicable to the cap and flow system.

30 CFR 250.462(e) (enhanced display)

page 93 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Equipment

Requirements, you must:

30 CFR 250.463

Additional information

(ii) Have all equipment unique to
containment operations available for
inspection at all times
(3) Subsea utility
equipment,

Have all equipment utilized solely for
containment operations available for
inspection at all times

Subsea utility equipment includes, but
is not limited to: Hydraulic power
sources, debris removal, and hydrate
control equipment.

(4) Collocated
equipment designated
by the operator in the
Regional Containment
Demonstration (RCD)
or Well Containment
Plan (WCP),

Have equipment available for
inspection at all times

Collocated equipment includes, but is
not limited to, dispersant injection
equipment and other subsea control
equipment.

[81 FR 26020, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21975, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.463 Who establishes field drilling rules?
(a) The District Manager may establish field drilling rules different from the requirements of this subpart
when geological and engineering information shows that specific operating requirements are appropriate.
You must comply with field drilling rules and nonconflicting requirements of this subpart. The District
Manager may amend or cancel field drilling rules at any time.
(b) You may request the District Manager to establish, amend, or cancel field drilling rules.

APPLYING FOR A PERMIT TO MODIFY AND WELL RECORDS
§ 250.465 When must I submit an Application for Permit to Modify (APM) or an End of
Operations Report to BSEE?
(a) You must submit an APM (form BSEE–0124) or an End of Operations Report (form BSEE–0125) and other
materials to the Regional Supervisor as shown in the following table. You must also submit a public
information copy of each form.
When you . . .

Then you must . . .

And . . .

(1) Intend to
revise your
drilling plan,
change major
drilling
equipment, or
plugback,

Submit form
BSEE–0124 or
request oral
approval,

Receive written or oral approval from the District Manager before
you begin the intended operation. If you get an approval, you
must submit form BSEE–0124 no later than the end of the 3rd
business day following the oral approval. In all cases, or you
must meet the additional requirements in paragraph (b) of this
section.

(2) Determine a
well's final
surface location,
water depth, and

Immediately
Submit a form
BSEE–0124,

Submit a plat certified by a registered land surveyor that meets
the requirements of § 250.412.

30 CFR 250.465(a) (enhanced display)

page 94 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

When you . . .

Then you must . . .

30 CFR 250.465(b)

And . . .

the rotary kelly
bushing elevation,
(3) Move a drilling
unit from a
wellbore before
completing a well,

Submit forms
BSEE–0124 and
BSEE–0125 within
30 days after the
suspension of
wellbore
operations,

Submit appropriate copies of the well records.

(b) If you intend to perform any of the actions specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, you must meet the
following additional requirements:
(1) Your APM (Form BSEE–0124) must contain a detailed statement of the proposed work that would
materially change from the approved APD. The submission of your APM must be accompanied by
payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125;
(2) Your form BSEE–0124 must include the present status of the well, depth of all casing strings set to
date, well depth, present production zones and productive capability, and all other information
specified; and
(3) Within 30 days after completing this work, you must submit an End of Operations Report (EOR), Form
BSEE–0125, as required under § 250.744.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§§ 250.466-250.469 [Reserved]
ADDITIONAL ARCTIC OCS REQUIREMENTS
Source: 81 FR 46561, July 15, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

§ 250.470 What additional information must I submit with my APD for Arctic OCS exploratory
drilling operations?
In addition to complying with all other applicable requirements included in this part, you must provide with your APD
all of the following information pertaining to your proposed Arctic OCS exploratory drilling:
(a) A detailed description of:
(1) The environmental, meteorological, and oceanic conditions you expect to encounter at the well
site(s);
(2) How you will prepare your equipment, materials, and drilling unit for service in the conditions
identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and how your drilling unit will be in compliance with the
requirements of § 250.713.

30 CFR 250.470(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 95 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.470(b)

(b) A detailed description of all operations necessary in Arctic OCS conditions to transition the rig from being
under way to conducting drilling operations and from ending drilling operations to being under way, as
well as any anticipated repair and maintenance plans for the drilling unit and equipment. You should
include, among other things, a description of how you plan to:
(1) Recover the subsea equipment, including the marine riser and the lower marine riser package;
(2) Recover the BOP;
(3) Recover the auxiliary sub-sea controls and template;
(4) Lay down the drill pipe and secure the drill pipe and marine riser;
(5) Secure the drilling equipment;
(6) Transfer the fluids for transport or disposal;
(7) Secure ancillary equipment like the draw works and lines;
(8) Refuel or transfer fuel;
(9) Offload waste;
(10) Recover the Remotely Operated Vehicles;
(11) Pick up the oil spill prevention booms and equipment; and
(12) Offload the drilling crew.
(c) A description of well-specific drilling objectives, timelines, and updated contingency plans for temporary
abandonment of the well, including but not limited to the following:
(1) When you will spud the particular well (i.e., begin drilling operations at the well site) identified in the
APD;
(2) How long you will take to drill the well;
(3) Anticipated depths and geologic targets, with timelines;
(4) When you expect to set and cement each string of casing;
(5) When and how you would log the well;
(6) Your plans to test the well;
(7) When and how you intend to abandon the well, including specifically addressing your plans for how
to move the rig off location and how you will meet the requirements of § 250.720(c);
(8) A description of what equipment and vessels will be involved in the process of temporarily
abandoning the well due to ice; and
(9) An explanation of how you will integrate these elements into your overall program.
(d) A detailed description of your weather and ice forecasting capability for all phases of the drilling
operation, including:
(1) How you will ensure your continuous awareness of potential weather and ice hazards at, and during
transition between, wells;
(2) Your plans for managing ice hazards and responding to weather events; and
30 CFR 250.470(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 96 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.470(d)(3)

(3) Verification that you have the capabilities described in your BOEM-approved EP.
(e) A detailed description of how you will comply with the requirements of § 250.472.
(f) A statement that you own, or have a contract with a provider for, source control and containment
equipment (SCCE), which is capable of controlling and/or containing a worst case discharge, as described
in your BOEM-approved EP, when proposing to use a MODU to conduct exploratory drilling operations on
the Arctic OCS. The following information must be included in your SCCE submittal:
(1) A detailed description of your or your contractor's SCCE capability to stop or contain flow from an
out-of-control well, including your operating assumptions and limitations; your access to and ability
to deploy, in accordance with § 250.471, all necessary SCCE; and your ability to evaluate the
performance of the well design to determine how you can achieve a full shut-in without having
reservoir fluids discharged into the environment;
(2) An inventory of the local and regional SCCE, supplies, and services that you own or for which you
have a contract with a provider. You must identify each supplier of such equipment and services and
provide their locations and telephone numbers;
(3) Where applicable, proof of contracts or membership agreements with cooperatives, service
providers, or other contractors who will provide you with the necessary SCCE or related supplies and
services if you do not possess them. The contract or membership agreement must include
provisions for ensuring the availability of the personnel and/or equipment on a 24-hour per day basis
while you are drilling below or working below the surface casing;
(4) A detailed description of the procedures you plan to use to inspect, test, and maintain your SCCE;
and
(5) A detailed description of your plan to ensure that all members of your operating team, who are
responsible for operating the SCCE, have received the necessary training to deploy and operate such
equipment in Arctic OCS conditions and demonstrate ongoing proficiency in source control
operations. You must also identify and include the dates of prior and planned training.
(g) Where it does not conflict with other requirements of this subpart, and except as provided in paragraphs
(g)(1) through (11) of this section, you must comply with the requirements of API RP 2N, Third Edition
“Planning, Designing, and Constructing Structures and Pipelines for Arctic Conditions” (incorporated by
reference as specified in § 250.198), and provide a detailed description of how you will utilize the best
practices included in API RP 2N during your exploratory drilling operations. You are not required to
incorporate the following sections of API RP 2N into your drilling operations:
(1) Sections 6.6.3 through 6.6.4;
(2) The foundation recommendations in Section 8.4;
(3) Section 9.6;
(4) The recommendations for permanently moored systems in Section 9.7;
(5) The recommendations for pile foundations in Section 9.10;
(6) Section 12;
(7) Section 13.2.1;
(8) Sections 13.8.1.1, 13.8.2.1, 13.8.2.2, 13.8.2.4 through 13.8.2.7;
30 CFR 250.470(g)(8) (enhanced display)

page 97 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.470(g)(9)

(9) Sections 13.9.1, 13.9.2, 13.9.4 through 13.9.8;
(10) Sections 14 through 16; and
(11) Section 18.

§ 250.471 What are the requirements for Arctic OCS source control and containment?
You must meet the following requirements for all exploration wells drilled on the Arctic OCS:
(a) If you use a MODU when drilling below or working below the surface casing, you must have access to the
following SCCE capable of stopping or capturing the flow of an out-of-control well:
(1) A capping stack, positioned to ensure that it will arrive at the well location within 24 hours after a
loss of well control and can be deployed as directed by the Regional Supervisor pursuant to
paragraph (h) of this section;
(2) A cap and flow system, positioned to ensure that it will arrive at the well location within 7 days after a
loss of well control and can be deployed as directed by the Regional Supervisor pursuant to
paragraph (h) of this section. The cap and flow system must be designed to capture at least the
amount of hydrocarbons equivalent to the calculated worst case discharge rate referenced in your
BOEM-approved EP; and
(3) A containment dome, positioned to ensure that it will arrive at the well location within 7 days after a
loss of well control and can be deployed as directed by the Regional Supervisor pursuant to
paragraph (h) of this section. The containment dome must have the capacity to pump fluids without
relying on buoyancy.
(b) You must conduct a monthly stump test of dry-stored capping stacks. If you use a pre-positioned capping
stack, you must conduct a stump test prior to each installation on each well.
(c) As required by § 250.465(a), if you propose to change your well design, you must submit an APM. For
Arctic OCS operations, your APM must include a reevaluation of your SCCE capabilities for any new Worst
Case Discharge (WCD) rate, and a demonstration that your SCCE capabilities will meet the criteria in §
250.470(f) under the changed well design.
(d) You must conduct tests or exercises of your SCCE, including deployment of your SCCE, when directed by
the Regional Supervisor.
(e) You must maintain records pertaining to testing, inspection, and maintenance of your SCCE for at least 10
years and make the records available to any authorized BSEE representative upon request.
(f) You must maintain records pertaining to the use of your SCCE during testing, training, and deployment
activities for at least 3 years and make the records available to any authorized BSEE representative upon
request.
(g) Upon a loss of well control, you must initiate transit of all SCCE identified in paragraph (a) of this section
to the well.
(h) You must deploy and use SCCE when directed by the Regional Supervisor.
(i)

Operators may request approval of alternate procedures or equipment to the SCCE requirements of
subparagraph (a) of this section in accordance with § 250.141. The operator must show and document
that the alternate procedures or equipment will provide a level of safety and environmental protection that

30 CFR 250.471(i) (enhanced display)

page 98 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.472

will meet or exceed the level of safety and environmental protection required by BSEE regulations,
including demonstrating that the alternate procedures or equipment will be capable of stopping or
capturing the flow of an out-of-control well.

§ 250.472 What are the relief rig requirements for the Arctic OCS?
(a) In the event of a loss of well control, the Regional Supervisor may direct you to drill a relief well using the
relief rig able to kill and permanently plug an out-of-control well as described in your APD. Your relief rig
must comply with all other requirements of this part pertaining to drill rig characteristics and capabilities,
and it must be able to drill a relief well under anticipated Arctic OCS conditions.
(b) When you are drilling below or working below the surface casing during Arctic OCS exploratory drilling
operations, you must have access to a relief rig, different from your primary drilling rig, staged in a
location such that it can arrive on site, drill a relief well, kill and abandon the original well, and abandon the
relief well prior to expected seasonal ice encroachment at the drill site, but no later than 45 days after the
loss of well control.
(c) Operators may request approval of alternative compliance measures to the relief rig requirement in
accordance with § 250.141. The operator must show and document that the alternate compliance
measure will meet or exceed the level of safety and environmental protection required by BSEE
regulations, including demonstrating that the alternate compliance measure will be able to kill and
permanently plug an out-of-control well.

§ 250.473 What must I do to protect health, safety, property, and the environment while
operating on the Arctic OCS?
In addition to the requirements set forth in § 250.107, when conducting exploratory drilling operations on the Arctic
OCS, you must protect health, safety, property, and the environment by using the following:
(a) Equipment and materials that are rated or de-rated for service under conditions that can be reasonably
expected during your operations; and
(b) Measures to address human factors associated with weather conditions that can be reasonably expected
during your operations including, but not limited to, provision of proper attire and equipment, construction
of protected work spaces, and management of shifts.

HYDROGEN SULFIDE
§ 250.490 Hydrogen sulfide.
(a) What precautions must I take when operating in an H2S area? You must:
(1) Take all necessary and feasible precautions and measures to protect personnel from the toxic
effects of H2S and to mitigate damage to property and the environment caused by H2S. You must
follow the requirements of this section when conducting drilling, well-completion/well-workover, and
production operations in zones with H2S present and when conducting operations in zones where
the presence of H2S is unknown. You do not need to follow these requirements when operating in
zones where the absence of H2S has been confirmed; and
(2) Follow your approved contingency plan.
(b) Definitions. Terms used in this section have the following meanings:
30 CFR 250.490(b) (enhanced display)

page 99 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(b) “Facility”

Facility means a vessel, a structure, or an artificial island used for drilling, well-completion, well-workover,
and/or production operations.
H2S absent means:
(1) Drilling, logging, coring, testing, or producing operations have confirmed the absence of H2S in
concentrations that could potentially result in atmospheric concentrations of 20 ppm or more
of H2S; or
(2) Drilling in the surrounding areas and correlation of geological and seismic data with equivalent
stratigraphic units have confirmed an absence of H2S throughout the area to be drilled.
H2S present means that drilling, logging, coring, testing, or producing operations have confirmed the
presence of H2S in concentrations and volumes that could potentially result in atmospheric
concentrations of 20 ppm or more of H2S.
H2S unknown means the designation of a zone or geologic formation where neither the presence nor
absence of H2S has been confirmed.
Well-control fluid means drilling mud and completion or workover fluid as appropriate to the particular
operation being conducted.
(c) Classifying an area for the presence of H2S. You must:
(1) Request and obtain an approved classification for the area from the Regional Supervisor before you
begin operations. Classifications are “H2S absent,” H2S present,” or “H2S unknown”;
(2) Submit your request with your application for permit to drill;
(3) Support your request with available information such as geologic and geophysical data and
correlations, well logs, formation tests, cores and analysis of formation fluids; and
(4) Submit a request for reclassification of a zone when additional data indicate a different classification
is needed.
(d) What do I do if conditions change? If you encounter H2S that could potentially result in atmospheric
concentrations of 20 ppm or more in areas not previously classified as having H2S present, you must
immediately notify BSEE and begin to follow requirements for areas with H2S present.
(e) What are the requirements for conducting simultaneous operations? When conducting any combination of
drilling, well-completion, well-workover, and production operations simultaneously, you must follow the
requirements in the section applicable to each individual operation.
(f) Requirements for submitting an H2S Contingency Plan. Before you begin operations, you must submit an
H2S Contingency Plan to the District Manager for approval. Do not begin operations before the District
Manager approves your plan. You must keep a copy of the approved plan in the field, and you must follow
the plan at all times. Your plan must include:
(1) Safety procedures and rules that you will follow concerning equipment, drills, and smoking;
(2) Training you provide for employees, contractors, and visitors;
(3) Job position and title of the person responsible for the overall safety of personnel;
(4) Other key positions, how these positions fit into your organization, and what the functions, duties,
and responsibilities of those job positions are;
30 CFR 250.490(f)(4) (enhanced display)

page 100 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(f)(5)

(5) Actions that you will take when the concentration of H2S in the atmosphere reaches 20 ppm, who will
be responsible for those actions, and a description of the audible and visual alarms to be activated;
(6) Briefing areas where personnel will assemble during an H2S alert. You must have at least two briefing
areas on each facility and use the briefing area that is upwind of the H2S source at any given time;
(7) Criteria you will use to decide when to evacuate the facility and procedures you will use to safely
evacuate all personnel from the facility by vessel, capsule, or lifeboat. If you use helicopters during
H2S alerts, describe the types of H2S emergencies during which you consider the risk of helicopter
activity to be acceptable and the precautions you will take during the flights;
(8) Procedures you will use to safely position all vessels attendant to the facility. Indicate where you will
locate the vessels with respect to wind direction. Include the distance from the facility and what
procedures you will use to safely relocate the vessels in an emergency;
(9) How you will provide protective-breathing equipment for all personnel, including contractors and
visitors;
(10) The agencies and facilities you will notify in case of a release of H2S (that constitutes an
emergency), how you will notify them, and their telephone numbers. Include all facilities that might
be exposed to atmospheric concentrations of 20 ppm or more of H2S;
(11) The medical personnel and facilities you will use if needed, their addresses, and telephone numbers;
(12) H2S detector locations in production facilities producing gas containing 20 ppm or more of H2S.
Include an “H2S Detector Location Drawing” showing:
(i)

All vessels, flare outlets, wellheads, and other equipment handling production containing H2S;

(ii) Approximate maximum concentration of H2S in the gas stream; and
(iii) Location of all H2S sensors included in your contingency plan;
(13) Operational conditions when you expect to flare gas containing H2S including the estimated
maximum gas flow rate, H2S concentration, and duration of flaring;
(14) Your assessment of the risks to personnel during flaring and what precautionary measures you will
take;
(15) Primary and alternate methods to ignite the flare and procedures for sustaining ignition and
monitoring the status of the flare (i.e., ignited or extinguished);
(16) Procedures to shut off the gas to the flare in the event the flare is extinguished;
(17) Portable or fixed sulphur dioxide (SO2)-detection system(s) you will use to determine SO2
concentration and exposure hazard when H2S is burned;
(18) Increased monitoring and warning procedures you will take when the SO2 concentration in the
atmosphere reaches 2 ppm;
(19) Personnel protection measures or evacuation procedures you will initiate when the SO2
concentration in the atmosphere reaches 5 ppm;
(20) Engineering controls to protect personnel from SO2; and
(21) Any special equipment, procedures, or precautions you will use if you conduct any combination of
drilling, well-completion, well-workover, and production operations simultaneously.
30 CFR 250.490(f)(21) (enhanced display)

page 101 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(g)

(g) Training program:
(1) When and how often do employees need to be trained? All operators and contract personnel must
complete an H2S training program to meet the requirements of this section:
(i)

Before beginning work at the facility; and

(ii) Each year, within 1 year after completion of the previous class.
(2) What training documentation do I need? For each individual working on the platform, either:
(i)

You must have documentation of this training at the facility where the individual is employed; or

(ii) The employee must carry a training completion card.
(3) What training do I need to give to visitors and employees previously trained on another facility?
(i)

Trained employees or contractors transferred from another facility must attend a supplemental
briefing on your H2S equipment and procedures before beginning duty at your facility;

(ii) Visitors who will remain on your facility more than 24 hours must receive the training required
for employees by paragraph (g)(4) of this section; and
(iii) Visitors who will depart before spending 24 hours on the facility are exempt from the training
required for employees, but they must, upon arrival, complete a briefing that includes:
(A) Information on the location and use of an assigned respirator; practice in donning and
adjusting the assigned respirator; information on the safe briefing areas, alarm system,
and hazards of H2S and SO2; and
(B) Instructions on their responsibilities in the event of an H2S release.
(4) What training must I provide to all other employees? You must train all individuals on your facility on
the:
(i)

Hazards of H2S and of SO2 and the provisions for personnel safety contained in the H2S
Contingency Plan;

(ii) Proper use of safety equipment which the employee may be required to use;
(iii) Location of protective breathing equipment, H2S detectors and alarms, ventilation equipment,
briefing areas, warning systems, evacuation procedures, and the direction of prevailing winds;
(iv) Restrictions and corrective measures concerning beards, spectacles, and contact lenses in
conformance with ANSI Z88.2, American National Standard for Respiratory Protection (as
specified in § 250.198);
(v) Basic first-aid procedures applicable to victims of H2S exposure. During all drills and training
sessions, you must address procedures for rescue and first aid for H2S victims;
(vi) Location of:
(A) The first-aid kit on the facility;
(B) Resuscitators; and
(C) Litter or other device on the facility.
(vii) Meaning of all warning signals.
30 CFR 250.490(g)(4)(vii) (enhanced display)

page 102 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(g)(5)

(5) Do I need to post safety information? You must prominently post safety information on the facility
and on vessels serving the facility (i.e., basic first-aid, escape routes, instructions for use of life
boats, etc.).
(h) Drills.
(1) When and how often do I need to conduct drills on H2S safety discussions on the facility? You must:
(i)

Conduct a drill for each person at the facility during normal duty hours at least once every 7-day
period. The drills must consist of a dry-run performance of personnel activities related to
assigned jobs.

(ii) At a safety meeting or other meetings of all personnel, discuss drill performance, new H2S
considerations at the facility, and other updated H2S information at least monthly.
(2) What documentation do I need? You must keep records of attendance for:
(i)

Drilling, well-completion, and well-workover operations at the facility until operations are
completed; and

(ii) Production operations at the facility or at the nearest field office for 1 year.
(i)

Visual and audible warning systems:
(1) How must I install wind direction equipment? You must install wind-direction equipment in a location
visible at all times to individuals on or in the immediate vicinity of the facility.
(2) When do I need to display operational danger signs, display flags, or activate visual or audible alarms?
(i)

You must display warning signs at all times on facilities with wells capable of producing H2S
and on facilities that process gas containing H2S in concentrations of 20 ppm or more.

(ii) In addition to the signs, you must activate audible alarms and display flags or activate flashing
red lights when atmospheric concentration of H2S reaches 20 ppm.
(3) What are the requirements for signs? Each sign must be a high-visibility yellow color with black
lettering as follows:
Letter height
12 inches

Wording
Danger.
Poisonous Gas.
Hydrogen Sulfide.

7 inches

Do not approach if red flag is flying.

(Use appropriate wording at right)

Do not approach if red lights are flashing.

(4) May I use existing signs? You may use existing signs containing the words “Danger-Hydrogen
Sulfide-H2S,” provided the words “Poisonous Gas. Do Not Approach if Red Flag is Flying” or “Red
Lights are Flashing” in lettering of a minimum of 7 inches in height are displayed on a sign
immediately adjacent to the existing sign.

30 CFR 250.490(i)(4) (enhanced display)

page 103 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(i)(5)

(5) What are the requirements for flashing lights or flags? You must activate a sufficient number of lights
or hoist a sufficient number of flags to be visible to vessels and aircraft. Each light must be of
sufficient intensity to be seen by approaching vessels or aircraft any time it is activated (day or
night). Each flag must be red, rectangular, a minimum width of 3 feet, and a minimum height of 2
feet.
(6) What is an audible warning system? An audible warning system is a public address system or siren,
horn, or other similar warning device with a unique sound used only for H2S.
(7) Are there any other requirements for visual or audible warning devices? Yes, you must:
(i)

Illuminate all signs and flags at night and under conditions of poor visibility; and

(ii) Use warning devices that are suitable for the electrical classification of the area.
(8) What actions must I take when the alarms are activated? When the warning devices are activated, the
designated responsible persons must inform personnel of the level of danger and issue instructions
on the initiation of appropriate protective measures.
(j)

H2S-detection and H2S monitoring equipment:
(1) What are the requirements for an H2S detection system? An H2S detection system must:
(i)

Be capable of sensing a minimum of 10 ppm of H2S in the atmosphere; and

(ii) Activate audible and visual alarms when the concentration of H2S in the atmosphere reaches 20
ppm.
(2) Where must I have sensors for drilling, well-completion, and well-workover operations? You must
locate sensors at the:
(i)

Bell nipple;

(ii) Mud-return line receiver tank (possum belly);
(iii) Pipe-trip tank;
(iv) Shale shaker;
(v) Well-control fluid pit area;
(vi) Driller's station;
(vii) Living quarters; and
(viii) All other areas where H2S may accumulate.
(3) Do I need mud sensors? The District Manager may require mud sensors in the possum belly in cases
where the ambient air sensors in the mud-return system do not consistently detect the presence of
H2S.
(4) How often must I observe the sensors? During drilling, well-completion and well-workover operations,
you must continuously observe the H2S levels indicated by the monitors in the work areas during the
following operations:
(i)

When you pull a wet string of drill pipe or workover string;

(ii) When circulating bottoms-up after a drilling break;
30 CFR 250.490(j)(4)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 104 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(j)(4)(iii)

(iii) During cementing operations;
(iv) During logging operations; and
(v) When circulating to condition mud or other well-control fluid.
(5) Where must I have sensors for production operations? On a platform where gas containing H2S of 20
ppm or greater is produced, processed, or otherwise handled:
(i)

You must have a sensor in rooms, buildings, deck areas, or low-laying deck areas not otherwise
covered by paragraph (j)(2) of this section, where atmospheric concentrations of H2S could
reach 20 ppm or more. You must have at least one sensor per 400 square feet of deck area or
fractional part of 400 square feet;

(ii) You must have a sensor in buildings where personnel have their living quarters;
(iii) You must have a sensor within 10 feet of each vessel, compressor, wellhead, manifold, or pump,
which could release enough H2S to result in atmospheric concentrations of 20 ppm at a
distance of 10 feet from the component;
(iv) You may use one sensor to detect H2S around multiple pieces of equipment, provided the
sensor is located no more than 10 feet from each piece, except that you need to use at least
two sensors to monitor compressors exceeding 50 horsepower;
(v) You do not need to have sensors near wells that are shut in at the master valve and sealed
closed;
(vi) When you determine where to place sensors, you must consider:
(A) The location of system fittings, flanges, valves, and other devices subject to leaks to the
atmosphere; and
(B) Design factors, such as the type of decking and the location of fire walls; and
(vii) The District Manager may require additional sensors or other monitoring capabilities, if
warranted by site specific conditions.
(6) How must I functionally test the H2S Detectors?
(i)

Personnel trained to calibrate the particular H2S detector equipment being used must test
detectors by exposing them to a known concentration in the range of 10 to 30 ppm of H2S.

(ii) If the results of any functional test are not within 2 ppm or 10 percent, whichever is greater, of
the applied concentration, recalibrate the instrument.
(7) How often must I test my detectors?
(i)

When conducting drilling, drill stem testing, well-completion, or well-workover operations in
areas classified as H2S present or H2S unknown, test all detectors at least once every 24 hours.
When drilling, begin functional testing before the bit is 1,500 feet (vertically) above the potential
H2S zone.

(ii) When conducting production operations, test all detectors at least every 14 days between tests.
(iii) If equipment requires calibration as a result of two consecutive functional tests, the District
Manager may require that H2S-detection and H2S-monitoring equipment be functionally tested
and calibrated more frequently.
30 CFR 250.490(j)(7)(iii) (enhanced display)

page 105 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(j)(8)

(8) What documentation must I keep?
(i)

You must maintain records of testing and calibrations (in the drilling or production operations
report, as applicable) at the facility to show the present status and history of each device,
including dates and details concerning:
(A) Installation;
(B) Removal;
(C) Inspection;
(D) Repairs;
(E) Adjustments; and
(F) Reinstallation.

(ii) Records must be available for inspection by BSEE personnel.
(9) What are the requirements for nearby vessels? If vessels are stationed overnight alongside facilities
in areas of H2S present or H2S unknown, you must equip vessels with an H2S-detection system that
activates audible and visual alarms when the concentration of H2S in the atmosphere reaches 20
ppm. This requirement does not apply to vessels positioned upwind and at a safe distance from the
facility in accordance with the positioning procedure described in the approved H2S Contingency
Plan.
(10) What are the requirements for nearby facilities? The District Manager may require you to equip
nearby facilities with portable or fixed H2S detector(s) and to test and calibrate those detectors. To
invoke this requirement, the District Manager will consider dispersion modeling results from a
possible release to determine if 20 ppm H2S concentration levels could be exceeded at nearby
facilities.
(11) What must I do to protect against SO2 if I burn gas containing H2S? You must:
(i)

Monitor the SO2concentration in the air with portable or strategically placed fixed devices
capable of detecting a minimum of 2 ppm of SO2;

(ii) Take readings at least hourly and at any time personnel detect SO2 odor or nasal irritation;
(iii) Implement the personnel protective measures specified in the H2S Contingency Plan if the SO2
concentration in the work area reaches 2 ppm; and
(iv) Calibrate devices every 3 months if you use fixed or portable electronic sensing devices to
detect SO2.
(12) May I use alternative measures? You may follow alternative measures instead of those in paragraph
(j)(11) of this section if you propose and the Regional Supervisor approves the alternative measures.
(13) What are the requirements for protective-breathing equipment? In an area classified as H2S present
or H2S unknown, you must:
(i)

Provide all personnel, including contractors and visitors on a facility, with immediate access to
self-contained pressure-demand-type respirators with hoseline capability and breathing time of
at least 15 minutes.

30 CFR 250.490(j)(13)(i) (enhanced display)

page 106 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(j)(13)(ii)

(ii) Design, select, use, and maintain respirators in conformance with ANSI Z88.2 (as specified in §
250.198).
(iii) Make available at least two voice-transmission devices, which can be used while wearing a
respirator, for use by designated personnel.
(iv) Make spectacle kits available as needed.
(v) Store protective-breathing equipment in a location that is quickly and easily accessible to all
personnel.
(vi) Label all breathing-air bottles as containing breathing-quality air for human use.
(vii) Ensure that vessels attendant to facilities carry appropriate protective-breathing equipment for
each crew member. The District Manager may require additional protective-breathing
equipment on certain vessels attendant to the facility.
(viii) During H2S alerts, limit helicopter flights to and from facilities to the conditions specified in the
H2S Contingency Plan. During authorized flights, the flight crew and passengers must use
pressure-demand-type respirators. You must train all members of flight crews in the use of the
particular type(s) of respirator equipment made available.
(ix) As appropriate to the particular operation(s), (production, drilling, well-completion or wellworkover operations, or any combination of them), provide a system of breathing-air manifolds,
hoses, and masks at the facility and the briefing areas. You must provide a cascade air-bottle
system for the breathing-air manifolds to refill individual protective-breathing apparatus bottles.
The cascade air-bottle system may be recharged by a high-pressure compressor suitable for
providing breathing-quality air, provided the compressor suction is located in an
uncontaminated atmosphere.
(k) Personnel safety equipment:
(1) What additional personnel-safety equipment do I need? You must ensure that your facility has:
(i)

Portable H2S detectors capable of detecting a 10 ppm concentration of H2S in the air available
for use by all personnel;

(ii) Retrieval ropes with safety harnesses to retrieve incapacitated personnel from contaminated
areas;
(iii) Chalkboards and/or note pads for communication purposes located on the rig floor, shaleshaker area, the cement-pump rooms, well-bay areas, production processing equipment area,
gas compressor area, and pipeline-pump area;
(iv) Bull horns and flashing lights; and
(v) At least three resuscitators on manned facilities, and a number equal to the personnel on board,
not to exceed three, on normally unmanned facilities, complete with face masks, oxygen
bottles, and spare oxygen bottles.
(2) What are the requirements for ventilation equipment? You must:
(i)

Use only explosion-proof ventilation devices;

(ii) Install ventilation devices in areas where H2S or SO2 may accumulate; and
30 CFR 250.490(k)(2)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 107 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(k)(2)(iii)

(iii) Provide movable ventilation devices in work areas. The movable ventilation devices must be
multidirectional and capable of dispersing H2S or SO2 vapors away from working personnel.
(3) What other personnel safety equipment do I need? You must have the following equipment readily
available on each facility:
(i)

A first-aid kit of appropriate size and content for the number of personnel on the facility; and

(ii) At least one litter or an equivalent device.
(l)

Do I need to notify BSEE in the event of an H2S release? You must notify BSEE without delay in the event of
a gas release which results in a 15-minute time-weighted average atmospheric concentration of H2S of 20
ppm or more anywhere on the OCS facility. You must report these gas releases to the District Manager
immediately by oral communication, with a written follow-up report within 15 days, pursuant to §§
250.188 through 250.190.

(m) Do I need to use special drilling, completion and workover fluids or procedures? When working in an area
classified as H2S present or H2S unknown:
(1) You may use either water- or oil-base muds in accordance with § 250.300(b)(1).
(2) If you use water-base well-control fluids, and if ambient air sensors detect H2S, you must
immediately conduct either the Garrett-Gas-Train test or a comparable test for soluble sulfides to
confirm the presence of H2S.
(3) If the concentration detected by air sensors in over 20 ppm, personnel conducting the tests must don
protective-breathing equipment conforming to paragraph (j)(13) of this section.
(4) You must maintain on the facility sufficient quantities of additives for the control of H2S, well-control
fluid pH, and corrosion equipment.
(i)

Scavengers. You must have scavengers for control of H2S available on the facility. When H2S is
detected, you must add scavengers as needed. You must suspend drilling until the scavenger is
circulated throughout the system.

(ii) Control pH. You must add additives for the control of pH to water-base well-control fluids in
sufficient quantities to maintain pH of at least 10.0.
(iii) Corrosion inhibitors. You must add additives to the well-control fluid system as needed for the
control of corrosion.
(5) You must degas well-control fluids containing H2S at the optimum location for the particular facility.
You must collect the gases removed and burn them in a closed flare system conforming to
paragraph (q)(6) of this section.
(n) What must I do in the event of a kick? In the event of a kick, you must use one of the following alternatives
to dispose of the well-influx fluids giving consideration to personnel safety, possible environmental
damage, and possible facility well-equipment damage:
(1) Contain the well-fluid influx by shutting in the well and pumping the fluids back into the formation.
(2) Control the kick by using appropriate well-control techniques to prevent formation fracturing in an
open hole within the pressure limits of the well equipment (drill pipe, work string, casing, wellhead,
BOP system, and related equipment). The disposal of H2S and other gases must be through
pressurized or atmospheric mud-separator equipment depending on volume, pressure and
30 CFR 250.490(n)(2) (enhanced display)

page 108 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(o)

concentration of H2S. The equipment must be designed to recover well-control fluids and burn the
gases separated from the well-control fluid. The well-control fluid must be treated to neutralize H2S
and restore and maintain the proper quality.
(o) Well testing in a zone known to contain H2S. When testing a well in a zone with H2S present, you must do
all of the following:
(1) Before starting a well test, conduct safety meetings for all personnel who will be on the facility during
the test. At the meetings, emphasize the use of protective-breathing equipment, first-aid procedures,
and the Contingency Plan. Only competent personnel who are trained and are knowledgeable of the
hazardous effects of H2S must be engaged in these tests.
(2) Perform well testing with the minimum number of personnel in the immediate vicinity of the rig floor
and with the appropriate test equipment to safely and adequately perform the test. During the test,
you must continuously monitor H2S levels.
(3) Not burn produced gases except through a flare which meets the requirements of paragraph (q)(6) of
this section. Before flaring gas containing H2S, you must activate SO2 monitoring equipment in
accordance with paragraph (j)(11) of this section. If you detect SO2 in excess of 2 ppm, you must
implement the personnel protective measures in your H2S Contingency Plan, required by paragraph
(f) of this section. You must also follow the requirements of § 250.1164. You must pipe gases from
stored test fluids into the flare outlet and burn them.
(4) Use downhole test tools and wellhead equipment suitable for H2S service.
(5) Use tubulars suitable for H2S service. You must not use drill pipe for well testing without the prior
approval of the District Manager. Water cushions must be thoroughly inhibited in order to prevent
H2S attack on metals. You must flush the test string fluid treated for this purpose after completion of
the test.
(6) Use surface test units and related equipment that is designed for H2S service.
(p) Metallurgical properties of equipment. When operating in a zone with H2S present, you must use
equipment that is constructed of materials with metallurgical properties that resist or prevent sulfide
stress cracking (also known as hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking, or H2S embrittlement),
chloride-stress cracking, hydrogen-induced cracking, and other failure modes. You must do all of the
following:
(1) Use tubulars and other equipment, casing, tubing, drill pipe, couplings, flanges, and related
equipment that is designed for H2S service.
(2) Use BOP system components, wellhead, pressure-control equipment, and related equipment
exposed to H2S-bearing fluids in conformance with NACE Standard MR0175–03 (as specified in §
250.198).
(3) Use temporary downhole well-security devices such as retrievable packers and bridge plugs that are
designed for H2S service.
(4) When producing in zones bearing H2S, use equipment constructed of materials capable of resisting
or preventing sulfide stress cracking.
(5) Keep the use of welding to a minimum during the installation or modification of a production facility.
Welding must be done in a manner that ensures resistance to sulfide stress cracking.
30 CFR 250.490(p)(5) (enhanced display)

page 109 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(q)

(q) General requirements when operating in an H2S zone:
(1) Coring operations. When you conduct coring operations in H2S-bearing zones, all personnel in the
working area must wear protective-breathing equipment at least 10 stands in advance of retrieving
the core barrel. Cores to be transported must be sealed and marked for the presence of H2S.
(2) Logging operations. You must treat and condition well-control fluid in use for logging operations to
minimize the effects of H2S on the logging equipment.
(3) Stripping operations. Personnel must monitor displaced well-control fluid returns and wear
protective-breathing equipment in the working area when the atmospheric concentration of H2S
reaches 20 ppm or if the well is under pressure.
(4) Gas-cut well-control fluid or well kick from H2S-bearing zone. If you decide to circulate out a kick,
personnel in the working area during bottoms-up and extended-kill operations must wear protectivebreathing equipment.
(5) Drill- and workover-string design and precautions. Drill- and workover-strings must be designed
consistent with the anticipated depth, conditions of the hole, and reservoir environment to be
encountered. You must minimize exposure of the drill- or workover-string to high stresses as much
as practical and consistent with well conditions. Proper handling techniques must be taken to
minimize notching and stress concentrations. Precautions must be taken to minimize stresses
caused by doglegs, improper stiffness ratios, improper torque, whip, abrasive wear on tool joints, and
joint imbalance.
(6) Flare system. The flare outlet must be of a diameter that allows easy nonrestricted flow of gas. You
must locate flare line outlets on the downside of the facility and as far from the facility as is feasible,
taking into account the prevailing wind directions, the wake effects caused by the facility and
adjacent structure(s), and the height of all such facilities and structures. You must equip the flare
outlet with an automatic ignition system including a pilot-light gas source or an equivalent system.
You must have alternate methods for igniting the flare. You must pipe to the flare system used for
H2S all vents from production process equipment, tanks, relief valves, burst plates, and similar
devices.
(7) Corrosion mitigation. You must use effective means of monitoring and controlling corrosion caused
by acid gases (H2S and CO2) in both the downhole and surface portions of a production system. You
must take specific corrosion monitoring and mitigating measures in areas of unusually severe
corrosion where accumulation of water and/or higher concentration of H2S exists.
(8) Wireline lubricators. Lubricators which may be exposed to fluids containing H2S must be of H2Sresistant materials.
(9) Fuel and/or instrument gas. You must not use gas containing H2S for instrument gas. You must not
use gas containing H2S for fuel gas without the prior approval of the District Manager.
(10) Sensing lines and devices. Metals used for sensing line and safety-control devices which are
necessarily exposed to H2S-bearing fluids must be constructed of H2S-corrosion resistant materials
or coated so as to resist H2S corrosion.
(11) Elastomer seals. You must use H2S-resistant materials for all seals which may be exposed to fluids
containing H2S.

30 CFR 250.490(q)(11) (enhanced display)

page 110 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.490(q)(12)

(12) Water disposal. If you dispose of produced water by means other than subsurface injection, you
must submit to the District Manager an analysis of the anticipated H2S content of the water at the
final treatment vessel and at the discharge point. The District Manager may require that the water be
treated for removal of H2S. The District Manager may require the submittal of an updated analysis if
the water disposal rate or the potential H2S content increases.
(13) Deck drains. You must equip open deck drains with traps or similar devices to prevent the escape of
H2S gas into the atmosphere.
(14) Sealed voids. You must take precautions to eliminate sealed spaces in piping designs (e.g., slip-on
flanges, reinforcing pads) which can be invaded by atomic hydrogen when H2S is present.

Subpart E—Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations
§ 250.500 General requirements.
Well-completion operations must be conducted in a manner to protect against harm or damage to life (including
fish and other aquatic life), property, natural resources of the OCS, including any mineral deposits (in areas leased
and not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human environment. In addition to the
requirements of this subpart, you must also follow the applicable requirements of subpart G of this part.
[81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.501 Definition.
When used in this subpart, the following term shall have the meaning given below:
Well-completion operations means the work conducted to establish the production of a well after the productioncasing string has been set, cemented, and pressure-tested.

§ 250.502 [Reserved]
§ 250.503 Emergency shutdown system.
When well-completion operations are conducted on a platform where there are other hydrocarbon-producing wells
or other hydrocarbon flow, an emergency shutdown system (ESD) manually controlled station shall be installed near
the driller's console or well-servicing unit operator's work station.

§ 250.504 Hydrogen sulfide.
When a well-completion operation is conducted in zones known to contain hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or in zones where
the presence of H2S is unknown (as defined in § 250.490 of this part), the lessee shall take appropriate precautions
to protect life and property on the platform or completion unit, including, but not limited to operations such as
blowing the well down, dismantling wellhead equipment and flow lines, circulating the well, swabbing, and pulling
tubing, pumps, and packers. The lessee shall comply with the requirements in § 250.490 of this part as well as the
appropriate requirements of this subpart.

30 CFR 250.504 (enhanced display)

page 111 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.505

§ 250.505 Subsea completions.
No subsea well completion shall be commenced until the lessee obtains written approval from the District Manager
in accordance with § 250.513 of this part. That approval shall be based upon a case-by-case determination that the
proposed equipment and procedures will adequately control the well and permit safe production operations.

§§ 250.506-250.508 [Reserved]
§ 250.509 Well-completion structures on fixed platforms.
Derricks, masts, substructures, and related equipment shall be selected, designed, installed, used, and maintained
so as to be adequate for the potential loads and conditions of loading that may be encountered during the proposed
operations. Prior to moving a well-completion rig or equipment onto a platform, the lessee shall determine the
structural capability of the platform to safely support the equipment and proposed operations, taking into
consideration the corrosion protection, age of platform, and previous stresses to the platform.

§ 250.510 Diesel engine air intakes.
Diesel engine air intakes must be equipped with a device to shut down the diesel engine in the event of runaway.
Diesel engines that are continuously attended must be equipped with either remote operated manual or automaticshutdown devices. Diesel engines that are not continuously attended must be equipped with automatic-shutdown
devices.

§ 250.511 Traveling-block safety device.
All units being used for well-completion operations that have both a traveling block and a crown block must be
equipped with a safety device that is designed to prevent the traveling block from striking the crown block. The
device must be checked for proper operation weekly and after each drill-line slipping operation. The results of the
operational check must be entered in the operations log.

§ 250.512 Field well-completion rules.
When geological and engineering information available in a field enables the District Manager to determine specific
operating requirements, field well-completion rules may be established on the District Manager's initiative or in
response to a request from a lessee. Such rules may modify the specific requirements of this subpart. After field
well-completion rules have been established, well-completion operations in the field shall be conducted in
accordance with such rules and other requirements of this subpart. Field well-completion rules may be amended or
canceled for cause at any time upon the initiative of the District Manager or upon the request of a lessee.

§ 250.513 Approval and reporting of well-completion operations.
(a) No well-completion operation may begin until the lessee receives written approval from the District
Manager. If completion is planned and the data are available at the time you submit the Application for
Permit to Drill and Supplemental APD Information Sheet (Forms BSEE–0123 and BSEE–0123S), you may
request approval for a well-completion on those forms (see §§ 250.410 through 250.418 of this part). If
the District Manager has not approved the completion or if the completion objective or plans have
significantly changed, you must submit an Application for Permit to Modify (Form BSEE–0124) for
approval of such operations.
(b) You must submit the following with Form BSEE–0124 (or with Form BSEE–0123; Form BSEE–0123S):
30 CFR 250.513(b) (enhanced display)

page 112 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.513(b)(1)

(1) A brief description of the well-completion procedures to be followed, a statement of the expected
surface pressure, and type and weight of completion fluids;
(2) A schematic drawing of the well showing the proposed producing zone(s) and the subsurface wellcompletion equipment to be used;
(3) For multiple completions, a partial electric log showing the zones proposed for completion, if logs
have not been previously submitted;
(4) All applicable information required in § 250.731.
(5) When the well-completion is in a zone known to contain H2S or a zone where the presence of H2S is
unknown, information pursuant to § 250.490 of this part; and
(6) Payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125.
(c) Within 30 days after completion, you must submit to the District Manager an End of Operations Report
(Form BSEE–0125), including a schematic of the tubing and subsurface equipment.
(d) You must submit public information copies of Form BSEE–0125 according to § 250.186.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.514 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
(a) Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations shall be designed, utilized, maintained, and/or tested as
necessary to control the well in foreseeable conditions and circumstances, including subfreezing
conditions. The well shall be continuously monitored during well-completion operations and shall not be
left unattended at any time unless the well is shut in and secured.
(b) The following well-control-fluid equipment shall be installed, maintained, and utilized:
(1) A fill-up line above the uppermost BOP;
(2) A well-control, fluid-volume measuring device for determining fluid volumes when filling the hole on
trips; and
(3) A recording mud-pit-level indicator to determine mud-pit-volume gains and losses. This indicator
shall include both a visual and an audible warning device.
(c) When coming out of the hole with drill pipe, the annulus shall be filled with well-control fluid before the
change in such fluid level decreases the hydrostatic pressure 75 pounds per square inch (psi) or every five
stands of drill pipe, whichever gives a lower decrease in hydrostatic pressure. The number of stands of
drill pipe and drill collars that may be pulled prior to filling the hole and the equivalent well-control fluid
volume shall be calculated and posted near the operator's station. A mechanical, volumetric, or electronic
device for measuring the amount of well-control fluid required to fill the hole shall be utilized.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§§ 250.515-250.517 [Reserved]

30 CFR 250.515-250.517 (enhanced display)

page 113 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.518

§ 250.518 Tubing and wellhead equipment.
(a) No tubing string shall be placed in service or continue to be used unless such tubing string has the
necessary strength and pressure integrity and is otherwise suitable for its intended use.
(b) When the tree is installed, you must equip wells to monitor for casing pressure according to the following
chart:
If you . . you must
.
equip . . .

so you can monitor . . .

(1) fixed the
all annuli (A, B, C, D, etc., annuli).
platform wellhead,
wells,
(2)
subsea
wells,

the
tubing
head,

the production casing annulus (A annulus).

(3)
hybrid *
wells,

the
all annuli at the surface (A and B riser annuli). If the production casing below the
surface
mudline and the production casing riser above the mudline are pressure isolated
wellhead, from each other, provisions must be made to monitor the production casing below
the mudline for casing pressure.

* Characterized as a well drilled with a subsea wellhead and completed with a surface casing head,
a surface tubing head, a surface tubing hanger, and a surface christmas tree.
(c) Wellhead, tree, and related equipment shall have a pressure rating greater than the shut-in tubing pressure
and shall be designed, installed, used, maintained, and tested so as to achieve and maintain pressure
control. New wells completed as flowing or gas-lift wells shall be equipped with a minimum of one master
valve and one surface safety valve, installed above the master valve, in the vertical run of the tree.
(d) Subsurface safety equipment must be installed, maintained, and tested in compliance with the applicable
sections in §§ 250.810 through 250.839.
(e) When installed, packers and bridge plugs must meet the following:
(1) The uppermost permanently installed packer and all permanently installed bridge plugs qualified as
mechanical barriers must comply with ANSI/API Spec. 11D1 (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198);
(2) The production packer must be set at a depth that will allow for a column of weighted fluids to be
placed above the packer that will exert a hydrostatic force greater than or equal to the force created
by the reservoir pressure below the packer;
(3) The production packer must be set as close as practically possible to the perforated interval; and
(4) The production packer must be set at a depth that is within the cemented interval of the selected
casing section.
(f) Your APM must include a description and calculations for how you determined the production packer
setting depth.
(g) You must have two independent barriers, one being mechanical, in the exposed center wellbore prior to
removing the tree and/or well control equipment.
30 CFR 250.518(g) (enhanced display)

page 114 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.519

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016; 81 FR
61918, Sept. 7, 2016; 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

CASING PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
§ 250.519 What are the requirements for casing pressure management?
Once you install your wellhead, you must meet the casing pressure management requirements of API RP 90 (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198) and the requirements of §§ 250.519 through 250.531. If there is a conflict
between API RP 90 and the casing pressure requirements of this subpart, you must follow the requirements of this
subpart.
[84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.520 How often do I have to monitor for casing pressure?
You must monitor for casing pressure in your well according to the following table:
you must
monitor . . .

If you have . . .

with a minimum one pressure data
point recorded per . . .

(a) fixed platform wells,

monthly,

month for each casing.

(b) subsea wells,

continuously, day for the production casing.

(c) hybrid wells,

continuously, day for each riser and/or the
production casing.

(d) wells operating under a casing pressure request
on a manned fixed platform,

daily,

day for each casing.

(e) wells operating under a casing pressure request
on an unmanned fixed platform,

weekly,

week for each casing.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.521 When do I have to perform a casing diagnostic test?
(a) You must perform a casing diagnostic test within 30 days after first observing or imposing casing
pressure according to the following table:
If you have a .
..

you must perform a casing diagnostic test if . . .

(1) fixed
platform well,

the casing pressure is greater than 100 psig.

(2) subsea
well,

the measurable casing pressure is greater than the external hydrostatic pressure plus 100
psig measured at the subsea wellhead.

(3) hybrid well,

a riser or the production casing pressure is greater than 100 psig measured at the
surface.

(b) You are exempt from performing a diagnostic pressure test for the production casing on a well operating
under active gas lift.
30 CFR 250.521(b) (enhanced display)

page 115 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.522

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.522 How do I manage the thermal effects caused by initial production on a newly
completed or recompleted well?
A newly completed or recompleted well often has thermal casing pressure during initial startup. Bleeding casing
pressure during the startup process is considered a normal and necessary operation to manage thermal casing
pressure; therefore, you do not need to evaluate these operations as a casing diagnostic test. After 30 days of
continuous production, the initial production startup operation is complete and you must perform casing diagnostic
testing as required in §§ 250.521 and 250.523.
[84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.523 When do I have to repeat casing diagnostic testing?
Casing diagnostic testing must be repeated according to the following table:
When . . .

you must repeat diagnostic testing . . .

(a) your casing pressure request approved term has
expired,

immediately.

(b) your well, previously on gas lift, has been shut-in or
returned to flowing status without gas lift for more than
180 days,

immediately on the production casing (A
annulus). The production casing (A annulus)
of wells on active gas lift are exempt from
diagnostic testing.

(c) your casing pressure request becomes invalid,

within 30 days.

(d) a casing or riser has an increase in pressure greater
than 200 psig over the previous casing diagnostic test,

within 30 days.

(e) after any corrective action has been taken to remediate
undesirable casing pressure, either as a result of a casing
pressure request denial or any other action,

within 30 days.

(f) your fixed platform well production casing (A annulus)
has pressure exceeding 10 percent of its minimum
internal yield pressure (MIYP), except for production
casings on active gas lift,

once per year, not to exceed 12 months
between tests.

(g) your fixed platform well's outer casing (B, C, D, etc.,
annuli) has a pressure exceeding 20 percent of its MIYP,

once every 5 years, at a minimum.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.524 How long do I keep records of casing pressure and diagnostic tests?
Records of casing pressure and diagnostic tests must be kept at the field office nearest the well for a minimum of 2
years. The last casing diagnostic test for each casing or riser must be retained at the field office nearest the well
until the well is abandoned.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

30 CFR 250.524 (enhanced display)

page 116 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.525

§ 250.525 When am I required to take action from my casing diagnostic test?
You must take action if you have any of the following conditions:
(a) Any fixed platform well with a casing pressure exceeding its maximum allowable wellhead operating
pressure (MAWOP);
(b) Any fixed platform well with a casing pressure that is greater than 100 psig and that cannot bleed to 0
psig through a 1⁄2-inch needle valve within 24 hours, or is not bled to 0 psig during a casing diagnostic
test;
(c) Any well that has demonstrated tubing/casing, tubing/riser, casing/casing, riser/casing, or riser/riser
communication;
(d) Any well that has sustained casing pressure (SCP) and is bled down to prevent it from exceeding its
MAWOP, except during initial startup operations described in § 250.522;
(e) Any hybrid well with casing or riser pressure exceeding 100 psig; or
(f) Any subsea well with a casing pressure 100 psig greater than the external hydrostatic pressure at the
subsea wellhead.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012; 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.526 What do I submit if my casing diagnostic test requires action?
Within 14 days after you perform a casing diagnostic test requiring action under § 250.525:
You must
submit either .
..

and it must
include . . .

to the appropriate . . .

You must also . . .

(a) a
notification of
corrective
action; or,

District Manager and copy
the Regional Supervisor,
Field Operations,

requirements submit an Application for Permit to Modify
under §
or Corrective Action Plan within 30 days of
250.527,
the diagnostic test.

(b) a casing
pressure
request,

Regional Supervisor, Field
Operations,

requirements
under §
250.528.

[84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.527 What must I include in my notification of corrective action?
The following information must be included in the notification of corrective action:
(a) Lessee or Operator name;
(b) Area name and OCS block number;
(c) Well name and API number; and
(d) Casing diagnostic test data.
30 CFR 250.527(d) (enhanced display)

page 117 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.528

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.528 What must I include in my casing pressure request?
The following information must be included in the casing pressure request:
(a) API number;
(b) Lease number;
(c) Area name and OCS block number;
(d) Well number;
(e) Company name and mailing address;
(f) All casing, riser, and tubing sizes, weights, grades, and MIYP;
(g) All casing/riser calculated MAWOPs;
(h) All casing/riser pre-bleed down pressures;
(i)

Shut-in tubing pressure;

(j)

Flowing tubing pressure;

(k) Date and the calculated daily production rate during last well test (oil, gas, basic sediment, and water);
(l)

Well status (shut-in, temporarily abandoned, producing, injecting, or gas lift);

(m) Well type (dry tree, hybrid, or subsea);
(n) Date of diagnostic test;
(o) Well schematic;
(p) Water depth;
(q) Volumes and types of fluid bled from each casing or riser evaluated;
(r) Type of diagnostic test performed:
(1) Bleed down/buildup test;
(2) Shut-in the well and monitor the pressure drop test;
(3) Constant production rate and decrease the annular pressure test;
(4) Constant production rate and increase the annular pressure test;
(5) Change the production rate and monitor the casing pressure test; and
(6) Casing pressure and tubing pressure history plot;
(s) The casing diagnostic test data for all casing exceeding 100 psig;
(t) Associated shoe strengths for casing shoes exposed to annular fluids;
(u) Concentration of any H2S that may be present;
(v) Whether the structure on which the well is located is manned or unmanned;
30 CFR 250.528(v) (enhanced display)

page 118 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.528(w)

(w) Additional comments; and
(x) Request date.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.529 What are the terms of my casing pressure request?
Casing pressure requests are approved by the Regional Supervisor, Field Operations, for a term to be determined by
the Regional Supervisor on a case-by-case basis. The Regional Supervisor may impose additional restrictions or
requirements to allow continued operation of the well.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.530 What if my casing pressure request is denied?
(a) If your casing pressure request is denied, then the operating company must submit plans for corrective
action to the respective District Manager within 30 days of receiving the denial. The District Manager will
establish a specific time period in which this corrective action will be taken. You must notify the
respective District Manager within 30 days after completion of your corrected action.
(b) You must submit the casing diagnostic test data to the appropriate Regional Supervisor, Field Operations,
within 14 days of completion of the diagnostic test required under § 250.523(e).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012, as amended at 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.531 When does my casing pressure request approval become invalid?
A casing pressure request becomes invalid when:
(a) The casing or riser pressure increases by 200 psig over the approved casing pressure request pressure;
(b) The approved term ends;
(c) The well is worked-over, side-tracked, redrilled, recompleted, or acid stimulated;
(d) A different casing or riser on the same well requires a casing pressure request; or
(e) A well has more than one casing operating under a casing pressure request and one of the casing
pressure requests become invalid, then all casing pressure requests for that well become invalid.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012]

Subpart F—Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations
§ 250.600 General requirements.
Well-workover operations must be conducted in a manner to protect against harm or damage to life (including fish
and other aquatic life), property, natural resources of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) including any mineral
deposits (in areas leased and not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human
environment. In addition to the requirements of this subpart, you must also follow the applicable requirements of
subpart G of this part.
30 CFR 250.600 (enhanced display)

page 119 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.601

[81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.601 Definitions.
When used in this subpart, the following terms shall have the meanings given below:
Expected surface pressure means the highest pressure predicted to be exerted upon the surface of a well. In
calculating expected surface pressure, you must consider reservoir pressure as well as applied surface
pressure.
Routine operations mean any of the following operations conducted on a well with the tree installed:
(a) Cutting paraffin;
(b) Removing and setting pump-through-type tubing plugs, gas-lift valves, and subsurface safety valves
which can be removed by wireline operations;
(c) Bailing sand;
(d) Pressure surveys;
(e) Swabbing;
(f) Scale or corrosion treatment;
(g) Caliper and gauge surveys;
(h) Corrosion inhibitor treatment;
(i)

Removing or replacing subsurface pumps;

(j)

Through-tubing logging (diagnostics);

(k) Wireline fishing; and
(l)

Setting and retrieving other subsurface flow-control devices.

(m) Acid treatments.
Workover operations mean the work conducted on wells after the initial completion for the purpose of
maintaining or restoring the productivity of a well.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.602 [Reserved]
§ 250.603 Emergency shutdown system.
When well-workover operations are conducted on a well with the tree removed, an emergency shutdown system
(ESD) manually controlled station shall be installed near the driller's console or well-servicing unit operator's work
station, except when there is no other hydrocarbon-producing well or other hydrocarbon flow on the platform.

30 CFR 250.603 (enhanced display)

page 120 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.604

§ 250.604 Hydrogen sulfide.
When a well-workover operation is conducted in zones known to contain hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or in zones where
the presence of H2S is unknown (as defined in § 250.490 of this part), the lessee shall take appropriate precautions
to protect life and property on the platform or rig, including but not limited to operations such as blowing the well
down, dismantling wellhead equipment and flow lines, circulating the well, swabbing, and pulling tubing, pumps and
packers. The lessee shall comply with the requirements in § 250.490 of this part as well as the appropriate
requirements of this subpart.

§ 250.605 Subsea workovers.
No subsea well-workover operation including routine operations shall be commenced until the lessee obtains
written approval from the District Manager in accordance with § 250.613 of this part. That approval shall be based
upon a case-by-case determination that the proposed equipment and procedures will maintain adequate control of
the well and permit continued safe production operations.

§§ 250.606-250.608 [Reserved]
§ 250.609 Well-workover structures on fixed platforms.
Derricks, masts, substructures, and related equipment shall be selected, designed, installed, used, and maintained
so as to be adequate for the potential loads and conditions of loading that may be encountered during the
operations proposed. Prior to moving a well-workover rig or well-servicing equipment onto a platform, the lessee
shall determine the structural capability of the platform to safely support the equipment and proposed operations,
taking into consideration the corrosion protection, age of the platform, and previous stresses to the platform.

§ 250.610 Diesel engine air intakes.
You must equip diesel engine air intakes with a device to shut down the diesel engine in the event of runaway.
Diesel engines that are continuously attended must be equipped with remotely operated, manual, or automatic
shutdown devices. Diesel engines that are not continuously attended must be equipped with automatic shutdown
devices.
[81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.611 Traveling-block safety device.
You must equip all units being used for well-workover operations that have both a traveling block and a crown block
with a safety device that is designed to prevent the traveling block from striking the crown block. You must check
the device for proper operation weekly and after each drill-line slipping operation. You must enter the results of the
operational check in the operations log.
[81 FR 36149, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.612 Field well-workover rules.
When geological and engineering information available in a field enables the District Manager to determine specific
operating requirements, field well-workover rules may be established on the District Manager's initiative or in
response to a request from a lessee. Such rules may modify the specific requirements of this subpart. After field
30 CFR 250.612 (enhanced display)

page 121 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.613

well-workover rules have been established, well-workover operations in the field shall be conducted in accordance
with such rules and other requirements of this subpart. Field well-workover rules may be amended or canceled for
cause at any time upon the initiative of the District Manager or upon the request of a lessee.

§ 250.613 Approval and reporting for well-workover operations.
(a) No well-workover operation except routine ones, as defined in § 250.601 of this part, shall begin until the
lessee receives written approval from the District Manager. Approval for these operations must be
requested on Form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify.
(b) You must submit the following with Form BSEE–0124:
(1) A brief description of the well-workover procedures to be followed, a statement of the expected
surface pressure, and type and weight of workover fluids;
(2) When changes in existing subsurface equipment are proposed, a schematic drawing of the well
showing the zone proposed for workover and the workover equipment to be used;
(3) All information required in § 250.731.
(4) Where the well-workover is in a zone known to contain H2S or a zone where the presence of H2S is
unknown, information pursuant to § 250.490 of this part; and
(5) Payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125.
(c) The following additional information shall be submitted with Form BSEE–0124 if completing to a new
zone is proposed:
(1) Reason for abandonment of present producing zone including supportive well test data, and
(2) A statement of anticipated or known pressure data for the new zone.
(d) Within 30 days after completing the well-workover operation, except routine operations, Form BSEE–0124,
Application for Permit to Modify, shall be submitted to the District Manager, showing the work as
performed. In the case of a well-workover operation resulting in the initial recompletion of a well into a
new zone, a Form BSEE–0125, End of Operations Report, shall be submitted to the District Manager and
shall include a new schematic of the tubing subsurface equipment if any subsurface equipment has been
changed.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50895, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.614 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
The following requirements apply during all well-workover operations with the tree removed:
(a) Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations shall be designed, utilized, maintained, and/or tested as
necessary to control the well in foreseeable conditions and circumstances, including subfreezing
conditions. The well shall be continuously monitored during well-workover operations and shall not be left
unattended at anytime unless the well is shut in and secured.
(b) When coming out of the hole with drill pipe or a workover string, the annulus shall be filled with wellcontrol fluid before the change in such fluid level decreases the hydrostatic pressure 75 pounds per
square inch (psi) or every five stands of drill pipe or workover string, whichever gives a lower decrease in
30 CFR 250.614(b) (enhanced display)

page 122 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.614(c)

hydrostatic pressure. The number of stands of drill pipe or workover string and drill collars that may be
pulled prior to filling the hole and the equivalent well-control fluid volume shall be calculated and posted
near the operator's station. A mechanical, volumetric, or electronic device for measuring the amount of
well-control fluid required to fill the hold shall be utilized.
(c) The following well-control-fluid equipment shall be installed, maintained, and utilized:
(1) A fill-up line above the uppermost BOP;
(2) A well-control, fluid-volume measuring device for determining fluid volumes when filling the hole on
trips; and
(3) A recording mud-pit-level indicator to determine mud-pit-volume gains and losses. This indicator
shall include both a visual and an audible warning device.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50895, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

§§ 250.615-250.618 [Reserved]
§ 250.619 Tubing and wellhead equipment.
The lessee shall comply with the following requirements during well-workover operations with the tree removed:
(a) No tubing string shall be placed in service or continue to be used unless such tubing string has the
necessary strength and pressure integrity and is otherwise suitable for its intended use.
(b) When reinstalling the tree, you must:
(1) Equip wells to monitor for casing pressure according to the following chart:
If you
you must
have . . . equip . . .

so you can monitor . . .

(i) fixed the
all annuli (A, B, C, D, etc., annuli).
platform wellhead,
wells,
(ii)
subsea
wells,

the
tubing
head,

the production casing annulus (A annulus).

(iii)
hybrid*
wells,

the
all annuli at the surface (A and B riser annuli). If the production casing below the
surface
mudline and the production casing riser above the mudline are pressure isolated
wellhead, from each other, provisions must be made to monitor the production casing below
the mudline for casing pressure.

* Characterized as a well drilled with a subsea wellhead and completed with a surface casing head,
a surface tubing head, a surface tubing hanger, and a surface christmas tree.
(2) Follow the casing pressure management requirements in subpart E of this part.

30 CFR 250.619(b)(2) (enhanced display)

page 123 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.619(c)

(c) Wellhead, tree, and related equipment shall have a pressure rating greater than the shut-in tubing pressure
and shall be designed, installed, used, maintained, and tested so as to achieve and maintain pressure
control. The tree shall be equipped with a minimum of one master valve and one surface safety valve in
the vertical run of the tree when it is reinstalled.
(d) Subsurface safety equipment must be installed, maintained, and tested in compliance with the applicable
sections in §§ 250.810 through 250.839.
(e) If you pull and reinstall packers and bridge plugs, you must meet the following requirements:
(1) The uppermost permanently installed packer and all permanently installed bridge plugs qualified as
mechanical barriers must comply with ANSI/API Spec. 11D1 (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198).
(2) The production packer must be set at a depth that will allow for a column of weighted fluids to be
placed above the packer that will exert a hydrostatic force greater than or equal to the force created
by the reservoir pressure below the packer;
(3) The production packer must be set as close as practically possible to the perforated interval; and
(4) The production packer must be set at a depth that is within the cemented interval of the selected
casing section.
(f) Your APM must include a description and calculations for how you determined the production packer
setting depth.
(g) You must have two independent barriers, one being mechanical, in the exposed center wellbore prior to
removing the tree and/or well control equipment.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50895, Aug. 22, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016; 81 FR
61918, Sept. 7, 2016; 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.620 Wireline operations.
The lessee shall comply with the following requirements during routine, as defined in § 250.601 of this part, and
nonroutine wireline workover operations:
(a) Wireline operations shall be conducted so as to minimize leakage of well fluids. Any leakage that does
occur shall be contained to prevent pollution.
(b) All wireline perforating operations and all other wireline operations where communication exists between
the completed hydrocarbon-bearing zone(s) and the wellbore shall use a lubricator assembly containing
at least one wireline valve.
(c) When the lubricator is initially installed on the well, it shall be successfully pressure tested to the expected
shut-in surface pressure.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011. Redesignated at 77 FR 50895, Aug. 22, 2012]

Subpart G—Well Operations and Equipment
Source: 81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, unless otherwise noted.
30 CFR 250.620(c) (enhanced display)

page 124 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.700

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.700 What operations and equipment does this subpart cover?
This subpart covers operations and equipment associated with drilling, completion, workover, and
decommissioning activities. This subpart includes regulations applicable to drilling, completion, workover, and
decommissioning activities in addition to applicable regulations contained in subparts D, E, F, and Q of this part
unless explicitly stated otherwise.

§ 250.701 May I use alternate procedures or equipment during operations?
You may use alternate procedures or equipment during operations after receiving approval as described in §
250.141. You must identify and discuss your proposed alternate procedures or equipment in your Application for
Permit to Drill (APD) (Form BSEE–0123) (see § 250.414(h)) or your Application for Permit to Modify (APM) (Form
BSEE–0124). Procedures for obtaining approval of alternate procedures or equipment are described in § 250.141.

§ 250.702 May I obtain departures from these requirements?
You may apply for a departure from these requirements as described in § 250.142. Your request must include a
justification showing why the departure is necessary. You must identify and discuss the departure you are
requesting in your APD (see § 250.414(h)) or your APM.

§ 250.703 What must I do to keep wells under control?
You must take the necessary precautions to keep wells under control at all times, including:
(a) Use recognized engineering practices to reduce risks to the lowest level practicable when monitoring and
evaluating well conditions and to minimize the potential for the well to flow or kick;
(b) Have a person onsite during operations who represents your interests and can fulfill your responsibilities;
(c) Ensure that the toolpusher, operator's representative, or a member of the rig crew maintains continuous
surveillance on the rig floor from the beginning of operations until the well is completed or abandoned,
unless you have secured the well with blowout preventers (BOPs), bridge plugs, cement plugs, or packers;
(d) Use personnel trained according to the provisions of subparts O and S of this part;
(e) Use and maintain equipment and materials necessary to ensure the safety and protection of personnel,
equipment, natural resources, and the environment; and
(f) Use equipment that has been designed, tested, and rated for the maximum environmental and operational
conditions to which it may be exposed while in service.

RIG REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.710 What instructions must be given to personnel engaged in well operations?
Prior to engaging in well operations, personnel must be instructed in:

30 CFR 250.710 (enhanced display)

page 125 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.710(a)

(a) Hazards and safety requirements. You must instruct your personnel regarding the safety requirements for
the operations to be performed, possible hazards to be encountered, and general safety considerations to
protect personnel, equipment, and the environment as required by subpart S of this part. The date and
time of safety meetings must be recorded and available at the facility for review by BSEE representatives.
(b) Well control. You must prepare a well-control plan for each well. Each well-control plan must contain
instructions for personnel about the use of each well-control component of your BOP, procedures that
describe how personnel will seal the wellbore and shear pipe before maximum anticipated surface
pressure (MASP) conditions are exceeded, assignments for each crew member, and a schedule for
completion of each assignment. You must keep a copy of your well-control plan on the rig at all times, and
make it available to BSEE upon request. You must post a copy of the well-control plan on the rig floor.

§ 250.711 What are the requirements for well-control drills?
You must conduct a weekly well-control drill with all personnel engaged in well operations. Your drill must
familiarize personnel engaged in well operations with their roles and functions so that they can perform their duties
promptly and efficiently as outlined in the well-control plan required by § 250.710.
(a) Timing of drills. You must conduct each drill during a period of activity that minimizes the risk to
operations. The timing of your drills must cover a range of different operations, including drilling with a
diverter, on-bottom drilling, and tripping. The same drill may not be repeated consecutively with the same
crew.
(b) Recordkeeping requirements. For each drill, you must record the following in the daily report:
(1) Date, time, and type of drill conducted;
(2) The amount of time it took to be ready to close the diverter or use each well-control component of
BOP system; and
(3) The total time to complete the entire drill.
(c) A BSEE ordered drill. A BSEE representative may require you to conduct a well-control drill during a BSEE
inspection. The BSEE representative will consult with your onsite representative before requiring the drill.

§ 250.712 What rig unit movements must I report?
(a) You must report the movement of all rig units on and off locations to the District Manager using Form
BSEE–0144, Rig Movement Notification Report. Rig units include MODUs, platform rigs, snubbing units,
wire-line units used for non-routine operations, and coiled tubing units. You must inform the District
Manager 24 hours before:
(1) The arrival of a rig unit on location;
(2) The movement of a rig unit to another slot. For movements that will occur less than 24 hours after
initially moving onto location (e.g., coiled tubing and batch operations), you may include your
anticipated movement schedule on Form BSEE–0144; or
(3) The departure of a rig unit from the location.
(b) You must provide the District Manager with the rig name, lease number, well number, and expected time of
arrival or departure.
(c) If a MODU or platform rig is to be warm or cold stacked, you must inform the District Manager:
30 CFR 250.712(c) (enhanced display)

page 126 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.712(c)(1)

(1) Where the MODU or platform rig is coming from;
(2) The location where the MODU or platform rig will be positioned;
(3) Whether the MODU or platform rig will be manned or unmanned; and
(4) If the location for stacking the MODU or platform rig changes.
(d) Prior to resuming operations after stacking, you must notify the appropriate District Manager of any
construction, repairs, or modifications associated with the drilling package made to the MODU or platform
rig.
(e) If a drilling rig is entering OCS waters, you must inform the District Manager where the drilling rig is
coming from.
(f) If you change your anticipated date for initially moving on or off location by more than 24 hours, you must
submit an updated Form BSEE–0144, Rig Movement Notification Report.
(g) You are not required to report rig unit movements to and from the safe zone during the course of
permitted operations.
(h) If a rig unit is already on a well, you are not required to report any additional rig unit movements on that
well.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.713 What must I provide if I plan to use a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) for well
operations?
If you plan to use a MODU for well operations, you must provide:
(a) Fitness requirements. Information and data to demonstrate the MODU's capability to perform at the
proposed location. This information must include the maximum environmental and operational conditions
that the MODU is designed to withstand, including the minimum air gap necessary for both hurricane and
non-hurricane seasons. If sufficient environmental information and data are not available at the time you
submit your APD or APM, the District Manager may approve your APD or APM, but require you to collect
and report this information during operations. Under this circumstance, the District Manager may revoke
the approval of the APD or APM if information collected during operations shows that the MODU is not
capable of performing at the proposed location.
(b) Foundation requirements. Information to show that site-specific soil and oceanographic conditions are
capable of supporting the proposed bottom-founded MODU. If you provided sufficient site-specific
information in your EP, DPP, or DOCD submitted to BOEM for that well location and conditions, you may
reference that information. The District Manager may require you to conduct additional surveys and soil
borings before approving the APD or APM if additional information is needed to make a determination
that the conditions are capable of supporting the MODU, or equipment installed on a subsea wellhead. For
a moored rig, you must submit a plat of the rig's anchor pattern approved in your EP, DPP, or DOCD in your
APD or APM.
(c) For frontier areas.

30 CFR 250.713(c) (enhanced display)

page 127 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.713(c)(1)

(1) If the design of the MODU you plan to use in a frontier area is unique or has not been proven for use
in the proposed environment, the District Manager may require you to submit a third-party review of
the MODU design. If required, you must obtain a third-party review of your MODU similar to the
process outlined in §§ 250.915 through 250.918. You may submit this information before submitting
an APD or APM.
(2) If you plan to conduct operations in a frontier area, you must have a contingency plan that addresses
design and operating limitations of the MODU. Your plan must identify the actions necessary to
maintain safety and prevent damage to the environment. Actions must include the suspension,
curtailment, or modification of operations to remedy various operational or environmental situations
(e.g., vessel motion, riser offset, anchor tensions, wind speed, wave height, currents, icing or iceloading, settling, tilt or lateral movement, resupply capability).
(d) Additional documentation. You must provide the current Certificate of Inspection (for U.S.-flag vessels) or
Certificate of Compliance (for foreign-flag vessels) from the USCG and Certificate of Classification. You
must also provide current documentation of any operational limitations imposed by an appropriate
classification society.
(e) Dynamically positioned MODU. If you use a dynamically positioned MODU, you must include in your APD
or APM your contingency plan for moving off location in an emergency situation. At a minimum, your plan
must address emergency events caused by storms, currents, station-keeping failures, power failures, and
losses of well control. The District Manager may require your plan to include additional events that may
require movement of the MODU and other information needed to clarify or further address how the MODU
will respond to emergencies or other events.
(f) Inspection of MODU. The MODU must be available for inspection by the District Manager before
commencing operations and at any time during operations.
(g) Current monitoring. For water depths greater than 400 meters (1,312 feet), you must include in your APD
or APM:
(1) A description of the specific current speeds that will cause you to implement rig shutdown, move-off
procedures, or both; and
(2) A discussion of the specific measures you will take to curtail rig operations and move off location
when such currents are encountered. You may use criteria, such as current velocities, riser angles,
watch circles, and remaining rig power to describe when these procedures or measures will be
implemented.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.714 Do I have to develop a dropped objects plan?
If you use a floating rig unit in an area with subsea infrastructure, you must develop a dropped objects plan and
make it available to BSEE upon request. This plan must be updated as the infrastructure on the seafloor changes.
Your plan must include:
(a) A description and plot of the path the rig will take while running and pulling the riser;
(b) A plat showing the location of any subsea wells, production equipment, pipelines, and any other identified
debris;
30 CFR 250.714(b) (enhanced display)

page 128 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.714(c)

(c) Modeling of a dropped object's path with consideration given to metocean conditions for various material
forms, such as a tubular (e.g., riser or casing) and box (e.g., BOP or tree);
(d) Communications, procedures, and delegated authorities established with the production host facility to
shut-in any active subsea wells, equipment, or pipelines in the event of a dropped object; and
(e) Any additional information required by the District Manager as appropriate to clarify, update, or evaluate
your dropped objects plan.

§ 250.715 Do I need a global positioning system (GPS) for all MODUs?
All MODUs must have a minimum of two functioning GPS transponders at all times, and you must provide to BSEE
real-time access to the GPS data prior to and during each hurricane season.
(a) The GPS must be capable of monitoring the position and tracking the path in real-time if the MODU moves
from its location during a severe storm.
(b) You must install and protect the tracking system's equipment to minimize the risk of the system being
disabled.
(c) You must place the GPS transponders in different locations for redundancy to minimize risk of system
failure.
(d) Each GPS transponder must be capable of transmitting data for at least 7 days after a storm has passed.
(e) If the MODU is moved off location in the event of a storm, you must immediately begin to record the GPS
location data.
(f) You must contact the Regional Office and allow real-time access to the MODU location data. When you
contact the Regional Office, provide the following:
(1) Name of the lessee and operator with contact information;
(2) MODU name;
(3) Initial date and time; and
(4) How you will provide GPS real-time access.

WELL OPERATIONS
§ 250.720 When and how must I secure a well?
(a) Whenever you interrupt operations, you must notify the District Manager. Before moving off the well, you
must have two independent barriers installed, at least one of which must be a mechanical barrier, as
approved by the District Manager. You must install the barriers at appropriate depths within a properly
cemented casing string or liner. Before removing a subsea BOP stack or surface BOP stack on a mudline
suspension well, you must conduct a negative pressure test in accordance with § 250.721.
(1) The events that would cause you to interrupt operations and notify the District Manager include, but
are not limited to, the following:
(i)

Evacuation of the rig crew;

(ii) Inability to keep the rig on location;
30 CFR 250.720(a)(1)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 129 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.720(a)(1)(iii)

(iii) Repair to major rig or well-control equipment;
(iv) Observed flow outside the well's casing (e.g., shallow water flow or bubbling); or
(v) Impending National Weather Service-named tropical storm or hurricane.
(2) The District Manager may approve alternate procedures or barriers, in accordance with § 250.141, if
you do not have time to install the required barriers or if special circumstances occur.
(3) If you unlatch the BOP or LMRP:
(i)

Upon relatch of the BOP, you must test according to § 250.734(b)(2), or

(ii) Upon relatch of the LMRP, you must test according to § 250.734(b)(3); and
(iii) You must submit a revised permit with a written statement from an independent third party
certifying that the previous certification under § 250.731(c) remains valid and receive District
Manager approval before resuming operations.
(b) Before you displace kill-weight fluid from the wellbore and/or riser, thereby creating an underbalanced
state, you must obtain approval from the District Manager. To obtain approval, you must submit with your
APD or APM your reasons for displacing the kill-weight fluid and provide detailed step-by-step written
procedures describing how you will safely displace these fluids. The step-by-step displacement
procedures must address the following:
(1) Number and type of independent barriers, as described in § 250.420(b)(3), that are in place for each
flow path that requires such barriers;
(2) Tests you will conduct to ensure integrity of independent barriers;
(3) BOP procedures you will use while displacing kill-weight fluids; and
(4) Procedures you will use to monitor the volumes and rates of fluids entering and leaving the wellbore.
(c) For Arctic OCS exploratory drilling operations, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this section:
(1) If you move your drilling rig off a well prior to completion or permanent abandonment, you must
ensure that any equipment left on, near, or in a wellbore that has penetrated below the surface
casing is positioned in a manner to:
(i)

Protect the well head; and

(ii) Prevent or minimize the likelihood of compromising the down-hole integrity of the well or the
effectiveness of the well plugs.
(2) In areas of ice scour you must use a well mudline cellar or an equivalent means of minimizing the
risk of damage to the well head and wellbore. BSEE may approve an equivalent means that will meet
or exceed the level of safety and environmental protection provided by a mudline cellar if the
operator can show that utilizing a mudline cellar would compromise the stability of the rig, impede
access to the well head during a well control event, or otherwise create operational risks.
(d) You must have the equipment used solely for intervention operations (e.g., tree interface tools) identified,
readily available, properly maintained, and available for BSEE inspection upon request. This equipment is
required for subsea completed wells with a tree installed, that meet the following conditions:
(1) Have a shut-in tubing pressure that is greater than the hydrostatic pressure of the water column, or
30 CFR 250.720(d)(1) (enhanced display)

page 130 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.720(d)(2)

(2) Are not capable of having the annulus monitored.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 81 FR 46563, July 15, 2016; 84 FR 21976, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.721 What are the requirements for pressure testing casing and liners?
(a) You must test each casing string that extends to the wellhead according to the following table:
Casing type

Minimum test pressure

(1) Drive or Structural,

Not required.

(2) Conductor, excluding subsea wellheads,

250 psi.

(3) Surface, Intermediate, and Production,

70 percent of its minimum internal yield.

(b) You must test each drilling liner and liner-top to a pressure at least equal to the anticipated leak-off
pressure of the formation below that liner shoe, or subsequent liner shoes if set. You must conduct this
test before you continue operations in the well.
(c) You must test each production liner and liner-top to a minimum of 500 psi above the formation fracture
pressure at the casing shoe into which the liner is lapped.
(d) The District Manager may approve or require other casing test pressures as appropriate under the
circumstances to ensure casing integrity.
(e) If you plan to produce a well, you must:
(1) For a well that is fully cased and cemented, pressure test the entire well to maximum anticipated
shut-in tubing pressure, not to exceed 70% of the burst rating limit of the weakest component before
perforating the casing or liner; or
(2) For an open-hole completion, pressure test the entire well to maximum anticipated shut-in tubing
pressure, not to exceed 70% of the burst rating limit of the weakest component before you drill the
open-hole section.
(f) You may not resume operations until you obtain a satisfactory pressure test. If the pressure declines more
than 10 percent in a 30-minute test, or if there is another indication of a leak, you must submit to the
District Manager for approval your proposed plans to re-cement, repair the casing or liner, or run additional
casing/liner to provide a proper seal. Your submittal must include a PE certification of your proposed
plans.
(g) You must perform a negative pressure test on all wells that use a subsea BOP stack or wells with mudline
suspension systems.
(1) You must perform a negative pressure test on your final casing string or liner. This test must be
conducted after setting your second barrier just above the shoe track, but prior to conducting any
completion operations.
(2) You must perform a negative pressure test prior to unlatching the BOP at any point in the well. The
negative pressure test must be performed on those components, at a minimum, that will be exposed
to the negative differential pressure that will occur when the BOP is disconnected.

30 CFR 250.721(g)(2) (enhanced display)

page 131 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.721(g)(3)

(3) The District Manager may require you to perform additional negative pressure tests on other casing
strings or liners (e.g., intermediate casing string or liner) or on wells with a surface BOP stack as
appropriate to demonstrate casing or liner integrity.
(4) You must submit for approval with your APD or APM, test procedures and criteria for a successful
negative pressure test. If any of your test procedures or criteria for a successful test change, you
must submit for approval the changes in a revised APD or APM.
(5) You must document all your test results and make them available to BSEE upon request.
(6) If you have any indication of a failed negative pressure test, such as, but not limited to, pressure
buildup or observed flow, you must immediately investigate the cause. If your investigation confirms
that a failure occurred during the negative pressure test, you must:
(i)

Correct the problem and immediately notify the appropriate District Manager; and

(ii) Submit a description of the corrective action taken and receive approval from the appropriate
District Manager for the retest.
(7) You must have two barriers in place, as described in § 250.420(b)(3), at any time and for any well,
prior to performing the negative pressure test.
(8) You must include documentation of the successful negative pressure test in the End-of-Operations
Report (Form BSEE–0125).

§ 250.722 What are the requirements for prolonged operations in a well?
If wellbore operations continue within a casing or liner for more than 30 days from the previous pressure test of the
well's casing or liner, you must:
(a) Stop operations as soon as practicable, and evaluate the effects of the prolonged operations on continued
operations and the life of the well. At a minimum, you must:
(1) Evaluate the well casing with a pressure test, caliper tool, or imaging tool. On a case-by-case basis,
the District Manager may require a specific method of evaluation of the effects on the well casing of
prolonged operations; and
(2) Report the results of your evaluation to the District Manager and obtain approval of those results
before resuming operations. Your report must include calculations that indicate the well's integrity is
above the minimum safety factors, if an imaging tool or caliper is used. District Manager approval is
not required to resume operations if you conducted a successful pressure test as approved in your
permit. You must document the successful pressure test in the WAR.
(b) If well integrity has deteriorated to a level below minimum safety factors, you must:
(1) Obtain approval from the District Manager to begin repairs or install additional casing. To obtain
approval, you must also provide a PE certification showing that he or she reviewed and approved the
proposed changes;
(2) Repair the casing or run another casing string; and
(3) Perform a pressure test after the repairs are made or additional casing is installed and report the
results to the District Manager as specified in § 250.721.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21977, May 15, 2019]
30 CFR 250.722(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 132 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.723

§ 250.723 What additional safety measures must I take when I conduct operations on a platform
that has producing wells or has other hydrocarbon flow?
You must take the following safety measures when you conduct operations with a rig unit on or jacked-up over a
platform with producing wells or that has other hydrocarbon flow:
(a) The movement of rig units and related equipment on and off a platform or from well to well on the same
platform, including rigging up and rigging down, must be conducted in a safe manner;
(b) You must install an emergency shutdown station for the production system near the rig operator's
console;
(c) You must shut-in all producible wells located in the affected wellbay below the surface and at the
wellhead when:
(1) You move a rig unit or related equipment on and off a platform. This includes rigging up and rigging
down activities within 500 feet of the affected platform;
(2) You move or skid a rig unit between wells on a platform; or
(3) A MODU moves within 500 feet of a platform. You may resume production once the MODU is in
place, secured, and ready to begin operations.
(d) All wells in the same well-bay which are capable of producing hydrocarbons must be shut-in below the
surface with a pump-through-type tubing plug and at the surface with a closed master valve prior to
moving rig units and related equipment, unless otherwise approved by the District Manager.
(1) A closed surface-controlled subsurface safety valve of the pump-through-type may be used in lieu of
the pump-through-type tubing plug provided that the surface control has been locked out of
operation.
(2) The well to which a rig unit or related equipment is to be moved must be equipped with a backpressure valve prior to removing the tree and installing and testing the BOP system.
(3) The well from which a rig unit or related equipment is to be moved must be equipped with a back
pressure valve prior to removing the BOP system and installing the production tree.
(e) Coiled tubing units, snubbing units, or wireline units may be moved onto and off of a platform without
shutting in wells.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21977, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.724 What are the real-time monitoring requirements?
(a) When conducting well operations with a subsea BOP or with a surface BOP on a floating facility, or when
operating in an high pressure high temperature (HPHT) environment, you must gather and monitor realtime well data using an independent, automatic, and continuous monitoring system capable of recording,
storing, and transmitting data regarding the following:
(1) The BOP control system;
(2) The well's active fluid circulating system; and
(3) The well's downhole conditions with the bottom hole assembly tools (if any tools are installed).
30 CFR 250.724(a)(3) (enhanced display)

page 133 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.724(b)

(b) You must transmit these data as they are gathered, barring unforeseeable or unpreventable interruptions
in transmission, and have the capability to monitor the data, using qualified personnel in accordance with
a real-time monitoring plan, as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) You must develop and implement a real-time monitoring plan. Your real-time monitoring plan, and all realtime monitoring data, must be made available to BSEE upon request. Your real-time monitoring plan must
include the following:
(1) A description of your real-time monitoring capabilities, including the types of the data collected;
(2) A description of how your real-time monitoring data will be transmitted during operations, how the
data will be labeled and monitored by qualified personnel, and how the data will be stored as
required in §§ 250.740 and 250.741;
(3) A description of your procedures for providing BSEE access, upon request, to your real-time
monitoring data;
(4) The qualifications of the personnel monitoring the data;
(5) Your procedures for, and methods of, communication between rig personnel and the monitoring
personnel; and
(6) Actions to be taken if you lose any real-time monitoring capabilities or communications between rig
personnel and monitoring personnel, and a protocol for how you will respond to any significant and/
or prolonged interruption of monitoring capabilities or communications, including your protocol for
notifying BSEE of any significant and/or prolonged interruptions.
[84 FR 21977, May 15, 2019]

BLOWOUT PREVENTER (BOP) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.730 What are the general requirements for BOP systems and system components?
(a) You must ensure that the BOP system and system components are designed, installed, maintained,
inspected, tested, and used properly to ensure well control. The working-pressure rating of each BOP
component (excluding annular(s)) must exceed MASP as defined for the operation. For a subsea BOP, the
MASP must be determined at the mudline. The BOP system includes the BOP stack, control system, and
any other associated system(s) and equipment. The BOP system and individual components must be
able to perform their expected functions and be compatible with each other. Your BOP system must be
capable of closing and sealing the wellbore in the event of flow due to a kick, including under anticipated
flowing conditions for the specific well conditions, without losing ram closure time and sealing integrity
due to the corrosiveness, volume, and abrasiveness of any fluids in the wellbore that the BOP system may
encounter. Your BOP system must meet the following requirements:
(1) The BOP requirements of API Standard 53 (incorporated by reference in § 250.198) and the
requirements of §§ 250.733 through 250.739. If there is a conflict between API Standard 53 and the
requirements of this subpart, you must follow the requirements of this subpart.
(2) The provisions of the following industry standards (all incorporated by reference in § 250.198) that
apply to BOP systems:
(i)

ANSI/API Spec. 6A;

30 CFR 250.730(a)(2)(i) (enhanced display)

page 134 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.730(a)(2)(ii)

(ii) ANSI/API Spec. 16A;
(iii) ANSI/API Spec. 16C;
(iv) API Spec. 16D; and
(v) ANSI/API Spec. 17D.
(3) For surface and subsea BOPs, the pipe and variable bore rams installed in the BOP stack must be
capable of effectively closing and sealing on the tubular body of any drill pipe, workstring, and tubing
(excluding tubing with exterior control lines and flat packs) in the hole under MASP, as defined for
the operation, at the proposed regulator settings of the BOP control system.
(4) The current set of approved schematic drawings must be available on the rig and at an onshore
location. If you make any modifications to the BOP or control system that will require changes to
your BSEE-approved schematic drawings, you must suspend operations until you obtain approval
from the District Manager.
(b) You must ensure that the design, fabrication, maintenance, and repair of your BOP system is in
accordance with the requirements contained in this part, applicable Original Equipment Manufacturer's
(OEM) recommendations unless otherwise directed by BSEE, and recognized engineering practices. The
training and qualification of repair and maintenance personnel must meet or exceed applicable OEM
training recommendations unless otherwise directed by BSEE.
(c) You must follow the failure reporting procedures contained in API Standard 53, (incorporated by reference
in § 250.198), and:
(1) You must provide a written notice of equipment failure to the Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory
Programs (OORP), unless BSEE has designated a third party as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this
section, and the manufacturer of such equipment within 30 days after the discovery and
identification of the failure. A failure is any condition that prevents the equipment from meeting the
functional specification.
(2) You must ensure that an investigation and a failure analysis are started within 120 days of the failure
to determine the cause of the failure, and are completed within 120 days upon starting the
investigation and failure analysis. You must also ensure that the results and any corrective action are
documented. You must ensure that the analysis report is submitted to the Chief OORP, unless BSEE
has designated a third party as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, as well as the
manufacturer. If you cannot complete the investigation and analysis within the specified time, you
must submit an extension request detailing how you will complete the investigation and analysis to
BSEE for approval. You must submit the extension request to the Chief, OORP.
(3) If the equipment manufacturer notifies you that it has changed the design of the equipment that
failed or if you have changed operating or repair procedures as a result of a failure, then you must,
within 30 days of such changes, report the design change or modified procedures in writing to the
Chief OORP, unless BSEE has designated a third party as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(4) Submit notices and reports to the Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs; Bureau of Safety
and Environmental Enforcement; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. BSEE may
designate a third party to receive the data and reports on behalf of BSEE. If BSEE designates a third
party, you must submit the data and reports to the designated third party.

30 CFR 250.730(c)(4) (enhanced display)

page 135 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.730(d)

(d) If you plan to use a BOP stack manufactured after the effective date of this regulation, you must use one
manufactured pursuant to an ANSI/API Spec. Q1 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198) quality
management system. Such quality management system must be certified by an entity that meets the
requirements of ISO/IEC 17021–1 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(1) BSEE may consider accepting equipment manufactured under quality assurance programs other
than ANSI/API Spec. Q1, provided you submit a request to the Chief, OORP for approval, containing
relevant information about the alternative program.
(2) You must submit this request to the Chief, OORP; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement;
45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166.
[84 FR 21977, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.731 What information must I submit for BOP systems and system components?
For any operation that requires the use of a BOP, you must include the information listed in this section with your
applicable APD, APM, or other submittal. You are required to submit this information only once for each well, unless
the information changes from what you provided in an earlier approved submission or you have moved off location
from the well. After you have submitted this information for a particular well, subsequent APMs or other submittals
for the well should reference the approved submittal containing the information required by this section and confirm
that the information remains accurate and that you have not moved off location from that well. If the information
changes or you have moved off location from the well, you must submit updated information in your next
submission.
You must submit:
(a) A complete description of the BOP
system and system components,

Including:
(1) Pressure ratings of BOP equipment;
(2) Proposed BOP test pressures (for subsea BOPs, include both
surface and corresponding subsea pressures);
(3) Rated capacities for liquid and gas for the fluid-gas
separator system;
(4) Control fluid volumes needed to close, seal, and open each
component;
(5) Control system pressure and regulator settings needed to
close each ram BOP under MASP as defined for the operation;
(6) Number and volume of accumulator bottles and bottle banks
(for subsea BOP, include both surface and subsea bottles);
(7) Accumulator pre-charge calculations (for subsea BOP,
include both surface and subsea calculations);
(8) All locking devices; and
(9) Control fluid volume calculations for the accumulator
system (for a subsea BOP system, include both the surface and
subsea volumes).

(b) Schematic drawings,

(1) The inside diameter of the BOP stack;
(2) Number and type of preventers (including blade type for
shear ram(s));

30 CFR 250.731 (enhanced display)

page 136 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

You must submit:

30 CFR 250.732

Including:
(3) All locking devices;
(4) Size range for variable bore ram(s);
(5) Size of fixed ram(s);
(6) All control systems with all alarms and set points labeled,
including pods;
(7) Location and size of choke and kill lines (and gas bleed
line(s) for subsea BOP);
(8) Associated valves of the BOP system;
(9) Control station locations; and
(10) A cross-section of the riser for a subsea BOP system
showing number, size, and labeling of all control, supply, choke,
and kill lines down to the BOP.

(c) Certification by an independent third
party,

Verification that:
(1) Test data demonstrate the shear ram(s) will shear the drill
pipe at the water depth as required in § 250.732;
(2) The BOP was designed, tested, and maintained to perform
under the maximum environmental and operational conditions
anticipated to occur at the well;
(3) The accumulator system has sufficient fluid to operate the
BOP system without assistance from the charging system; and
(4) If using a subsea BOP, a BOP in an HPHT environment as
defined in § 250.804(b), or a surface BOP on a floating facility,
the BOP has not been compromised or damaged from previous
service.

(d) If you are using a subsea BOP,
descriptions of autoshear, deadman,
and emergency disconnect sequence
(EDS) systems,

A listing of the functions with their sequences and timing.

[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21978, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.732 What are the independent third party requirements for BOP systems and system
components?
(a) Prior to beginning any operation requiring the use of any BOP, you must submit verification by an
independent third party and supporting documentation as required by this paragraph to the appropriate
District Manager and Regional Supervisor.
You must
submit
verification
and
documentation
related to:
(1) Shear

That:

(i) Demonstrates that the BOP will shear the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool

30 CFR 250.732(a) (enhanced display)

page 137 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

You must
submit
verification
and
documentation
related to:
testing,

30 CFR 250.732(b)

That:

joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or
collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-,
and slick-line to be used in the well;
(ii) Demonstrates the use of test protocols and analysis that represent recognized
engineering practices for ensuring the repeatability and reproducibility of the tests, and
that the testing was performed by a facility that meets generally accepted quality
assurance standards;
(iii) Provides a reasonable representation of field applications, taking into consideration
the physical and mechanical properties of the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding
tool joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or
collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-,
and slick-line to be used in the well;
(iv) Ensures testing was performed on the outermost edges of the shearing blades of the
shear ram;
(v) Demonstrates the shearing capacity of the BOP equipment to the physical and
mechanical properties of the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool joints, bottomhole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or collars), workstring,
tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-, and slick-line to be
used in the well; and
(vi) Includes relevant testing results.

(2) Pressure
integrity
testing for
sealing
components,
and

(i) Shows that testing is conducted after the shearing is completed and prior to opening
the component;

(ii) Demonstrates that the equipment will seal at the rated working pressures (RWP) of
the BOP for 5 minutes; and
(iii) Includes all relevant test results.
(3)
Calculations

Include shearing and sealing pressures for all pipe to be used in the well including
corrections for MASP.

(b) The independent third-party must be a technical classification society, a licensed professional engineering
firm, or a registered professional engineer capable of providing the required certifications and
verifications.
(c) For wells in an HPHT environment, as defined by § 250.804(b), you must submit verification by an
independent third party that it conducted a comprehensive review of the BOP system and related
equipment you propose to use. You must provide the independent third party access to any facility

30 CFR 250.732(c) (enhanced display)

page 138 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.732(d)

associated with the BOP system or related equipment during the review process. You must submit the
verifications required by this paragraph (c) to the appropriate District Manager and Regional Supervisor
before you begin any operations in an HPHT environment with the proposed equipment.
You must submit:

Including:

(1) Verification that the independent third party
conducted a detailed review of the design package to
ensure that all critical components and systems meet
recognized engineering practices,
(2) Verification that the designs of individual
components and the overall system have been
proven in a testing process that demonstrates the
performance and reliability of the equipment in a
manner that is repeatable and reproducible,

(i) Identification of all reasonable potential modes
of failure; and
(ii) Evaluation of the design verification tests. The
design verification tests must assess the
equipment for the identified potential modes of
failure.

(3) Verification that the BOP equipment will perform
as designed in the temperature, pressure, and
environment that will be encountered, and
(4) Verification that the fabrication, manufacture, and
assembly of individual components and the overall
system uses recognized engineering practices and
quality control and assurance mechanisms.

For the quality control and assurance mechanisms,
complete material and quality controls over all
contractors, subcontractors, distributors, and
suppliers at every stage in the fabrication,
manufacture, and assembly process.

(d) You must make all documentation that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this section
available to BSEE upon request.
[84 FR 21978, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.733 What are the requirements for a surface BOP stack?
(a) When you drill or conduct operations with a surface BOP stack, you must install the BOP system before
drilling or conducting operations to deepen the well below the surface casing and after the well is
deepened below the surface casing point. The surface BOP stack must include at least four remotecontrolled, hydraulically operated BOPs, consisting of one annular BOP, one BOP equipped with blind
shear rams, and two BOPs equipped with pipe rams.
(1) The blind shear rams must be capable of shearing at any point along the tubular body of any drill
pipe (excluding tool joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies that include heavy-weight
pipe or collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines, and any electric-, wire-, and
slick-line that is in the hole and sealing the wellbore after shearing. Prior to April 29, 2021, if your
blind shear rams are unable to cut any electric-, wire-, or slick-line under MASP as defined for the
operation and seal the wellbore, you must use an alternative cutting device capable of shearing the
lines before closing the BOP. This device must be available on the rig floor during operations that
require their use.

30 CFR 250.733(a)(1) (enhanced display)

page 139 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.733(a)(2)

(2) The two BOPs equipped with pipe rams must be capable of closing and sealing on the tubular body
of any drill pipe, workstring, and tubing under MASP, as defined for the operation, except for tubing
with exterior control lines and flat packs, a bottom hole assembly that includes heavy-weight pipe or
collars, and bottom-hole tools.
(b) If you plan to use a surface BOP on a floating production facility you must:
(1) On new floating production facilities installed after April 29, 2021, that include a surface BOP, follow
the BOP requirements in § 250.734(a)(1).
(2) For risers installed after July 28, 2016, use a dual bore riser configuration before drilling or operating
in any hole section or interval where hydrocarbons are, or may be, exposed to the well. The dual bore
riser must meet the design requirements of API RP 2RD (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198),
including appropriate design for the maximum anticipated operating and environmental conditions.
(i)

For a dual bore riser configuration, the annulus between the risers must be monitored for
pressure during operations. You must describe in your APD or APM your annulus monitoring
plan and how you will secure the well in the event a leak is detected.

(ii) The inner riser for a dual riser configuration is subject to the requirements at § 250.721 for
testing the casing or liner.
(c) You must install separate side outlets on the BOP stack for the kill and choke lines. If your stack does not
have side outlets, you must install a drilling spool with side outlets. The outlet valves must hold pressure
from both directions.
(d) You must install a choke and a kill line on the BOP stack. You must equip each line with two full-bore, fullopening valves, one of which must be remote-controlled. On the kill line, you may install a check valve and
a manual valve instead of the remote-controlled valve. To use this configuration, both manual valves must
be readily accessible and you must install the check valve between the manual valves and the pump.
(e) Additional requirements for surface BOP systems used in well-completion, workover, and
decommissioning operations. The minimum BOP system for well-completion, workover, and
decommissioning operations must meet the appropriate standards from the following table:
When . . .

The minimum BOP stack must include . . .

(1) The expected
pressure is less
than 5,000 psi,

Three BOPs consisting of an annular, one set of pipe rams, and one set of blind-shear
rams.

(2) The expected
pressure is 5,000
psi or greater or
you use multiple
tubing strings,

Four BOPs consisting of an annular, two sets of pipe rams, and one set of blind-shear
rams.

(3) You handle
multiple tubing
strings
simultaneously,

Four BOPs consisting of an annular, one set of pipe rams, one set of dual pipe rams,
and one set of blind-shear rams.

(4) You use a
tapered drill pipe,
work string, or

At least one set of pipe rams that are capable of sealing around each size of drill pipe,
work string, or tubing. If the expected pressure is greater than 5,000 psi, then you must
have at least two sets of pipe rams that are capable of sealing around the larger size

30 CFR 250.733(e) (enhanced display)

page 140 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

When . . .

30 CFR 250.734

The minimum BOP stack must include . . .

tubing,

drill pipe, work string, or tubing. You may substitute one set of variable bore rams for
two sets of pipe rams.

(5) You use a
surface BOP on a
floating facility,

The elements required by § 250.733(b)(1) of this part.

[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21979, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.734 What are the requirements for a subsea BOP system?
(a) When you drill or conduct operations with a subsea BOP system, you must install the BOP system before
drilling to deepen the well below the surface casing or before conducting operations if the well is already
deepened beyond the surface casing point. The District Manager may require you to install a subsea BOP
system before drilling or conducting operations below the conductor casing if proposed casing setting
depths or local geology indicate the need. The following table outlines your requirements.
When operating with a subsea BOP
system, you must:
(1) Have at least five remote-controlled,
hydraulically operated BOPs;

Additional requirements:
You must have at least one annular BOP, two BOPs equipped
with pipe rams, and two BOPs equipped with shear rams. For the
dual ram requirement, you must comply with this requirement no
later than April 29, 2021.
(i) Both BOPs equipped with pipe rams must be capable of
closing and sealing on the tubular body of any drill pipe,
workstring, and tubing under MASP, as defined for the operation,
except tubing with exterior control lines and flat packs, a bottom
hole assembly that includes heavy-weight pipe or collars, and
bottom-hole tools.
(ii) Both shear rams must be capable of shearing at any point
along the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool joints,
bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavyweight pipe or collars), workstring, tubing and associated
exterior control lines, appropriate area for the liner or casing
landing string, shear sub on subsea test tree, and any electric-,
wire-, slick-line in the hole; under MASP. At least one shear ram
must be capable of sealing the wellbore after shearing under
MASP conditions as defined for the operation. Any non-sealing
shear ram(s) must be installed below a sealing shear ram(s).

(2) Have an operable redundant pod
control system to ensure proper and
independent operation of the BOP
system;
(3) Have the accumulator capacity, to
provide fast closure of the BOP
components and to operate all critical
functions;
30 CFR 250.734(a) (enhanced display)

The accumulator capacity must:
(i) Close each required shear ram, ram locks, one pipe ram, and
disconnect the LMRP.
(ii) Have the capability to perform ROV functions within the
page 141 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

When operating with a subsea BOP
system, you must:

30 CFR 250.734(a)

Additional requirements:
required times outlined in API Standard 53 with ROV or flying
leads.
(iii) Have bottles located subsea for the autoshear and deadman
(which may be shared between those two systems) to secure the
wellbore. These bottles may also be utilized to perform the
secondary control system functions (e.g., ROV or acoustic
functions).
(iv) Perform under MASP conditions as defined for the operation.

(4) Have a subsea BOP stack equipped
with remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
intervention capability;

You must have the ROV intervention capability to close each
shear ram, ram locks, one pipe ram, and disconnect the LMRP
under MASP conditions as defined for the operation. You must
be capable of performing these functions in the response times
outlined in API Standard 53 (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198). The ROV panels on the BOP and LMRP must be
compliant with API RP 17H (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198).

(5) Maintain an ROV and have a trained
ROV crew on each rig unit on a
continuous basis once BOP
deployment has been initiated from the
rig until recovered to the surface. The
ROV crew must examine all ROVrelated well-control equipment (both
surface and subsea) to ensure that it is
properly maintained and capable of
carrying out appropriate tasks during
emergency operations;

The crew must be trained in the operation of the ROV. The
training must include simulator training on stabbing into an ROV
intervention panel on a subsea BOP stack. The ROV crew must
be in communication with designated rig personnel who are
knowledgeable about the BOP's capabilities.

(6) Provide autoshear, deadman, and
EDS systems for dynamically
positioned rigs; provide autoshear and
deadman systems for moored rigs;

(i) Autoshear system means a safety system that is designed to
automatically shut-in the wellbore in the event of a disconnect of
the LMRP. This is considered a rapid discharge system.
(ii) Deadman system means a safety system that is designed to
automatically shut-in the wellbore in the event of a simultaneous
absence of hydraulic supply and signal transmission capacity in
both subsea control pods. This is considered a rapid discharge
system.
(iii) Emergency Disconnect Sequence (EDS) system means a
safety system that is designed to be manually activated to shutin the wellbore and disconnect the LMRP in the event of an
emergency situation. This is considered a rapid discharge
system.
(iv) Autoshear/deadman functions and an EDS mode must close,
at a minimum, two shear rams in sequence and be capable of
performing their expected shearing and sealing action under
MASP conditions as defined for the operation.
(v) Your sequencing must allow a sufficient delay when closing

30 CFR 250.734(a) (enhanced display)

page 142 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

When operating with a subsea BOP
system, you must:

30 CFR 250.734(a)

Additional requirements:
your two shear rams in order to provide maximum sealing
efficiency.

(7) Demonstrate that any acoustic
control system will function in the
proposed environment and conditions;

If you choose to use an acoustic control system in addition to
the autoshear, deadman, and EDS requirements, you must
demonstrate to the District Manager, as part of the information
submitted under § 250.731, that the acoustic control system will
function in the proposed environment and conditions. The
District Manager may require additional information as
appropriate to clarify or evaluate the acoustic control system
information provided in your demonstration.

(8) Have operational or physical
barrier(s) on BOP control panels to
prevent accidental disconnect
functions;

You must incorporate enable buttons, or a similar feature, on
control panels to ensure two-handed operation for all critical
functions.

(9) Clearly label all control panels for
the subsea BOP system;

Label other BOP control panels, such as hydraulic control panel.

(10) Develop and use a management
system for operating the BOP system,
including the prevention of accidental
or unplanned disconnects of the
system;

The management system must include written procedures for
operating the BOP stack and LMRP (including proper techniques
to prevent accidental disconnection of these components) and
minimum knowledge requirements for personnel authorized to
operate and maintain BOP components.

(11) Establish minimum requirements
for personnel authorized to operate
critical BOP equipment;

Personnel must have:
(i) Training in deepwater well-control theory and practice
according to the requirements of Subparts O and S; and
(ii) A comprehensive knowledge of BOP hardware and control
systems.

(12) Before removing the marine riser,
displace the fluid in the riser with
seawater;

You must maintain sufficient hydrostatic pressure or take other
suitable precautions to compensate for the reduction in pressure
and to maintain a safe and controlled well condition. You must
follow the requirements of § 250.720(b).

(13) Install the BOP stack in a well
cellar when in an ice-scour area;

Your well cellar must be deep enough to ensure that the top of
the stack is below the deepest probable ice-scour depth.

(14) Install at least two side outlets for
a choke line and two side outlets for a
kill line;

(i) If your stack does not have side outlets, you must install a
drilling spool with side outlets.
(ii) Each side outlet must have two full-bore, full-opening valves.
(iii) The valves must hold pressure from both directions and
must be remote-controlled.
iv) You must install a side outlet below the lowest sealing shear
ram. You may have a pipe ram or rams between the shearing ram
and side outlet.

(15) Install a gas bleed line with two
(i) The valves must hold pressure from both directions;
valves for the annular preventer no later (ii) If you have dual annulars, you must install the gas bleed line
than April 30, 2018;
below the upper annular.
(16) Use a BOP system that has the
(i) No later than May 1, 2023, you must have the capability to
following mechanisms and capabilities; position the entire pipe completely within the area of the
30 CFR 250.734(a) (enhanced display)

page 143 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

When operating with a subsea BOP
system, you must:

30 CFR 250.734(b)

Additional requirements:
shearing blade. This capability cannot be a separate ram BOP or
annular preventer, but you may use those during a planned shear.
(ii) If your control pods contain a subsea electronic module with
batteries, a mechanism for personnel on the rig to monitor the
state of charge of the subsea electronic module batteries in the
BOP control pods.

(b) If you suspend operations to make repairs to any part of the subsea BOP system, you must stop
operations at a safe downhole location. Before resuming operations you must:
(1) Submit a revised permit with a written statement from an independent third party documenting the
repairs and certifying that the previous certification in § 250.731(c) remains valid;
(2) Upon relatch of the BOP, perform an initial subsea BOP test in accordance with § 250.737(d)(4),
including deadman in accordance with § 250.737(d)(12)(vi). If repairs take longer than 30 days, once
the BOP is on deck, you must test in accordance with the requirements of § 250.737;
(3) Upon relatch of the LMRP, you must test according to the following:
(i)

Pressure test riser connector/gasket in accordance with § 250.737(b) and (c);

(ii) Pressure test choke and kill stabs at LMRP/BOP interface in accordance with § 250.737(b) and
(c);
(iii) Full function test of both pods and both control panels;
(iv) Verify acoustic pod communication (if equipped); and
(v) Deadman test with pressure test in accordance with § 250.737(d)(12)(vi).
(4) Receive approval from the District Manager.
(c) If you plan to drill a new well with a subsea BOP, you do not need to submit with your APD the verifications
required by this subpart for the open water drilling operation. Before drilling out the surface casing, you
must submit for approval a revised APD, including the verifications required in this subpart.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21980, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.735 What associated systems and related equipment must all BOP systems include?
All BOP systems must include the following associated systems and related equipment:
(a) An accumulator system (as specified in API Standard 53, incorporated by reference in § 250.198). Your
accumulator system must have the fluid volume capacity and appropriate pre-charge pressures in
accordance with API Standard 53. If you supply the accumulator regulators by rig air and do not have a
secondary source of pneumatic supply, you must equip the regulators with manual overrides or other
devices to ensure capability of hydraulic operations if rig air is lost;

30 CFR 250.735(a) (enhanced display)

page 144 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.735(b)

(b) An automatic backup to the primary accumulator-charging system. The power source must be
independent from the power source for the primary accumulator-charging system. The independent
power source must possess sufficient capability to close and hold closed all BOP components under
MASP conditions as defined for the operation;
(c) At least two full BOP control stations. One station must be on the rig floor. You must locate the other
station in a readily accessible location away from the rig floor;
(d) The choke line(s) installed above the bottom well-control ram;
(e) The kill line must be installed beneath at least one well-control ram, and may be installed below the
bottom ram;
(f) A fill-up line above the uppermost BOP;
(g) Locking devices for all BOP sealing rams (i.e., blind shear rams, pipe rams and variable bore rams), as
follows:
(1) For subsea BOPs, hydraulic locking devices must be installed on all sealing rams;
(2) For surface BOPs:
(i)

Remotely-operated locking devices must be installed on blind shear rams no later than April 29,
2019;

(ii) Manual or remotely-operated locking devices must be installed on pipe rams and variable bore
rams; and
(h) A wellhead assembly with a RWP that exceeds the maximum anticipated wellhead pressure.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21981, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.736 What are the requirements for choke manifolds, kelly-type valves inside BOPs, and
drill string safety valves?
(a) Your BOP system must include a choke manifold that is suitable for the anticipated surface pressures,
anticipated methods of well control, the surrounding environment, and the corrosiveness, volume, and
abrasiveness of drilling fluids and well fluids that you may encounter.
(b) Choke manifold components must have a RWP at least as great as the RWP of the ram BOPs. If your
choke manifold has buffer tanks downstream of choke assemblies, you must install isolation valves on
any bleed lines.
(c) Valves, pipes, flexible steel hoses, and other fittings upstream of the choke manifold must have a RWP at
least as great as the RWP of the ram BOPs.
(d) You must use the following BOP equipment with a RWP and temperature of at least as great as the
working pressure and temperature of the ram BOP during all operations:
(1) The applicable kelly-type valves as described in API Standard 53 (incorporated by reference in §
250.198);
(2) On a top-drive system equipped with a remote-controlled valve, a strippable kelly-type valve must be
installed below the remote-controlled valve;

30 CFR 250.736(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 145 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.736(d)(3)

(3) An inside BOP in the open position located on the rig floor. You must be able to install an inside BOP
for each size connection in the pipe;
(4) A drill string safety valve in the open position located on the rig floor. You must have a drill-string
safety valve available for each size connection in the pipe;
(5) When running casing, a safety valve in the open position available on the rig floor to fit the casing
string being run in the hole. For subsea BOPs, the safety valve must be available on the rig floor if the
length of casing being run exceeds the water depth, which would result in the casing being across
the BOP stack and the rig floor prior to crossing over to the drill pipe running string;
(6) All required manual and remote- controlled kelly-type valves, drill-string safety valves, and
comparable-type valves (i.e., kelly-type valve in a top-drive system) that are essentially full opening;
and
(7) A wrench to fit each manual valve. Each wrench must be readily accessible to the drilling crew.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21981, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.737 What are the BOP system testing requirements?
Your BOP system (this includes the choke manifold, kelly-type valves, inside BOP, and drill string safety valve) must
meet the following testing requirements:
(a) Pressure test frequency. You must pressure test your BOP system:
(1) When installed;
(2) Before 14 days have elapsed since your last BOP pressure test, or 30 days since your last blind shear
ram BOP pressure test. You must begin to test your BOP system before midnight on the 14th day (or
30th day for your blind shear rams) following the conclusion of the previous test;
(3) Before drilling out each string of casing or a liner. You may omit this pressure test requirement if you
did not remove the BOP stack to run the casing string or liner, the required BOP test pressures for the
next section of the hole are not greater than the test pressures for the previous BOP test, and the
time elapsed between tests has not exceeded 14 days (or 30 days for blind shear rams). You must
indicate in your APD which casing strings and liners meet these criteria;
(4) In lieu of meeting the schedule established in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, you may request that
BSEE approve a 21-day BOP testing frequency. To obtain BSEE approval, you must submit a request
to the appropriate BSEE Regional Supervisor, District Field Operations. Your request must
demonstrate that you have developed a BOP health monitoring plan that includes certain system
capabilities. As long as your plan is consistent with recognized engineering and industry practice,
BSEE will approve your request if it includes the following:
(i)

Condition monitoring tools, including continuous surveillance of sensor readings from the BOP
control system, real-time condition analysis and displays, functional pressure signal analysis,
historical sensor data;

(ii) Failure propagation analysis;
(iii) A failure tracking and resolution system that includes detailed failure reports and identification
of recurring problems; and
30 CFR 250.737(a)(4)(iii) (enhanced display)

page 146 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.737(a)(4)(iv)

(iv) Submission of quarterly reports of the data collected pursuant to paragraphs (a)(4)(i)(iii) to the
BSEE Regional Supervisor, District Field Operations.
(5) The District Manager may require more frequent testing if conditions or your BOP performance
warrant.
(b) Pressure test procedures. When you pressure test the BOP system, you must conduct a low-pressure test
and a high-pressure test for each BOP component (excluding test rams and non-sealing shear rams). You
must begin each test by conducting the low-pressure test then transition to the high-pressure test. Each
individual pressure test must hold pressure long enough to demonstrate the tested component(s) holds
the required pressure. The table in this paragraph (b) outlines your pressure test requirements.
You must conduct a . . .

According to the following procedures . . .

(1) Low-pressure test

All low-pressure tests must be between 250 and 350 psi.
Any initial pressure above 350 psi must be bled back to a
pressure between 250 and 350 psi before starting the
test. If the initial pressure exceeds 500 psi, you must
bleed back to zero and reinitiate the test.

(2) High-pressure test for blind shear ram-type
BOPs, ram-type BOPs, the choke manifold,
outside of all choke and kill side outlet valves
(and annular gas bleed valves for subsea BOP),
inside of all choke and kill side outlet valves
below uppermost ram, and other BOP
components

(i) The high-pressure test must equal the RWP of the
equipment or be 500 psi greater than your calculated
MASP, as defined for the operation for the applicable
section of hole. Before you may test BOP equipment to
the MASP plus 500 psi, the District Manager must have
approved those test pressures in your permit.
(ii) The blind shear ram (BSR) must be tested to:
(A) MASP plus 500 psi for the hole section to which it is
exposed; or
(B) Full well MASP plus 500 psi on initial latch up and all
subsequent BSR pressure tests can be done to the
casing/liner test pressure for the applicable hole section.
(iii) The choke and kill side outlet valves must be tested
to, except as provided in paragraph (d)(13) of this
section:
(A) MASP plus 500 psi for the hole section to which it is
exposed; or
(B) Full well MASP plus 500 psi on initial latch up and all
subsequent pressure tests can be done to the casing/
liner test pressure for the applicable hole section.

(3) High-pressure test for annular-type BOPs,
inside of choke or kill valves (and annular gas
bleed valves for subsea BOP) above the
uppermost ram BOP

The high pressure test must equal 70 percent of the RWP
of the equipment or be 500 psi greater than your
calculated MASP, as defined for the operation for the
applicable section of hole. Before you may test BOP
equipment to the MASP plus 500 psi, the District
Manager must have approved those test pressures in
your APD or APM.

(c) Duration of pressure test. Each test must hold the required pressure for 5 minutes, which must be
recorded on a chart not exceeding 4 hours, or on a digital recorder. However, for surface BOP systems and
surface equipment of a subsea BOP system, a 3-minute test duration is acceptable if recorded on a chart
30 CFR 250.737(c) (enhanced display)

page 147 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.737(d)

not exceeding 4 hours, or on a digital recorder. The recorded test pressures must be within the middle half
of the chart range, i.e., cannot be within the lower or upper one-fourth of the chart range. If the equipment
does not hold the required pressure during a test, you must correct the problem and retest the affected
component(s).
(d) Additional test requirements. You must meet the following additional BOP testing requirements:
You must . . .

Additional requirements . . .

(1) Follow the testing requirements of API Standard 53 If there is a conflict between API Standard 53,
(as incorporated in § 250.198)
testing requirements and this section, you must
follow the requirements of this section.
(2) Use water to test a surface BOP system on the
initial test. You may use drilling/completion/workover
fluids to conduct subsequent tests of a surface BOP
system

(i) You must submit test procedures with your
APD or APM for District Manager approval.
(ii) Contact the District Manager at least 72 hours
prior to beginning the initial test to allow BSEE
representative(s) to witness testing.

(3) Stump test a subsea BOP system before
installation

(i) You must use water to conduct this test. You
may use drilling/completion/workover fluids to
conduct subsequent tests of a subsea BOP
system.
(ii) You must submit test procedures with your
APD or APM for District Manager approval
(iii) Contact the District Manager at least 72 hours
prior to beginning the stump test to allow BSEE
representative(s) to witness testing.
(iv) You must verify closure of all ROV intervention
functions on your subsea BOP stack during the
stump test.
(v) You must follow paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
section. Pressure testing of each ram and annular
component is only required once.

(4) Perform an initial subsea BOP test

(i) You must begin the initial subsea BOP test on
the seafloor within 30 days of the stump test.
(ii) You must submit test procedures with your
APD or APM for District Manager approval.
(iii) You must pressure test well-control rams and
annulars according to paragraphs (b) and (c) of
this section.
(iv) You must notify the District Manager at least
72 hours prior to beginning the initial subsea test
for the BOP system to allow BSEE
representative(s) to witness testing.
(v) You must test and verify closure of at least
one set of rams during the initial subsea test
through a ROV hot stab. You must confirm closure
of the selected ram through the ROV hot stab with
a 1,000 psi pressure test for 5 minutes.

30 CFR 250.737(d) (enhanced display)

page 148 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

You must . . .
(5) Alternate tests between control stations

30 CFR 250.737(d)

Additional requirements . . .
(i) For two complete BOP control stations you
must:
(A) Designate a primary and secondary station;
(B) Alternate testing between the primary and
secondary control stations on a weekly basis; and
(C) For a subsea BOP, develop an alternating
testing schedule to ensure the primary and
secondary control stations will function each pod.
(ii) Remote panels where all BOP functions are
not included (e.g., life boat panels) must be
function-tested upon the initial BOP tests.

(6) Pressure test variable bore-pipe ram BOPs against
pipe sizes according to API Standard 53, excluding the
bottom hole assembly that includes heavy-weight pipe
or collars and bottom-hole tools
(7) Pressure test annular type BOPs against pipe sizes
according to API Standard 53
(8) Pressure test affected BOP components following
the disconnection or repair of any well-pressure
containment seal in the wellhead or BOP stack
assembly
(9) Function test annular and pipe/variable bore ram
BOPs every 7 days between pressure tests
(10) Function test shear ram(s) BOPs every 14 days

If BSEE approves your request to utilize a 21-day
BOP test frequency pursuant to § 250.737(a)(4),
you may function test shear ram(s) BOPs every 21
days in accordance with the terms of that
approval.

(11) Actuate safety valves assembled with proper
casing connections before running casing
(12) Function test autoshear/deadman, and EDS
systems separately on your subsea BOP stack during
the stump test. The District Manager may require
additional testing of the emergency systems. You
must also test the deadman system and verify closure
of the shearing rams during the initial test on the
seafloor

30 CFR 250.737(d) (enhanced display)

(i) You must submit test procedures with your
APD or APM for District Manager approval. The
procedures for these function tests must include
the schematics of the actual controls and circuitry
of the system that will be used during an actual
autoshear or deadman event.
(ii) The procedures must also include the actions
and sequence of events that take place on the
approved schematics of the BOP control system
and describe specifically how the ROV will be
utilized during this operation.
(iii) When you conduct the initial deadman system
test on the seafloor, you must ensure the well is
secure and, if hydrocarbons have been present,
appropriate barriers are in place to isolate
hydrocarbons from the wellhead. You must also
page 149 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.737(e)

You must . . .

Additional requirements . . .
have an ROV on bottom during the test.
(iv) Following the deadman system test on the
seafloor you must document the final remaining
pressure of the subsea accumulator system.
(v) For the function test of the deadman system
during the initial test on the seafloor, you must
have the ability to quickly disconnect the LMRP
should the rig experience a loss of stationkeeping event. You must include your quickdisconnect procedures with your deadman test
procedures.
(vi) You must confirm closure of the BSR(s) with a
1,000 psi pressure test for 5 minutes.
(vii) If a casing shear ram is installed, you must
describe how you will verify closure of the ram.
(viii) You must document all your test results and
make them available to BSEE upon request.

(13) Pressure test the choke and kill side outlet valves

According to paragraph (b) of this section, except
as follows:
(i) Test the wellbore side of the choke and kill side
outlet valves above the uppermost pipe ram to the
approved annular test pressure. Choke and kill
side outlet valves below the uppermost pipe ram
must be tested to MASP plus 500 psi for the
applicable hole section.
(ii) For the 30 day BSR testing, test the wellbore
side of the choke and kill side outlet valves
between the upper most pipe ram and the upper
most ram, to the casing/liner test pressure or
annular test pressure, whichever is greater.
(iii) For BOPs with only one choke and kill side
outlet valve, you are only required to pressure test
the choke and kill side outlet valves from the
wellbore side.

(e) Prior to conducting any shear ram tests in which you will shear pipe, you must notify the District Manager
at least 72 hours in advance, to ensure that a BSEE representative will have access to the location to
witness any testing.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21981, May 15, 2019]

30 CFR 250.737(e) (enhanced display)

page 150 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.738

§ 250.738 What must I do in certain situations involving BOP equipment or systems?
The table in this section describes actions that you must take when certain situations occur with BOP systems.
If you encounter the following
situation:

Then you must . . .

(a) BOP equipment does not
hold the required pressure
during a test;

Correct the problem and retest the affected equipment. You must report
any problems or irregularities, including any leaks, on the daily report as
required in § 250.746.

(b) Need to repair, replace, or
reconfigure a surface BOP or
subsea BOP system;

(1) First place the well in a safe, controlled condition as approved by the
District Manager (e.g., before drilling out a casing shoe or after setting a
cement plug, bridge plug, or a packer).
(2) Any repair or replacement parts must be manufactured under a
quality assurance program and must meet or exceed the performance of
the original part produced by the OEM.
(3) Submit a revised permit with a written statement from an independent
third party documenting the repairs, replacement, or reconfiguration and
certifying that the previous certification under § 250.731(c) remains valid.
(4) You must receive approval from the District Manager prior to
resuming operations.

(c) Need to postpone a BOP
test due to well-control
problems such as lost
circulation, formation fluid
influx, or stuck pipe;

Record the reason for postponing the test in the daily report and conduct
the required BOP test after the first trip out of the hole.

(d) BOP control station or pod
that does not function
properly;

Suspend operations until that station or pod is operable. You must report
any problems or irregularities, including any leaks, to the District
Manager.

(e) Plan to operate with a
tapered string;

Install two or more sets of conventional or variable-bore pipe rams in the
BOP stack to provide for the following: two sets of rams must be capable
of sealing around the larger-size drill string and one set of pipe rams
must be capable of sealing around the smaller size pipe, excluding the
bottom hole assembly that includes heavy weight pipe or collars and
bottom-hole tools.

(f) Plan to install casing rams
or casing shear rams in a
surface BOP stack;

Before running casing, perform a shell test to the permit approved test
pressure of the BOP component above the casing ram/casing shear. If
this installation was not included in your approved permit, and changes
the BOP configuration approved in the APD or APM, you must notify and
receive approval from the District Manager.

(g) Plan to use an annular BOP
with a RWP less than the
anticipated surface pressure;

Demonstrate that your well-control procedures or the anticipated well
conditions will not place demands above its RWP and obtain approval
from the District Manager.

(h) Plan to use a subsea BOP
system in an ice-scour area;

Install the BOP stack in a well cellar. The well cellar must be deep enough
to ensure that the top of the stack is below the deepest probable icescour depth.

(i) You activate any shear ram
and pipe or casing is sheared;

Retrieve, physically inspect, and conduct a full pressure test of the BOP
stack after the situation is fully controlled. You must submit to the

30 CFR 250.738 (enhanced display)

page 151 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you encounter the following
situation:

30 CFR 250.738

Then you must . . .
District Manager a report from an independent third party certifying that
the BOP is fit to return to service.

(j) Need to remove the BOP
stack;

Have a minimum of two barriers in place prior to BOP removal. You must
obtain approval from the District Manager of the two barriers prior to
removal and the District Manager may require additional barriers and
test(s).

(k) In the event of a deadman
or autoshear activation, if there
is a possibility of the blind
shear ram opening
immediately upon reestablishing power to the BOP
stack;

Place the blind shear ram opening function in the block position prior to
re-establishing power to the stack. Contact the District Manager and
receive approval of procedures for re-establishing power and functions
prior to latching up the BOP stack or re-establishing power to the stack.

(l) If a test ram is to be used;

The wellhead/BOP connection must be tested to the MASP plus 500 psi
for the hole section to which it is exposed. This can be done by:
(1) Testing wellhead/BOP connection to the MASP plus 500 psi for the
well upon installation;
(2) Pressure testing each casing to the MASP plus 500 psi for the next
hole section; or
(3) Some combination of paragraphs (l)(1) and (2) of this section.

(m) Plan to utilize any other
circulating or ancillary
equipment (e.g., but not
limited to, subsea isolation
device, subsea accumulator
module, or gas handler) that is
in addition to the equipment
required in this subpart;

Contact the District Manager and request approval in your APD or APM.
Your request must include a report from an independent third party on
the equipment's design and suitability for its intended use as well as any
other information required by the District Manager. The District Manager
may impose any conditions regarding the equipment's capabilities,
operation, and testing.

(n) You have pipe/variable
bore rams that have no current
utility or well-control purposes;

Indicate in your APD or APM which pipe/variable bore rams meet these
criteria and clearly label them on all BOP control panels. You do not need
to function test or pressure test pipe/variable bore rams having no
current utility, and that will not be used for well-control purposes, until
such time as they are intended to be used during operations.

(o) You install redundant
components for well control in
your BOP system that are in
addition to the required
components of this subpart
(e.g., pipe/variable bore rams,
shear rams, annular
preventers, gas bleed lines,
and choke/kill side outlets or
lines);

Comply with all testing, maintenance, and inspection requirements in this
subpart that are applicable to those well-control components. If any
redundant component fails a test, you must submit a report from an
independent third party that describes the failure and confirms that there
is no impact on the BOP that will make it unfit for well-control purposes.
You must submit this report to the District Manager and receive approval
before resuming operations. The District Manager may require you to
provide additional information as needed to clarify or evaluate your
report.

(p) Need to position the
bottom hole assembly,

Ensure that the well is stable prior to positioning the bottom hole
assembly across the BOP. You must have, as part of your well-control

30 CFR 250.738 (enhanced display)

page 152 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you encounter the following
situation:
including heavy-weight pipe or
collars, and bottom-hole tools
across the BOP for tripping or
any other operations.

30 CFR 250.739

Then you must . . .
plan required by § 250.710, procedures that enable the removal of the
bottom hole assembly from across the BOP in the event of a well-control
or emergency situation (for dynamically positioned rigs, your plan must
also include steps for when the EDS must be activated) before MASP
conditions are reached as defined for the operation.

[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21983, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.739 What are the BOP maintenance and inspection requirements?
(a) You must maintain and inspect your BOP system to ensure that the equipment functions as designed. The
BOP maintenance and inspections must meet or exceed any OEM recommendations, recognized
engineering practices, and industry standards incorporated by reference into the regulations of this
subpart, including API Standard 53 (incorporated by reference in § 250.198). You must document how you
met or exceeded the provisions of API Standard 53, maintain complete records to ensure the traceability
of BOP stack equipment beginning at fabrication, and record the results of your BOP inspections and
maintenance actions. You must make all records available to BSEE upon request.
(b) A major, detailed inspection of the well control system components (including but not limited to riser, BOP,
LMRP, and control pods) must be performed every 5 years. This major inspection may be performed in
phased intervals. You must track and document all system and component inspection dates. These
records must be available on the rig. An independent third party is required to review the inspection
results and must compile a detailed report of the inspection results, including descriptions of any
problems and how they were corrected. You must make these reports available to BSEE upon request.
This major inspection must be performed every 5 years from the following applicable dates, whichever is
later:
(1) The date the equipment owner accepts delivery of a new build drilling rig with a new BOP system;
(2) The date the new, repaired, or remanufactured equipment is initially installed into the system; or
(3) The date of the last 5 year inspection for the component.
(c) You must visually inspect your surface BOP system on a daily basis. You must visually inspect your
subsea BOP system, marine riser, and wellhead at least once every 3 days if weather and sea conditions
permit. You may use cameras to inspect subsea equipment.
(d) You must ensure that all personnel maintaining, inspecting, or repairing BOPs, or critical components of
the BOP system, are trained in accordance with applicable training requirements in subpart S of this part,
any applicable OEM criteria, recognized engineering practices, and industry standards incorporated by
reference in this subpart.
(e) You must make all records available to BSEE upon request. You must ensure that the rig unit owner
maintains the BOP maintenance, inspection, and repair records on the rig unit for 2 years from the date
the records are created or for a longer period if directed by BSEE. You must ensure that all equipment
schematics, maintenance, inspection, and repair records are located at an onshore location for the service
life of the equipment.
[81 FR 26022, Apr. 29, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 21983, May 15, 2019]
30 CFR 250.739(e) (enhanced display)

page 153 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.740

RECORDS AND REPORTING
§ 250.740 What records must I keep?
You must keep a daily report consisting of complete, legible, and accurate records for each well. You must keep
records onsite while well operations continue. After completion of operations, you must keep all operation and other
well records for the time periods shown in § 250.741 at a location of your choice, except as required in § 250.746.
The records must contain complete information on all of the following:
(a) Well operations, all testing conducted, and any real-time monitoring data as required by § 250.724;
(b) Descriptions of formations penetrated;
(c) Content and character of oil, gas, water, and other mineral deposits in each formation;
(d) Kind, weight, size, grade, and setting depth of casing;
(e) All well logs and surveys run in the wellbore;
(f) Any significant malfunction or problem; and
(g) All other information required by the District Manager as appropriate to ensure compliance with the
requirements of this section and to enable BSEE to determine that the well operations are consistent with
conservation of natural resources and protection of safety and the environment on the OCS.

§ 250.741 How long must I keep records?
You must keep records for the time periods shown in the following table.
You must keep records relating to . . .

Until . . .

(a) Drilling;

90 days after you complete operations.

(b) Casing and liner pressure tests, diverter tests, BOP
tests, and real-time monitoring data;

2 years after the completion of operations.

(c) Completion of a well or of any workover activity that
materially alters the completion configuration or affects a
hydrocarbon-bearing zone.

You permanently plug and abandon the well or
until you assign the lease and forward the
records to the assignee.

§ 250.742 What well records am I required to submit?
You must submit to BSEE copies of logs or charts of electrical, radioactive, sonic, and other well logging operations;
directional and vertical well surveys; velocity profiles and surveys; and analysis of cores. Each Region will provide
specific instructions for submitting well logs and surveys.

§ 250.743 What are the well activity reporting requirements?
(a) For operations in the BSEE Gulf of Mexico (GOM) OCS Region, you must submit Form BSEE–0133, Well
Activity Report (WAR), to the District Manager on a weekly basis. The reporting week is defined as
beginning on Sunday (12 a.m.) and ending on the following Saturday (11:59 p.m.). This reporting week
corresponds to a week (Sunday through Saturday) on a standard calendar. Report any well operations that
extend past the end of this weekly reporting period on the next weekly report. The reporting period for the
weekly report is never longer than 7 days, but could be less than 7 days for the first reporting period and
30 CFR 250.743(a) (enhanced display)

page 154 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.743(b)

the last reporting period for a particular well operation. Submit each WAR and accompanying Form
BSEE–0133S, Open Hole Data Report, to the BSEE GOM OCS Region no later than close of business on
the Friday immediately after the closure of the reporting week. The District Manager may require more
frequent submittal of the WAR on a case-by-case basis.
(b) For operations in the Pacific or Alaska OCS Regions, you must submit Form BSEE–0133, WAR, to the
District Manager on a daily basis.
(c) The WAR must include a description of the operations conducted, any abnormal or significant events that
affect the permitted operation each day within the report from the time you begin operations to the time
you end operations, any verbal approval received, the well's as-built drawings, casing, fluid weights, shoe
tests, test pressures at surface conditions, and any other information concerning well activities required
by the District Manager. For casing cementing operations, indicate type of returns (i.e., full, partial, or
none). If partial or no returns are observed, you must indicate how you determined the top of cement. For
each report, indicate the operation status for the well at the end of the reporting period. On the final WAR,
indicate the status of the well (completed, temporarily abandoned, permanently abandoned, or drilling
suspended) and the date you finished such operations.

§ 250.744 What are the end of operation reporting requirements?
(a) Within 30 days after completing operations, except routine operations as defined in § 250.601, you must
submit Form BSEE–0125, End of Operations Report (EOR), to the District Manager. The EOR must include:
a listing, with top and bottom depths, of all hydrocarbon zones and other zones of porosity encountered
with any cored intervals; details on any drill-stem and formation tests conducted; documentation of
successful negative pressure testing on wells that use a subsea BOP stack or wells with mudline
suspension systems; and an updated schematic of the full wellbore configuration. The schematic must be
clearly labeled and show all applicable top and bottom depths, locations and sizes of all casings, cut
casing or stubs, casing perforations, casing rupture discs (indicate if burst or collapse and rating),
cemented intervals, cement plugs, mechanical plugs, perforated zones, completion equipment, production
and isolation packers, alternate completions, tubing, landing nipples, subsurface safety devices, and any
other information required by the District Manager regarding the end of well operations. The EOR must
indicate the status of the well (completed, temporarily abandoned, permanently abandoned, or drilling
suspended) and the date of the well status designation. The well status date is subject to the following:
(1) For surface well operations and riserless subsea operations, the operations end date is subject to the
discretion of the District Manager; and
(2) For subsea well operations, the operations end date is considered to be the date the BOP is
disconnected from the wellhead unless otherwise specified by the District Manager.
(b) You must submit public information copies of Form BSEE–0125 according to § 250.186(b).

§ 250.745 What other well records could I be required to submit?
The District Manager or Regional Supervisor may require you to submit copies of any or all of the following well
records:
(a) Well records as specified in § 250.740;

30 CFR 250.745(a) (enhanced display)

page 155 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.745(b)

(b) Paleontological interpretations or reports identifying microscopic fossils by depth and/or washed
samples of drill cuttings that you normally maintain for paleontological determinations. The Regional
Supervisor may issue a Notice to Lessees that sets forth the manner, timeframe, and format for
submitting this information;
(c) Service company reports on cementing, perforating, acidizing, testing, or other similar services; or
(d) Other reports and records of operations.

§ 250.746 What are the recordkeeping requirements for casing, liner, and BOP tests, and
inspections of BOP systems and marine risers?
You must record the time, date, and results of all casing and liner pressure tests. You must also record pressure
tests, actuations, and inspections of the BOP system, system components, and marine riser in the daily report
described in § 250.740. In addition, you must:
(a) Record test pressures on pressure charts or digital recorders;
(b) Require your onsite lessee representative, designated rig or contractor representative, and pump operator
to sign and date the pressure charts or digital recordings and daily reports as correct;
(c) Document on the daily report the sequential order of BOP and auxiliary equipment testing and the
pressure and duration of each test. For subsea BOP systems, you must also record the closing times for
annular and ram BOPs. You may reference a BOP test plan if it is available at the facility;
(d) Identify on the daily report the control station and pod used during the test (identifying the pod does not
apply to coiled tubing and snubbing units);
(e) Identify on the daily report any problems or irregularities observed during BOP system testing and record
actions taken to remedy the problems or irregularities. Any leaks associated with the BOP or control
system during testing must be documented in the WAR. If any problems that cannot be resolved promptly
are observed during testing, operations must be suspended until the District Manager determines that you
may continue; and
(f) Retain all records, including pressure charts, daily reports, and referenced documents pertaining to tests,
actuations, and inspections at the rig unit for the duration of the operation. After completion of the
operation, you must retain all the records listed in this section for a period of 2 years at the rig unit. You
must also retain the records at the lessee's field office nearest the facility or at another location available
to BSEE. You must make all the records available to BSEE upon request.

COILED TUBING OPERATIONS
§ 250.750 What are the coiled tubing requirements?
(a) For coiled tubing operations, you must follow the applicable requirements of this subpart and you must
meet the following minimum requirements for the BOP system:

30 CFR 250.750(a) (enhanced display)

page 156 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.750(a)(1)

(1) BOP system components must be in the following order from the top down:
BOP system when
expected surface
pressures are less
than or equal to
3,500 psi

BOP system when
expected surface
pressures are greater
than 3,500 psi

BOP system for wells with returns taken through an
outlet on the BOP stack

(i) Stripper or
annular-type well
control component

Stripper or annular-type
well control component

Stripper or annular-type well control component.

(ii) Hydraulicallyoperated blind
rams

Hydraulically-operated
blind rams

Hydraulically-operated blind rams.

(iii) Hydraulicallyoperated shear
rams

Hydraulically-operated
shear rams

Hydraulically-operated shear rams.

(iv) Kill line inlet

Kill line inlet

Kill line inlet.

(v) Hydraulicallyoperated two-way
slip rams

Hydraulically-operated
two-way slip rams

Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams.
Hydraulically-operated pipe rams.

(vi) Hydraulicallyoperated pipe rams

Hydraulically-operated
pipe rams
Hydraulically-operated
blind-shear rams. These
rams should be located
as close to the tree as
practical

A flow tee or cross.
Hydraulically-operated pipe rams.
Hydraulically-operated blind-shear rams on wells with
surface pressures >3,500 psi. As an option, the pipe rams
can be placed below the blind-shear rams. The blindshear rams should be located as close to the tree as
practical.

(2) You may use a set of hydraulically-operated combination rams for the blind rams and shear rams.
(3) You may use a set of hydraulically-operated combination rams for the hydraulic two-way slip rams
and the hydraulically-operated pipe rams.
(4) You must attach a dual check valve assembly to the coiled tubing connector at the downhole end of
the coiled tubing string for all coiled tubing operations. If you plan to conduct operations without
downhole check valves, you must describe alternate procedures and equipment in Form BSEE–0124,
Application for Permit to Modify and have it approved by the District Manager.
(5) You must have a kill line and a separate choke line. You must equip each line with two full-opening
valves and at least one of the valves must be remotely controlled. You may use a manual valve
instead of the remotely controlled valve on the kill line if you install a check valve between the two
full-opening manual valves and the pump or manifold. The valves must have a working pressure
rating equal to or greater than the working pressure rating of the connection to which they are
attached, and you must install them between the well control stack and the choke or kill line. For
operations with expected surface pressures greater than 3,500 psi, the kill line must be connected to
a pump or manifold. You must not use the kill line inlet on the BOP stack for taking fluid returns from
the wellbore.

30 CFR 250.750(a)(5) (enhanced display)

page 157 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.750(a)(6)

(6) You must have a hydraulic-actuating system that provides sufficient accumulator capacity to closeopen-close each component in the BOP stack. This cycle must be completed with at least 200 psi
above the pre-charge pressure, without assistance from a charging system.
(7) All connections used in the surface BOP system from the tree to the uppermost required ram must
be flanged, including the connections between the well control stack and the first full-opening valve
on the choke line and the kill line.
(b) BSEE considers all coiled tubing operations to be non-routine.
[84 FR 21983, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.751 Coiled tubing testing requirements.
You must test the coiled tubing unit in accordance with § 250.737(a), (b), (c), (d)(9), and (d)(10). You must
successfully pressure test the dual check valves to the rated working pressure of the connector, the rated working
pressure of the dual check valve, expected surface pressure, or the collapse pressure of the coiled tubing, whichever
is less. The test interval for coiled tubing operations must include a 10 minute high-pressure test for the coiled
tubing string.
[84 FR 21984, May 15, 2019]

SNUBBING OPERATIONS
§ 250.760 What are the snubbing requirements?
(a) For snubbing operations, you must follow the applicable requirements of this subpart and have the
following minimum BOP-system components:
(1) One set of pipe rams hydraulically operated,
(2) Two sets of stripper-type pipe rams hydraulically operated with spacer spool,
(3) An inside BOP or a spring-loaded, back-pressure safety valve in the open position located on the rig
floor, and
(4) An essentially full-opening, work-string safety valve in the open position must be maintained on the
rig floor at all times and a wrench to fit the work-string safety valve must be readily available.
(5) Proper connections must be readily available for inserting valves in the work string.
(b) Test the snubbing unit in accordance with § 250.737(a), (b), and
(c) .
[84 FR 21984, May 15, 2019]

Subpart H—Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems
Source: 81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
30 CFR 250.760(c) (enhanced display)

page 158 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.800

§ 250.800 General.
(a) You must design, install, use, maintain, and test production safety equipment in a manner to ensure the
safety and protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments. For production safety systems
operated in subfreezing climates, you must use equipment and procedures that account for floating ice,
icing, and other extreme environmental conditions that may occur in the area. Before you commence
production on a new production facility:
(1) BSEE must approve your production safety system application, as required in § 250.842.
(2) You must request a preproduction inspection by notifying the District Manager at least 72 hours
before you plan to commence initial production, as required under § 250.880(a)(1).
(b) For all new production systems on fixed leg platforms, you must comply with API RP 14J (incorporated by
reference as specified in § 250.198);
(c) For all new floating production systems (FPSs) (e.g., column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating production,
storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); and spars), you must:
(1) Comply with API RP 14J;
(2) Meet the production riser standards of API RP 2RD (incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198), provided that you may not install single bore production risers from floating production
facilities;
(3) Design all stationkeeping (i.e., anchoring and mooring) systems for floating production facilities to
meet the standards of API RP 2SK and API RP 2SM (both incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198); and
(4) Design stationkeeping (i.e., anchoring and mooring) systems for floating facilities to meet the
structural requirements of §§ 250.900 through 250.921.
(d) If there are any conflicts between the documents incorporated by reference and the requirements of this
subpart, you must follow the requirements of this subpart.
(e) You may use alternate procedures or equipment during operations after receiving approval from the
District Manager. You must present your proposed alternate procedures or equipment as required by §
250.141.
(f) You may apply for a departure from the operating requirements of this subpart as provided by § 250.142.
Your written request must include a justification showing why the departure is necessary and appropriate.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49256, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.801 Safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE) certification.
(a) SPPE equipment. You must install only safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE) considered
certified under paragraph (b) of this section or accepted under paragraph (c) of this section. BSEE
considers the following equipment to be types of SPPE:
(1) Surface safety valves (SSV) and actuators, including those installed on injection wells capable of
natural flow;
(2) Boarding shutdown valves (BSDV) and their actuators. For subsea wells, the BSDV is the surface
equivalent of an SSV on a surface well;
30 CFR 250.801(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 159 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.801(a)(3)

(3) Underwater safety valves (USV) and actuators;
(4) Subsurface safety valves (SSSV) and associated safety valve locks and landing nipples; and
(5) Gas lift shutdown valves (GLSDV) and their actuators associated with subsea systems.
(b) Certification of SPPE. SPPE that is manufactured and marked pursuant to ANSI/API Spec. Q1
(incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198), is considered as certified SPPE under this part. All
other SPPE is considered as not certified, unless approved in accordance with paragraph (c) of this
section.
(c) Accepting SPPE manufactured under other quality assurance programs. BSEE may exercise its discretion
to accept SPPE manufactured under a quality assurance program other than ANSI/API Spec. Q1, provided
that the alternative quality assurance program is verified as equivalent to API Spec. Q1 by an appropriately
qualified entity and that the operator submits a request to BSEE containing relevant information about the
alternative program and receives BSEE approval. In addition, an operator may request that BSEE accept
SPPE that is marked with a third-party certification mark other than the API monogram. All requests under
this paragraph should be submitted to the Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs; Bureau of Safety
and Environmental Enforcement; VAE–ORP; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49256, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.802 Requirements for SPPE.
(a) All SSVs, BSDVs, USVs, and GLSDVs and their actuators must meet all of the specifications contained in
ANSI/API Spec. 6A and API Spec. 6AV1 (both incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(b) All SSSVs and their actuators must meet all of the specifications and recommended practices of ANSI/
API Spec. 14A and ANSI/API RP 14B, including all annexes (both incorporated by reference as specified in
§ 250.198). Subsurface-controlled SSSVs are not allowed on subsea wells.
(c) Requirements derived from the documents incorporated in this section for SSVs, BSDVs, SSSVs, USVs,
GLSDVs, and their actuators, include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) You must ensure that each device is designed to function in the conditions to which it may be
exposed; including temperature, pressure, flow rates, and environmental conditions.
(i)

The device design must be tested by an independent test agency according to the test
requirements in the appropriate standard for that device (API Spec. 6AV1 or ANSI/API Spec.
14A), as identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

(ii) You must maintain a description of the process you used to ensure the device is designed to
function as required in paragraphs (a) and (c)(1) of this section and provide that description to
BSEE upon request.
(iii) If you remove any SPPE from service and install the device at a different location, you must
have a qualified third party review and certify that each device will function as designed under
the conditions to which it may be exposed.
(2) All materials and parts must meet the original equipment manufacturer specifications and
acceptance criteria.
(3) The device must pass applicable validation tests and functional tests performed by an API-licensed
test agency.
30 CFR 250.802(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 160 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.802(c)(4)

(4) You must have requalification testing performed following manufacture design changes.
(5) You must comply with and document all manufacturing, traceability, quality control, and inspection
requirements.
(6) You must follow specified installation, testing, and repair protocols.
(7) You must use only qualified parts, procedures, and personnel to repair or redress equipment.
(d) You must install and use SPPE according to the following table.
If . . .

Then . . .

(1) You need to install any SPPE

You must install SPPE that conforms
to § 250.801.

(2) A non-certified SPPE is already in service

It may remain in service.

(3) A non-certified SPPE requires offsite repair, re-manufacturing,
or any hot work such as welding

You must replace it with SPPE that
conforms to § 250.801.

(e) You must retain all documentation related to the manufacture, installation, testing, repair, redress, and
performance of the SPPE until 1 year after the date of decommissioning of the equipment.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49256, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.803 What SPPE failure reporting procedures must I follow?
(a) You must follow the failure reporting requirements contained in section 10.20.7.4 of ANSI/API Spec. 6A
for SSVs, BSDVs, GLSDVs and USVs. You must follow the failure reporting requirements contained in
section 7.10 of ANSI/API Spec. 14A and Annex F of ANSI/API RP 14B for SSSVs (all incorporated by
reference in § 250.198). Within 30 days after the discovery and identification of the failure, you must
provide a written notice of equipment failure to the manufacturer of such equipment and to BSEE through
the Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs, unless BSEE has designated a third party as provided
in paragraph (d) of this section. A failure is any condition that prevents the equipment from meeting the
functional specification or purpose.
(b) You must ensure that an investigation and a failure analysis are performed within 120 days of the failure
to determine the cause of the failure. If the investigation and analyses are performed by an entity other
than the manufacturer, you must ensure that the analysis report is submitted to the manufacturer and to
BSEE through the Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs, unless BSEE has designated a third party
as provided in paragraph (d) of this section. You must also ensure that the results of the investigation and
any corrective action are documented in the analysis report.
(c) If the equipment manufacturer notifies you that it has changed the design of the equipment that failed or
if you have changed operating or repair procedures as a result of a failure, then you must, within 30 days
of such changes, report the design change or modified procedures in writing to BSEE through the Chief,
Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs, unless BSEE has designated a third party as provided in
paragraph (d) of this section.
(d) BSEE may designate a third party to receive the data required by paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section
on behalf of BSEE. If BSEE designates a third party, you must submit the information required in this
section to the designated third party, as directed by BSEE.
30 CFR 250.803(d) (enhanced display)

page 161 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.804

[83 FR 49256, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.804 Additional requirements for subsurface safety valves (SSSVs) and related equipment
installed in high pressure high temperature (HPHT) environments.
(a) If you plan to install SSSVs and related equipment in an HPHT environment, you must submit detailed
information with your Application for Permit to Drill (APD) or Application for Permit to Modify (APM), and
Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP) that demonstrates the SSSVs and related equipment are capable of
performing in the applicable HPHT environment. Your detailed information must include the following:
(1) A discussion of the SSSVs' and related equipment's design verification analyses;
(2) A discussion of the SSSVs' and related equipment's design validation and functional testing
processes and procedures used; and
(3) An explanation of why the analyses, processes, and procedures ensure that the SSSVs and related
equipment are fit-for-service in the applicable HPHT environment.
(b) For this section, HPHT environment means when one or more of the following well conditions exist:
(1) The completion of the well requires completion equipment or well control equipment assigned a
pressure rating greater than 15,000 psia or a temperature rating greater than 350 degrees Fahrenheit;
(2) The maximum anticipated surface pressure or shut-in tubing pressure is greater than 15,000 psia on
the seafloor for a well with a subsea wellhead or at the surface for a well with a surface wellhead; or
(3) The flowing temperature is equal to or greater than 350 degrees Fahrenheit on the seafloor for a well
with a subsea wellhead or at the surface for a well with a surface wellhead.
(c) For this section, related equipment includes wellheads, tubing heads, tubulars, packers, threaded
connections, seals, seal assemblies, production trees, chokes, well control equipment, and any other
equipment that will be exposed to the HPHT environment.

§ 250.805 Hydrogen sulfide.
(a) In zones known to contain hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or in zones where the presence of H2S is unknown, as
defined in § 250.490, you must conduct production operations in accordance with that section and other
relevant requirements of this subpart.
(b) You must receive approval through the DWOP process (§§ 250.286 through 250.295) for production
operations in HPHT environments known to contain H2S or in HPHT environments where the presence of
H2S is unknown.

§§ 250.806-250.809 [Reserved] 2
SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE SAFETY SYSTEMS—DRY TREES

30 CFR 250.806-250.809 (enhanced display)

page 162 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.810

§ 250.810 Dry tree subsurface safety devices—general.
For wells using dry trees or for which you intend to install dry trees, you must equip all tubing installations open to
hydrocarbon-bearing zones with subsurface safety devices that will shut off the flow from the well in the event of an
emergency unless, after you submit a request containing a justification, the District Manager determines the well to
be incapable of natural flow. You must install flow couplings above and below the subsurface safety devices. These
subsurface safety devices include the following devices and any associated safety valve lock and landing nipple:
(a) An SSSV, including either:
(1) A surface-controlled SSSV; or
(2) A subsurface-controlled SSSV.
(b) An injection valve.
(c) A tubing plug.
(d) A tubing/annular subsurface safety device.

§ 250.811 Specifications for SSSVs—dry trees.
All surface-controlled and subsurface-controlled SSSVs, safety valve locks, and landing nipples installed in the OCS
must conform to the requirements specified in §§ 250.801 through 250.803.

§ 250.812 Surface-controlled SSSVs—dry trees.
You must equip all tubing installations open to a hydrocarbon-bearing zone that is capable of natural flow with a
surface-controlled SSSV, except as specified in §§ 250.813, 250.815, and 250.816.
(a) The surface controls must be located on the site or at a BSEE-approved remote location. You may request
District Manager approval to situate the surface controls at a remote location.
(b) You must equip dry tree wells not previously equipped with a surface-controlled SSSV, and dry tree wells in
which a surface-controlled SSSV has been replaced with a subsurface-controlled SSSV, with a surfacecontrolled SSSV when the tubing is first removed and reinstalled.

§ 250.813 Subsurface-controlled SSSVs.
You may submit an APM or a request to the District Manager for approval to equip a dry tree well with a subsurfacecontrolled SSSV in lieu of a surface-controlled SSSV, if the subsurface-controlled SSSV is installed in a well
equipped with a surface-controlled SSSV that has become inoperable and cannot be repaired without removal and
reinstallation of the tubing. If you remove and reinstall the tubing, you must equip the well with a surface-controlled
SSSV.

§ 250.814 Design, installation, and operation of SSSVs—dry trees.
You must design, install, and operate (including repair, maintain, and test) an SSSV to ensure its reliable operation.
(a) You must install the SSSV at a depth at least 100 feet below the mudline within 2 days after production is
established. When warranted by conditions such as permafrost, unstable bottom conditions, hydrate
formation, or paraffin problems, the District Manager may approve an alternate setting depth on a caseby-case basis.
30 CFR 250.814(a) (enhanced display)

page 163 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.814(b)

(b) The well must not be open to flow while the SSSV is inoperable, except when flowing the well is necessary
for a particular operation such as cutting paraffin or performing other routine operations as defined in §
250.601.
(c) Until the SSSV is installed, the well must be attended in the immediate vicinity so that any necessary
emergency actions can be taken while the well is open to flow. During testing and inspection procedures,
the well must not be left unattended while open to production unless you have installed a properly
operating SSSV in the well.
(d) You must design, install, maintain, inspect, repair, and test all SSSVs in accordance with ANSI/API RP 14B
(incorporated by reference in § 250.198). For additional SSSV testing requirements, refer to § 250.880.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.815 Subsurface safety devices in shut-in wells—dry trees.
(a) You must equip all new dry tree completions (perforated but not placed on production) and completions
that are shut-in for a period of 6 months with one of the following:
(1) A pump-through-type tubing plug;
(2) A surface-controlled SSSV, provided the surface control has been rendered inoperative; or
(3) An injection valve capable of preventing backflow.
(b) When warranted by conditions such as permafrost, unstable bottom conditions, hydrate formation, and
paraffin problems, the District Manager must approve the setting depth of the subsurface safety device
for a shut-in well on a case-by-case basis.

§ 250.816 Subsurface safety devices in injection wells—dry trees.
You must install a surface-controlled SSSV or an injection valve capable of preventing backflow in all injection wells.
This requirement is not applicable if the District Manager determines that the well is incapable of natural flow. You
must verify the no-flow condition of the well annually.

§ 250.817 Temporary removal of subsurface safety devices for routine operations.
(a) You may remove a wireline- or pumpdown-retrievable subsurface safety device without further
authorization or notice, for a routine operation that does not require BSEE approval of a Form BSEE–0124,
Application for Permit to Modify (APM). For a list of these routine operations, see § 250.601. The removal
period must not exceed 15 days.
(b) Prior to removal, you must identify the well by placing a sign on the wellhead stating that the subsurface
safety device was removed. You must note the removal of the subsurface safety device in the records
required by § 250.890. If the master valve is open, you must ensure that a trained person (see § 250.891)
is in the immediate vicinity to attend the well and take any necessary emergency actions.
(c) You must monitor a platform well when a subsurface safety device has been removed, but a person does
not need to remain in the well-bay area continuously if the master valve is closed. If the well is on a
satellite structure, it must be attended by a support vessel, or a pump-through plug must be installed in
the tubing at least 100 feet below the mudline and the master valve must be closed, unless otherwise
approved by the appropriate District Manager.
30 CFR 250.817(c) (enhanced display)

page 164 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.817(d)

(d) You must not allow the well to flow while the subsurface safety device is removed, except when it is
necessary for the particular operation for which the SSSV is removed. The provisions of this paragraph
are not applicable to the testing and inspection procedures specified in § 250.880.

§ 250.818 Additional safety equipment—dry trees.
(a) You must equip all tubing installations that have a wireline- or pumpdown-retrievable subsurface safety
device with a landing nipple, with flow couplings or other protective equipment above and below it to
provide for the setting of the device.
(b) The control system for all surface-controlled SSSVs must be an integral part of the platform emergency
shutdown system (ESD).
(c) In addition to the activation of the ESD by manual action on the platform, the system may be activated by
a signal from a remote location. Surface-controlled SSSVs must close in response to shut-in signals from
the ESD and in response to the fire loop or other fire detection devices.

§ 250.819 Specification for surface safety valves (SSVs).
All wellhead SSVs and their actuators must conform to the requirements specified in §§ 250.801 through 250.803.

§ 250.820 Use of SSVs.
You must install, maintain, inspect, repair, and test all SSVs in accordance with API STD 6AV2 (incorporated by
reference in § 250.198). If any SSV does not operate properly, or if any gas and/or liquid fluid flow is observed
during the leakage test as described in § 250.880, then you must shut-in all sources to the SSV and repair or replace
the valve before resuming production.
[83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.821 Emergency action and safety system shutdown—dry trees.
(a) If your facility is impacted or will potentially be impacted by an emergency situation (e.g., an impending
National Weather Service-named tropical storm or hurricane, ice events, or post-earthquake), you must:
(1) Properly install a subsurface safety device on any well that is not yet equipped with a subsurface
safety device and that is capable of natural flow, as soon as possible, with due consideration being
given to personnel safety.
(2) You must shut-in (by closing the SSV and the surface-controlled SSSV) the following types of wells:
(i)

All oil wells, and

(ii) All gas wells requiring compression.
(b) Closure of the SSV must not exceed 45 seconds after automatic detection of an abnormal condition or
actuation of an ESD. The surface-controlled SSSV must close within 2 minutes after the shut-in signal has
closed the SSV. The District Manager must approve any alternative design-delayed closure time of greater
than 2 minutes based on the mechanical/production characteristics of the individual well.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§§ 250.822-250.824 [Reserved]
30 CFR 250.822-250.824 (enhanced display)

page 165 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.825

SUBSEA AND SUBSURFACE SAFETY SYSTEMS—SUBSEA TREES
§ 250.825 Subsea tree subsurface safety devices—general.
(a) For wells using subsea (wet) trees or for which you intend to install subsea trees, you must equip all
tubing installations open to hydrocarbon-bearing zones with subsurface safety devices that will shut off
the flow from the well in the event of an emergency. You must also install flow couplings above and below
the subsurface safety devices. For instances where the well at issue is incapable of natural flow, you may
seek District Manager approval for using alternative procedures or equipment, if you propose to use a
subsea safety system that is not capable of shutting off the flow from the well in the event of an
emergency. Subsurface safety devices include the following and any associated safety valve lock and
landing nipple:
(1) A surface-controlled SSSV;
(2) An injection valve;
(3) A tubing plug; and
(4) A tubing/annular subsurface safety device.
(b) After installing the subsea tree, but before the rig or installation vessel leaves the area, you must test all
valves and sensors to ensure that they are operating as designed and meet all the conditions specified in
this subpart.

§ 250.826 Specifications for SSSVs—subsea trees.
All SSSVs, safety valve locks, and landing nipples installed on the OCS must conform to the requirements specified
in §§ 250.801 through 250.803 and any Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP) required by §§ 250.286 through
250.295.

§ 250.827 Surface-controlled SSSVs—subsea trees.
You must equip all tubing installations open to a hydrocarbon-bearing zone that is capable of natural flow with a
surface-controlled SSSV, except as specified in §§ 250.829 and 250.830. The surface controls must be located on
the host facility.

§ 250.828 Design, installation, and operation of SSSVs—subsea trees.
You must design, install, and operate (including repair, maintain, and test) an SSSV to ensure its reliable operation.
(a) You must install the SSSV at a depth at least 100 feet below the mudline. When warranted by conditions,
such as unstable bottom conditions, permafrost, hydrate formation, or paraffin problems, the District
Manager may approve an alternate setting depth on a case-by-case basis.
(b) The well must not be open to flow while an SSSV is inoperable, unless specifically approved by the District
Manager in an APM.
(c) You must design, install, maintain, inspect, repair, and test all SSSVs in accordance with your Deepwater
Operations Plan (DWOP) and ANSI/API RP 14B (incorporated by reference in § 250.198). For additional
SSSV testing requirements, refer to § 250.880.

30 CFR 250.828(c) (enhanced display)

page 166 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.829

[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.829 Subsurface safety devices in shut-in wells—subsea trees.
(a) You must equip all new subsea tree completions (perforated but not placed on production) and
completions shut-in for a period of 6 months with one of the following:
(1) A pump-through-type tubing plug;
(2) An injection valve capable of preventing backflow; or
(3) A surface-controlled SSSV, provided the surface control has been rendered inoperative. For purposes
of this section, a surface-controlled SSSV is considered inoperative if, for a direct hydraulic control
system, you have bled the hydraulics from the control line and have isolated it from the hydraulic
control pressure. If your controls employ an electro-hydraulic control umbilical and the hydraulic
control pressure to the individual well cannot be isolated, a surface-controlled SSSV is considered
inoperative if you perform the following:
(i)

Disable the control function of the surface-controlled SSSV within the logic of the
programmable logic controller which controls the subsea well;

(ii) Place a pressure alarm high on the control line to the surface-controlled SSSV of the subsea
well; and
(iii) Close the USV and at least one other tree valve on the subsea well.
(b) When warranted by conditions, such as unstable bottom conditions, permafrost, hydrate formation, and
paraffin problems, the District Manager must approve the setting depth of the subsurface safety device
for a shut-in well on a case-by-case basis.

§ 250.830 Subsurface safety devices in injection wells—subsea trees.
You must install a surface-controlled SSSV or an injection valve capable of preventing backflow in all injection wells.
This requirement is not applicable if the District Manager determines that the well is incapable of natural flow. You
must verify the no-flow condition of the well annually.

§ 250.831 Alteration or disconnection of subsea pipeline or umbilical.
If a necessary alteration or disconnection of the pipeline or umbilical of any subsea well would affect your ability to
monitor casing pressure or to test any subsea valves or equipment, you must contact the appropriate District Office
at least 48 hours in advance and submit a repair or replacement plan to conduct the required monitoring and
testing. You must not alter or disconnect until the repair or replacement plan is approved.

§ 250.832 Additional safety equipment—subsea trees.
(a) You must equip all tubing installations that have a wireline- or pump down-retrievable subsurface safety
device installed after May 31, 1988, with a landing nipple, with flow couplings, or other protective
equipment above and below it to provide for the setting of the device.
(b) The control system for all surface-controlled SSSVs must be an integral part of the platform ESD.
(c) In addition to the activation of the ESD by manual action on the platform, the system may be activated by
a signal from a remote location.
30 CFR 250.832(c) (enhanced display)

page 167 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.833

§ 250.833 Specification for underwater safety valves (USVs).
All USVs, including those designated as primary or secondary, and any alternate isolation valve (AIV) that acts as a
USV, if applicable, and their actuators, must conform to the requirements specified in §§ 250.801 through 250.803.
A production master or wing valve may qualify as a USV under ANSI/API Spec. 6A and API Spec. 6AV1 (both
incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(a) Primary USV (USV1). You must install and designate one USV on a subsea tree as the USV1. The USV1
must be located upstream of the choke valve. As provided in paragraph (b) of this section, you must
inform BSEE if the primary USV designation changes.
(b) Secondary USV (USV2). You may equip your tree with two or more valves qualified to be designated as a
USV, one of which may be designated as the USV2. If the USV1 fails to operate properly or exhibits a
leakage rate greater than allowed in § 250.880, you must notify the appropriate District Office and
designate the USV2 or another qualified valve (e.g., an AIV) that meets all the requirements of this subpart
for USVs as the USV1. The USV2 must be located upstream of the choke.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.834 Use of USVs.
You must install, maintain, inspect, repair, and test any valve designated as the primary USV in accordance with this
subpart, your DWOP (as specified in §§ 250.286 through 250.295), and API STD 6AV2 (incorporated by reference in
§ 250.198). For additional USV testing requirements, refer to § 250.880.
[83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.835 Specification for all boarding shutdown valves (BSDVs) associated with subsea
systems.
You must install a BSDV on the pipeline boarding riser. All new BSDVs and any BSDVs removed from service for
remanufacturing or repair and their actuators installed on the OCS must meet the requirements specified in §§
250.801 through 250.803. In addition, you must:
(a) Ensure that the internal design pressure(s) of the pipeline(s), riser(s), and BSDV(s) is fully rated for the
maximum pressure of any input source and complies with the design requirements set forth in subpart J,
unless BSEE approves an alternate design.
(b) Use a BSDV that is fire rated for 30 minutes, and is pressure rated for the maximum allowable operating
pressure (MAOP) approved in your pipeline application.
(c) Locate the BSDV within 10 feet of the first point of access to the boarding pipeline riser (i.e., within 10 feet
of the edge of platform if the BSDV is horizontal, or within 10 feet above the first accessible working deck,
excluding the boat landing and above the splash zone, if the BSDV is vertical).
(d) Install a temperature safety element (TSE) and locate it within 5 feet of each BSDV.

30 CFR 250.835(d) (enhanced display)

page 168 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.836

§ 250.836 Use of BSDVs.
You must install, inspect, maintain, repair, and test all new BSDVs, as well as all BSDVs that you remove from service
for remanufacturing or repair, in accordance with API STD 6AV2 (incorporated by reference in § 250.198) for SSVs.
If any BSDV does not operate properly or if any gas fluid and/or liquid fluid flow is observed during the leakage test,
as described in § 250.880, you must shut-in all sources to the BSDV and immediately repair or replace the valve.
[83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.837 Emergency action and safety system shutdown—subsea trees.
(a) If your facility is impacted or will potentially be impacted by an emergency situation (e.g., an impending
National Weather Service-named tropical storm or hurricane, ice events, or post-earthquake), you must
shut-in all subsea wells unless otherwise approved by the District Manager. A shut-in is defined as a
closed BSDV, USV, GLSDV, and surface-controlled SSSV.
(b) When operating a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) or other type of workover or intervention vessel in
an area with subsea infrastructure, you must:
(1) Suspend production from all wells that could be affected by a dropped object, including upstream
wells that flow through the same pipeline; or
(2) Establish direct, real-time communications between the MODU or other type of workover or
intervention vessel and the production facility control room and develop a dropped objects plan, as
required in § 250.714. If an object is dropped, you must immediately secure the well directly under
the MODU or other type of workover or intervention vessel while simultaneously communicating with
the platform to shut-in all affected wells. You must also maintain without disruption, and
continuously verify, communication between the production facility and the MODU or other type of
workover or intervention vessel. If communication is lost between the MODU or other type of
workover or intervention vessel and the platform for 20 or more minutes, you must shut-in all wells
that could be affected by a dropped object.
(c) In the event of an emergency, you must operate your production system according to the valve closure
times in the applicable tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839 for the following conditions:
(1) Process upset. In the event an upset in the production process train occurs downstream of the BSDV,
you must close the BSDV in accordance with the applicable tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839. You
may reopen the BSDV to blow down the pipeline to prevent hydrates, provided you have secured the
well(s) and ensured adequate protection.
(2) Pipeline pressure safety high and low (PSHL) sensor. In the event that either a high or a low pressure
condition is detected by a PSHL sensor located upstream of the BSDV, you must secure the affected
well and pipeline, and all wells and pipelines associated with a dual or multi pipeline system, by
closing the BSDVs, USVs, and surface-controlled SSSVs in accordance with the applicable tables in
§§ 250.838 and 250.839. You must obtain approval from the appropriate District Manager to resume
production in the unaffected pipeline(s) of a dual or multi pipeline system. If the PSHL sensor
activation was a false alarm, you may return the wells to production without contacting the
appropriate District Manager.
(3) ESD/TSE (platform). In the event of an ESD activation that is initiated because of a platform ESD or
platform TSE not associated with the BSDV, you must close the BSDV, USV, and surface-controlled
SSSV in accordance with the applicable tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839.
30 CFR 250.837(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 169 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.837(c)(4)

(4) Subsea ESD (platform) or BSDV TSE. In the event of an emergency shutdown activation that is
initiated by the host platform due to an abnormal condition subsea, or a TSE associated with the
BSDV, you must close the BSDV, USV, and surface-controlled SSSV in accordance with the applicable
tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839.
(5) Subsea ESD (MODU). In the event of an ESD activation that is initiated by a dropped object from a
MODU or other type of workover or intervention vessel, you must secure all wells in the proximity of
the MODU or other type of workover or intervention vessel by closing the USVs and surfacecontrolled SSSVs in accordance with the applicable tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839. You must
notify the appropriate District Manager before resuming production.
(d) Following an ESD or fire, you must bleed your low pressure (LP) and high pressure (HP) hydraulic systems
in accordance with the applicable tables in §§ 250.838 and 250.839 to ensure that the valves are locked
out of service and cannot be reopened inadvertently.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.838 What are the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic bleeding
requirements for an electro-hydraulic control system?
(a) If you have an electro-hydraulic control system, you must:
(1) Design the subsea control system to meet the valve closure times listed in paragraphs (b) and (d) of
this section or your approved DWOP; and
(2) Verify the valve closure times upon installation. The District Manager may require you to verify the
closure time of the USV(s) through visual authentication by diver or ROV.
(b) You must comply with the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic system bleeding
requirements listed in the following table or your approved DWOP as long as communication is
maintained with the platform or with the MODU or other type of workover vessel:

Valve Closure Timing, Electro-Hydraulic Control System
If you
have the
following.
..

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.

Your USV1
must. . .

Your
Your
Your surfaceYour LP
alternate
USV2
controlled
hydraulic
isolation
must.
SSSV must. . system must.
valve
..
.
..
must. . .

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

(1)
Process
upset

Close within
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

[no requirements]

[no
[no
[no
requirements] requirements] requirements].

(2)
Pipeline
PSHL

Close within
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

Close one or more valves
within 2 minutes and 45
seconds after sensor
activation. Close the
designated USV1 within 20
minutes after sensor
activation.

Close within
60 minutes
after sensor
activation. If
you use a
60-minute
manual

30 CFR 250.838(b) (enhanced display)

[no
Initiate
requirements] unrestricted
bleed within
24 hours after
sensor
activation.

page 170 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you
have the
following.
..

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.

Your USV1
must. . .

30 CFR 250.838(b)

Your
Your
Your surfaceYour LP
alternate
USV2
controlled
hydraulic
isolation
must.
SSSV must. . system must.
valve
..
.
..
must. . .

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

resettable
timer, you
may continue
to reset the
time for
closure up to
a maximum
of 24 hours
total
(3) ESD/
Close within
TSE
45 seconds
(Platform) after ESD or
sensor
activation

Close
within 5
minutes
after ESD
or sensor
activation.
If you use a
5-minute
resettable
timer, you
may
continue to
reset the
time for
closure up
to a
maximum
of 20
minutes
total

(4)
Subsea
ESD
(Platform)
or BSDV
TSE

Close one or more valves
within 2 minutes and 45
seconds after ESD or sensor
activation. Close all tree
valves within 10 minutes after
ESD or sensor activation

Close within
45 seconds
after ESD or
sensor
activation

(5)
[no
Subsea
requirements]
ESD
(MODU or
other type
of
workover
30 CFR 250.838(b) (enhanced display)

Close within 20
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation.

Close within
20 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation. If
you use a
20-minute
manual
resettable
timer, you
may continue
to reset the
time for
closure up to
a maximum
of 60 minutes
total

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation. If
you use a
60-minute
manual
resettable
timer you
must initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
24 hours

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation. If
you use a
60-minute
manual
resettable
timer you
must initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
24 hours.

Close within
10 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation.

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
10 minutes
after ESD
activation.

Initiate valve closure immediately. You may
allow for closure of the tree valves
immediately prior to closure of the surfacecontrolled SSSV if desired.

page 171 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you
have the
following.
..

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.

Your USV1
must. . .

30 CFR 250.838(c)

Your
Your
Your surfaceYour LP
alternate
USV2
controlled
hydraulic
isolation
must.
SSSV must. . system must.
valve
..
.
..
must. . .

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

vessel,
Dropped
object)

(c) If you have an electro-hydraulic control system and experience a loss of communications (EH Loss of
Comms), you must comply with the following:
(1) If you can meet the EH Loss of Comms valve closure timing conditions specified in the table in
paragraph (d) of this section, you must notify the appropriate District Office within 12 hours of
detecting the loss of communication.
(2) If you cannot meet the EH Loss of Comms valve closure timing conditions specified in the table in
paragraph (d) of this section, you must notify the appropriate District Office immediately after
detecting the loss of communication. You must shut-in production by initiating a bleed of the low
pressure (LP) hydraulic system or the high pressure (HP) hydraulic system within 120 minutes after
loss of communication. You must bleed the other hydraulic system within 180 minutes after loss of
communication.
(3) You must obtain approval from the appropriate District Manager before continuing to produce after
loss of communication when you cannot meet the EH Loss of Comms valve closure times specified
in the table in paragraph (d) of this section. In your request, include an alternate valve closure timing
table that your system is able to achieve. The appropriate District Manager may also approve an
alternate hydraulic bleed schedule to allow for hydrate mitigation and orderly shut-in.
(d) If you experience a loss of communications, you must comply with the maximum allowable valve closure
times and hydraulic system bleeding requirements listed in the following table or your approved DWOP:

Valve Closure Timing, Electro-Hydraulic Control System With Loss of
Communication
If you
have the
following.
..

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.

Your
Your Your
alternate
USV1 USV2
isolation
must. must.
valve
..
..
must. . .

Your surfacecontrolled
SSSV must. . .

Your LP
hydraulic
system must. . .

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

(1)
Process
upset

Close within
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

[no requirements]

[no
requirements]

[no
requirements]

[no
requirements].

(2)
Pipeline
PSHL

Close within
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

Initiate closure when LP
hydraulic system is bled
(close valves within 5
minutes after sensor
activation).

Initiate closure
when HP
hydraulic
system is bled
(close within 24

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately,
concurrent with

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
24 hours after
sensor

30 CFR 250.838(d) (enhanced display)

page 172 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you
have the
following.
..

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.

Your
Your Your
alternate
USV1 USV2
isolation
must. must.
valve
..
..
must. . .

Your surfacecontrolled
SSSV must. . .

30 CFR 250.839

Your LP
hydraulic
system must. . .

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

hours after
sensor
activation)

sensor
activation

activation.

(3) ESD/
TSE
(Platform)

Close within
45 seconds
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Initiate closure when LP
hydraulic system is bled
(close valves within 20
minutes after ESD or
sensor activation).

Initiate closure
when HP
hydraulic
system is bled
(close within 60
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation)

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed concurrent
with BSDV
closure (bleed
within 20
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation)

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation.

(4)
Subsea
ESD
(Platform)
or BSDV
TSE

Close within
45 seconds
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Initiate closure when LP
hydraulic system is bled
(close valves within 5
minutes after ESD or
sensor activation).

Initiate closure
when HP
hydraulic
system is bled
(close within 20
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation)

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately,
allowing for
surfacecontrolled
SSSV closure.

(5)
Subsea
ESD
(MODU or
other type
of
workover
vessel),
Dropped
object

[no
Initiate closure immediately. You may
requirements] allow for closure of the tree valves
immediately prior to closure of the
surface-controlled SSSV if desired.

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately.

§ 250.839 What are the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic bleeding
requirements for a direct-hydraulic control system?
(a) If you have a direct-hydraulic control system, you must:
(1) Design the subsea control system to meet the valve closure times listed in this section or your
approved DWOP; and
(2) Verify the valve closure times upon installation. The District Manager may require you to verify the
closure time of the USV(s) through visual authentication by diver or ROV.
(b) You must comply with the maximum allowable valve closure times and hydraulic system bleeding
requirements listed in the following table or your approved DWOP:
30 CFR 250.839(b) (enhanced display)

page 173 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.840

Valve Closure Timing, Direct-Hydraulic Control System
If you have
the
following. .
.

Your
alternate
isolation
valve must.
..

Your surfaceYour LP
controlled
hydraulic
SSSV must. . system must. .
.
.

Your HP
hydraulic
system must.
..

[no requirements]

[no
[no
requirements] requirements]

[no
requirements]

(2) Flowline Close within
PSHL
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

Close one or more valves
within 2 minutes and 45
seconds after sensor
activation. Close the
designated USV1 within 20
minutes after sensor
activation.

Close within
24 hours
after sensor
activation

Complete
bleed of USV1,
USV2, and the
AIV within 20
minutes after
sensor
activation

Complete
bleed within
24 hours
after sensor
activation.

(3) ESD/
TSE
(Platform)

Close within
45 seconds
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Close all valves within 20
minutes after ESD or
sensor activation.

Close within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Complete
bleed of USV1,
USV2, and the
AIV within 20
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation

Complete
bleed within
60 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation.

(4) Subsea
ESD
(Platform)
or BSDV
TSE

Close within
45 seconds
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Close one or more valves
within 2 minutes and 45
seconds after ESD or
sensor activation. Close all
tree valves within 10
minutes after ESD or
sensor activation.

Close within
10 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation

Complete
bleed of USV1,
USV2, and the
AIV within 10
minutes after
ESD or sensor
activation

Complete
bleed within
10 minutes
after ESD or
sensor
activation.

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately

Initiate
unrestricted
bleed
immediately.

(1) Process
upset

Your pipeline
BSDV must. .
.
Close within
45 seconds
after sensor
activation

(5) Subsea [no
ESD
requirements]
(MODU or
other type
of workover
vessel),
Dropped
object

Your Your
USV1 USV2
must. must.
..
..

Initiate closure immediately. If desired, you
may allow for closure of the tree valves
immediately prior to closure of the surfacecontrolled SSSV.

PRODUCTION SAFETY SYSTEMS
§ 250.840 Design, installation, and maintenance—general.
You must design, install, and maintain all production facilities and equipment including, but not limited to,
separators, treaters, pumps, heat exchangers, fired components, wellhead injection lines, compressors, headers,
and flowlines in a manner that is efficient, safe, and protects the environment.
30 CFR 250.840 (enhanced display)

page 174 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.841

§ 250.841 Platforms.
(a) You must protect all platform production facilities with a basic and ancillary surface safety system
designed, analyzed, installed, tested, and maintained in operating condition in accordance with the
provisions of API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198). If you use processing
components other than those for which Safety Analysis Checklists are included in API RP 14C, you must
utilize the analysis technique and documentation specified in API RP 14C to determine the effects and
requirements of these components on the safety system. Safety device requirements for pipelines are
contained in § 250.1004.
(b) You must design, install, inspect, repair, test, and maintain in operating condition all platform production
process piping in accordance with API RP 14E and API 570 (both incorporated by reference as specified in
§ 250.198). The District Manager may approve temporary repairs to facility piping on a case-by-case basis
for a period not to exceed 30 days.
(c) If you plan to make a modification to any production safety system that also involves a major modification
to the platform structure, you must follow the requirements in § 250.900(b)(2). A major modification to a
platform structure is defined in § 250.900(b)(2).
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49257, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.842 Approval of safety systems design and installation features.
(a) Before you install or modify a production safety system, you must submit a production safety system
application to the District Manager. The District Manager must approve your production safety system
application before you commence production through or otherwise use the new or modified system. The
application must include the design documentation prescribed as follows:
You must submit:

Details and/or additional requirements:

(1) Safety analysis flow diagram
(API RP 14C, Annex B) and Safety
Analysis Function Evaluation (SAFE)
chart (API RP 14C, section 6.3.3)
(incorporated by reference in §
250.198)

Your safety analysis flow diagram must show the following:
(i) Well shut-in tubing pressure;
(ii) Pressure relieving device set points;
(iii) Size, capacity, and design working pressures of separators, flare
scrubbers, heat exchangers, treaters, storage tanks, compressors,
and metering devices;
(iv) Size, capacity, design working pressures, and maximum
discharge pressure of hydrocarbon-handling pumps;
(v) Size, capacity, and design working pressures of hydrocarbonhandling vessels, and chemical injection systems handling a
material having a flash point below 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a
Class I flammable liquid as described in API RP 500 and API RP 505
(both incorporated by reference in § 250.198); and
(vi) Piping sizes and maximum allowable working pressures as
determined in accordance with API RP 14E (incorporated by
reference in § 250.198), including the locations of piping
specification breaks.

(2) Electrical one-line diagram;

30 CFR 250.842(a) (enhanced display)

Showing elements including generators, circuit breakers,
transformers, bus bars, conductors, automatic transfer switches,
uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and associated battery banks,
page 175 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

You must submit:

30 CFR 250.842(b)

Details and/or additional requirements:
dynamic (motor) loads, and static loads (e.g., electrostatic treater
grid, lighting panels). You must also include a functional legend.

(3) Area classification diagram;

A plan for each platform deck and outlining all classified areas. You
must classify areas according to API RP 500 or API RP 505 (both
incorporated by reference in § 250.198). The plan must contain:
(i) All major production equipment, wells, and other significant
hydrocarbon and class 1 flammable sources, and a description of
the type of decking, ceiling, walls (e.g., grating or solid), and
firewalls; and
(ii) The location of generators and any buildings (e.g., control rooms
and motor control center (MCC) buildings) or major structures on
the platform.

(4) A piping and instrumentation
diagram, for new facilities;

A detailed flow diagram which shows the piping and vessels in the
process flow, together with the instrumentation and control
devices.

(5) The service fee listed in §
250.125;

The fee you must pay will be determined by the number of
components involved in the review and approval process.

(b) You must develop and maintain the following design documents and make them available to BSEE upon
request:
Diagram:
(1) Additional
electrical system
information;

Details and/or additional requirements:
(i) Cable tray/conduit routing plan that identifies the primary wiring method (e.g., type
cable, cable schedule, conduit, wire); and
(ii) Panel board/junction box location plan, if this information is not shown on the
area classification diagram required in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(2) Schematics of
the fire and gasdetection systems;

Showing a functional block diagram of the detection system, including the electrical
power supply and also including the type, location, and number of detection sensors;
the type and kind of alarms, including emergency equipment to be activated; and the
method used for detection.

(3) Revised piping
and
instrumentation
diagram for
existing facilities;

A detailed flow diagram which shows the piping and vessels in the process flow,
together with the instrumentation and control devices.

(c) In the production safety system application, you must also certify the following:
(1) That all electrical systems were designed according to API RP 14F or API RP 14FZ, as applicable
(incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(2) That the design documents for the mechanical and electrical systems that you are required to
submit under paragraph (a) of this section are sealed by a licensed professional engineer. For
modified systems, only the modifications are required to be sealed by a licensed professional
engineer(s). The professional engineer must be licensed in a State or Territory of the United States
and have sufficient expertise and experience to perform the duties; and
30 CFR 250.842(c)(2) (enhanced display)

page 176 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.842(c)(3)

(3) That a hazards analysis was performed in accordance with § 250.1911 and API RP 14J
(incorporated by reference in § 250.198), and that you have a hazards analysis program in place to
assess potential hazards during the operation of the facility.
(d) Within 90 days after placing new or modified production safety systems in service, you must submit to the
District Manager the as-built diagrams for the new or modified production safety systems outlined in
paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section. You must certify in an accompanying letter that the as-built
design documents have been reviewed for compliance with applicable regulations and accurately
represent the new or modified system as installed. The drawings must be clearly marked “as-built.”
(e) You must maintain approved and supporting design documents required under paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this section at your offshore field office nearest the OCS facility or at other locations conveniently
available to the District Manager. These documents must be made available to BSEE upon request and
must be retained for the life of the facility. All approved designs are subject to field verifications.
[84 FR 24705, May 29, 2019]

§§ 250.843-250.849 [Reserved]
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.850 Production system requirements—general.
You must comply with the production safety system requirements in §§ 250.851 through 250.872, in addition to the
practices contained in API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).

§ 250.851 Pressure vessels (including heat exchangers) and fired vessels.
(a) Pressure vessels (including heat exchangers) and fired vessels supporting production operations must
meet the requirements in the following table:
Item name

Applicable codes and requirements

(1) Pressure and
fired vessels

(i) Must be designed, fabricated, and code stamped according to applicable
provisions of sections I, IV, and VIII of the ANSI/ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
(ii) Must be repaired, maintained, and inspected in accordance with API 510
(incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).

(2) Existing
uncoded pressure
and fired vessels:

Must be justified and approval obtained from the District Manager for their
continued use.

(i) With an
operating
pressure greater
than 15 psig;
and
(ii) That are not
code stamped in
accordance with the
30 CFR 250.851(a) (enhanced display)

page 177 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Item name

30 CFR 250.851(b)

Applicable codes and requirements

ASME Boiler and
Pressure Vessel
Code
(3) Pressure relief
valves

(i) Must be designed and installed according to applicable provisions of sections I,
IV, and VIII of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (incorporated by reference
as specified in § 250.198).
(ii) Must conform to the valve sizing and pressure-relieving requirements specified in
these documents, but must be set no higher than the maximum-allowable working
pressure of the vessel (except for cases where staggered set pressures are required
for configurations using multiple relief valves or redundant valves installed and
designated for operator use only).
(iii) Vents must be positioned in such a way as to prevent fluid from striking
personnel or ignition sources.

(4) Steam
generators
operating at less
than 15 psig

Must be equipped with a level safety low (LSL) sensor which will shut off the fuel
supply when the water level drops below the minimum safe level.

(5) Steam
generators
operating at 15 psig
or greater

(i) Must be equipped with a level safety low (LSL) sensor which will shut off the fuel
supply when the water level drops below the minimum safe level.
(ii) Must be equipped with a water-feeding device that will automatically control the
water level except when closed loop systems are used for steam generation.

(b) Operating pressure ranges. You must use pressure recording devices to establish the new operating
pressure ranges of pressure vessels at any time that the normalized system pressure changes by 50 psig
or 5 percent. Once system pressure has stabilized, pressure recording devices must be utilized to
establish the new operating pressure ranges. The pressure recording devices must document the
pressure range over time intervals that are no less than 4 hours and no more than 30 days long. You must
maintain the pressure recording information you used to determine current operating pressure ranges at
your field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to the District
Manager for as long as the information is valid.
(c) Pressure shut-in sensors must be set according to the following table (initial set points for pressure
sensors must be set utilizing gauge readings and engineering design):
Type of
sensor

Settings

(1) High
pressure
shut-in
sensor,

Must be set no higher than 15
percent or 5 psi (whichever is
greater) above the highest operating
pressure of the vessel

Must also be set sufficiently below (5 percent or 5 psi,
whichever is greater) the relief valve's set pressure to
assure that the pressure source is shut-in before the
relief valve activates.

(2) Low
pressure
shut-in
sensor,

Must be set no lower than 15
percent or 5 psi (whichever is
greater) below the lowest pressure
in the operating range

You must receive specific approval from the District
Manager for activation limits on pressure vessels that
have a pressure safety low (PSL) sensor set less than 5
psi.

Additional requirements

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 24706, May 29, 2019]
30 CFR 250.851(c) (enhanced display)

page 178 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.852

§ 250.852 Flowlines/Headers.
(a) You must:
(1) Equip flowlines from wells with both PSH and PSL sensors. You must locate these sensors in
accordance with section A.1 of API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
(2) Use pressure recording devices to establish the new operating pressure ranges of flowlines at any
time when the normalized system pressure changes by 50 psig or 5 percent, whichever is higher. The
pressure recording devices must document the pressure range over time intervals that are no less
than 4 hours and no more than 30 days long.
(3) Maintain the most recent pressure recording information you used to determine operating pressure
ranges at your field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to the
District Manager for as long as the information is valid.
(b) Flowline shut-in sensors must meet the requirements in the following table (initial set points for pressure
sensors must be set using gauge readings and engineering design):
Type of
flowline
sensor

Settings

(1) PSH Must be set no higher than 15 percent or 5 psi (whichever is greater) above the highest operating
sensor, pressure of the flowline. In all cases, the PSH must be set sufficiently below the maximum shutin wellhead pressure or the gas-lift supply pressure to ensure actuation of the SSV. Do not set the
PSH sensor above the maximum allowable working pressure of the flowline.
(2) PSL
sensor,

Must be set no lower than 15 percent or 5 psi (whichever is greater) below the lowest operating
pressure of the flowline in which it is installed.

(c) If a well flows directly to a pipeline before separation, the flowline and valves from the well located
upstream of and including the header inlet valve(s) must have a working pressure equal to or greater than
the maximum shut-in pressure of the well unless the flowline is protected by one of the following:
(1) A relief valve which vents into the platform flare scrubber or some other location approved by the
District Manager. You must design the platform flare scrubber to handle, without liquid-hydrocarbon
carryover to the flare, the maximum-anticipated flow of hydrocarbons that may be relieved to the
vessel; or
(2) Two SSVs with independent PSH sensors connected to separate relays and sensing points and
installed with adequate volume upstream of any block valve to allow sufficient time for the SSVs to
close before exceeding the maximum allowable working pressure. Each independent PSH sensor
must close both SSVs along with any associated flowline PSL sensor. If the maximum shut-in
pressure of a dry tree satellite well(s) is greater than 11⁄2 times the maximum allowable pressure of
the pipeline, a pressure safety valve (PSV) of sufficient size and relief capacity to protect against any
SSV leakage or fluid hammer effect may be required by the District Manager. The PSV must be
installed upstream of the host platform boarding valve and vent into the platform flare scrubber or
some other location approved by the District Manager.

30 CFR 250.852(c)(2) (enhanced display)

page 179 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.852(d)

(d) If a well flows directly to the pipeline from a header without prior separation, the header, the header inlet
valves, and pipeline isolation valve must have a working pressure equal to or greater than the maximum
shut-in pressure of the well unless the header is protected by the safety devices as outlined in paragraph
(c) of this section.
(e) If you are installing flowlines constructed of unbonded flexible pipe on a floating platform, you must:
(1) Review the manufacturer's Design Methodology Verification Report and the independent verification
agent's (IVA) certificate for the design methodology contained in that report to ensure that the
manufacturer has complied with the requirements of ANSI/API Spec. 17J (incorporated by reference
in § 250.198);
(2) Determine that the unbonded flexible pipe is suitable for its intended purpose;
(3) Submit to the District Manager the manufacturer's design specifications for the unbonded flexible
pipe; and
(4) Submit to the District Manager a statement certifying that the pipe is suitable for its intended use
and that the manufacturer has complied with the IVA requirements of ANSI/API Spec. 17J
(incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(f) Automatic pressure or flow regulating choking devices must not prevent the normal functionality of the
process safety system that includes, but is not limited to, the flowline pressure safety devices and the
SSV.
(g) You may install a single flow safety valve (FSV) on the platform to protect multiple subsea pipelines or
wells that tie into a single pipeline riser provided that you install an FSV for each riser on the platform and
test it in accordance with the criteria prescribed in § 250.880(c)(2)(v).
(h) You may install a single PSHL sensor on the platform to protect multiple subsea pipelines that tie into a
single pipeline riser provided that you install a PSHL sensor for each riser on the platform and locate it
upstream of the BSDV.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49259, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.853 Safety sensors.
You must ensure that:
(a) All shutdown devices, valves, and pressure sensors function in a manual reset mode;
(b) Sensors with integral automatic reset are equipped with an appropriate device to override the automatic
reset mode;
(c) All pressure sensors are equipped to permit testing with an external pressure source; and
(d) All level sensors are equipped to permit testing through an external bridle on all new vessel installations
where possible, depending on the type of vessel for which the level sensor is used.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49259, Sept. 28, 2018]

30 CFR 250.853(d) (enhanced display)

page 180 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.854

§ 250.854 Floating production units equipped with turrets and turret-mounted systems.
(a) For floating production units equipped with an auto slew system, you must integrate the auto slew control
system with your process safety system allowing for automatic shut-in of the production process,
including the sources (subsea wells, subsea pumps, etc.) and releasing of the buoy. Your safety system
must immediately initiate a process system shut-in according to §§ 250.838 and 250.839 and release the
buoy to prevent hydrocarbon discharge and damage to the subsea infrastructure when the following are
encountered:
(1) Your buoy is clamped,
(2) Your auto slew mode is activated, and
(3) You encounter a ship heading/position failure or an exceedance of the rotational tolerances of the
clamped buoy.
(b) For floating production units equipped with swivel stack arrangements, you must equip the portion of the
swivel stack containing hydrocarbons with a leak detection system. Your leak detection system must be
tied into your production process surface safety system allowing for automatic shut-in of the system.
Upon seal system failure and detection of a hydrocarbon leak, your surface safety system must
immediately initiate a process system shut-in according to §§ 250.838 and 250.839.

§ 250.855 Emergency shutdown (ESD) system.
The ESD system must conform to the requirements of Appendix C, section C1, of API RP 14C (incorporated by
reference as specified in § 250.198), and the following:
(a) The manually operated ESD valve(s) must be quick-opening and non-restricted to enable the rapid
actuation of the shutdown system. Electronic ESD stations must be wired as de-energize to trip circuits or
as supervised circuits. Because of the key role of the ESD system in the platform safety system, all ESD
components must be of high quality and corrosion resistant and stations must be uniquely identified. Only
ESD stations at the boat landing may utilize a loop of breakable synthetic tubing in lieu of a valve or
electric switch. This breakable loop is not required to be physically located on the boat landing, but must
be accessible from a vessel adjacent to or attached to the facility.
(b) You must maintain a schematic of the ESD that indicates the control functions of all safety devices for the
platforms on the platform, at your field office nearest the OCS facility, or at another location conveniently
available to the District Manager, for the life of the facility.

§ 250.856 Engines.
(a) Engine exhaust. You must equip all engine exhausts to comply with the insulation and personnel
protection requirements of API RP 14C, section 4.2 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
You must equip exhaust piping from diesel engines with spark arresters.
(b) Diesel engine air intake. You must equip diesel engine air intakes with a device to shut down the diesel
engine in the event of runaway (i.e., overspeed). You must equip diesel engines that are continuously
attended with either remotely operated manual or automatic shutdown devices. You must equip diesel
engines that are not continuously attended with automatic shutdown devices. The following diesel
engines do not require a shutdown device: Engines for fire water pumps; engines on emergency

30 CFR 250.856(b) (enhanced display)

page 181 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.857

generators; engines that power BOP accumulator systems; engines that power air supply for confined
entry personnel; temporary equipment on non-producing platforms; booster engines whose purpose is to
start larger engines; and engines that power portable single cylinder rig washers.

§ 250.857 Glycol dehydration units.
(a) You must install a pressure relief system or an adequate vent on the glycol regenerator (reboiler) to
prevent over pressurization. The discharge of the relief valve must be vented in a nonhazardous manner.
(b) You must install the FSV on the dry glycol inlet to the glycol contact tower as near as practical to the
glycol contact tower.
(c) You must install the shutdown valve (SDV) on the wet glycol outlet from the glycol contact tower as near
as practical to the glycol contact tower.

§ 250.858 Gas compressors.
(a) You must equip compressor installations with the following protective equipment as required in API RP
14C, sections A.4 and A.8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
(1) A pressure safety high (PSH) sensor, a pressure safety low (PSL) sensor, a pressure safety valve
(PSV), a level safety high (LSH) sensor, and a level safety low (LSL) sensor to protect each interstage
and suction scrubber.
(2) A temperature safety high (TSH) sensor in the discharge piping of each compressor cylinder or case
discharge.
(3) You must design the PSH and PSL sensors and LSH controls protecting compressor suction and
interstage scrubbers to actuate automatic SDVs located in each compressor suction and fuel gas
line so that the compressor unit and the associated vessels can be isolated from all input sources.
All automatic SDVs installed in compressor suction and fuel gas piping must also be actuated by the
shutdown of the prime mover. Unless otherwise approved by the District Manager, gas-well gas
affected by the closure of the automatic SDV on the suction side of a compressor must be diverted
to the pipeline, diverted to a flare or vent in accordance with §§ 250.1160 or 250.1161, or shut-in at
the wellhead.
(4) You must install a blowdown valve on the discharge line of all compressor installations that are
1,000 horsepower (746 kilowatts) or greater.
(b) Once system pressure has stabilized, you must use pressure recording devices to establish the new
operating pressure ranges for compressor discharge sensors whenever the normalized system pressure
changes by 50 psig or 5 percent, whichever is higher. The pressure recording devices must document the
pressure range over time intervals that are no less than 4 hours and no more than 30 days long. You must
maintain the most recent pressure recording information that you used to determine operating pressure
ranges at your field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to the
District Manager.

30 CFR 250.858(b) (enhanced display)

page 182 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.858(c)

(c) Pressure shut-in sensors must be set according to the following table (initial set points for pressure
sensors must be set utilizing gauge readings and engineering design):
Type
of
sensor

Settings

(1)
Must be set no higher than 15 percent or 5 psi
PSH
(whichever is greater) above the highest operating
sensor, pressure of the discharge line and sufficiently below
the maximum discharge pressure to ensure actuation
of the suction SDV

Additional requirements
Must also be set sufficiently below (5
percent or 5 psi, whichever is greater) the
set pressure of the PSV to assure that the
pressure source is shut-in before the PSV
activates.

(2)
Must be set no lower than 15 percent or 5 psi
PSL
(whichever is greater) below the lowest operating
sensor, pressure of the discharge line in which it is installed

§ 250.859 Firefighting systems.
(a) On fixed facilities, to protect all areas where production-handling equipment is located, you must install
firefighting systems that meet the requirements of this paragraph. You must install a firewater system
consisting of rigid pipe with fire hose stations and/or fixed firewater monitors to protect all areas where
production-handling equipment is located. Your firewater system must include installation of a fixed water
spray system in enclosed well-bay areas where hydrocarbon vapors may accumulate.
(1) Your firewater system must conform to API RP 14G (incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198).
(2) Fuel or power for firewater pump drivers must be available for at least 30 minutes of run time during
a platform shut-in. If necessary, you must install an alternate fuel or power supply to provide for this
pump operating time unless the District Manager has approved an alternate firefighting system. In
addition:
(i)

As of September 7, 2017, you must have equipped all new firewater pump drivers with
automatic starting capabilities upon activation of the ESD, fusible loop, or other fire detection
system.

(ii) For electric-driven firewater pump drivers, to provide for a potential loss of primary power, you
must install an automatic transfer switch to cross over to an emergency power source in order
to maintain at least 30 minutes of run time. The emergency power source must be reliable and
have adequate capacity to carry the locked-rotor currents of the fire pump motor and accessory
equipment.
(iii) You must route power cables or conduits with wires installed between the fire water pump
drivers and the automatic transfer switch away from hazardous-classified locations that can
cause flame impingement. Power cables or conduits with wires that connect to the fire water
pump drivers must be capable of maintaining circuit integrity for not less than 30 minutes of
flame impingement.
(3) You must post, in a prominent place on the facility, a diagram of the firefighting system showing the
location of all firefighting equipment.

30 CFR 250.859(a)(3) (enhanced display)

page 183 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.859(a)(4)

(4) For operations in subfreezing climates, you must furnish evidence to the District Manager that the
firefighting system is suitable for those conditions.
(5) You must obtain approval from the District Manager before installing any firefighting system.
(6) All firefighting equipment located on a facility must be in good working order whether approved as
the primary, secondary, or ancillary firefighting system.
(b) On floating facilities, to protect all areas where production-handling equipment is located, you must install
a firewater system consisting of rigid pipe with fire hose stations and/or fixed firewater monitors. You
must install a fixed water spray system in enclosed well-bay areas where hydrocarbon vapors may
accumulate. Your firewater system must conform to the USCG requirements for firefighting systems on
floating facilities.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(1) and (2) of this section, on fixed and floating facilities, if you are
required to maintain a firewater system and the system becomes inoperable, you must shut-in your
production operations while making the necessary repairs. For fixed facilities only, you may continue your
production operations on a temporary basis while you make the necessary repairs, provided that:
(1) You request that the appropriate District Manager approve the use of a chemical firefighting system
on a temporary basis (for a period up to 7 days) while you make the necessary repairs;
(2) If you are unable to complete repairs during the approved time period because of circumstances
beyond your control, the District Manager may grant multiple extensions to your previously approved
request to use a chemical firefighting system for periods up to 7 days each.

§ 250.860 Chemical firefighting system.
For fixed platforms:
(a) On minor unmanned platforms, you may use a U.S. Coast Guard type and size rating “B–II” portable dry
chemical unit (with a minimum UL Rating (US) of 60–B:C) or a 30-pound portable dry chemical unit, in lieu
of a water system, as long as you ensure that the unit is available on the platform when personnel are on
board.
(1) A minor platform is a structure with zero to five completions and no more than one item of
production processing equipment.
(2) An unmanned platform is one that is not attended 24 hours a day or one on which personnel are not
quartered overnight.
(b) On major platforms and minor manned platforms, you may use a firefighting system using chemicals-only
in lieu of a water-based system if the District Manager determines that the use of a chemical system
provides equivalent fire-protection control and would not increase the risk to human safety.
(1) A major platform is a structure with either six or more completions or zero to five completions with
more than one item of production processing equipment.
(2) A minor platform is a structure with zero to five completions and no more than one item of
production processing equipment.
(3) A manned platform is one that is attended 24 hours a day or one on which personnel are quartered
overnight.

30 CFR 250.860(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 184 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.860(c)

(c) On major platforms and minor manned platforms, to obtain approval to use a chemical-only fire
prevention and control system in lieu of a water system under paragraph (b) of this section, you must
submit to the District Manager:
(1) A justification for asserting that the use of a chemical system provides equivalent fire-protection
control. The justification must address fire prevention, fire protection, fire control, and firefighting on
the platform; and
(2) A risk assessment demonstrating that a chemical-only system would not increase the risk to human
safety. You must provide the following and any other important information in your risk assessment:
For the use of a chemical
firefighting system on major
and minor manned platforms,
you must provide the following
in your risk assessment . . .
(i) Platform description

Including . . .

(A) The type and quantity of hydrocarbons (i.e., natural gas, oil) that are
produced, handled, stored, or processed at the facility.
(B) The capacity of any tanks on the facility that you use to store either
liquid hydrocarbons or other flammable liquids.
(C) The total volume of flammable liquids (other than produced
hydrocarbons) stored on the facility in containers other than bulk
storage tanks. Include flammable liquids stored in paint lockers,
storerooms, and drums.
(D) If the facility is manned, provide the maximum number of personnel
on board and the anticipated length of their stay.
(E) If the facility is unmanned, provide the number of days per week the
facility will be visited, the average length of time spent on the facility per
visit, the mode of transportation, and whether or not transportation will
be available at the facility while personnel are on board.
(F) A diagram that depicts: quarters location, production equipment
location, fire prevention and control equipment location, lifesaving
appliances and equipment location, and evacuation plan escape routes
from quarters and all manned working spaces to primary evacuation
equipment.

(ii) Hazard assessment (facility
specific)

(A) Identification of all likely fire initiation scenarios (including those
resulting from maintenance and repair activities). For each scenario,
discuss its potential severity and identify the ignition and fuel sources.
(B) Estimates of the fire/radiant heat exposure that personnel could be
subjected to. Show how you have considered designated muster areas
and evacuation routes near fuel sources and have verified proper flare
boom sizing for radiant heat exposure.

(iii) Human factors assessment
(not facility specific)

(A) Descriptions of the fire-related training your employees and
contractors have received. Include details on the length of training,
whether the training was hands-on or classroom, the training frequency,
and the topics covered during the training.
(B) Descriptions of the training your employees and contractors have
received in fire prevention, control of ignition sources, and control of fuel

30 CFR 250.860(c)(2) (enhanced display)

page 185 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

For the use of a chemical
firefighting system on major
and minor manned platforms,
you must provide the following
in your risk assessment . . .

30 CFR 250.860(d)

Including . . .

sources when the facility is occupied.
(C) Descriptions of the instructions and procedures you have given to
your employees and contractors on the actions they should take if a fire
occurs. Include those instructions and procedures specific to
evacuation. State how you convey this information to your employees
and contractors on the platform.
(iv) Evacuation assessment
(facility specific)

(A) A general discussion of your evacuation plan. Identify your muster
areas (if applicable), both the primary and secondary evacuation routes,
and the means of evacuation for both.
(B) Description of the type, quantity, and location of lifesaving
appliances available on the facility. Show how you have ensured that
lifesaving appliances are located in the near vicinity of the escape
routes.
(C) Description of the types and availability of support vessels, whether
the support vessels are equipped with a fire monitor, and the time
needed for support vessels to arrive at the facility.
(D) Estimates of the worst case time needed for personnel to evacuate
the facility should a fire occur.

(v) Alternative protection
assessment

(A) Discussion of the reasons you are proposing to use an alternative
fire prevention and control system.
(B) Lists of the specific standards used to design the system, locate the
equipment, and operate the equipment/system.
(C) Description of the proposed alternative fire prevention and control
system/equipment. Provide details on the type, size, number, and
location of the prevention and control equipment.
(D) Description of the testing, inspection, and maintenance program you
will use to maintain the fire prevention and control equipment in an
operable condition. Provide specifics regarding the type of inspection,
the personnel who conduct the inspections, the inspection procedures,
and documentation and recordkeeping.

(vi) Conclusion

A summary of your technical evaluation showing that the alternative
system provides an equivalent level of personnel protection for the
specific hazards located on the facility.

(d) On major or minor platforms, if BSEE has approved your request to use a chemical-only fire suppressant
system in lieu of a water system under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, and if you make an
insignificant change to your platform subsequent to that approval, you must document the change and
maintain the documentation for the life of the facility at either the facility or nearest field office for BSEE
review and/or inspection. Do not submit this documentation to the District Manager. However, if you make
a significant change to your platform (e.g., placing a storage vessel with a capacity of 100 barrels or more
on the facility, adding production equipment), or if you plan to man an unmanned platform temporarily,
30 CFR 250.860(d) (enhanced display)

page 186 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.861

you must submit a new request for approval, including an updated risk assessment if previously required,
to the appropriate District Manager. You must maintain, for the life of the facility, the most recent
documentation that you submitted to BSEE at the facility or nearest field office.

§ 250.861 Foam firefighting systems.
When you install foam firefighting systems as part of a firefighting system that protects production handling areas,
you must:
(a) Annually conduct an inspection of the foam concentrates and their tanks or storage containers for
evidence of excessive sludging or deterioration;
(b) Annually send samples of the foam concentrate to the manufacturer or authorized representative for
quality condition testing. You must have the sample tested to determine the specific gravity, pH,
percentage of water dilution, and solid content. Based on these results, the foam must be certified by an
authorized representative of the manufacturer as suitable firefighting foam consistent with the original
manufacturer's specifications. The certification document must be readily accessible for field inspection.
In lieu of sampling and certification, you may choose to replace the total inventory of foam with suitable
new stock;
(c) Ensure that the quantity of concentrate meets design requirements, and that tanks or containers are kept
full, with space allowed for expansion.

§ 250.862 Fire and gas-detection systems.
For production processing areas only:
(a) You must install fire (flame, heat, or smoke) sensors in all enclosed classified areas. You must install gas
sensors in all inadequately ventilated, enclosed classified areas.
(1) Adequate ventilation is defined as ventilation that is sufficient to prevent accumulation of significant
quantities of vapor-air mixture in concentrations over 25 percent of the lower explosive limit. An
acceptable method of providing adequate ventilation is one that provides a change of air volume
each 5 minutes or 1 cubic foot of air-volume flow per minute per square foot of solid floor area,
whichever is greater.
(2) Enclosed areas (e.g., buildings, living quarters, or doghouses) are defined as those areas confined on
more than 4 of their 6 possible sides by walls, floors, or ceilings more restrictive to air flow than
grating or fixed open louvers and of sufficient size to allow entry of personnel.
(3) A classified area is any area classified Class I, Group D, Division 1 or 2, following the guidelines of
API RP 500 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198), or any area classified Class I, Zone
0, Zone 1, or Zone 2, following the guidelines of API RP 505 (incorporated by reference as specified
in § 250.198).
(b) All detection systems must be capable of continuous monitoring. Fire-detection systems and portions of
combustible gas-detection systems related to the higher gas-concentration levels must be of the manualreset type. Combustible gas-detection systems related to the lower gas-concentration level may be of the
automatic-reset type.

30 CFR 250.862(b) (enhanced display)

page 187 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.862(c)

(c) A fuel-gas odorant or an automatic gas-detection and alarm system is required in enclosed, continuously
manned areas of the facility which are provided with fuel gas. A gas detection system is not required for
living quarters and doghouses that do not contain a gas source and that are not located in a classified
area.
(d) The District Manager may require the installation and maintenance of a gas detector or alarm in any
potentially hazardous area.
(e) Fire- and gas-detection systems must be an approved type, and designed and installed in accordance with
API RP 14C, API RP 14G, API RP 14F, API RP 14FZ, API RP 500, and API RP 505 (all incorporated by
reference as specified in § 250.198), provided that, if compliance with any provision of those standards
would be in conflict with applicable regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard, compliance with the U.S. Coast
Guard regulations controls.

§ 250.863 Electrical equipment.
You must design, install, and maintain electrical equipment and systems in accordance with the requirements in §
250.114.

§ 250.864 Erosion.
You must have a program of erosion control in effect for wells or fields that have a history of sand production. The
erosion-control program may include sand probes, X-ray, ultrasonic, or other satisfactory monitoring methods. You
must maintain records for each lease that indicate the wells that have erosion-control programs in effect. You must
also maintain the results of the programs for at least 2 years and make them available to BSEE upon request.

§ 250.865 Surface pumps.
(a) You must equip pump installations with the protective equipment required in API RP 14C, Appendix
A—A.7, Pumps (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
(b) You must use pressure recording devices to establish the new operating pressure ranges for pump
discharge sensors at any time when the normalized system pressure changes by 50 psig or 5 percent,
whichever is higher. Once system pressure has stabilized, pressure recording devices must be utilized to
establish the new operating pressure ranges. The pressure recording devices must document the
pressure range over time intervals that are no less than 4 hours and no more than 30 days long. You must
only maintain the most recent pressure recording information that you used to determine operating
pressure ranges at your field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to
the District Manager.
(c) Pressure shut-in sensors must be set according to the following table (initial set points for pressure
sensors must be set utilizing gauge readings and engineering design):
Type
of
sensor

Settings

(1)
Must be no higher than 15
PSH
percent or 5 psi (whichever is
sensor greater) above the highest
operating pressure of the
discharge line
30 CFR 250.865(c) (enhanced display)

Additional requirements
Must be set sufficiently below the maximum allowable working
pressure of the discharge piping. The PSH must also be set at
least 5 percent or 5 psi (whichever is greater) below the set
pressure of the PSV to assure that the pressure source is shutin before the PSV activates.
page 188 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Type
of
sensor

Settings

30 CFR 250.865(d)

Additional requirements

(2)
Must be set no lower than 15
PSL
percent or 5 psi (whichever is
sensor greater) below the lowest
operating pressure of the
discharge line in which it is
installed

(d) The PSL must be placed into service when the pump discharge pressure has risen above the PSL sensing
point, or within 45 seconds of the pump coming into service, whichever is sooner.
(e) You may exclude the PSH and PSL sensors on small, low-volume pumps such as chemical injection-type
pumps. This is acceptable if such a pump is used as a sump pump or transfer pump, has a discharge
rating of less than 1⁄2 gallon per minute (gpm), discharges into piping that is 1 inch or less in diameter,
and terminates in piping that is 2 inches or larger in diameter.
(f) You must install a TSE in the immediate vicinity of all pumps in hydrocarbon service or those powered by
platform fuel gas.
(g) The pump maximum discharge pressure must be determined using the maximum possible suction
pressure and the maximum power output of the driver as appropriate for the pump type and service.

§ 250.866 Personnel safety equipment.
You must maintain all personnel safety equipment located on a facility, whether required or not, in good working
condition.

§ 250.867 Temporary quarters and temporary equipment.
(a) You must equip temporary quarters with all safety devices required by API RP 14C, Appendix C
(incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198). The District Manager must approve the safety
system/safety devices associated with the temporary quarters prior to installation.
(b) The District Manager may require you to install a temporary firewater system for temporary quarters in
production processing areas or other classified areas.
(c) Temporary equipment associated with the production process system, including equipment used for well
testing and/or well clean-up, must be approved by the District Manager.
(d) The District Manager must approve temporary generators that would require a change to the electrical
one-line diagram in § 250.842(a).
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49259, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.868 Non-metallic piping.
On fixed OCS facilities, you may use non-metallic piping (such as that made from polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride, and reinforced fiberglass) only in accordance with the requirements of § 250.841(b).

30 CFR 250.868 (enhanced display)

page 189 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.869

§ 250.869 General platform operations.
(a) Surface or subsurface safety devices must not be bypassed or blocked out of service unless they are
temporarily out of service for startup, maintenance, or testing. You may take only the minimum number of
safety devices out of service. Personnel must monitor the bypassed or blocked-out functions until the
safety devices are placed back in service. Any surface or subsurface safety device which is temporarily
out of service must be flagged. A designated visual indicator must be used to identify the bypassed safety
device. You must follow the monitoring procedures as follows:
(1) If you are using a non-computer-based system, meaning your safety system operates primarily with
pneumatic supply or non-programmable electrical systems, you must monitor bypassed safety
devices by positioning monitoring personnel at either the control panel for the bypassed safety
device, or at the bypassed safety device, or at the component that the bypassed safety device would
be monitoring when in service. You must also ensure that monitoring personnel are able to view all
relevant essential operating conditions until all bypassed safety devices are placed back in service
and are able to initiate shut-in action in the event of an abnormal condition.
(2) If you are using a computer-based technology system, meaning a computer-controlled electronic
safety system such as supervisory control and data acquisition and remote terminal units, you must
monitor bypassed safety devices by maintaining instantaneous communications at all times among
remote monitoring personnel and the personnel performing maintenance, testing, or startup. Until all
bypassed safety devices are placed back in service, you must also position monitoring personnel at
a designated control station that is capable of the following:
(i)

Displaying all relevant essential operating conditions that affect the bypassed safety device,
well, pipeline, and process component. If electronic display of all relevant essential conditions
is not possible, you must have field personnel monitoring the level gauges (sight glass) and
pressure gauges in order to know the current operating conditions. You must be in
communication with all field personnel monitoring the gauges;

(ii) Controlling the production process equipment and the entire safety system;
(iii) Displaying a visual indicator when safety devices are placed in the bypassed mode; and
(iv) Upon command, overriding the bypassed safety device and initiating shut-in action in the event
of an abnormal condition.
(3) You must not bypass for startup any element of the emergency support system or other support
system required by API RP 14C, Appendix C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198)
without first receiving BSEE approval to depart from this operating procedure. These systems
include, but are not limited to:
(i)

The ESD system to provide a method to manually initiate platform shutdown by personnel
observing abnormal conditions or undesirable events. You do not have to receive approval from
the District Manager for manual reset and/or initial charging of the system;

(ii) The fire loop system to sense the heat of a fire and initiate platform shutdown, and other fire
detection devices (flame, thermal, and smoke) that are used to enhance fire detection
capability. You do not have to receive approval from the District Manager for manual reset and/
or initial charging of the system;
(iii) The combustible gas detection system to sense the presence of hydrocarbons and initiate
alarms and platform shutdown before gas concentrations reach the lower explosive limit;
30 CFR 250.869(a)(3)(iii) (enhanced display)

page 190 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.869(a)(3)(iv)

(iv) Adequate ventilation;
(v) The containment system to collect escaped liquid hydrocarbons and initiate platform
shutdown;
(vi) Subsurface safety valves, including those that are self-actuated (subsurface-controlled SSSVs)
or those that are activated by an ESD system and/or a fire loop (surface-controlled SSSV). You
do not have to receive approval from the District Manager for routine operations in accordance
with § 250.817;
(vii) The pneumatic supply system; and
(viii) The system for discharging gas to the atmosphere.
(4) In instances where components of the ESD, as listed in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, are bypassed
for maintenance, precautions must be taken to provide the equivalent level of protection that existed
prior to the bypass.
(b) When wells are disconnected from producing facilities and blind flanged, or equipped with a tubing plug,
or the master valves have been locked closed, you are not required to comply with the provisions of API
RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198) or this regulation concerning the following:
(1) Automatic fail-close SSVs on wellhead assemblies, and
(2) The PSH and PSL sensors in flowlines from wells.
(c) When pressure or atmospheric vessels are isolated from production facilities (e.g., inlet valve locked
closed or inlet blind-flanged) and are to remain isolated for an extended period of time, safety device
testing in accordance with API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198), or this
subpart is not required, with the exception of the PSV, unless the vessel is open to the atmosphere.
(d) All open-ended lines connected to producing facilities and wells must be plugged or blind-flanged, except
those lines designed to be open-ended such as flare or vent lines.
(e) On all new production safety system installations, component process control devices and component
safety devices must not be installed utilizing the same sensing points.
(f) All pneumatic control panels and computer based control stations must be labeled according to API RP
14C nomenclature.

§ 250.870 Time delays on pressure safety low (PSL) sensors.
(a) You may apply industry standard Class B, Class C, or Class B/C logic to applicable PSL sensors installed
on process equipment. If the device may be bypassed for greater than 45 seconds, you must monitor the
bypassed devices in accordance with § 250.869(a). You must document on your field test records any use
of a PSL sensor with a time delay greater than 45 seconds. For purposes of this section, PSL sensors are
categorized as follows:
(1) Class B safety devices have logic that allows for the PSL sensors to be bypassed for a fixed time
period (typically less than 15 seconds, but not more than 45 seconds). Examples include sensors
used in conjunction with the design of pump and compressor panels such as PSL sensors, lubricator
no-flows, and high-water jacket temperature shutdowns.

30 CFR 250.870(a)(1) (enhanced display)

page 191 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.870(a)(2)

(2) Class C safety devices have logic that allows for the PSL sensors to be bypassed until the
component comes into full service (i.e., the time at which the startup pressure equals or exceeds the
set pressure of the PSL sensor, the system reaches a stabilized pressure, and the PSL sensor
clears). If a Class C safety device is bypassed, you must monitor the device until it is in full service.
(3) Class B/C safety devices have logic that allows for the PSL sensors to incorporate a combination of
Class B and Class C circuitry. These devices are used to ensure that the PSL sensors are not
unnecessarily bypassed during startup and idle operations, (e.g., Class B/C bypass circuitry activates
when a pump is shut down during normal operations). The PSL sensor remains bypassed until the
pump's start circuitry is activated and either:
(i)

The Class B timer expires no later than 45 seconds from start activation, or

(ii) The Class C bypass is initiated until the pump builds up pressure above the PSL sensor set
point and the PSL sensor comes into full service.
(b) If you do not install time delay circuitry that bypasses activation of PSL sensor shutdown logic for a
specified time period on process and product transport equipment during startup and idle operations, you
must manually bypass (pin out or disengage) the PSL sensor, with a time delay not to exceed 45 seconds.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49259, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.871 Welding and burning practices and procedures.
All welding, burning, and hot-tapping activities must be conducted according to the specific requirements in §
250.113.

§ 250.872 Atmospheric vessels.
(a) You must equip atmospheric vessels used to process and/or store liquid hydrocarbons or other Class I
liquids as described in API RP 500 or 505 (both incorporated by reference in § 250.198) with protective
equipment identified in API RP 14C, section A.5 (incorporated by reference in § 250.198). Transport tanks
approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, that are sealed and not connected via interconnected
piping to the production process train and that are used only for storage of refined liquid hydrocarbons or
Class I liquids, are not required to be equipped with the protective equipment identified in API RP 14C,
section A.5. The atmospheric vessels connected to the process system that contains a Class I liquid and
the associated pumps must be reflected on the design documents listed in § 250.842(a)(1) through (4)
and (b)(3).
(b) You must ensure that all atmospheric vessels are designed and maintained to ensure the proper working
conditions for LSH sensors. The LSH sensor bridle must be designed to prevent different density fluids
from impacting sensor functionality.
(c) You must ensure that all atmospheric vessels are designed, installed, and maintained to prevent pollution,
including the displacement of oil out of an overboard water outlet, as required by § 250.300(b)(3) and (4).
[83 FR 49259, Sept. 28, 2018]

30 CFR 250.872(c) (enhanced display)

page 192 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.873

§ 250.873 Subsea gas lift requirements.
If you choose to install a subsea gas lift system, you must design your system as approved in your DWOP or as
follows:
(a) Design the gas lift supply pipeline in accordance with API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified
in § 250.198) for the gas lift supply system located on the platform.
(b) Meet the applicable requirements in the following table:
If your
subsea
gas lift
system
introduces
the
lift gas to
the . . .

Then you must install a
API Spec 6A and API Spec 6AV1
(both incorporated by
reference as specified in §
250.198) gas-lift shutdown valve
(GLSDV), and . . .

FSV on
the
gas-lift
supply
pipeline .
..

PSHL on
the gas-lift
supply . . .

API Spec 6A
and API
In addition, you
Spec 6AV1
must
manual
isolation
valve . . .

(1)
Subsea
pipelines,
pipeline
risers, or
manifolds
via an
external
gas lift
pipeline or
umbilical

Meet all of the requirements for
the BSDV described in §§ 250.835
and 250.836 on the gas-lift supply
pipeline. Locate the GLSDV within
10 feet of the first point of access
to the gas-lift riser or topsides
umbilical termination assembly
(TUTA) (i.e., within 10 feet of the
edge of the platform if the GLSDV
is horizontal, or within 10 feet
above the first accessible working
deck, excluding the boat landing
and above the splash zone, if the
GLSDV is in the vertical run of a
riser, or within 10 feet of the TUTA
if using an umbilical)

on the
platform
upstream
(inboard) of
the
GLSDV

pipeline on
the platform
downstream
(out board)
of the
GLSDV

downstream
(out board)
of the PSHL
and above
the
waterline.
This valve
does not
have to be
actuated

(2)

Meet all of the requirements for

on the

pipeline on

downstream (i) Install an

30 CFR 250.873(b) (enhanced display)

(i) Ensure that
the MAOP of a
subsea gas lift
supply pipeline
is equal to the
MAOP of the
production
pipeline.
(ii) Install an
actuated failsafe close gaslift isolation
valve (GLIV)
located at the
point of
intersection
between the
gas lift supply
pipeline and the
production
pipeline,
pipeline riser, or
manifold.
(iii) Install the
GLIV
downstream of
the underwater
safety valve(s)
(USV) and/or
AIV(s).

page 193 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If your
subsea
gas lift
system
introduces
the
lift gas to
the . . .

30 CFR 250.873(b)

Then you must install a
API Spec 6A and API Spec 6AV1
(both incorporated by
reference as specified in §
250.198) gas-lift shutdown valve
(GLSDV), and . . .

FSV on
the
gas-lift
supply
pipeline .
..

PSHL on
the gas-lift
supply . . .

API Spec 6A
and API
In addition, you
Spec 6AV1
must
manual
isolation
valve . . .

Subsea
well(s)
through
the casing
string via
an
external
gas lift
pipeline or
umbilical

the GLSDV described in §§
250.835 and 250.836 on the gaslift supply pipeline. Locate the
GLSDV within 10 feet of the first
point of access to the gas-lift riser
or topsides umbilical termination
assembly (TUTA) (i.e., within 10
feet of the edge of the platform if
the GLSDV is horizontal, or within
10 feet above the first accessible
working deck, excluding the boat
landing and above the splash zone,
if the GLSDV is in the vertical run
of a riser, or within 10 feet of the
TUTA if using an umbilical)

platform
upstream
(inboard) of
the
GLSDV

the platform
downstream (out
board) of
the GLSDV

(out board)
of the PSHL
and above
the
waterline.
This valve
does not
have to be
actuated.

actuated, failsafe-closed
GLIV on the gas
lift supply
pipeline near
the wellhead to
provide the dual
function of
containing
annular
pressure and
shutting off the
gas lift supply
gas.
(ii) If your
subsea tree or
tubing head is
equipped with
an annulus
master valve
(AMV) or an
annulus wing
valve (AWV),
one of these
may be
designated as
the GLIV.
(iii) Consider
installing the
GLIV external to
the subsea tree
to facilitate
repair and or
replacement if
necessary.

(3)
Pipeline
risers via
a gas-lift
line
contained

Meet all of the requirements for
the GLSDV described in §§
250.835(a), (b), and (d) and
250.836 on the gas-lift supply
pipeline

upstream
(inboard) of
the
GLSDV

flowline
upstream
(in-board) of
the FSV

downstream
(out board)
of the
GLSDV

(i) Ensure that
the gas-lift
supply flowline
from the gas-lift
compressor to
the GLSDV is

30 CFR 250.873(b) (enhanced display)

page 194 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If your
subsea
gas lift
system
introduces
the
lift gas to
the . . .

30 CFR 250.873(b)

Then you must install a
API Spec 6A and API Spec 6AV1
(both incorporated by
reference as specified in §
250.198) gas-lift shutdown valve
(GLSDV), and . . .

within the
pipeline
riser

FSV on
the
gas-lift
supply
pipeline .
..

PSHL on
the gas-lift
supply . . .

API Spec 6A
and API
In addition, you
Spec 6AV1
must
manual
isolation
valve . . .
pressure-rated
for the MAOP of
the pipeline
riser.

Attach the GLSDV by flanged
connection directly to the ANSI/
API Spec. 6A component used to
suspend and seal the gas-lift line
contained within the production
riser. To facilitate the repair or
replacement of the GLSDV or
production riser BSDV, you may
install a manual isolation valve
between the GLSDV and the ANSI/
API Spec. 6A component used to
suspend and seal the gas-lift line
contained within the production
riser, or outboard of the production
riser BSDV and inboard of the
ANSI/API Spec. 6A component
used to suspend and seal the gaslift line contained within the
production riser

30 CFR 250.873(b) (enhanced display)

(ii) Ensure that
any surface
equipment
associated with
the gas-lift
system is rated
for the MAOP of
the pipeline
riser.
(iii) Ensure that
the gas-lift
compressor
discharge
pressure never
exceeds the
MAOP of the
pipeline riser.
(iv) Suspend
and seal the
gas-lift flowline
contained
within the
production riser
in a flanged
ANSI/API Spec.
6A component
such as an
ANSI/API Spec.
6A tubing head
and tubing
hanger or a
component
designed,
constructed,
tested, and
installed to the
requirements of
page 195 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If your
subsea
gas lift
system
introduces
the
lift gas to
the . . .

30 CFR 250.873(c)

Then you must install a
API Spec 6A and API Spec 6AV1
(both incorporated by
reference as specified in §
250.198) gas-lift shutdown valve
(GLSDV), and . . .

FSV on
the
gas-lift
supply
pipeline .
..

PSHL on
the gas-lift
supply . . .

API Spec 6A
and API
In addition, you
Spec 6AV1
must
manual
isolation
valve . . .
ANSI/API Spec.
6A.
(v) Ensure that
all potential
leak paths
upstream or
near the
production riser
BSDV on the
platform
provide the
same level of
safety and
environmental
protection as
the production
riser BSDV.
(vi) Ensure that
this complete
assembly is
fire-rated for 30
minutes.

(c) Follow the valve closure times and hydraulic bleed requirements according to your approved DWOP for the
following:
(1) Electro-hydraulic control system with gas lift,
(2) Electro-hydraulic control system with gas lift with loss of communications,
(3) Direct-hydraulic control system with gas lift.
(d) Follow the gas lift system valve testing requirements according to the following table:
Type of gas lift system
(1) Gas lifting a subsea pipeline, pipeline
riser, or manifold via an external gas lift
pipeline

30 CFR 250.873(d) (enhanced display)

Valve

Allowable leakage rate

Testing frequency

GLSDV Zero leakage

Monthly, not to exceed
6 weeks.

GLIV

Function tested
quarterly, not to exceed
120 days.

N/A

page 196 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Type of gas lift system
(2) Gas lifting a subsea well through the
casing string via an external gas lift
pipeline

Valve

30 CFR 250.874

Allowable leakage rate

Testing frequency

GLSDV Zero leakage

Monthly, not to exceed
6 weeks.

GLIV

Function tested
quarterly, not to exceed
120 days

400 cc per minute of
liquid or 15 scf per minute
of gas.

(3) Gas lifting the pipeline riser via a gas lift GLSDV Zero leakage
line contained within the pipeline riser

Monthly, not to exceed
6 weeks.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 24707, May 29, 2019]

§ 250.874 Subsea water injection systems.
If you choose to install a subsea water injection system, your system must comply with your approved DWOP, which
must meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) Adhere to the water injection requirements described in API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as
specified in § 250.198) for the water injection equipment located on the platform. In accordance with §
250.830, either a surface-controlled SSSV or a water injection valve (WIV) that is self-activated and not
controlled by emergency shut-down (ESD) or sensor activation must be installed in a subsea water
injection well.
(b) Equip a water injection pipeline with a surface FSV and water injection shutdown valve (WISDV) on the
surface facility.
(c) Install a PSHL sensor upstream (in-board) of the FSV and WISDV.
(d) Use subsea tree(s), wellhead(s), connector(s), and tree valves, and surface-controlled SSSV or WIV
associated with a water injection system that are rated for the maximum anticipated injection pressure.
(e) Consider the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) when designing your water flood system, as required by §
250.805.
(f) Follow the valve closure times and hydraulic bleed requirements according to your approved DWOP for the
following:
(1) Electro-hydraulic control system with water injection,
(2) Electro-hydraulic control system with water injection with loss of communications, and
(3) Direct-hydraulic control system with water injection.
(g) Comply with the following injection valve testing requirements:
(1) You must test your injection valves as provided in the following table:
Valve

Allowable leakage rate

Testing frequency

(i) WISDV

Zero leakage

Monthly, not to exceed 6 weeks between
tests.

(ii) Surface-controlled SSSV or
WIV

400 cc per minute of liquid
or

Semiannually, not to exceed
6 calendar months between tests.

30 CFR 250.874(g)(1) (enhanced display)

page 197 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Valve

Allowable leakage rate

30 CFR 250.874(g)(2)

Testing frequency

15 scf per minute of gas

(2) If a designated USV on a water injection well fails the applicable test under § 250.880(c)(4)(ii), you
must notify the appropriate District Manager and request approval to designate another ANSI/API
Spec 6A and API Spec. 6AV1 (both incorporated by reference in § 250.198) certified subsea valve as
your USV.
(3) If a USV on a water injection well fails the test and the surface-controlled SSSV or WIV cannot be
tested as required under (g)(1)(ii) of this section because of low reservoir pressure, you must submit
a request to the appropriate District Manager with an alternative plan that ensures subsea shutdown
capabilities.
(h) If you experience a loss of communications during water injection operations, you must comply with the
following:
(1) Notify the appropriate District Manager within 12 hours after detecting loss of communication; and
(2) Obtain approval from the appropriate District Manager to continue to inject during the loss of
communication.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49262, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.875 Subsea pump systems.
If you choose to install a subsea pump system, your system must comply with your approved DWOP, which must
meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) Include the installation of an isolation valve at the inlet of your subsea pump module.
(b) Include a PSHL sensor upstream of the BSDV, if the maximum possible discharge pressure of the subsea
pump operating in a dead head condition (that is the maximum shut-in tubing pressure at the pump inlet
and a closed BSDV) is less than the MAOP of the associated pipeline.
(c) If the maximum possible discharge pressure of the subsea pump operating in a dead head situation could
be greater than the MAOP of the pipeline:
(1) Include, at minimum, 2 independent functioning PSHL sensors upstream of the subsea pump and 2
independent functioning PSHL sensors downstream of the pump, that:
(i)

Are operational when the subsea pump is in service; and

(ii) Will, when activated, shut down the subsea pump, the subsea inlet isolation valve, and either the
designated USV1, the USV2, or the alternate isolation valve.
(iii) If more than 2 PSHL sensors are installed both upstream and downstream of the subsea pump
for operational flexibility, then 2 out of 3 voting logic may be implemented in which the subsea
pump remains operational provided a minimum of 2 independent PSHL sensors are functional
both upstream and downstream of the pump.

30 CFR 250.875(c)(1)(iii) (enhanced display)

page 198 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.875(c)(2)

(2) Interlock the subsea pump motor with the BSDV to ensure that the pump cannot start or operate
when the BSDV is closed, incorporate at a minimum the following permissive signals into the control
system for your subsea pump, and ensure that the subsea pump is not able to be started or restarted unless:
(i)

The BSDV is open;

(ii) All automated valves downstream of the subsea pump are open;
(iii) The upstream subsea pump isolation valve is open; and
(iv) All parameters associated with the subsea pump operation (e.g., pump temperature high, pump
vibration high, pump suction pressure high, pump discharge pressure high, pump suction flow
low) must be cleared (i.e., within operational limits) or continuously monitored by personnel
who observe visual indicators displayed at a designated control station and have the capability
to initiate shut-in action in the event of an abnormal condition.
(3) Monitor the separator for seawater.
(4) Ensure that the subsea pump systems are controlled by an electro-hydraulic control system.
(d) Follow the valve closure times and hydraulic bleed requirements according to your approved DWOP for the
following:
(1) Electro-hydraulic control system with a subsea pump;
(2) A loss of communication with the subsea well(s) and not a loss of communication with the subsea
pump control system without an ESD or sensor activation;
(3) A loss of communication with the subsea pump control system, and not a loss of communication
with the subsea well(s);
(4) A loss of communication with the subsea well(s) and the subsea pump control system.
(e) For subsea pump testing:
(1) Perform a complete subsea pump function test, including full shutdown, after any intervention or
changes to the software and equipment affecting the subsea pump; and
(2) Test the subsea pump shutdown, including PSHL sensors both upstream and downstream of the
pump, each quarter (not to exceed 120 days between tests). This testing may be performed
concurrently with the ESD function test required by § 250.880(c)(4)(v).

§ 250.876 Fired and exhaust heated components.
No later than September 7, 2018, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, you must have qualified third-party
inspect, and then you must repair or replace, as needed, the fire tube for tube-type heaters that are equipped with
either automatically controlled natural or forced draft burners installed in either atmospheric or pressure vessels
that heat hydrocarbons and/or glycol. If inspection indicates tube-type heater deficiencies, you must complete and
document repairs or replacements. You must document the inspection results, retain such documentation for at
least 5 years, and make the documentation available to BSEE upon request.
[83 FR 49262, Sept. 28, 2018]

§§ 250.877-250.879 [Reserved]
30 CFR 250.877-250.879 (enhanced display)

page 199 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.880

SAFETY DEVICE TESTING
§ 250.880 Production safety system testing.
(a) Notification. You must:
(1) Notify the District Manager at least 72 hours before you commence initial production on a facility as
required in § 250.800(a)(2), in order for BSEE to conduct the preproduction inspection of the
integrated safety system.
(2) Notify the District Manager upon commencement of production so that BSEE may conduct a
complete inspection.
(3) Notify the District Manager and receive BSEE approval before you perform any subsea intervention
that modifies the existing subsea infrastructure in a way that may affect the casing monitoring
capabilities and testing frequencies specified in the table set forth in paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(b) Testing methodologies. You must:
(1) Test safety valves and other equipment at the intervals specified in the tables set forth in paragraph
(c) of this section or more frequently if operating conditions warrant; and
(2) Perform testing and inspections in accordance with API RP 14C, Appendix D (incorporated by
reference as specified in § 250.198), and the additional requirements specified in the tables of this
section or as approved in the DWOP for your subsea system.
(c) Testing frequencies. You must:
(1) Comply with the following testing requirements for subsurface safety devices on dry tree wells:
Item name

Testing frequency, allowable leakage rates, and other requirements

(i) Surfacecontrolled
SSSVs
(including
devices
installed in
shut-in and
injection wells)

Semi-annually, not to exceed 6 calendar months between tests. Also test in place when
first installed or reinstalled. If the device does not operate properly, or if a liquid leakage
rate > 400 cubic centimeters per minute or a gas leakage rate > 15 standard cubic feet
per minute is observed, the device must be removed, repaired, and reinstalled or replaced.
Testing must be according to ANSI/API RP 14B (incorporated by reference in § 250.198)
to ensure proper operation.

(ii)
Subsurfacecontrolled
SSSVs

Semi-annually, not to exceed 6 calendar months between tests for valves not installed in
a landing nipple and 12 months for valves installed in a landing nipple. The valve must be
removed, inspected, and repaired or adjusted, as necessary, and reinstalled or replaced.

(iii) Tubing
plug

Semi-annually, not to exceed 6 calendar months between tests. Test by opening the well
to possible flow. If a liquid leakage rate > 400 cubic centimeters per minute or a gas
leakage rate > 15 standard cubic feet per minute is observed, the plug must be removed,
repaired, and reinstalled or replaced. An additional tubing plug may be installed in lieu of
removal.

(iv) Injection
valves

Semi-annually, not to exceed 6 calendar months between tests. Test by opening the well
to possible flow. If a liquid leakage rate > 400 cubic centimeters per minute or a gas
leakage rate > 15 standard cubic feet per minute is observed, the valve must be removed,

30 CFR 250.880(c)(1) (enhanced display)

page 200 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Item name

30 CFR 250.880(c)(2)

Testing frequency, allowable leakage rates, and other requirements
repaired and reinstalled or replaced.

(2) Comply with the following testing requirements for surface valves:
Item name

Testing frequency and requirements

(i) PSVs

Annually, not to exceed 12 calendar months between tests. Valve must either be benchtested or equipped to permit testing with an external pressure source. Weighted disc vent
valves used as PSVs on atmospheric tanks may be disassembled and inspected in lieu of
function testing. The main valve piston must be lifted during this test.

(ii)
Automatic
inlet SDVs
that are
actuated by
a sensor on
a vessel or
compressor

Once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests.

(iii) SDVs in
Once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests.
liquid
discharge
lines and
actuated by
vessel lowlevel sensors
(iv) SSVs

Once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests. Valves must be tested
for both operation and leakage. You must test according to API STD 6AV2 (incorporated by
reference in § 250.198). If an SSV does not operate properly or if any gas and/or liquid fluid
flow is observed during the leakage test, the valve must be immediately repaired or
replaced.

(v) Flowline
FSVs

Once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests. All flowline FSVs must be
tested, including those installed on a host facility in lieu of being installed at a satellite well.
You must test flowline FSVs for leakage in accordance with the test procedure specified in
API RP 14C (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198). If leakage measured
exceeds a liquid flow of 400 cubic centimeters per minute or a gas flow of 15 standard
cubic feet per minute, the FSV must be repaired or replaced.

(3) Comply with the following testing requirements for surface safety systems and devices:
Item name
(i) Pumps for
firewater systems

Testing frequency and requirements
Must be inspected and operated according to API RP 14G, Section 7.2 (incorporated
by reference as specified in § 250.198).

(ii) Fire- (flame, heat, Must be tested for operation and recalibrated every 3 months, not to exceed 120
or smoke) and gas
days between tests, provided that testing can be performed in a non-destructive
detection systems
manner. Open flame or devices operating at temperatures that could ignite a
methane-air mixture must not be used. All combustible gas-detection systems must
be calibrated every 3 months.
30 CFR 250.880(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 201 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Item name

30 CFR 250.880(c)(3)

Testing frequency and requirements

(iii) ESD systems

(A) Pneumatic based ESD systems must be tested for operation at least once each
calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests. You must conduct the test
by alternating ESD stations monthly to close at least one wellhead SSV and verify a
surface-controlled SSSV closure for that well as indicated by control circuitry
actuation. All stations must be checked for functionality at least once each calendar
month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests. No station may be reused until all
stations have been tested.
(B) Electronic based ESD systems must be tested for operation at least once every 3
calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between tests. The test must be
conducted by alternating ESD stations to close at least one wellhead SSV and verify
a surface-controlled SSSV closure for that well as indicated by control circuitry
actuation. All stations must be checked for functionality at least once every 3
calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between checks. No station may be
reused until all stations have been tested.
(C) Electronic/pneumatic based ESD systems must be tested for operation at least
once every 3 calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between tests. The test must
be conducted by alternating ESD stations to close at least one wellhead SSV and
verify a surface-controlled SSSV closure for that well as indicated by control
circuitry actuation. All stations must be checked for functionality at least once every
3 calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between checks. No station may be
reused until all stations have been used.

(iv) TSH devices

Must be tested for operation annually, not to exceed 12 calendar months between
tests, excluding those addressed in paragraph (c)(3)(v) of this section and those
that would be destroyed by testing. Those that could be destroyed by testing must
be visually inspected and the circuit tested for operations at least once every 12
months.

(v) TSH shutdown
controls installed on
compressor
installations that
can be
nondestructively
tested

Must be tested every 6 months and repaired or replaced as necessary.

(vi) Burner safety
low

Must be tested annually, not to exceed 12 calendar months between tests.

(vii) Flow safety low
devices

Must be tested annually, not to exceed 12 calendar months between tests.

(viii) Flame, spark,
and detonation
arrestors

Must be visually inspected annually, not to exceed 12 calendar months between
inspections.

(ix) Electronic
pressure
transmitters and
level sensors: PSH
and PSL; LSH and
LSL

Must be tested at least once every 3 months, not to exceed 120 days between tests.

(x) Pneumatic/

Must be tested at least once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between

30 CFR 250.880(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 202 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Item name

30 CFR 250.880(c)(4)

Testing frequency and requirements

electronic switch
PSH and PSL;
pneumatic/
electronic switch/
electric analog with
mechanical linkage
LSH and LSL
controls

tests.

(4) Comply with the following testing requirements for subsurface safety devices and associated
systems on subsea tree wells:
Item name

Testing frequency, allowable leakage rates, and other requirements

(i) Surfacecontrolled
SSSVs
(including
devices
installed in
shut-in and
injection wells)

Tested semiannually, not to exceed 6 months between tests. If the device does not
operate properly, or if a liquid leakage rate > 400 cubic centimeters per minute or a gas
leakage rate > 15 standard cubic feet per minute is observed, the device must be
removed, repaired, and reinstalled or replaced. Testing must be according to ANSI/API
RP 14B (incorporated by reference in § 250.198) to ensure proper operation, or as
approved in your DWOP.

(ii) USVs

Tested at least once every 3 calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between tests. If
the device does not function properly, or if a liquid leakage rate > 400 cubic centimeters
per minute or a gas leakage rate > 15 standard cubic feet per minute is observed, the
valve must be removed, repaired, and reinstalled or replaced.

(iii) BSDVs

Tested at least once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests. Valves
must be tested for both operation and leakage. You must test according to API STD
6AV2 for SSVs (incorporated by reference in § 250.198). If a BSDV does not operate
properly or if any fluid flow is observed during the leakage test, the valve must be
immediately repaired or replaced.

(iv) Electronic
ESD logic

Tested at least once each calendar month, not to exceed 6 weeks between tests.

(v) Electronic
ESD function

Tested at least once every 3 calendar months, not to exceed 120 days between tests.
Shut-in at least one well during the ESD function test. If multiple wells are tied back to
the same platform, a different well should be shut-in with each quarterly test.

(d) Subsea wells.
(1) Any subsea well that is completed and disconnected from monitoring capability may not be
disconnected for more than 24 months, unless authorized by BSEE.
(2) Any subsea well that is completed and disconnected from monitoring capability for more than 6
months must meet the following testing and other requirements:
(i)

Each well must have 3 pressure barriers:
(A) A closed and tested surface-controlled SSSV,

30 CFR 250.880(d)(2)(i)(A) (enhanced display)

page 203 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.880(d)(2)(i)(B)

(B) A closed and tested USV, and
(C) One additional closed and tested tree valve.
(ii) For new completed wells, prior to the rig leaving the well, the pressure barriers must be tested
as follows:
(A) The surface-controlled SSSV must be tested for leakage in accordance with § 250.828(c);
(B) The USV and other pressure barrier must be tested to confirm zero leakage rate.
(iii) A sealing pressure cap must be installed on the flowline connection hub until the flowline is
installed and connected. The pressure cap must be designed to accommodate monitoring for
pressure between the production wing valve and cap. The pressure cap must also be designed
so that a remotely operated vehicle can bleed pressure off, monitor for buildup, and confirm
barrier integrity.
(iv) Pressure monitoring at the sealing pressure cap on the flowline connection hub must be
performed in each well at intervals not to exceed 12 months from the time of initial testing of
the pressure barrier (prior to demobilizing the rig from the field).
(v) You must have a drilling vessel capable of intervention into the disconnected well in the field or
readily accessible for use until the wells are brought on line.
[81 FR 60918, Sept. 7, 2016, as amended at 83 FR 49262, Sept. 28, 2018]

§§ 250.881-250.889 [Reserved]
RECORDS AND TRAINING
§ 250.890 Records.
(a) You must maintain records that show the present status and history of each safety device. Your records
must include dates and details of installation, removal, inspection, testing, repairing, adjustments, and
reinstallation.
(b) You must maintain these records for at least 2 years. You must maintain the records at your field office
nearest the OCS facility and a secure onshore location. These records must be available for review by a
representative of BSEE.
(c) You must submit to the appropriate District Manager a contact list for all OCS facilities at least annually or
when contact information is revised. The contact list must include:
(1) Designated operator name;
(2) Designated primary point of contact for the facility;
(3) Facility phone number(s), if applicable;
(4) Facility fax number, if applicable;
(5) Facility radio frequency, if applicable;
(6) Facility helideck rating and size, if applicable; and
30 CFR 250.890(c)(6) (enhanced display)

page 204 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.890(c)(7)

(7) Facility records location if not contained on the facility.

§ 250.891 Safety device training.
You must ensure that personnel installing, repairing, testing, maintaining, and operating surface and subsurface
safety devices, and personnel operating production platforms (including, but not limited to, separation, dehydration,
compression, sweetening, and metering operations), are trained in accordance with the procedures in subpart O and
subpart S of this part.

§§ 250.892-250.899 [Reserved]
Subpart I—Platforms and Structures
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PLATFORMS
§ 250.900 What general requirements apply to all platforms?
(a) You must design, fabricate, install, use, maintain, inspect, and assess all platforms and related structures
on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) so as to ensure their structural integrity for the safe conduct of
drilling, workover, and production operations. In doing this, you must consider the specific environmental
conditions at the platform location.
(b) You must also submit an application under § 250.905 of this subpart and obtain the approval of the
Regional Supervisor before performing any of the activities described in the following table:
Activity requiring application and approval

Conditions for conducting the activity

(1) Install a platform. This includes placing a
newly constructed platform at a location or
moving an existing platform to a new site

(i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart,
including the industry standards in § 250.901.
(ii) If you are installing a floating platform, you must also
adhere to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulations for the
fabrication, installation, and inspection of floating OCS
facilities.

(2) Major modification to any platform. This
includes any structural changes that
materially alter the approved plan or cause a
major deviation from approved operations and
any modification that increases loading on a
platform by 10 percent or more

(i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart,
including the industry standards in § 250.901.
(ii) Before you make a major modification to a floating
platform, you must obtain approval from both the BSEE
and the USCG for the modification.

(3) Major repair of damage to any platform.
This includes any corrective operations
involving structural members affecting the
structural integrity of a portion or all of the
platform

(i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart,
including the industry standards in § 250.901.
(ii) Before you make a major repair to a floating platform,
you must obtain approval from both the BSEE and the
USCG for the repair.

(4) Convert an existing platform at the current
location for a new purpose

(i) The Regional Supervisor will determine on a case-bycase basis the requirements for an application for
conversion of an existing platform at the current location.
(ii) At a minimum, your application must include: the
converted platform's intended use; and a demonstration

30 CFR 250.900(b) (enhanced display)

page 205 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Activity requiring application and approval

30 CFR 250.900(c)

Conditions for conducting the activity
of the adequacy of the design and structural condition of
the converted platform.
(iii) If a floating platform, you must also adhere to USCG
regulations for the fabrication, installation, and inspection
of floating OCS facilities.

(5) Convert an existing mobile offshore drilling (i) The Regional Supervisor will determine on a case-byunit (MODU) for a new purpose
case basis the requirements for an application for
conversion of an existing MODU.
(ii) At a minimum, your application must include: the
converted MODU's intended location and use; a
demonstration of the adequacy of the design and
structural condition of the converted MODU; and a
demonstration that the level of safety for the converted
MODU is at least equal to that of re-used platforms.
(iii) You must also adhere to USCG regulations for the
fabrication, installation, and inspection of floating OCS
facilities.

(c) Under emergency conditions, you may make repairs to primary structural elements to restore an existing
permitted condition without submitting an application or receiving prior BSEE approval for up to
120-calendar days following an event. You must notify the Regional Supervisor of the damage that
occurred within 24 hours of its discovery, and you must provide a written completion report to the
Regional Supervisor of the repairs that were made within 1 week after completing the repairs. If you make
emergency repairs on a floating platform, you must also notify the USCG.
(d) You must determine if your new platform or major modification to an existing platform is subject to the
Platform Verification Program (PVP). Section 250.910 of this subpart fully describes the facilities that are
subject to the PVP. If you determine that your platform is subject to the PVP, you must follow the
requirements of §§ 250.909 through 250.918 of this subpart.
(e) You must submit notification of the platform installation date and the final as-built location data to the
Regional Supervisor within 45-calendar days of completion of platform installation.
(1) For platforms not subject to the Platform Verification Program (PVP), BSEE will cancel the approved
platform application 1 year after the approval has been granted if the platform has not been
installed. If BSEE cancels the approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive
BSEE approval if you still plan to install the platform.
(2) For platforms subject to the PVP, cancellation of an approval will be on an individual platform basis.
For these platforms, BSEE will identify the date when the installation approval will be cancelled (if
installation has not occurred) during the application and approval process. If BSEE cancels your
installation approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive BSEE approval if you
still plan to install the platform.

§ 250.901 What industry standards must your platform meet?
(a) In addition to the other requirements of this subpart, your plans for platform design, analysis, fabrication,
installation, use, maintenance, inspection and assessment must, as appropriate, conform to:

30 CFR 250.901(a) (enhanced display)

page 206 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.901(a)(1)

(1) ACI Standard 318–95, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318–95) and
Commentary (ACI 318R–95) (incorporated by reference at § 250.198);
(2) ACI 357R–84, Guide for the Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore Concrete Structures, 1984;
reapproved 1997 (incorporated by reference at § 250.198);
(3) ANSI/AISC 360–05, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, (as specified in § 250.198);
(4) American Petroleum Institute (API) Bulletin 2INT–DG, Interim Guidance for Design of Offshore
Structures for Hurricane Conditions, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(5) API Bulletin 2INT–EX, Interim Guidance for Assessment of Existing Offshore Structures for Hurricane
Conditions, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(6) API Bulletin 2INT–MET, Interim Guidance on Hurricane Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(7) API Recommend Practice (RP) 2A–WSD, RP for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Fixed
Offshore Platforms—Working Stress Design (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(8) API RP 2FPS, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Floating Production
Systems, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(9) API RP 2I, In-Service Inspection of Mooring Hardware for Floating Drilling Units (as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198);
(10) API RP 2RD, Design of Risers for Floating Production Systems (FPSs) and Tension-Leg Platforms
(TLPs), (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(11) API RP 2SK, Recommended Practice for Design and Analysis of Station Keeping Systems for Floating
Structures, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(12) API RP 2SM, Recommended Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of
Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore Mooring, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(13) API RP 2T, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Tension Leg Platforms,
(as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(14) API RP 14J, Recommended Practice for Design and Hazards Analysis for Offshore Production
Facilities, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(15) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard C 33–07, approved December 15,
2007, Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(16) ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M–07, approved January 1, 2007, Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed
Concrete (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(17) ASTM Standard C 150–07, approved May 1, 2007, Standard Specification for Portland Cement (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(18) ASTM Standard C 330–05, approved December 15, 2005, Standard Specification for Lightweight
Aggregates for Structural Concrete (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(19) ASTM Standard C 595–08, approved January 1, 2008, Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cements (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);

30 CFR 250.901(a)(19) (enhanced display)

page 207 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.901(a)(20)

(20) AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code—Steel, including Commentary, (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198);
(21) AWS D1.4, Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(22) AWS D3.6M, Specification for Underwater Welding, (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(23) NACE Standard MR0175, Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for Oilfield Equipment,
(as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(24) NACE Standard RP0176–2003, Item No. 21018, Standard Recommended Practice, Corrosion Control
of Steel Fixed Offshore Structures Associated with Petroleum Production (as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198).
(b) You must follow the requirements contained in the documents listed under paragraph (a) of this section
insofar as they do not conflict with other provisions of 30 CFR part 250. You may use applicable
provisions of these documents, as approved by the Regional Supervisor, for the design, fabrication, and
installation of platforms such as spars, since standards specifically written for such structures do not
exist. You may also use alternative codes, rules, or standards, as approved by the Regional Supervisor,
under the conditions enumerated in § 250.141.
(c) For information on the standards mentioned in this section, and where they may be obtained, see §
250.198 of this part.
(d) The following chart summarizes the applicability of the industry standards listed in this section for fixed
and floating platforms:
Industry standard

Applicable to . . .

(1) ACI Standard 318–95, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI Fixed and floating
318–95) and Commentary (ACI 318R–95),
platform, as
appropriate.
(2) ANSI/AISC 360–05, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings;
(3) API Bulletin 2INT–DG, Interim Guidance for Design of Offshore Structures for
Hurricane Conditions;
(4) API Bulletin 2INT–EX, Interim Guidance for Assessment of Existing Offshore
Structures for Hurricane Conditions;
(5) API Bulletin 2INT–MET, Interim Guidance on Hurricane Conditions in the Gulf of
Mexico;
(6) API RP 2A–WSD, RP for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Fixed Offshore
Platforms—Working Stress Design;
(7) ASTM Standard C 33–07, approved December 15, 2007, Standard Specification
for Concrete Aggregates;
(8) ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M–07, approved January 1, 2007, Standard
Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete;
(9) ASTM Standard C 150–07, approved May 1, 2007, Standard Specification for
Portland Cement;
(10) ASTM Standard C 330–05, approved December 15, 2005, Standard
Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete;
(11) ASTM Standard C 595–08, approved January 1, 2008, Standard Specification
30 CFR 250.901(d) (enhanced display)

page 208 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Industry standard

30 CFR 250.902

Applicable to . . .

for Blended Hydraulic Cements;
(12) AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code—Steel;
(13) AWS D1.4, Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel;
(14) AWS D3.6M, Specification for Underwater Welding;
(15) NACE Standard RP 0176–2003, Standard Recommended Practice (RP),
Corrosion Control of Steel Fixed Offshore Platforms Associated with Petroleum
Production;
(16) ACI 357R–84, Guide for the Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore
Concrete Structures, 1984; reapproved 1997,

Fixed platforms.

(17) API RP 14J, RP for Design and Hazards Analysis for Offshore Production
Facilities;

Floating platforms.

(18) API RP 2FPS, RP for Planning, Designing, and Constructing, Floating Production
Systems;
(19) API RP 2RD, Design of Risers for Floating Production Systems (FPSs) and
Tension-Leg Platforms (TLPs);
(20) API RP 2SK, RP for Design and Analysis of Station Keeping Systems for
Floating Structures;
(21) API RP 2T, RP for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Tension Leg
Platforms;
(22) API RP 2SM, RP for Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of
Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore Mooring;
(23) API RP 2I, In-Service Inspection of Mooring Hardware for Floating Drilling Units
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.902 What are the requirements for platform removal and location clearance?
You must remove all structures according to §§ 250.1725 through 250.1730 of Subpart Q—Decommissioning
Activities of this part.

§ 250.903 What records must I keep?
(a) You must compile, retain, and make available to BSEE representatives for the functional life of all
platforms:
(1) The as-built drawings;
(2) The design assumptions and analyses;
(3) A summary of the fabrication and installation nondestructive examination records;
(4) The inspection results from the inspections required by § 250.919 of this subpart; and
(5) Records of repairs not covered in the inspection report submitted under § 250.919(b).

30 CFR 250.903(a)(5) (enhanced display)

page 209 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.903(b)

(b) You must record and retain the original material test results of all primary structural materials during all
stages of construction. Primary material is material that, should it fail, would lead to a significant
reduction in platform safety, structural reliability, or operating capabilities. Items such as steel brackets,
deck stiffeners and secondary braces or beams would not generally be considered primary structural
members (or materials).
(c) You must provide BSEE with the location of these records in the certification statement of your application
for platform approval as required in § 250.905(j).

PLATFORM APPROVAL PROGRAM
§ 250.904 What is the Platform Approval Program?
(a) The Platform Approval Program is the BSEE basic approval process for platforms on the OCS. The
requirements of the Platform Approval Program are described in §§ 250.904 through 250.908 of this
subpart. Completing these requirements will satisfy BSEE criteria for approval of fixed platforms of a
proven design that will be placed in the shallow water areas (≤400 ft.) of the Gulf of Mexico OCS.
(b) The requirements of the Platform Approval Program must be met by all platforms on the OCS.
Additionally, if you want approval for a floating platform; a platform of unique design; or a platform being
installed in deepwater (> 400 ft.) or a frontier area, you must also meet the requirements of the Platform
Verification Program. The requirements of the Platform Verification Program are described in §§ 250.909
through 250.918 of this subpart.

§ 250.905 How do I get approval for the installation, modification, or repair of my platform?
The Platform Approval Program requires that you submit the information, documents, and fee listed in the following
table for your proposed project. In lieu of submitting the paper copies specified in the table, you may submit your
application electronically in accordance with 30 CFR 250.186(a)(3).
Required
submittal

Required contents

Other
requirements

(a)
Application
cover letter

Proposed structure designation, lease number, area, name, and block
number, and the type of facility your facility (e.g., drilling, production,
quarters). The structure designation must be unique for the field
(some fields are made up of several blocks); i.e. once a platform “A”
has been used in the field there should never be another platform “A”
even if the old platform “A” has been removed. Single well free
standing caissons should be given the same designation as the well.
All other structures are to be designated by letter designations

You must submit
three copies. If,
your facility is
subject to the
Platform
Verification
Program (PVP),
you must submit
four copies.

(b) Location
plat

Latitude and longitude coordinates, Universal Mercator grid-system
coordinates, state plane coordinates in the Lambert or Transverse
Mercator Projection System, and distances in feet from the nearest
block lines. These coordinates must be based on the NAD (North
American Datum) 27 datum plane coordinate system

Your plat must be
drawn to a scale
of 1 inch equals
2,000 feet and
include the
coordinates of the
lease block
boundary lines.
You must submit

30 CFR 250.905 (enhanced display)

page 210 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Required
submittal

Required contents

30 CFR 250.905

Other
requirements
three copies.

(c) Front,
Platform dimensions and orientation, elevations relative to M.L.L.W.
Side, and Plan (Mean Lower Low Water), and pile sizes and penetration
View
drawings

Your drawing
sizes must not
exceed 11″ × 17″.
You must submit
three copies (four
copies for PVP
applications).

(d) Complete
set of
structural
drawings

The approved for construction fabrication drawings should be
submitted including; e.g., cathodic protection systems; jacket design;
pile foundations; drilling, production, and pipeline risers and riser
tensioning systems; turrets and turret-and-hull interfaces; mooring
and tethering systems; foundations and anchoring systems

Your drawing
sizes must not
exceed 11″ × 17″.
You must submit
one copy.

(e) Summary
of
environmental
data

A summary of the environmental data described in the applicable
You must submit
standards referenced under § 250.901(a) of this subpart and in §
one copy.
250.198 of Subpart A, where the data is used in the design or analysis
of the platform. Examples of relevant data include information on
waves, wind, current, tides, temperature, snow and ice effects, marine
growth, and water depth

(f) Summary
of the
engineering
design data

Loading information (e.g., live, dead, environmental), structural
information (e.g., design-life; material types; cathodic protection
systems; design criteria; fatigue life; jacket design; deck design;
production component design; pile foundations; drilling, production,
and pipeline risers and riser tensioning systems; turrets and turretand-hull interfaces; foundations, foundation pilings and templates,
and anchoring systems; mooring or tethering systems; fabrication
and installation guidelines), and foundation information (e.g., soil
stability, design criteria)

You must submit
one copy.

(g) Projectspecific
studies used
in the
platform
design or
installation

All studies pertinent to platform design or installation, e.g.,
oceanographic and/or soil reports including the overall site
investigative report required in § 250.906

You must submit
one copy of each
study.

(h)
Description of
the loads
imposed on
the facility

Loads imposed by jacket; decks; production components; drilling,
production, and pipeline risers, and riser tensioning systems; turrets
and turret-and-hull interfaces; foundations, foundation pilings and
templates, and anchoring systems; and mooring or tethering systems

You must submit
one copy.

(i) Summary
of safety
factors
utilized

A summary of pertinent derived factors of safety against failure for
major structural members, e.g., unity check ratios exceeding 0.85 for
steel-jacket platform members, indicated on “line” sketches of jacket
sections

You must submit
one copy.

(j) A copy of

This plan is described in § 250.919

You must submit

30 CFR 250.905 (enhanced display)

page 211 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Required
submittal

Required contents

the in-service
inspection
plan
(k)
Certification
statement

30 CFR 250.906

Other
requirements
one copy.

The following statement: “The design of this structure has been
certified by a recognized classification society, or a registered civil or
structural engineer or equivalent, or a naval architect or marine
engineer or equivalent, specializing in the design of offshore
structures. The certified design and as-built plans and specifications
will be on file at (give location)”

An authorized
company
representative
must sign the
statement. You
must submit one
copy.

(l) Payment of
the service
fee listed in §
250.125.

§ 250.906 What must I do to obtain approval for the proposed site of my platform?
(a) Shallow hazards surveys. You must perform a high-resolution or acoustic-profiling survey to obtain
information on the conditions existing at and near the surface of the seafloor. You must collect
information through this survey sufficient to determine the presence of the following features and their
likely effects on your proposed platform:
(1) Shallow faults;
(2) Gas seeps or shallow gas;
(3) Slump blocks or slump sediments;
(4) Shallow water flows;
(5) Hydrates; or
(6) Ice scour of seafloor sediments.
(b) Geologic surveys. You must perform a geological survey relevant to the design and siting of your platform.
Your geological survey must assess:
(1) Seismic activity at your proposed site;
(2) Fault zones, the extent and geometry of faulting, and attenuation effects of geologic conditions near
your site; and
(3) For platforms located in producing areas, the possibility and effects of seafloor subsidence.
(c) Subsurface surveys. Depending upon the design and location of your proposed platform and the results of
the shallow hazard and geologic surveys, the Regional Supervisor may require you to perform a
subsurface survey. This survey will include a testing program for investigating the stratigraphic and
engineering properties of the soil that may affect the foundations or anchoring systems for your facility.
The testing program must include adequate in situ testing, boring, and sampling to examine all important
soil and rock strata to determine its strength classification, deformation properties, and dynamic
characteristics. If required to perform a subsurface survey, you must prepare and submit to the Regional
30 CFR 250.906(c) (enhanced display)

page 212 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.906(d)

Supervisor a summary report to briefly describe the results of your soil testing program, the various field
and laboratory test methods employed, and the applicability of these methods as they pertain to the
quality of the samples, the type of soil, and the anticipated design application. You must explain how the
engineering properties of each soil stratum affect the design of your platform. In your explanation you
must describe the uncertainties inherent in your overall testing program, and the reliability and
applicability of each test method.
(d) Overall site investigation report. You must prepare and submit to the Regional Supervisor an overall site
investigation report for your platform that integrates the findings of your shallow hazards surveys and
geologic surveys, and, if required, your subsurface surveys. Your overall site investigation report must
include analyses of the potential for:
(1) Scouring of the seafloor;
(2) Hydraulic instability;
(3) The occurrence of sand waves;
(4) Instability of slopes at the platform location;
(5) Liquefaction, or possible reduction of soil strength due to increased pore pressures;
(6) Degradation of subsea permafrost layers;
(7) Cyclic loading;
(8) Lateral loading;
(9) Dynamic loading;
(10) Settlements and displacements;
(11) Plastic deformation and formation collapse mechanisms; and
(12) Soil reactions on the platform foundations or anchoring systems.

§ 250.907 Where must I locate foundation boreholes?
(a) For fixed or bottom-founded platforms and tension leg platforms, your maximum distance from any
foundation pile to a soil boring must not exceed 500 feet.
(b) For deepwater floating platforms which utilize catenary or taut-leg moorings, you must take borings at the
most heavily loaded anchor location, at the anchor points approximately 120 and 240 degrees around the
anchor pattern from that boring, and, as necessary, other points throughout the anchor pattern to
establish the soil profile suitable for foundation design purposes.

§ 250.908 What are the minimum structural fatigue design requirements?
(a) API RP 2A–WSD, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore
Platforms (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), requires that the design fatigue life of each joint
and member be twice the intended service life of the structure. When designing your platform, the
following table provides minimum fatigue life safety factors for critical structural members and joints.
If . . .
(1) There is sufficient structural redundancy to
prevent catastrophic failure of the platform or
30 CFR 250.908(a) (enhanced display)

Then . . .
The results of the fatigue analysis must indicate a
minimum calculated life of twice the design life of
page 213 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.908(b)

If . . .

Then . . .

structure under consideration,

the platform.

(2) There is not sufficient structural redundancy to
prevent catastrophic failure of the platform or
structure,

The results of a fatigue analysis must indicate a
minimum calculated life or three times the design
life of the platform.

(3) The desirable degree of redundancy is
significantly reduced as a result of fatigue damage,

The results of a fatigue analysis must indicate a
minimum calculated life of three times the design
life of the platform.

(b) The documents incorporated by reference in § 250.901 may require larger safety factors than indicated in
paragraph (a) of this section for some key components. When the documents incorporated by reference
require a larger safety factor than the chart in paragraph (a) of this section, the requirements of the
incorporated document will prevail.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

PLATFORM VERIFICATION PROGRAM
§ 250.909 What is the Platform Verification Program?
The Platform Verification Program is the BSEE approval process for ensuring that floating platforms; platforms of a
new or unique design; platforms in seismic areas; or platforms located in deepwater or frontier areas meet stringent
requirements for design and construction. The program is applied during construction of new platforms and major
modifications of, or repairs to, existing platforms. These requirements are in addition to the requirements of the
Platform Approval Program described in §§ 250.904 through 250.908 of this subpart.

§ 250.910 Which of my facilities are subject to the Platform Verification Program?
(a) All new fixed or bottom-founded platforms that meet any of the following five conditions are subject to the
Platform Verification Program:
(1) Platforms installed in water depths exceeding 400 feet (122 meters);
(2) Platforms having natural periods in excess of 3 seconds;
(3) Platforms installed in areas of unstable bottom conditions;
(4) Platforms having configurations and designs which have not previously been used or proven for use
in the area; or
(5) Platforms installed in seismically active areas.
(b) All new floating platforms are subject to the Platform Verification Program to the extent indicated in the
following table:
If . . .
(1) Your new floating platform is
a buoyant offshore facility that
does not have a ship-shaped hull,

Then . . .
The entire platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program
including the following associated structures:
(i) Drilling, production, and pipeline risers, and riser tensioning systems

30 CFR 250.910(b) (enhanced display)

page 214 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If . . .

30 CFR 250.910(c)

Then . . .
(each platform must be designed to accommodate all the loads
imposed by all risers and riser does not have tensioning systems);
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation pilings and templates, and anchoring
systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.

(2) Your new floating platform is
a buoyant offshore facility with a
ship-shaped hull,

Only the following structures that may be associated with a floating
platform are subject to the Platform Verification Program:
(i) Drilling, production, and pipeline risers, and riser tensioning systems
(each platform must be designed to accommodate all the loads
imposed by all risers and riser tensioning systems);
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation pilings and templates, and anchoring
systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.

(c) If a platform is originally subject to the Platform Verification Program, then the conversion of that platform
at that same site for a new purpose, or making a major modification of, or major repair to, that platform, is
also subject to the Platform Verification Program. A major modification includes any modification that
increases loading on a platform by 10 percent or more. A major repair is a corrective operation involving
structural members affecting the structural integrity of a portion or all of the platform. Before you make a
major modification or repair to a floating platform, you must obtain approval from both the BSEE and the
USCG.
(d) The applicability of Platform Verification Program requirements to other types of facilities will be
determined by BSEE on a case-by-case basis.

§ 250.911 If my platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program, what must I do?
If your platform, conversion, or major modification or repair meets the criteria in § 250.910, you must:
(a) Design, fabricate, install, use, maintain and inspect your platform, conversion, or major modification or
repair to your platform according to the requirements of this subpart, and the applicable documents listed
in § 250.901(a) of this subpart;
(b) Comply with all the requirements of the Platform Approval Program found in §§ 250.904 through 250.908
of this subpart.
(c) Submit for the Regional Supervisor's approval three copies each of the design verification, fabrication
verification, and installation verification plans required by § 250.912;
(d) Submit a complete schedule of all phases of design, fabrication, and installation for the Regional
Supervisor's approval. You must include a project management timeline, Gantt Chart, that depicts when
interim and final reports required by §§ 250.916, 250.917, and 250.918 will be submitted to the Regional
Supervisor for each phase. On the timeline, you must break-out the specific scopes of work that inherently
stand alone (e.g., deck, mooring systems, tendon systems, riser systems, turret systems).

30 CFR 250.911(d) (enhanced display)

page 215 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.911(e)

(e) Include your nomination of a Certified Verification Agent (CVA) as a part of each verification plan required
by § 250.912;
(f) Follow the additional requirements in §§ 250.913 through 250.918;
(g) Obtain approval for modifications to approved plans and for major deviations from approved installation
procedures from the Regional Supervisor; and
(h) Comply with applicable USCG regulations for floating OCS facilities.

§ 250.912 What plans must I submit under the Platform Verification Program?
If your platform, associated structure, or major modification meets the criteria in § 250.910, you must submit the
following plans to the Regional Supervisor for approval:
(a) Design verification plan. You may submit your design verification plan to BSEE with or subsequent to the
submittal of your Development and Production Plan (DPP) or Development Operations Coordination
Document (DOCD) to BOEM. Your design verification must be conducted by, or be under the direct
supervision of, a registered professional civil or structural engineer or equivalent, or a naval architect or
marine engineer or equivalent, with previous experience in directing the design of similar facilities,
systems, structures, or equipment. For floating platforms, you must ensure that the requirements of the
USCG for structural integrity and stability, e.g., verification of center of gravity, etc., have been met. Your
design verification plan must include the following:
(1) All design documentation specified in § 250.905 of this subpart;
(2) Abstracts of the computer programs used in the design process; and
(3) A summary of the major design considerations and the approach to be used to verify the validity of
these design considerations.
(b) Fabrication verification plan. The Regional Supervisor must approve your fabrication verification plan
before you may initiate any related operations. Your fabrication verification plan must include the
following:
(1) Fabrication drawings and material specifications for artificial island structures and major members
of concrete-gravity and steel-gravity structures;
(2) For jacket and floating structures, all the primary load-bearing members included in the space-frame
analysis; and
(3) A summary description of the following:
(i)

Structural tolerances;

(ii) Welding procedures;
(iii) Material (concrete, gravel, or silt) placement methods;
(iv) Fabrication standards;
(v) Material quality-control procedures;
(vi) Methods and extent of nondestructive examinations for welds and materials; and
(vii) Quality assurance procedures.
30 CFR 250.912(b)(3)(vii) (enhanced display)

page 216 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.912(c)

(c) Installation verification plan. The Regional Supervisor must approve your installation verification plan
before you may initiate any related operations. Your installation verification plan must include:
(1) A summary description of the planned marine operations;
(2) Contingencies considered;
(3) Alternative courses of action; and
(4) An identification of the areas to be inspected. You must specify the acceptance and rejection criteria
to be used for any inspections conducted during installation, and for the post-installation verification
inspection.
(d) You must combine fabrication verification and installation verification plans for manmade islands or
platforms fabricated and installed in place.

§ 250.913 When must I resubmit Platform Verification Program plans?
(a) You must resubmit any design verification, fabrication verification, or installation verification plan to the
Regional Supervisor for approval if:
(1) The CVA changes;
(2) The CVA's or assigned personnel's qualifications change; or
(3) The level of work to be performed changes.
(b) If only part of a verification plan is affected by one of the changes described in paragraph (a) of this
section, you can resubmit only the affected part. You do not have to resubmit the summary of technical
details unless you make changes in the technical details.

§ 250.914 How do I nominate a CVA?
(a) As part of your design verification, fabrication verification, or installation verification plan, you must
nominate a CVA for the Regional Supervisor's approval. You must specify whether the nomination is for
the design, fabrication, or installation phase of verification, or for any combination of these phases.
(b) For each CVA, you must submit a list of documents to be forwarded to the CVA, and a qualification
statement that includes the following:
(1) Previous experience in third-party verification or experience in the design, fabrication, installation, or
major modification of offshore oil and gas platforms. This should include fixed platforms, floating
platforms, manmade islands, other similar marine structures, and related systems and equipment;
(2) Technical capabilities of the individual or the primary staff for the specific project;
(3) Size and type of organization or corporation;
(4) In-house availability of, or access to, appropriate technology. This should include computer
programs, hardware, and testing materials and equipment;
(5) Ability to perform the CVA functions for the specific project considering current commitments;
(6) Previous experience with BSEE requirements and procedures;
(7) The level of work to be performed by the CVA.

30 CFR 250.914(b)(7) (enhanced display)

page 217 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.915

§ 250.915 What are the CVA's primary responsibilities?
(a) The CVA must conduct specified reviews according to §§ 250.916, 250.917, and 250.918 of this subpart.
(b) Individuals or organizations acting as CVAs must not function in any capacity that would create a conflict
of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest.
(c) The CVA must consider the applicable provisions of the documents listed in § 250.901(a); the alternative
codes, rules, and standards approved under § 250.901(b); and the requirements of this subpart.
(d) The CVA is the primary contact with the Regional Supervisor and is directly responsible for providing
immediate reports of all incidents that affect the design, fabrication and installation of the platform.

§ 250.916 What are the CVA's primary duties during the design phase?
(a) The CVA must use good engineering judgment and practices in conducting an independent assessment
of the design of the platform, major modification, or repair. The CVA must ensure that the platform, major
modification, or repair is designed to withstand the environmental and functional load conditions
appropriate for the intended service life at the proposed location.
(b) Primary duties of the CVA during the design phase include the following:
Type of facility . . .

The CVA must . . .

(1) For fixed platforms and Conduct an independent assessment of all proposed:
non-ship-shaped floating
(i) Planning criteria;
facilities,
(ii) Operational requirements;
(iii) Environmental loading data;
(iv) Load determinations;
(v) Stress analyses;
(vi) Material designations;
(vii) Soil and foundation conditions;
(viii) Safety factors; and
(ix) Other pertinent parameters of the proposed design.
(2) For all floating
facilities,

Ensure that the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard for structural integrity
and stability, e.g., verification of center of gravity, etc., have been met. The
CVA must also consider:
(i) Drilling, production, and pipeline risers, and riser tensioning systems;
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation pilings and templates, and anchoring systems;
and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.

(c) The CVA must submit interim reports and a final report to the Regional Supervisor, and to you, during the
design phase in accordance with the approved schedule required by § 250.911(d). In each interim and
final report the CVA must:
(1) Provide a summary of the material reviewed and the CVA's findings;
30 CFR 250.916(c)(1) (enhanced display)

page 218 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.916(c)(2)

(2) In the final CVA report, make a recommendation that the Regional Supervisor either accept, request
modifications, or reject the proposed design unless such a recommendation has been previously
made in an interim report;
(3) Describe the particulars of how, by whom, and when the independent review was conducted; and
(4) Provide any additional comments the CVA deems necessary.

§ 250.917 What are the CVA's primary duties during the fabrication phase?
(a) The CVA must use good engineering judgment and practices in conducting an independent assessment
of the fabrication activities. The CVA must monitor the fabrication of the platform or major modification
to ensure that it has been built according to the approved design and the fabrication plan. If the CVA finds
that fabrication procedures are changed or design specifications are modified, the CVA must inform you.
If you accept the modifications, then the CVA must so inform the Regional Supervisor.
(b) Primary duties of the CVA during the fabrication phase include the following:
Type of facility . . .
(1) For all fixed platforms
and non-ship-shaped
floating facilities,

The CVA must . . .
Make periodic onsite inspections while fabrication is in progress and must
verify the following fabrication items, as appropriate:
(i) Quality control by lessee and builder;
(ii) Fabrication site facilities;
(iii) Material quality and identification methods;
(iv) Fabrication procedures specified in the approved plan, and adherence to
such procedures;
(v) Welder and welding procedure qualification and identification;
(vi) Structural tolerances specified and adherence to those tolerances;
(vii) The nondestructive examination requirements, and evaluation results of
the specified examinations;
(viii) Destructive testing requirements and results;
(ix) Repair procedures;
(x) Installation of corrosion-protection systems and splash-zone protection;
(xi) Erection procedures to ensure that overstressing of structural members
does not occur;
(xii) Alignment procedures;
(xiii) Dimensional check of the overall structure, including any turrets, turretand-hull interfaces, any mooring line and chain and riser tensioning line
segments; and
(xiv) Status of quality-control records at various stages of fabrication.

(2) For all floating
facilities,

Ensure that the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard floating for structural
integrity and stability, e.g., verification of center of gravity, etc., have been met.
The CVA must also consider:
(i) Drilling, production, and pipeline risers, and riser tensioning systems (at
least for the initial fabrication of these elements);
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull interfaces;

30 CFR 250.917(b) (enhanced display)

page 219 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Type of facility . . .

30 CFR 250.917(c)

The CVA must . . .
(iii) Foundation pilings and templates, and anchoring systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.

(c) The CVA must submit interim reports and a final report to the Regional Supervisor, and to you, during the
fabrication phase in accordance with the approved schedule required by § 250.911(d). In each interim and
final report the CVA must:
(1) Give details of how, by whom, and when the independent monitoring activities were conducted;
(2) Describe the CVA's activities during the verification process;
(3) Summarize the CVA's findings;
(4) Confirm or deny compliance with the design specifications and the approved fabrication plan;
(5) In the final CVA report, make a recommendation to accept or reject the fabrication unless such a
recommendation has been previously made in an interim report; and
(6) Provide any additional comments that the CVA deems necessary.

§ 250.918 What are the CVA's primary duties during the installation phase?
(a) The CVA must use good engineering judgment and practice in conducting an independent assessment of
the installation activities.
(b) Primary duties of the CVA during the installation phase include the following:
The CVA must . . .
(1) Verify, as appropriate,

Operation or equipment to be
inspected . . .
(i) Loadout and initial flotation
operations;
(ii) Towing operations to the
specified location, and review the
towing records;
(iii) Launching and uprighting
operations;
(iv) Submergence operations;
(v) Pile or anchor installations;
(vi) Installation of mooring and
tethering systems;
(vii) Final deck and component
installations; and
(viii) Installation at the approved
location according to the
approved design and the
installation plan.

(2) Witness (for a fixed or floating platform),

30 CFR 250.918(b) (enhanced display)

(i) The loadout of the jacket,
decks, piles, or structures from
each fabrication site;
page 220 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.918(c)

Operation or equipment to be
inspected . . .

The CVA must . . .

(ii) The actual installation of the
platform or major modification
and the related installation
activities.
(3) Witness (for a floating platform),

(i) The loadout of the platform;
(ii) The installation of drilling,
production, and pipeline risers,
and riser tensioning systems (at
least for the initial installation of
these elements);
(iii) The installation of turrets and
turret-and-hull interfaces;
(iv) The installation of foundation
pilings and templates, and
anchoring systems; and
(v) The installation of the mooring
and tethering systems.

(4) Conduct an onsite survey,

Survey the platform after
transportation to the approved
location.

(5) Spot-check as necessary to determine compliance with the
applicable documents listed in § 250.901(a); the alternative codes,
rules and standards approved under § 250.901(b); the requirements
listed in § 250.903 and §§ 250.906 through 250.908 of this subpart
and the approved plans,

(i) Equipment;
(ii) Procedures; and
(iii) Recordkeeping.

(c) The CVA must submit interim reports and a final report to the Regional Supervisor, and to you, during the
installation phase in accordance with the approved schedule required by § 250.911(d). In each interim
and final report the CVA must:
(1) Give details of how, by whom, and when the independent monitoring activities were conducted;
(2) Describe the CVA's activities during the verification process;
(3) Summarize the CVA's findings;
(4) Confirm or deny compliance with the approved installation plan;
(5) In the final report, make a recommendation to accept or reject the installation unless such a
recommendation has been previously made in an interim report; and
(6) Provide any additional comments that the CVA deems necessary.

INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND ASSESSMENT OF PLATFORMS

30 CFR 250.918(c)(6) (enhanced display)

page 221 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.919

§ 250.919 What in-service inspection requirements must I meet?
(a) You must submit a comprehensive in-service inspection report annually by November 1 to the Regional
Supervisor that must include:
(1) A list of fixed and floating platforms you inspected in the preceding 12 months;
(2) The extent and area of inspection for both the above-water and underwater portions of the platform
and the pertinent components of the mooring system for floating platforms;
(3) The type of inspection employed (e.g., visual, magnetic particle, ultrasonic testing);
(4) The overall structural condition of each platform, including a corrosion protection evaluation; and
(5) A summary of the inspection results indicating what repairs, if any, were needed.
(b) If any of your structures have been exposed to a natural occurrence (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, or
tropical storm), the Regional Supervisor may require you to submit an initial report of all structural
damage, followed by subsequent updates, which include the following:
(1) A list of affected structures;
(2) A timetable for conducting the inspections described in section 14.4.3 of API RP 2A–WSD (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198); and
(3) An inspection plan for each structure that describes the work you will perform to determine the
condition of the structure.
(c) The Regional Supervisor may also require you to submit the results of the inspections referred to in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section, including a description of any detected damage that may adversely affect
structural integrity, an assessment of the structure's ability to withstand any anticipated environmental
conditions, and any remediation plans. Under §§ 250.900(b)(3) and 250.905, you must obtain approval
from BSEE before you make major repairs of any damage unless you meet the requirements of §
250.900(c).

§ 250.920 What are the BSEE requirements for assessment of fixed platforms?
(a) You must document all wells, equipment, and pipelines supported by the platform if you intend to use
either the A–2 or A–3 assessment category. Assessment categories are defined in API RP 2A–WSD,
Section 17.3 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198). If BSEE objects to the assessment category you
used for your assessment, you may need to redesign and/or modify the platform to adequately
demonstrate that the platform is able to withstand the environmental loadings for the appropriate
assessment category.
(b) You must perform an analysis check when your platform will have additional personnel, additional topside
facilities, increased environmental or operational loading, inadequate deck height, or suffered significant
damage (e.g., experienced damage to primary structural members or conductor guide trays or global
structural integrity is adversely affected); or the exposure category changes to a more restrictive level
(see Sections 17.2.1 through 17.2.5 of API RP 2A–WSD, incorporated by reference in § 250.198, for a
description of assessment initiators).
(c) You must initiate mitigation actions for platforms that do not pass the assessment process of API RP
2A–WSD. You must submit applications for your mitigation actions (e.g., repair, modification,
decommissioning) to the Regional Supervisor for approval before you conduct the work.
30 CFR 250.920(c) (enhanced display)

page 222 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.920(d)

(d) The BSEE may require you to conduct a platform design basis check when the reduced environmental
loading criteria contained in API RP 2A–WSD Section 17.6 are not applicable.
(e) By November 1, 2009, you must submit a complete list of all the platforms you operate, together with all
the appropriate data to support the assessment category you assign to each platform and the platform
assessment initiators (as defined in API RP 2A–WSD) to the Regional Supervisor. You must submit
subsequent complete lists and the appropriate data to support the consequence-of-failure category every
5 years thereafter, or as directed by the Regional Supervisor.
(f) The use of Section 17, Assessment of Existing Platforms, of API RP 2A–WSD is limited to existing fixed
structures that are serving their original approved purpose. You must obtain approval from the Regional
Supervisor for any change in purpose of the platform, following the provisions of API RP 2A–WSD, Section
15, Re-use.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.921 How do I analyze my platform for cumulative fatigue?
(a) If you are required to analyze cumulative fatigue on your platform because of the results of an inspection
or platform assessment, you must ensure that the safety factors for critical elements listed in § 250.908
are met or exceeded.
(b) If the calculated life of a joint or member does not meet the criteria of § 250.908, you must either mitigate
the load, strengthen the joint or member, or develop an increased inspection process.

Subpart J—Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way
§ 250.1000 General requirements.
(a) Pipelines and associated valves, flanges, and fittings shall be designed, installed, operated, maintained,
and abandoned to provide safe and pollution-free transportation of fluids in a manner which does not
unduly interfere with other uses in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
(b) An application must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125 and submitted to
the Regional Supervisor and approval obtained before:
(1) Installation, modification, or abandonment of a lease term pipeline;
(2) Installation or modification of a right-of-way (other than lease term) pipeline; or
(3) Modification or relinquishment of a pipeline right-of way.
(c)
(1) Department of the Interior (DOI) pipelines, as defined in § 250.1001, must meet the requirements in
§§ 250.1000 through 250.1008.
(2) A pipeline right-of-way grant holder must identify in writing to the Regional Supervisor the operator of
any pipeline located on its right-of-way, if the operator is different from the right-of-way grant holder.
(3) A producing operator must identify for its own records, on all existing pipelines located on its lease
or right-of-way, the specific points at which operating responsibility transfers to a transporting
operator.
30 CFR 250.1000(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 223 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

(i)

30 CFR 250.1000(c)(3)(i)

Each producing operator must, if practical, durably mark all of its above-water transfer points as
of the date a pipeline begins service.

(ii) If it is not practical to durably mark a transfer point, and the transfer point is located above
water, then the operator must identify the transfer point on a schematic located on the facility.
(iii) If a transfer point is located below water, then the operator must identify the transfer point on a
schematic and provide the schematic to BSEE upon request.
(iv) If adjoining producing and transporting operators cannot agree on a transfer point, the BSEE
Regional Supervisor and the appropriate Department of Transportation (DOT) pipeline official
may jointly determine the transfer point.
(4) The transfer point serves as a regulatory boundary. An operator may request that the BSEE Regional
Supervisor grant an exception to this requirement for an individual facility or area. The Regional
Supervisor, in consultation with the appropriate DOT pipeline official and affected parties, may grant
the request.
(5) Pipeline segments designed, constructed, maintained, and operated under DOT regulations but
transferring to DOI regulation as of October 16, 1998, may continue to operate under DOT design and
construction requirements until significant modifications or repairs are made to those segments.
After October 16, 1998, BSEE operational and maintenance requirements will apply to those
segments.
(6) Any producer operating a pipeline that crosses into State waters without first connecting to a
transporting operator's facility on the OCS must comply with this subpart. Compliance must extend
from the point where hydrocarbons are first produced, through and including the last valve and
associated safety equipment (e.g., pressure safety sensors) on the last production facility on the
OCS.
(7) Any producer operating a pipeline that connects facilities on the OCS must comply with this subpart.
(8) Any operator of a pipeline that has a valve on the OCS downstream (landward) of the last production
facility may ask in writing that the BSEE Regional Supervisor recognize that valve as the last point
BSEE will exercise its regulatory authority.
(9) A pipeline segment is not subject to BSEE regulations for design, construction, operation, and
maintenance if:
(i)

It is downstream (generally shoreward) of the last valve and associated safety equipment on
the last production facility on the OCS; and

(ii) It is subject to regulation under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195.
(10) DOT may inspect all upstream safety equipment (including valves, over-pressure protection devices,
cathodic protection equipment, and pigging devices, etc.) that serve to protect the integrity of DOTregulated pipeline segments.
(11) OCS pipeline segments not subject to DOT regulation under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195 are subject to
all BSEE regulations.
(12) A producer may request that its pipeline operate under DOT regulations governing pipeline design,
construction, operation, and maintenance.

30 CFR 250.1000(c)(12) (enhanced display)

page 224 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

(i)

30 CFR 250.1000(c)(12)(i)

The operator's request must be in the form of a written petition to the BSEE Regional Supervisor
that states the justification for the pipeline to operate under DOT regulation.

(ii) The Regional Supervisor will decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to grant the operator's
request. In considering each petition, the Regional Supervisor will consult with the appropriate
DOT pipeline official.
(13) A transporter who operates a pipeline regulated by DOT may request to operate under BSEE
regulations governing pipeline operation and maintenance. Any subsequent repairs or modifications
will also be subject to BSEE regulations governing design and construction.
(i)

The operator's request must be in the form of a written petition to the appropriate DOT pipeline
official and the BSEE Regional Supervisor.

(ii) The BSEE Regional Supervisor and the appropriate DOT pipeline official will decide how to act
on this petition.
(d) A pipeline which qualifies as a right-of-way pipeline (see § 250.1001, Definitions) shall not be installed
until a right-of-way has been requested and granted in accordance with this subpart.
(e)
(1) The Regional Supervisor may suspend any pipeline operation upon a determination by the Regional
Supervisor that continued activity would threaten or result in serious, irreparable, or immediate harm
or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, mineral deposits, or the marine,
coastal, or human environment.
(2) The Regional Supervisor may also suspend pipeline operations or a right-of-way grant if the Regional
Supervisor determines that the lessee or right-of-way holder has failed to comply with a provision of
the Act or any other applicable law, a provision of these or other applicable regulations, or a
condition of a permit or right-of-way grant.
(3) The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) may cancel a pipeline permit or right-of-way grant in
accordance with 43 U.S.C. 1334(a)(2). A right-of-way grant may be forfeited in accordance with 43
U.S.C. 1334(e).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1001 Definitions.
Terms used in this subpart shall have the meanings given below:
DOI pipelines include:
(1) Producer-operated pipelines extending upstream (generally seaward) from each point on the OCS at
which operating responsibility transfers from a producing operator to a transporting operator;
(2) Producer-operated pipelines extending upstream (generally seaward) of the last valve (including
associated safety equipment) on the last production facility on the OCS that do not connect to a
transporter-operated pipeline on the OCS before crossing into State waters;
(3) Producer-operated pipelines connecting production facilities on the OCS;

30 CFR 250.1001 “DOI pipelines” (3) (enhanced display)

page 225 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1001 “DOI pipelines” (4)

(4) Transporter-operated pipelines that DOI and DOT have agreed are to be regulated as DOI pipelines;
and
(5) All OCS pipelines not subject to regulation under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195.
DOT pipelines include:
(1) Transporter-operated pipelines currently operated under DOT requirements governing design,
construction, maintenance, and operation;
(2) Producer-operated pipelines that DOI and DOT have agreed are to be regulated under DOT
requirements governing design, construction, maintenance, and operation; and
(3) Producer-operated pipelines downstream (generally shoreward) of the last valve (including
associated safety equipment) on the last production facility on the OCS that do not connect to a
transporter-operated pipeline on the OCS before crossing into State waters and that are regulated
under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195.
Lease term pipelines are those pipelines owned and operated by a lessee or operator and are wholly contained
within the boundaries of a single lease, unitized leases, or contiguous (not cornering) leases of that
lessee or operator.
Out-of-service pipelines are those pipelines that have not been used to transport oil, natural gas, sulfur, or
produced water for more than 30 consecutive days.
Pipelines are the piping, risers, and appurtenances installed for the purpose of transporting oil, gas, sulphur, and
produced water. (Piping confined to a production platform or structure is covered in Subpart H, Production
Safety Systems, and is excluded from this subpart.)
Production facilities means OCS facilities that receive hydrocarbon production either directly from wells or from
other facilities that produce hydrocarbons from wells. They may include processing equipment for
treating the production or separating it into its various liquid and gaseous components before
transporting it to shore.
Right-of-way pipelines are those pipelines which—
(1) Are contained within the boundaries of a single lease or group of unitized leases but are not owned
and operated by the lessee or operator of that lease or unit,
(2) Are contained within the boundaries of contiguous (not cornering) leases which do not have a
common lessee or operator,
(3) Are contained within the boundaries of contiguous (not cornering) leases which have a common
lessee or operator but are not owned and operated by that common lessee or operator, or
(4) Cross any portion of an unleased block(s).

§ 250.1002 Design requirements for DOI pipelines.
(a) The internal design pressure for steel pipe shall be determined in accordance with the following formula:

30 CFR 250.1002(a) (enhanced display)

page 226 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1002(b)

For limitations see section 841.121 of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B31.8 (as
incorporated by reference in § 250.198) where—
P = Internal design pressure in pounds per square inch (psi).
S = Specified minimum yield strength, in psi, stipulated in the specification under which the pipe was purchased
from the manufacturer or determined in accordance with section 811.253(h) of ANSI B31.8.
D = Nominal outside diameter of pipe, in inches.
t = Nominal wall thickness, in inches.
F = Construction design factor of 0.72 for the submerged component and 0.60 for the riser component.
E = Longitudinal joint factor obtained from Table 841.1B of ANSI B31.8 (see also section 811.253(d)).
T = Temperature derating factor obtained from Table 841.1C of ANSI B31.8.
(b)
(1) Pipeline valves shall meet the minimum design requirements of ANSI/API Spec 6A (as incorporated
by reference in § 250.198), ANSI/API Spec 6D (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), or the
equivalent. A valve may not be used under operating conditions that exceed the applicable pressuretemperature ratings contained in those standards.
(2) Pipeline flanges and flange accessories shall meet the minimum design requirements of ANSI/ASME
B16.5, ANSI/API Spec 6A, or the equivalent (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198). Each flange
assembly must be able to withstand the maximum pressure at which the pipeline is to be operated
and to maintain its physical and chemical properties at any temperature to which it is anticipated
that it might be subjected in service.
(3) Pipeline fittings shall have pressure-temperature ratings based on stresses for pipe of the same or
equivalent material. The actual bursting strength of the fitting shall at least be equal to the computed
bursting strength of the pipe.
(4) If you are installing pipelines constructed of unbonded flexible pipe, you must design them according
to the standards and procedures of ANSI/API Spec. 17J, as incorporated by reference in § 250.198.
(5) You must design pipeline risers for tension leg platforms and other floating platforms according to
the design standards of API RP 2RD, Design of Risers for Floating Production Systems (FPSs) and
Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs) (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(c) The maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) shall not exceed the least of the following:
(1) Internal design pressure of the pipeline, valves, flanges, and fittings;
(2) Eighty percent of the hydrostatic pressure test (HPT) pressure of the pipeline; or
(3) If applicable, the MAOP of the receiving pipeline when the proposed pipeline and the receiving
pipeline are connected at a subsea tie-in.

30 CFR 250.1002(c)(3) (enhanced display)

page 227 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1002(d)

(d) If the maximum source pressure (MSP) exceeds the pipeline's MAOP, you must install and maintain
redundant safety devices meeting the requirements of section A9 of API RP 14C (as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198). Pressure safety valves (PSV) may be used only after a determination by the
Regional Supervisor that the pressure will be relieved in a safe and pollution-free manner. The setting level
at which the primary and redundant safety equipment actuates shall not exceed the pipeline's MAOP.
(e) Pipelines shall be provided with an external protective coating capable of minimizing underfilm corrosion
and a cathodic protection system designed to mitigate corrosion for at least 20 years.
(f) Pipelines shall be designed and maintained to mitigate any reasonably anticipated detrimental effects of
water currents, storm or ice scouring, soft bottoms, mud slides, earthquakes, subfreezing temperatures,
and other environmental factors.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 83 FR 49263, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.1003 Installation, testing, and repair requirements for DOI pipelines.
(a)
(1) Pipelines greater than 85⁄8 inches in diameter and installed in water depths of less than 200 feet shall
be buried to a depth of at least 3 feet unless they are located in pipeline congested areas or
seismically active areas as determined by the Regional Supervisor. Nevertheless, the Regional
Supervisor may require burial of any pipeline if the Regional Supervisor determines that such burial
will reduce the likelihood of environmental degradation or that the pipeline may constitute a hazard
to trawling operations or other uses. A trawl test or diver survey may be required to determine
whether or not pipeline burial is necessary or to determine whether a pipeline has been properly
buried.
(2) Pipeline valves, taps, tie-ins, capped lines, and repaired sections that could be obstructive shall be
provided with at least 3 feet of cover unless the Regional Supervisor determines that such items
present no hazard to trawling or other operations. A protective device may be used to cover an
obstruction in lieu of burial if it is approved by the Regional Supervisor prior to installation.
(3) Pipelines shall be installed with a minimum separation of 18 inches at pipeline crossings and from
obstructions.
(4) Pipeline risers installed after April 1, 1988, shall be protected from physical damage that could result
from contact with floating vessels. Riser protection on pipelines installed on or before April 1, 1988,
may be required when the Regional Supervisor determines that significant damage potential exists.
(b)
(1) Pipelines shall be pressure tested with water at a stabilized pressure of at least 1.25 times the MAOP
for at least 8 hours when installed, relocated, uprated, or reactivated after being out-of-service for
more than 1 year.
(2) Prior to returning a pipeline to service after a repair, the pipeline shall be pressure tested with water
or processed natural gas at a minimum stabilized pressure of at least 1.25 times the MAOP for at
least 2 hours.
(3) Pipelines shall not be pressure tested at a pressure which produces a stress in the pipeline in excess
of 95 percent of the specified minimum-yield strength of the pipeline. A temperature recorder
measuring test fluid temperature synchronized with a pressure recorder along with deadweight test
30 CFR 250.1003(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 228 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1003(b)(4)

readings shall be employed for all pressure testing. When a pipeline is pressure tested, no
observable leakage shall be allowed. Pressure gauges and recorders shall be of sufficient accuracy
to verify that leakage is not occurring.
(4) The Regional Supervisor may require pressure testing of pipelines to verify the integrity of the system
when the Regional Supervisor determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that the line has been
damaged or weakened by external or internal conditions.
(c) When a pipeline is repaired utilizing a clamp, the clamp shall be a full encirclement clamp able to
withstand the anticipated pipeline pressure.

§ 250.1004 Safety equipment requirements for DOI pipelines.
(a) The lessee shall ensure the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of safety devices required by
this section on all incoming, departing, and crossing pipelines on platforms.
(b)
(1)
(i)

Incoming pipelines to a platform shall be equipped with a flow safety valve (FSV).

(ii) For sulphur operations, incoming pipelines delivering gas to the power plant platform may be
equipped with high- and low-pressure sensors (PSHL), which activate audible and visual alarms
in lieu of requirements in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section. The PSHL shall be set at 15 percent
or 5 psi, whichever is greater, above and below the normal operating pressure range.
(2) Incoming pipelines boarding a production platform shall be equipped with an automatic shutdown
valve (SDV) immediately upon boarding the platform. The SDV shall be connected to the automaticand remote-emergency shut-in systems.
(3) Departing pipelines receiving production from production facilities shall be protected by high- and
low-pressure sensors (PSHL) to directly or indirectly shut in all production facilities. The PSHL shall
be set not to exceed 15 percent above and below the normal operating pressure range. However,
high pilots shall not be set above the pipeline's MAOP.
(4) Crossing pipelines on production or manned nonproduction platforms which do not receive
production from the platform shall be equipped with an SDV immediately upon boarding the
platform. The SDV shall be operated by a PSHL on the departing pipelines and connected to the
platform automatic- and remote-emergency shut-in systems.
(5) The Regional Supervisor may require that oil pipelines be equipped with a metering system to
provide a continuous volumetric comparison between the input to the line at the structure(s) and the
deliveries onshore. The system shall include an alarm system and shall be of adequate sensitivity to
detect variations between input and discharge volumes. In lieu of the foregoing, a system capable of
detecting leaks in the pipeline may be substituted with the approval of the Regional Supervisor.
(6) Pipelines incoming to a subsea tie-in shall be equipped with a block valve and an FSV. Bidirectional
pipelines connected to a subsea tie-in shall be equipped with only a block valve.
(7) Gas-lift or water-injection pipelines on unmanned platforms need only be equipped with an FSV
installed immediately upstream of each casing annulus or the first inlet valve on the christmas tree.
(8) Bidirectional pipelines shall be equipped with a PSHL and an SDV immediately upon boarding each
platform.
30 CFR 250.1004(b)(8) (enhanced display)

page 229 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1004(b)(9)

(9) Pipeline pumps must comply with section A7 of API RP 14C (as incorporated by reference in §
250.198). The setting levels for the PSHL devices are specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(c) If the required safety equipment is rendered ineffective or removed from service on pipelines which are
continued in operation, an equivalent degree of safety shall be provided. The safety equipment shall be
identified by the placement of a sign on the equipment stating that the equipment is rendered ineffective
or removed from service.

§ 250.1005 Inspection requirements for DOI pipelines.
(a) Pipeline routes shall be inspected at time intervals and methods prescribed by the Regional Supervisor for
indication of pipeline leakage. The results of these inspections shall be retained for at least 2 years and
be made available to the Regional Supervisor upon request.
(b) When pipelines are protected by rectifiers or anodes for which the initial life expectancy of the cathodic
protection system either cannot be calculated or calculations indicate a life expectancy of less than 20
years, such pipelines shall be inspected annually by taking measurements of pipe-to-electrolyte potential.

§ 250.1006 How must I decommission and take out of service a DOI pipeline?
(a) The requirements for decommissioning pipelines are listed in § 250.1750 through § 250.1754.
(b) The table in this section lists the requirements if you take a DOI pipeline out of service:
If you have the pipeline out of
service for:

Then you must:

(1) 1 year or less,

Isolate the pipeline with a blind flange or a closed block valve at each
end of the pipeline.

(2) More than 1 year but less
than 5 years,

Flush and fill the pipeline with inhibited seawater.

(3) 5 or more years,

Decommission the pipeline according to §§ 250.1750–250.1754.

§ 250.1007 What to include in applications.
(a) Applications to install a lease term pipeline or for a pipeline right-of-way grant must be submitted in
quadruplicate to the Regional Supervisor. Right-of-way grant applications must include an identification of
the operator of the pipeline. Each application must include the following:
(1) Plat(s) drawn to a scale specified by the Regional Supervisor showing major features and other
pertinent data including area, lease, and block designations; water depths; route; length in Federal
waters; width of right-of-way, if applicable; connecting facilities; size; product(s) to be transported
with anticipated gravity or density; burial depth; direction of flow; X–Y coordinates of key points; and
the location of other pipelines that will be connected to or crossed by the proposed pipeline(s). The
initial and terminal points of the pipeline and any continuation into State jurisdiction shall be
accurately located even if the pipeline is to have an onshore terminal point. A plat(s) submitted for a
pipeline right-of-way shall bear a signed certificate upon its face by the engineer who made the map
that certifies that the right-of-way is accurately represented upon the map and that the design
characteristics of the associated pipeline are in accordance with applicable regulations.

30 CFR 250.1007(a)(1) (enhanced display)

page 230 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1007(a)(2)

(2) A schematic drawing showing the size, weight, grade, wall thickness, and type of line pipe and risers;
pressure-regulating devices (including back-pressure regulators); sensing devices with associated
pressure-control lines; PSV's and settings; SDV's, FSV's, and block valves; and manifolds. This
schematic drawing shall also show input source(s), e.g., wells, pumps, compressors, and vessels;
maximum input pressure(s); the rated working pressure, as specified by ANSI or API, of all valves,
flanges, and fittings; the initial receiving equipment and its rated working pressure; and associated
safety equipment and pig launchers and receivers. The schematic must indicate the point on the
OCS at which operating responsibility transfers between a producing operator and a transporting
operator.
(3) General information as follows:
(i)

Description of cathodic protection system. If pipeline anodes are to be used, specify the type,
size, weight, number, spacing, and anticipated life;

(ii) Description of external pipeline coating system;
(iii) Description of internal protective measures;
(iv) Specific gravity of the empty pipe;
(v) MSP;
(vi) MAOP and calculations used in its determination;
(vii) Hydrostatic test pressure, medium, and period of time that the line will be tested;
(viii) MAOP of the receiving pipeline or facility,
(ix) Proposed date for commencing installation and estimated time for construction; and
(x) Type of protection to be afforded crossing pipelines, subsea valves, taps, and manifold
assemblies, if applicable.
(4) A description of any additional design precautions you took to enable the pipeline to withstand the
effects of water currents, storm or ice scouring, soft bottoms, mudslides, earthquakes, permafrost,
and other environmental factors.
(i)

If you propose to use unbonded flexible pipe, your application must include:
(A) The manufacturer's design specification sheet;
(B) The design pressure (psi);
(C) An identification of the design standards you used; and
(D) A review by a third-party independent verification agent (IVA) according to ANSI/API Spec.
17J (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), if applicable.

(ii) If you propose to use one or more pipeline risers for a tension leg platform or other floating
platform, your application must include:
(A) The design fatigue life of the riser, with calculations, and the fatigue point at which you
would replace the riser;
(B) The results of your vortex-induced vibration (VIV) analysis;
(C) An identification of the design standards you used; and
30 CFR 250.1007(a)(4)(ii)(C) (enhanced display)

page 231 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1007(a)(4)(ii)(D)

(D) A description of any necessary mitigation measures such as the use of helical strakes or
anchoring devices.
(5) The application shall include a shallow hazards survey report and, if required by the Regional
Director, an archaeological resource report that covers the entire length of the pipeline. A shallow
hazards analysis may be included in a lease term pipeline application in lieu of the shallow hazards
survey report with the approval of the Regional Director. The Regional Director may require the
submission of the data upon which the report or analysis is based.
(b) Applications to modify an approved lease term pipeline or right-of-way grant shall be submitted in
quadruplicate to the Regional Supervisor. These applications need only address those items in the original
application affected by the proposed modification.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 83 FR 49263, Sept. 28, 2018]

§ 250.1008 Reports.
(a) The lessee, or right-of-way holder, shall notify the Regional Supervisor at least 48 hours prior to
commencing the installation or relocation of a pipeline or conducting a pressure test on a pipeline.
(b) The lessee or right-of-way holder shall submit a report to the Regional Supervisor within 90 days after
completion of any pipeline construction. The report, submitted in triplicate, shall include an “as-built”
location plat drawn to a scale specified by the Regional Supervisor showing the location, length in Federal
waters, and X–Y coordinates of key points; the completion date; the proposed date of first operation; and
the HPT data. Pipeline right-of-way “as-built” location plats shall be certified by a registered engineer or
land surveyor and show the boundaries of the right-of-way as granted. If there is a substantial deviation of
the pipeline route as granted in the right-of-way, the report shall include a discussion of the reasons for
such deviation.
(c) The lessee or right-of-way holder shall report to the Regional Supervisor any pipeline taken out of service.
If the period of time in which the pipeline is out of service is greater than 60 days, written confirmation is
also required.
(d) The lessee or right-of-way holder shall report to the Regional Supervisor when any required pipeline safety
equipment is taken out of service for more than 12 hours. The Regional Supervisor shall be notified when
the equipment is returned to service.
(e) The lessee or right-of-way holder must notify the Regional Supervisor before the repair of any pipeline or
as soon as practicable. Your notification must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in §
250.125. You must submit a detailed report of the repair of a pipeline or pipeline component to the
Regional Supervisor within 30 days after the completion of the repairs. In the report you must include the
following:
(1) Description of repairs;
(2) Results of pressure test; and
(3) Date returned to service.
(f) The Regional Supervisor may require that DOI pipeline failures be analyzed and that samples of a failed
section be examined in a laboratory to assist in determining the cause of the failure. A comprehensive
written report of the information obtained shall be submitted by the lessee to the Regional Supervisor as
soon as available.
30 CFR 250.1008(f) (enhanced display)

page 232 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1008(g)

(g) If the effects of scouring, soft bottoms, or other environmental factors are observed to be detrimentally
affecting a pipeline, a plan of corrective action shall be submitted to the Regional Supervisor for approval
within 30 days of the observation. A report of the remedial action taken shall be submitted to the Regional
Supervisor by the lessee or right-of-way holder within 30 days after completion.
(h) The results and conclusions of measurements of pipe-to-electrolyte potential measurements taken
annually on DOI pipelines in accordance with § 250.1005(b) of this part shall be submitted to the Regional
Supervisor by the lessee before March of each year.

§ 250.1009 Requirements to obtain pipeline right-of-way grants.
(a) In addition to applicable requirements of §§ 250.1000 through 250.1008 and other regulations of this part,
regulations of the Department of Transportation, Department of the Army, and the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC), when a pipeline qualifies as a right-of-way pipeline, the pipeline shall not
be installed until a right-of-way has been requested and granted in accordance with this subpart. The
right-of-way grant is issued pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1334(e) and may be acquired and held only by citizens
and nationals of the United States; aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States
as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20); private, public, or municipal corporations organized under the laws of
the United States or territory thereof, the District of Columbia, or of any State; or associations of such
citizens, nationals, resident aliens, or private, public, or municipal corporations, States, or political
subdivisions of States.
(b) A right-of-way shall include the site on which the pipeline and associated structures are to be situated,
shall not exceed 200 feet in width unless safety and environmental factors during construction and
operation of the associated right-of-way pipeline require a greater width, and shall be limited to the area
reasonably necessary for pumping stations or other accessory structures.

§ 250.1010 General requirements for pipeline right-of-way holders.
An applicant, by accepting a right-of-way grant, agrees to comply with the following requirements:
(a) The right-of-way holder shall comply with applicable laws and regulations and the terms of the grant.
(b) The granting of the right-of-way shall be subject to the express condition that the rights granted shall not
prevent or interfere in any way with the management, administration, or the granting of other rights by the
United States, either prior or subsequent to the granting of the right-of-way. Moreover, the holder agrees to
allow the occupancy and use by the United States, its lessees, or other right-of-way holders, of any part of
the right-of-way grant not actually occupied or necessarily incident to its use for any necessary operations
involved in the management, administration, or the enjoyment of such other granted rights.
(c) If the right-of-way holder discovers any archaeological resource while conducting operations within the
right-of-way, the right-of-way holder shall immediately halt operations within the area of the discovery and
report the discovery to the Regional Director. If investigations determine that the resource is significant,
the Regional Director will inform the right-of-way holder how to protect it.
(d) The Regional Supervisor shall be kept informed at all times of the right-of-way holder's address and, if a
corporation, the address of its principal place of business and the name and address of the officer or
agent authorized to be served with process.

30 CFR 250.1010(d) (enhanced display)

page 233 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1010(e)

(e) The right-of-way holder shall pay the United States or its lessees or right-of-way holders, as the case may
be, the full value of all damages to the property of the United States or its said lessees or right-of-way
holders and shall indemnify the United States against any and all liability for damages to life, person, or
property arising from the occupation and use of the area covered by the right-of-way grant.
(f)
(1) The holder of a right-of-way oil or gas pipeline shall transport or purchase oil or natural gas produced
from submerged lands in the vicinity of the pipeline without discrimination and in such proportionate
amounts as the FERC may, after a full hearing with due notice thereof to the interested parties,
determine to be reasonable, taking into account, among other things, conservation and the
prevention of waste.
(2) Unless otherwise exempted by FERC pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1334(f)(2), the holder shall:
(i)

Provide open and nondiscriminatory access to a right-of-way pipeline to both owner and
nonowner shippers, and

(ii) Comply with the provisions of 43 U.S.C. 1334(f)(1)(B) under which FERC may order an
expansion of the throughput capacity of a right-of-way pipeline which is approved after
September 18, 1978, and which is not located in the Gulf of Mexico or the Santa Barbara
Channel.
(g) The area covered by a right-of-way and all improvements thereon shall be kept open at all reasonable
times for inspection by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The right-of-way
holder shall make available all records relative to the design, construction, operation, maintenance and
repair, and investigations on or with regard to such area.
(h) Upon relinquishment, forfeiture, or cancellation of a right-of-way grant, the right-of-way holder shall
remove all platforms, structures, domes over valves, pipes, taps, and valves along the right-of-way. All of
these improvements shall be removed by the holder within 1 year of the effective date of the
relinquishment, forfeiture, or cancellation unless this requirement is waived in writing by the Regional
Supervisor. All such improvements not removed within the time provided herein shall become the property
of the United States but that shall not relieve the holder of liability for the cost of their removal or for
restoration of the site. Furthermore, the holder is responsible for accidents or damages which might occur
as a result of failure to timely remove improvements and equipment and restore a site. An application for
relinquishment of a right-of-way grant shall be filed in accordance with § 250.1019 of this part.

§ 250.1011 [Reserved]
§ 250.1012 Required payments for pipeline right-of-way holders.
(a) You must pay ONRR, under the regulations at 30 CFR part 1218, an annual rental of $15 for each statute
mile, or part of a statute mile, of the OCS that your pipeline right-of-way crosses.
(b) This paragraph applies to you if you obtain a pipeline right-of-way that includes a site for an accessory to
the pipeline, including but not limited to a platform. This paragraph also applies if you apply to modify a
right-of-way to change the site footprint. In either case, you must pay the amounts shown in the following
table.
If . . .
(1) Your accessory

Then . . .
You must pay ONRR, under the regulations at 30 CFR part 1218, a rental of $5 per

30 CFR 250.1012(b) (enhanced display)

page 234 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If . . .

30 CFR 250.1012(c)

Then . . .

site is located in
water depths of less
than 200 meters;

acre per year with a minimum of $450 per year. The area subject to annual rental
includes the areal extent of anchor chains, pipeline risers, and other facilities and
devices associated with the accessory.

(2) Your accessory
site is located in
water depths of 200
meters or greater;

You must pay ONRR, under the regulations at 30 CFR part 1218, a rental of $7.50
per acre per year with a minimum of $675 per year. The area subject to annual
rental includes the areal extent of anchor chains, pipeline risers, and other facilities
and devices associated with the accessory.

(c) If you hold a pipeline right-of-way that includes a site for an accessory to your pipeline and you are not
covered by paragraph (b) of this section, then you must pay ONRR, under the regulations at 30 CFR part
1218, an annual rental of $75 for use of the affected area.
(d) You may make the rental payments required by paragraphs (a), (b)(1), (b)(2), and (c) of this section on an
annual basis, for a 5-year period, or for multiples of 5 years. You must make the first payment at the time
you submit the pipeline right-of-way application. You must make all subsequent payments before the
respective time periods begin.
(e) Late payments. An interest charge will be assessed on unpaid and underpaid amounts from the date the
amounts are due, in accordance with the provisions found in 30 CFR 1218.54. If you fail to make a
payment that is late after written notice from ONRR, BSEE may initiate cancellation of the right-of-use
grant and easement under § 250.1013.

§ 250.1013 Grounds for forfeiture of pipeline right-of-way grants.
Failure to comply with the Act, regulations, or any conditions of the right-of-way grant prescribed by the Regional
Supervisor shall be grounds for forfeiture of the grant in an appropriate judicial proceeding instituted by the United
States in any U.S. District Court having jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of 43 U.S.C. 1349.

§ 250.1014 When pipeline right-of-way grants expire.
Any right-of-way granted under the provisions of this subpart remains in effect as long as the associated pipeline is
properly maintained and used for the purpose for which the grant was made, unless otherwise expressly stated in
the grant. Temporary cessation or suspension of pipeline operations shall not cause the grant to expire. However, if
the purpose of the grant ceases to exist or use of the associated pipeline is permanently discontinued for any
reason, the grant shall be deemed to have expired.

§ 250.1015 Applications for pipeline right-of-way grants.
(a) You must submit an original and three copies of an application for a new or modified pipeline ROW grant
to the Regional Supervisor. The application must address those items required by § 250.1007(a) or (b) of
this subpart, as applicable. It must also state the primary purpose for which you will use the ROW grant. If
the ROW has been used before the application is made, the application must state the date such use
began, by whom, and the date the applicant obtained control of the improvement. When you file your
application, you must pay the rental required under § 250.1012 of this subpart, as well as the service fees
listed in § 250.125 of this part for a pipeline ROW grant to install a new pipeline, or to convert an existing
lease term pipeline into a ROW pipeline. An application to modify an approved ROW grant must be
accompanied by the additional rental required under § 250.1012 if applicable. You must file a separate
application for each ROW.
30 CFR 250.1015(a) (enhanced display)

page 235 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1015(b)

(b)
(1) An individual applicant shall submit a statement of citizenship or nationality with the application. An
applicant who is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States shall also
submit evidence of such status with the application.
(2) If the applicant is an association (including a partnership), the application shall also be accompanied
by a certified copy of the articles of association or appropriate reference to a copy of such articles
already filed with BSEE and a statement as to any subsequent amendments.
(3) If the applicant is a corporation, the application shall also include the following:
(i)

A statement certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the corporation with the
corporate seal showing the State in which it is incorporated and the name of the person(s)
authorized to act on behalf of the corporation, or

(ii) In lieu of such a statement, an appropriate reference to statements or records previously
submitted to BSEE (including material submitted in compliance with prior regulations).
(c) The application shall include a list of every lessee and right-of-way holder whose lease or right-of-way is
intersected by the proposed right-of-way. The application shall also include a statement that a copy of the
application has been sent by registered or certified mail to each such lessee or right-of-way holder.
(d) The applicant shall include in the application an original and three copies of a completed
Nondiscrimination in Employment form (YN 3341–1 dated July 1982). These forms are available at each
BSEE regional office.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1016 Granting pipeline rights-of-way.
(a) In considering an application for a right-of-way, the Regional Supervisor shall consider the potential effect
of the associated pipeline on the human, marine, and coastal environments, life (including aquatic life),
property, and mineral resources in the entire area during construction and operational phases. The
Regional Supervisor shall prepare an environmental analysis in accordance with applicable policies and
guidelines. To aid in the evaluation and determinations, the Regional Supervisor may request and consider
views and recommendations of appropriate Federal Agencies, hold public meetings after appropriate
notice, and consult, as appropriate, with State agencies, organizations, industries, and individuals. Before
granting a pipeline right-of-way, the Regional Supervisor shall give consideration to any recommendation
by the intergovernmental planning program, or similar process, for the assessment and management of
OCS oil and gas transportation.
(b) Should the proposed route of a right-of-way adjoin and subsequently cross any State submerged lands,
the applicant shall submit evidence to the Regional Supervisor that the State(s) so affected has reviewed
the application. The applicant shall also submit any comment received as a result of that review. In the
event of a State recommendation to relocate the proposed route, the Regional Supervisor may consult
with the appropriate State officials.
(c)
(1) The applicant shall submit photocopies of return receipts to the Regional Supervisor that indicate the
date that each lessee or right-of-way holder referenced in § 250.1015(c) of this part has received a
copy of the application. Letters of no objection may be submitted in lieu of the return receipts.
30 CFR 250.1016(c)(1) (enhanced display)

page 236 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1016(c)(2)

(2) The Regional Supervisor shall not take final action on a right-of-way application until the Regional
Supervisor is satisfied that each such lessee or right-of-way holder has been afforded at least 30
days from the date determined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section in which to submit comments.
(d) If a proposed right-of-way crosses any lands not subject to disposition by mineral leasing or restricted
from oil and gas activities, it shall be rejected by the Regional Supervisor unless the Federal Agency with
jurisdiction over such excluded or restricted area gives its consent to the granting of the right-of-way. In
such case, the applicant, upon a request filed within 30 days after receipt of the notification of such
rejection, shall be allowed an opportunity to eliminate the conflict.
(e)
(1) If the application and other required information are found to be in compliance with applicable laws
and regulations, the right-of-way may be granted. The Regional Supervisor may prescribe, as
conditions to the right-of-way grant, stipulations necessary to protect human, marine, and coastal
environments, life (including aquatic life), property, and mineral resources located on or adjacent to
the right-of-way.
(2) If the Regional Supervisor determines that a change in the application should be made, the Regional
Supervisor shall notify the applicant that an amended application shall be filed subject to stipulated
changes. The Regional Supervisor shall determine whether the applicant shall deliver copies of the
amended application to other parties for comment.
(3) A decision to reject an application shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for the rejection.

§ 250.1017 Requirements for construction under pipeline right-of-way grants.
(a) Failure to construct the associated right-of-way pipeline within 5 years of the date of the granting of a
right-of-way shall cause the grant to expire.
(b)
(1) A right-of-way holder shall ensure that the right-of-way pipeline is constructed in a manner that
minimizes deviations from the right-of-way as granted.
(2) If, after constructing the right-of-way pipeline, it is determined that a deviation from the proposed
right-of-way as granted has occurred, the right-of-way holder shall—
(i)

Notify the operators of all leases and holders of all right-of-way grants in which a deviation has
occurred, and within 60 days of the date of the acceptance by the Regional Supervisor of the
completion of pipeline construction report, provide the Regional Supervisor with evidence of
such notification; and

(ii) Relinquish any unused portion of the right-of-way.
(3) Substantial deviation of a right-of-way pipeline as constructed from the proposed right-of-way as
granted may be grounds for forfeiture of the right-of-way.
(c) If the Regional Supervisor determines that a significant change in conditions has occurred subsequent to
the granting of a right-of-way but prior to the commencement of construction of the associated pipeline,
the Regional Supervisor may suspend or temporarily prohibit the commencement of construction until the
right-of-way grant is modified to the extent necessary to address the changed conditions.

30 CFR 250.1017(c) (enhanced display)

page 237 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1018

§ 250.1018 Assignment of pipeline right-of-way grants.
(a) Assignment may be made of a right-of-way grant, in whole or of any lineal segment thereof, subject to the
approval of the Regional Supervisor. An application for approval of an assignment of a right-of-way or of a
lineal segment thereof, shall be filed in triplicate with the Regional Supervisor.
(b) Any application for approval for an assignment, in whole or in part, of any right, title, or interest in a rightof-way grant must be accompanied by the same showing of qualifications of the assignees as is required
of an applicant for a ROW in § 250.1015 of this subpart and must be supported by a statement that the
assignee agrees to comply with and to be bound by the terms and conditions of the ROW grant. The
assignee must satisfy the bonding requirements in 30 CFR 550.1011. No transfer will be recognized
unless and until it is first approved, in writing, by the Regional Supervisor. The assignee must pay the
service fee listed in § 250.125 of this part for a pipeline ROW assignment request.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1019 Relinquishment of pipeline right-of-way grants.
A right-of-way grant or a portion thereof may be surrendered by the holder by filing a written relinquishment in
triplicate with the Regional Supervisor. It must contain those items addressed in §§ 250.1751 and 250.1752 of this
part. A relinquishment shall take effect on the date it is filed subject to the satisfaction of all outstanding debts,
fees, or fines and the requirements in § 250.1010(h) of this part.

Subpart K—Oil and Gas Production Requirements
GENERAL
§ 250.1150 What are the general reservoir production requirements?
You must produce wells and reservoirs at rates that provide for economic development while maximizing ultimate
recovery and without adversely affecting correlative rights.

WELL TESTS AND SURVEYS

30 CFR 250.1150 (enhanced display)

page 238 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1151

§ 250.1151 How often must I conduct well production tests?
(a) You must conduct well production tests as shown in the following table:
You must conduct:

And you must submit to the Regional Supervisor:

(1) A well-flow potential test on all new,
recompleted, or reworked well completions
within 30 days of the date of first continuous
production,

Form BSEE–0126, Well Potential Test Report, along with
the supporting data as listed in the table in § 250.1167,
within 15 days after the end of the test period.

(2) At least one well test during a calendar
half-year for each producing completion,

Results on Form BSEE–0128, Semiannual Well Test
Report, of the most recent well test obtained. This must
be submitted within 45 days after the end of the calendar
half-year.

(b) You may request an extension from the Regional Supervisor if you cannot submit the results of a
semiannual well test within the specified time.
(c) You must submit to the Regional Supervisor an original and two copies of the appropriate form required
by paragraph (a) of this section; one of the copies of the form must be a public information copy in
accordance with §§ 250.186 and 250.197, and marked “Public Information.” You must submit two copies
of the supporting information as listed in the table in § 250.1167 with form BSEE–0126.

§ 250.1152 How do I conduct well tests?
(a) When you conduct well tests you must:
(1) Recover fluid from the well completion equivalent to the amount of fluid introduced into the
formation during completion, recompletion, reworking, or treatment operations before you start a
well test;
(2) Produce the well completion under stabilized rate conditions for at least 6 consecutive hours before
beginning the test period;
(3) Conduct the test for at least 4 consecutive hours;
(4) Adjust measured gas volumes to the standard conditions of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute
(psia) and 60 °F for all tests; and
(5) Use measured specific gravity values to calculate gas volumes.
(b) You may request approval from the Regional Supervisor to conduct a well test using alternative
procedures if you can demonstrate test reliability under those procedures.
(c) The Regional Supervisor may also require you to conduct the following tests and complete them within a
specified time period:
(1) A retest or a prolonged test of a well completion if it is determined to be necessary for the proper
establishment of a Maximum Production Rate (MPR) or a Maximum Efficient Rate (MER); and
(2) A multipoint back-pressure test to determine the theoretical open-flow potential of a gas well.
(d) A BSEE representative may witness any well test. Upon request, you must provide advance notice to the
Regional Supervisor of the times and dates of well tests.
30 CFR 250.1152(d) (enhanced display)

page 239 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1153-250.1155

§§ 250.1153-250.1155 [Reserved]
APPROVALS PRIOR TO PRODUCTION
§ 250.1156 What steps must I take to receive approval to produce within 500 feet of a unit or
lease line?
(a) You must obtain approval from the Regional Supervisor before you start producing from a reservoir within
a well that has any portion of the completed interval less than 500 feet from a unit or lease line. Submit to
BSEE the service fee listed in § 250.125, according to the instructions in § 250.126, and the supporting
information, as listed in the table in § 250.1167, with your request. The Regional Supervisor will determine
whether approval of your request will maximize ultimate recovery, avoid the waste of natural resources, or
protect correlative rights. You do not need to obtain approval if the adjacent leases or units have the same
unit, lease (record title and operating rights), and royalty interests as the lease or unit you plan to produce.
You do not need to obtain approval if the adjacent block is unleased.
(b) You must notify the operator(s) of adjacent property(ies) that are within 500 feet of the completion, if the
adjacent acreage is a leased block in the Federal OCS. You must provide the Regional Supervisor proof of
the date of the notification. The operators of the adjacent properties have 30 days after receiving the
notification to provide the Regional Supervisor letters of acceptance or objection. If an adjacent operator
does not respond within 30 days, the Regional Supervisor will presume there are no objections and
proceed with a decision. The notification must include:
(1) The well name;
(2) The rectangular coordinates (x, y) of the location of the top and bottom of the completion or target
completion referenced to the North American Datum 1983, and the subsea depths of the top and
bottom of the completion or target completion;
(3) The distance from the completion or target completion to the unit or lease line at its nearest point;
and
(4) A statement indicating whether or not it will be a high-capacity completion having a perforated or
open hole interval greater than 150 feet measured depth.

§ 250.1157 How do I receive approval to produce gas-cap gas from an oil reservoir with an
associated gas cap?
(a) You must request and receive approval from the Regional Supervisor:
(1) Before producing gas-cap gas from each completion in an oil reservoir that is known to have an
associated gas cap.
(2) To continue production from a well if the oil reservoir is not initially known to have an associated gas
cap, but the oil well begins to show characteristics of a gas well.
(b) For either request, you must submit the service fee listed in § 250.125, according to the instructions in §
250.126, and the supporting information, as listed in the table in § 250.1167, with your request.
(c) The Regional Supervisor will determine whether your request maximizes ultimate recovery.

30 CFR 250.1157(c) (enhanced display)

page 240 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1158

§ 250.1158 How do I receive approval to downhole commingle hydrocarbons?
(a) Before you perforate a well, you must request and receive approval from the Regional Supervisor to
commingle hydrocarbons produced from multiple reservoirs within a common wellbore. The Regional
Supervisor will determine whether your request maximizes ultimate recovery. You must include the
service fee listed in § 250.125, according to the instructions in § 250.126, and the supporting information,
as listed in the table in § 250.1167, with your request.
(b) If one or more of the reservoirs proposed for commingling is a competitive reservoir, you must notify the
operators of all leases that contain the reservoir that you intend to downhole commingle the reservoirs.
Your request for approval of downhole commingling must include proof of the date of this notification.
The notified operators have 30 days after notification to provide the Regional Supervisor with letters of
acceptance or objection. If the notified operators do not respond within the specified period, the Regional
Supervisor will assume the operators do not object and proceed with a decision.

PRODUCTION RATES
§ 250.1159 May the Regional Supervisor limit my well or reservoir production rates?
(a) The Regional Supervisor may set a Maximum Production Rate (MPR) for a producing well completion, or
set a Maximum Efficient Rate (MER) for a reservoir, or both, if the Regional Supervisor determines that an
excessive production rate could harm ultimate recovery. An MPR or MER will be based on well tests and
any limitations imposed by well and surface equipment, sand production, reservoir sensitivity, gas-oil and
water-oil ratios, location of perforated intervals, and prudent operating practices.
(b) If the Regional Supervisor sets an MPR for a producing well completion and/or an MER for a reservoir, you
may not exceed those rates except due to normal variations and fluctuations in production rates as set by
the Regional Supervisor.

FLARING, VENTING, AND BURNING HYDROCARBONS
§ 250.1160 When may I flare or vent gas?
(a) You must request and receive approval from the Regional Supervisor to flare or vent natural gas at your
facility, except in the following situations:
Condition

Additional requirements

(1) When the gas is lease use gas (produced natural
gas which is used on or for the benefit of lease
operations such as gas used to operate production
facilities) or is used as an additive necessary to burn
waste products, such as H2S

The volume of gas flared or vented may not
exceed the amount necessary for its intended
purpose. Burning waste products may require
approval under other regulations.

(2) During the restart of a facility that was shut in
because of weather conditions, such as a hurricane

Flaring or venting may not exceed 48 cumulative
hours without Regional Supervisor approval.

(3) During the blow down of transportation pipelines
downstream of the royalty meter

(i) You must report the location, time, flare/vent
volume, and reason for flaring/venting to the
Regional Supervisor in writing within 72 hours
after the incident is over.
(ii) Additional approval may be required under

30 CFR 250.1160(a) (enhanced display)

page 241 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Condition

30 CFR 250.1160(b)

Additional requirements
subparts H and J of this part.

(4) During the unloading or cleaning of a well, drill-stem
testing, production testing, other well-evaluation testing,
or the necessary blow down to perform these
procedures

You may not exceed 48 cumulative hours of
flaring or venting per unloading or cleaning or
testing operation on a single completion without
Regional Supervisor approval.

(5) When properly working equipment yields flash gas
(natural gas released from liquid hydrocarbons as a
result of a decrease in pressure, an increase in
temperature, or both) from storage vessels or other
low-pressure production vessels, and you cannot
economically recover this flash gas

You may not flare or vent more than an average
of 50 MCF per day during any calendar month
without Regional Supervisor approval.

(6) When the equipment works properly but there is a
(i) For oil-well gas and gas-well flash gas (natural
temporary upset condition, such as a hydrate or paraffin gas released from condensate as a result of a
plug
decrease in pressure, an increase in
temperature, or both), you may not exceed 48
continuous hours of flaring or venting without
Regional Supervisor approval.
(ii) For primary gas-well gas (natural gas from a
gas well completion that is at or near its
wellhead pressure; this does not include flash
gas), you may not exceed 2 continuous hours of
flaring or venting without Regional Supervisor
approval.
(iii) You may not exceed 144 cumulative hours of
flaring or venting during a calendar month
without Regional Supervisor approval.
(7) When equipment fails to work properly, during
equipment maintenance and repair, or when you must
relieve system pressures

(i) For oil-well gas and gas-well flash gas, you
may not exceed 48 continuous hours of flaring
or venting without Regional Supervisor approval.
(ii) For primary gas-well gas, you may not exceed
2 continuous hours of flaring or venting without
Regional Supervisor approval.
(iii) You may not exceed 144 cumulative hours of
flaring or venting during a calendar month
without Regional Supervisor approval.
(iv) The continuous and cumulative hours
allowed under this paragraph may be counted
separately from the hours under paragraph
(a)(6) of this section.

(b) Regardless of the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section, you must not flare or vent gas over the
volume approved in your Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) or your Development
and Production Plan (DPP) submitted to BOEM.
(c) The Regional Supervisor may establish alternative approval procedures to cover situations when you
cannot contact the BSEE office, such as during non-office hours.

30 CFR 250.1160(c) (enhanced display)

page 242 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1160(d)

(d) The Regional Supervisor may specify a volume limit, or a shorter time limit than specified elsewhere in this
part, in order to prevent air quality degradation or loss of reserves.
(e) If you flare or vent gas without the required approval, or if the Regional Supervisor determines that you
were negligent or could have avoided flaring or venting the gas, the hydrocarbons will be considered
avoidably lost or wasted. You must pay royalties on the loss or waste, according to 30 CFR part 1202. You
must value any gas or liquid hydrocarbons avoidably lost or wasted under the provisions of 30 CFR part
1206.
(f) Fugitive emissions from valves, fittings, flanges, pressure relief valves or similar components do not
require approval under this subpart unless specifically required by the Regional Supervisor.

§ 250.1161 When may I flare or vent gas for extended periods of time?
You must request and receive approval from the Regional Supervisor to flare or vent gas for an extended period of
time. The Regional Supervisor will specify the approved period of time, which will not exceed 1 year. The Regional
Supervisor may deny your request if it does not ensure the conservation of natural resources or is not consistent
with National interests relating to development and production of minerals of the OCS. The Regional Supervisor may
approve your request for one of the following reasons:
(a) You initiated an action which, when completed, will eliminate flaring and venting; or
(b) You submit to the Regional Supervisor an evaluation supported by engineering, geologic, and economic
data indicating that the oil and gas produced from the well(s) will not economically support the facilities
necessary to sell the gas or to use the gas on or for the benefit of the lease.

§ 250.1162 When may I burn produced liquid hydrocarbons?
(a) You must request and receive approval from the Regional Supervisor to burn any produced liquid
hydrocarbons. The Regional Supervisor may allow you to burn liquid hydrocarbons if you demonstrate
that transporting them to market or re-injecting them is not technically feasible or poses a significant risk
of harm to offshore personnel or the environment.
(b) If you burn liquid hydrocarbons without the required approval, or if the Regional Supervisor determines
that you were negligent or could have avoided burning liquid hydrocarbons, the hydrocarbons will be
considered avoidably lost or wasted. You must pay royalties on the loss or waste, according to 30 CFR
part 1202. You must value any liquid hydrocarbons avoidably lost or wasted under the provisions of 30
CFR part 1206.

§ 250.1163 How must I measure gas flaring or venting volumes and liquid hydrocarbon burning
volumes, and what records must I maintain?
(a) If your facility processes more than an average of 2,000 bopd during May 2010, you must install flare/vent
meters within 180 days after May 2010. If your facility processes more than an average of 2,000 bopd
during a calendar month after May 2010, you must install flare/vent meters within 120 days after the end
of the month in which the average amount of oil processed exceeds 2,000 bopd.
(1) You must notify the Regional Supervisor when your facility begins to process more than an average
of 2,000 bopd in a calendar month;
(2) The flare/vent meters must measure all flared and vented gas within 5 percent accuracy;

30 CFR 250.1163(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 243 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1163(a)(3)

(3) You must calibrate the meters regularly, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation, or
at least once every year, whichever is shorter; and
(4) You must use and maintain the flare/vent meters for the life of the facility.
(b) You must report all hydrocarbons produced from a well completion, including all gas flared, gas vented,
and liquid hydrocarbons burned, to Office of Natural Resources Revenue on Form ONRR–4054 (Oil and
Gas Operations Report), in accordance with 30 CFR 1210.102.
(1) You must report the amount of gas flared and the amount of gas vented separately.
(2) You may classify and report gas used to operate equipment on the lease, such as gas used to power
engines, instrument gas, and gas used to maintain pilot lights, as lease use gas.
(3) If flare/vent meters are required at one or more of your facilities, you must report the amount of gas
flared and vented at each of those facilities separately from those facilities that do not require
meters and separately from other facilities with meters.
(4) If flare/vent meters are not required at your facility:
(i)

You may report the gas flared and vented on a lease or unit basis. Gas flared and vented from
multiple facilities on a single lease or unit may be reported together.

(ii) If you choose to install meters, you may report the gas volume flared and vented according to
the method specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(c) You must prepare and maintain records detailing gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning
for each facility for 6 years.
(1) You must maintain these records on the facility for at least the first 2 years and have them available
for inspection by BSEE representatives.
(2) After 2 years, you must maintain the records, allow BSEE representatives to inspect the records upon
request and provide copies to the Regional Supervisor upon request, but are not required to keep
them on the facility.
(3) The records must include, at a minimum:
(i)

Daily volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned;

(ii) Number of hours of gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning, on a daily and
monthly cumulative basis;
(iii) A list of the wells contributing to gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning, along
with gas-oil ratio data;
(iv) Reasons for gas flaring, gas venting, and liquid hydrocarbon burning; and
(v) Documentation of all required approvals.
(d) If your facility is required to have flare/vent meters:
(1) You must maintain the meter recordings for 6 years.
(i)

You must keep these recordings on the facility for 2 years and have them available for
inspection by BSEE representatives.

30 CFR 250.1163(d)(1)(i) (enhanced display)

page 244 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1163(d)(1)(ii)

(ii) After 2 years, you must maintain the recordings, allow BSEE representatives to inspect the
recordings upon request and provide copies to the Regional Supervisor upon request, but are
not required to keep them on the facility.
(iii) These recordings must include the begin times, end times, and volumes for all flaring and
venting incidents.
(2) You must maintain flare/vent meter calibration and maintenance records on the facility for 2 years.
(e) If your flaring or venting of gas, or burning of liquid hydrocarbons, required written or oral approval, you
must submit documentation to the Regional Supervisor summarizing the location, dates, number of
hours, and volumes of gas flared, gas vented, and liquid hydrocarbons burned under the approval.

§ 250.1164 What are the requirements for flaring or venting gas containing H2S?
(a) You may not vent gas containing H2S, except for minor releases during maintenance and repair activities
that do not result in a 15-minute time-weighted average atmosphere concentration of H2S of 20 ppm or
higher anywhere on the platform.
(b) You may flare gas containing H2S only if you meet the requirements of §§ 250.1160, 250.1161, 250.1163,
and the following additional requirements:
(1) For safety or air pollution prevention purposes, the Regional Supervisor may further restrict the
flaring of gas containing H2S. The Regional Supervisor will use information provided in the lessee's
H2S Contingency Plan (§ 250.490(f)), Exploration Plan, DPP, DOCD submitted to BOEM, and
associated documents to determine the need for restrictions; and
(2) If the Regional Supervisor determines that flaring at a facility or group of facilities may significantly
affect the air quality of an onshore area, the Regional Supervisor may require you to conduct an air
quality modeling analysis, under 30 CFR 550.303, to determine the potential effect of facility
emissions. The Regional Supervisor may require monitoring and reporting, or may restrict or prohibit
flaring, under 30 CFR 550.303 and 30 CFR 550.304.
(c) The Regional Supervisor may require you to submit monthly reports of flared and vented gas containing
H2S. Each report must contain, on a daily basis:
(1) The volume and duration of each flaring and venting occurrence;
(2) H2S concentration in the flared or vented gas; and
(3) The calculated amount of SO2 emitted.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
§ 250.1165 What must I do for enhanced recovery operations?
(a) You must promptly initiate enhanced oil and gas recovery operations for all reservoirs where these
operations would result in an increase in ultimate recovery of oil or gas under sound engineering and
economic principles.
(b) Before initiating enhanced recovery operations, you must submit a proposed plan to the BSEE Regional
Supervisor and receive approval for pressure maintenance, secondary or tertiary recovery, cycling, and
similar recovery operations intended to increase the ultimate recovery of oil and gas from a reservoir. The
30 CFR 250.1165(b) (enhanced display)

page 245 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1165(c)

proposed plan must include, for each project reservoir, a geologic and engineering overview and any
additional information required by the BSEE Regional Supervisor. You also must submit Form
BOEM–0127 to BOEM along with the supporting data specified in BOEM regulations, 30 CFR part 550,
subpart K.
(c) You must report to Office of Natural Resources Revenue the volumes of oil, gas, or other substances
injected, produced, or produced for a second time under 30 CFR 1210.102.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1166 What additional reporting is required for developments in the Alaska OCS Region?
(a) For any development in the Alaska OCS Region, you must submit an annual reservoir management report
to the Regional Supervisor. The report must contain information detailing the activities performed during
the previous year and planned for the upcoming year that will:
(1) Provide for the prevention of waste;
(2) Provide for the protection of correlative rights; and
(3) Maximize ultimate recovery of oil and gas.
(b) If your development is jointly regulated by BSEE and the State of Alaska, BSEE and the Alaska Oil and Gas
Conservation Commission will jointly determine appropriate reporting requirements to minimize or
eliminate duplicate reporting requirements.
(c) [Reserved]

§ 250.1167 What information must I submit with forms and for approvals?
You must submit the supporting information listed in the following table with the form identified in column 1 and for
the approvals required under this subpart identified in columns 2 through 4:
Production
WPT
within
Gas cap
Downhole
BSEE–0126
500-ft of a
production commingling
(2 copies)
unit or
lease line
(a) Maps:
✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

(3) Net sand isopach with total net sand
penetrated for each well, identified at the
penetration point

✔

✔

(4) Net hydrocarbon isopach with net feet of

✔

✔

(1) Base map with surface, bottomhole, and
completion locations with respect to the unit or
lease line and the orientation of representative
seismic lines or cross-sections
(2) Structure maps with penetration point and
subsea depth for each well penetrating the
reservoirs, highlighting subject wells; reservoir
boundaries; and original and current fluid levels

30 CFR 250.1167 (enhanced display)

✔

page 246 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1167

Production
WPT
within
Gas cap
Downhole
BSEE–0126
500-ft of a
production commingling
(2 copies)
unit or
lease line
pay for each well, identified at the penetration
point
(b) Seismic data:
(1) Representative seismic lines, including
strike and dip lines that confirm the structure;
indicate polarity

✔

✔

✔

(2) Amplitude extraction of seismic horizon, if
applicable

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

*

(1) Estimated recoverable reserves for each
well completion in the reservoir; total
recoverable reserves for each reservoir; method
of calculation; reservoir parameters used in
volumetric and decline curve analysis

†

†

✔

(2) Well schematics showing current and
proposed conditions

✔

✔

✔

(3) The drive mechanism of each reservoir

✔

✔

✔

(4) Pressure data, by date, and whether they are
estimated or measured

✔

✔

(5) Production data and decline curve analysis
indicative of the reservoir performance

✔

✔

(6) Reservoir simulation with the reservoir
parameters used, history matches, and
prediction runs (include proposed development
scenario)

*

*

(1) Detailed economic analysis

*

*

(2) Reservoir name and whether or not it is
competitive as defined under § 250.105

✔

✔

✔

(3) Operator name, lessee name(s), block, lease
number, royalty rate, and unit number (if
applicable) of all relevant leases

✔

✔

✔

(4) Geologic overview of project

✔

✔

✔

(5) Explanation of why the proposed

✔

✔

✔

(c) Logs:
(1) Well log sections with tops and bottoms of
the reservoir(s) and proposed or existing
perforations
(2) Structural cross-sections showing the
subject well and nearby wells

✔

(d) Engineering data:

*

(e) General information:

30 CFR 250.1167 (enhanced display)

page 247 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1200

Production
WPT
within
Gas cap
Downhole
BSEE–0126
500-ft of a
production commingling
(2 copies)
unit or
lease line
completion scenario will maximize ultimate
recovery
(6) List of all wells in subject reservoirs that
have ever produced or been used for injection

✔

✔

✔

✔ Required.
† Each Gas Cap Production request and Downhole Commingling request must include the
estimated recoverable reserves for (1) the case where your proposed production scenario is
approved, and (2) the case where your proposed production scenario is denied.
* Additional items the Regional Supervisor may request.
Note: All maps must be at a standard scale and show lease and unit lines. The Regional Supervisor
may waive submittal of some of the required data on a case-by-case basis.
(f) Depending on the type of approval requested, you must submit the appropriate payment of the service fee(s)
listed in § 250.125, according to the instructions in § 250.126.

Subpart L—Oil and Gas Production Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security
§ 250.1200 Question index table.
The table in this section lists questions concerning Oil and Gas Production Measurement, Surface Commingling,
and Security.
Frequently asked questions

CFR
citation

1. What are the requirements for measuring liquid hydrocarbons?

§
250.1202(a)

2. What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon royalty meters?

§
250.1202(b)

3. What are the requirements for run tickets?

§
250.1202(c)

4. What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter provings?

§
250.1202(d)

5. What are the requirements for calibrating a master meter used in royalty meter provings?

§
250.1202(e)

6. What are the requirements for calibrating mechanical-displacement provers and tank
provers?

§
250.1202(f)

7. What correction factors must a lessee use when proving meters with a mechanical
displacement prover, tank prover, or master meter?

§
250.1202(g)

30 CFR 250.1200 (enhanced display)

page 248 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1201

Frequently asked questions

CFR
citation

8. What are the requirements for establishing and applying operating meter factors for liquid
hydrocarbons?

§
250.1202(h)

9. Under what circumstances does a liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter need to be taken out
of service, and what must a lessee do?

§
250.1202(i)

10. How must a lessee correct gross liquid hydrocarbon volumes to standard conditions?

§
250.1202(j)

11. What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon allocation meters?

§
250.1202(k)

12. What are the requirements for royalty and inventory tank facilities?

§
250.1202(l)

13. To which meters do BSEE requirements for gas measurement apply?

§
250.1203(a)

14. What are the requirements for measuring gas?

§
250.1203(b)

15. What are the requirements for gas meter calibrations?

§
250.1203(c)

16. What must a lessee do if a gas meter is out of calibration or malfunctioning?

§
250.1203(d)

17. What are the requirements when natural gas from a Federal lease is transferred to a gas
plant before royalty determination?

§
250.1203(e)

18. What are the requirements for measuring gas lost or used on a lease?

§
250.1203(f)

19. What are the requirements for the surface commingling of production?

§
250.1204(a)

20. What are the requirements for a periodic well test used for allocation?

§
250.1204(b)

21. What are the requirements for site security?

§
250.1205(a)

22. What are the requirements for using seals?

§
250.1205(b)

§ 250.1201 Definitions.
Terms not defined in this section have the meanings given in the applicable chapter of the API MPMS, which is
incorporated by reference in § 250.198. Terms used in Subpart L have the following meaning:
Allocation meter —a meter used to determine the portion of hydrocarbons attributable to one or more platforms,
leases, units, or wells, in relation to the total production from a royalty or allocation measurement point.
API MPMS —the American Petroleum Institute's Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, chapters 1, 20,
and 21.
British Thermal Unit (Btu) —the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 59.5
degrees Fahrenheit (59.5 °F) to 60.5 degrees Fahrenheit (60.5 °F) at standard pressure base (14.73
pounds per square inch absolute (psia)).
30 CFR 250.1201 “British Thermal Unit (Btu)” (enhanced display)

page 249 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1201 “Compositional Analysis”

Compositional Analysis —separating mixtures into identifiable components expressed in mole percent.
Force majeure event —an event beyond your control such as war, act of terrorism, crime, or act of nature which
prevents you from operating the wells and meters on your OCS facility.
Gas lost —gas that is neither sold nor used on the lease or unit nor used internally by the producer.
Gas processing plant —an installation that uses any process designed to remove elements or compounds
(hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon) from gas, including absorption, adsorption, or refrigeration.
Processing does not include treatment operations, including those necessary to put gas into marketable
conditions such as natural pressure reduction, mechanical separation, heating, cooling, dehydration,
desulphurization, and compression. The changing of pressures or temperatures in a reservoir is not
processing.
Gas processing plant statement —a monthly statement showing the volume and quality of the inlet or field gas
stream and the plant products recovered during the period, volume of plant fuel, flare and shrinkage, and
the allocation of these volumes to the sources of the inlet stream.
Gas royalty meter malfunction —an error in any component of the gas measurement system which exceeds
contractual tolerances.
Gas volume statement —a monthly statement showing gas measurement data, including the volume (Mcf) and
quality (Btu) of natural gas which flowed through a meter.
Inventory tank —a tank in which liquid hydrocarbons are stored prior to royalty measurement. The measured
volumes are used in the allocation process.
Liquid hydrocarbons (free liquids) —hydrocarbons which exist in liquid form at standard conditions after passing
through separating facilities.
Malfunction factor —a liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter factor that differs from the previous meter factor by an
amount greater than 0.0025.
Natural gas —a highly compressible, highly expandable mixture of hydrocarbons which occurs naturally in a
gaseous form and passes a meter in vapor phase.
Operating meter —a royalty or allocation meter that is used for gas or liquid hydrocarbon measurement for any
period during a calibration cycle.
Pipeline (retrograde) condensate —liquid hydrocarbons which drop out of the separated gas stream at any point
in a pipeline during transmission to shore.
Pressure base —the pressure at which gas volumes and quality are reported. The standard pressure base is
14.73 psia.
Prove —to determine (as in meter proving) the relationship between the volume passing through a meter at one
set of conditions and the indicated volume at those same conditions.
Royalty meter —a meter approved for the purpose of determining the volume of gas, oil, or other components
removed, saved, or sold from a Federal lease.
Royalty tank —an approved tank in which liquid hydrocarbons are measured and upon which royalty volumes are
based.
Run ticket —the invoice for liquid hydrocarbons measured at a royalty point.
30 CFR 250.1201 “Run ticket” (enhanced display)

page 250 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1201 “Sales meter”

Sales meter —a meter at which custody transfer takes place (not necessarily a royalty meter).
Seal —a device or approved method used to prevent tampering with royalty measurement components.
Standard conditions —atmospheric pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and 60 °F.
Surface commingling —the surface mixing of production from two or more leases and/or unit participating areas
prior to royalty measurement.
Temperature base —the temperature at which gas and liquid hydrocarbon volumes and quality are reported. The
standard temperature base is 60 °F.
Verification/Calibration —testing and correcting, if necessary, a measuring device to ensure compliance with
industry accepted, manufacturer's recommended, or regulatory required standard of accuracy.
You or your —the lessee or the operator or other lessees' representative engaged in operations in the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS).

§ 250.1202 Liquid hydrocarbon measurement.
(a) What are the requirements for measuring liquid hydrocarbons? You must:
(1) Submit a written application to, and obtain approval from, the Regional Supervisor before
commencing liquid hydrocarbon production, or making any changes to the previously-approved
measurement and/or allocation procedures. Your application (which may also include any relevant
gas measurement and surface commingling requests) must be accompanied by payment of the
service fee listed in § 250.125. The service fees are divided into two levels based on complexity as
shown in the following table.
Application
type

Actions

(i) Simple
Applications to temporarily reroute production (for a duration not to exceed six months);
applications, Production tests prior to pipeline construction; Departures related to meter proving, well
testing, or sampling frequency.
(ii) Complex Creation of new facility measurement points (FMPs); Association of leases or units with
applications, existing FMPs; Inclusion of production from additional structures; Meter updates which add
buy-back gas meters or pigging meters; Other applications which request deviations from
the approved allocation procedures.

(2) Use measurement equipment and procedures that will accurately measure the liquid hydrocarbons
produced from a lease or unit to comply with the following additional API MPMS industry standards
or API RP:
(i)

API MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);

(ii) API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 6 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iii) API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iv) API MPMS, Chapter 11, Section 1 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(v) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 3 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(vi) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 4 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
30 CFR 250.1202(a)(2)(vi) (enhanced display)

page 251 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1202(a)(2)(vii)

(vii) API MPMS, Chapter 21, Section 2 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(viii) API MPMS, Chapter 21, Addendum to Section 2 (incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198);
(ix) API RP 86 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(3) Use procedures and correction factors according to the applicable chapters of the API MPMS or RP
as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198, including the following additional editions:
(i)

API MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);

(ii) API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 6 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iii) API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iv) API MPMS Chapter 11, Section 1 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(v) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 3 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(vi) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 4 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(vii) API RP 86 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198); when obtaining net standard
volume and associated measurement parameters; and
(4) When requested by the Regional Supervisor, provide the pipeline (retrograde) condensate volumes as
allocated to the individual leases or units.
(b) What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon royalty meters? You must:
(1) Ensure that the royalty meter facilities include the following approved components (or other BSEEapproved components) which must be compatible with their connected systems:
(i)

A meter equipped with a nonreset totalizer;

(ii) A calibrated mechanical displacement (pipe) prover, master meter, or tank prover;
(iii) A proportional-to-flow sampling device pulsed by the meter output;
(iv) A temperature measurement or temperature compensation device; and
(v) A sediment and water monitor with a probe located upstream of the divert valve.
(2) Ensure that the royalty meter facilities accomplish the following:
(i)

Prevent flow reversal through the meter;

(ii) Protect meters subjected to pressure pulsations or surges;
(iii) Prevent the meter from being subjected to shock pressures greater than the maximum working
pressure; and
(iv) Prevent meter bypassing.
(3) Maintain royalty meter facilities to ensure the following:
(i)

Meters operate within the gravity range specified by the manufacturer;

(ii) Meters operate within the manufacturer's specifications for maximum and minimum flow rate
for linear accuracy; and
30 CFR 250.1202(b)(3)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 252 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1202(b)(3)(iii)

(iii) Meters are reproven when changes in metering conditions affect the meters' performance such
as changes in pressure, temperature, density (water content), viscosity, pressure, and flow rate.
(4) Ensure that sampling devices conform to the following:
(i)

The sampling point is in the flowstream immediately upstream or downstream of the meter or
divert valve in accordance with the API MPMS (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);

(ii) The sample container is vapor-tight and includes a power mixing device to allow complete
mixing of the sample before removal from the container; and
(iii) The sample probe is in the center half of the pipe diameter in a vertical run and is located at
least three pipe diameters downstream of any pipe fitting within a region of turbulent flow. The
sample probe can be located in a horizontal pipe if adequate stream conditioning such as
power mixers or static mixers are installed upstream of the probe according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
(c) What are the requirements for run tickets? You must:
(1) For royalty meters, ensure that the run tickets clearly identify all observed data, all correction factors
not included in the meter factor, and the net standard volume.
(2) For royalty tanks, ensure that the run tickets clearly identify all observed data, all applicable
correction factors, on/off seal numbers, and the net standard volume.
(3) Pull a run ticket at the beginning of the month and immediately after establishing the monthly meter
factor or a malfunction meter factor.
(4) Send all run tickets for royalty meters and tanks to the Regional Supervisor within 15 days after the
end of the month;
(d) What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter provings? You must:
(1) Permit BSEE representatives to witness provings;
(2) Ensure that the integrity of the prover calibration is traceable to test measures certified by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology;
(3) Prove each operating royalty meter to determine the meter factor monthly, but the time between
meter factor determinations must not exceed 42 days. When a force majeure event precludes the
required monthly meter proving, meters must be proved within 15 days after being returned to
service. The meters must be proved monthly thereafter, but the time between meter factor
determinations must not exceed 42 days;
(4) Obtain approval from the Regional Supervisor before proving on a schedule other than monthly; and
(5) Submit copies of all meter proving reports for royalty meters to the Regional Supervisor monthly
within 15 days after the end of the month.
(e) What are the requirements for calibrating a master meter used in royalty meter provings? You must:
(1) Calibrate the master meter to obtain a master meter factor before using it to determine operating
meter factors;
(2) Use a fluid of similar gravity, viscosity, temperature, and flow rate as the liquid hydrocarbons that flow
through the operating meter to calibrate the master meter;
30 CFR 250.1202(e)(2) (enhanced display)

page 253 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1202(e)(3)

(3) Calibrate the master meter monthly, but the time between calibrations must not exceed 42 days;
(4) Calibrate the master meter by recording runs until the results of two consecutive runs (if a tank
prover is used) or five out of six consecutive runs (if a mechanical-displacement prover is used)
produce meter factor differences of no greater than 0.0002. Lessees must use the average of the
two (or the five) runs that produced acceptable results to compute the master meter factor;
(5) Install the master meter upstream of any back-pressure or reverse flow check valves associated with
the operating meter. However, the master meter may be installed either upstream or downstream of
the operating meter; and
(6) Keep a copy of the master meter calibration report at your field location for 2 years.
(f) What are the requirements for calibrating mechanical-displacement provers and tank provers? You must:
(1) Calibrate mechanical-displacement provers and tank provers at least once every 5 years according to
the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198, including the following additional
editions:
(i)

API MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);

(ii) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 4 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(2) Submit a copy of each calibration report to the Regional Supervisor within 15 days after the
calibration.
(g) What correction factors must I use when proving meters with a mechanical-displacement prover, tank
prover, or master meter? Calculate the following correction factors using the API MPMS as referenced in
30 CFR 250.198, including the following additional editions:
(1) API MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 8 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(2) API MPMS Chapter 11, Section 1 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(3) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 3 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(4) API MPMS Chapter 12, Section 2, Part 4 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(h) What are the requirements for establishing and applying operating meter factors for liquid hydrocarbons?
(1) If you use a mechanical-displacement prover, you must record proof runs until five out of six
consecutive runs produce a difference between individual runs of no greater than .05 percent. You
must use the average of the five accepted runs to compute the meter factor.
(2) If you use a master meter, you must record proof runs until three consecutive runs produce a total
meter factor difference of no greater than 0.0005. The flow rate through the meters during the
proving must be within 10 percent of the rate at which the line meter will operate. The final meter
factor is determined by averaging the meter factors of the three runs;
(3) If you use a tank prover, you must record proof runs until two consecutive runs produce a meter
factor difference of no greater than .0005. The final meter factor is determined by averaging the
meter factors of the two runs; and
(4) You must apply operating meter factors forward starting with the date of the proving.
(i)

Under what circumstances does a liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter need to be taken out of service, and
what must I do?

30 CFR 250.1202(i) (enhanced display)

page 254 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1202(i)(1)

(1) If the difference between the meter factor and the previous factor exceeds 0.0025 it is a malfunction
factor, and you must:
(i)

Remove the meter from service and inspect it for damage or wear;

(ii) Adjust or repair the meter, and reprove it;
(iii) Apply the average of the malfunction factor and the previous factor to the production measured
through the meter between the date of the previous factor and the date of the malfunction
factor; and
(iv) Indicate that a meter malfunction occurred and show all appropriate remarks regarding
subsequent repairs or adjustments on the proving report.
(2) If a meter fails to register production, you must:
(i)

Remove the meter from service, repair and reprove it;

(ii) Apply the previous meter factor to the production run between the date of that factor and the
date of the failure; and
(iii) Estimate and report unregistered production on the run ticket.
(3) If the results of a royalty meter proving exceed the run tolerance criteria and all measures excluding
the adjustment or repair of the meter cannot bring results within tolerance, you must:
(i)

Establish a factor using proving results made before any adjustment or repair of the meter; and

(ii) Treat the established factor like a malfunction factor (see paragraph (i)(1) of this section).
(j)

How must I correct gross liquid hydrocarbon volumes to standard conditions? To correct gross liquid
hydrocarbon volumes to standard conditions, you must:
(1) Include Cpl factors in the meter factor calculation or list and apply them on the appropriate run
ticket.
(2) List Ctl factors on the appropriate run ticket when the meter is not automatically temperature
compensated.

(k) What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon allocation meters? For liquid hydrocarbon allocation
meters you must:
(1) Take samples continuously proportional to flow or daily (use the procedure in the applicable chapter
of the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in § 250.198;
(2) For turbine meters, take the sample proportional to the flow only;
(3) Prove operating allocation meters monthly if they measure 50 or more barrels per day per meter the
previous month. When a force majeure event precludes the required monthly meter proving, meters
must be proved within 15 days after being returned to service. The meters must be proved monthly
thereafter; or
(4) Prove operating allocation meters quarterly if they measure less than 50 barrels per day per meter
the previous month. When a force majeure event precludes the required quarterly meter proving,
meters must be proved within 15 days after being returned to service. The meters must be proved
quarterly thereafter;
30 CFR 250.1202(k)(4) (enhanced display)

page 255 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1202(k)(5)

(5) Keep a copy of the proving reports at the field location for 2 years;
(6) Adjust and reprove the meter if the meter factor differs from the previous meter factor by more than
2 percent and less than 7 percent;
(7) For turbine meters, remove from service, inspect and reprove the meter if the factor differs from the
previous meter factor by more than 2 percent and less than 7 percent;
(8) Repair and reprove, or replace and prove the meter if the meter factor differs from the previous meter
factor by 7 percent or more; and
(9) Permit BSEE representatives to witness provings.
(l)

What are the requirements for royalty and inventory tank facilities? You must:
(1) Equip each royalty and inventory tank with a vapor-tight thief hatch, a vent-line valve, and a fill line
designed to minimize free fall and splashing;
(2) For royalty tanks, submit a complete set of calibration charts (tank tables) to the Regional Supervisor
before using the tanks for royalty measurement;
(3) For inventory tanks, retain the calibration charts for as long as the tanks are in use and submit them
to the Regional Supervisor upon request; and
(4) Obtain the volume and other measurement parameters by using corrections factors and procedures
in the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198, including: API MPMS Chapter 11,
Section 1 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 18921, Mar. 29, 2012]

§ 250.1203 Gas measurement.
(a) To which meters do BSEE requirements for gas measurement apply? BSEE requirements for gas
measurements apply to all OCS gas royalty and allocation meters.
(b) What are the requirements for measuring gas? You must:
(1) Submit a written application to, and obtain approval from, the Regional Supervisor before
commencing gas production, or making any changes to the previously-approved measurement and/
or allocation procedures. Your application (which may also include any relevant liquid hydrocarbon
measurement and surface commingling requests) must be accompanied by payment of the service
fee listed in § 250.125. The service fees are divided into two levels based on complexity, see table in
§ 250.1202(a)(1).
(2) Design, install, use, maintain, and test measurement equipment and procedures to ensure accurate
and verifiable measurement. You must follow the recommendations in API MPMS or RP and AGA as
incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198, including the following additional editions:
(i)

API RP 86 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);

(ii) AGA Report No. 7 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iii) AGA Report No. 9 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
(iv) AGA Report No. 10 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198);
30 CFR 250.1203(b)(2)(iv) (enhanced display)

page 256 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1203(b)(3)

(3) Ensure that the measurement components demonstrate consistent levels of accuracy throughout
the system.
(4) Equip the meter with a chart or electronic data recorder. If an electronic data recorder is used, you
must follow the recommendations in API MPMS(incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198).
(5) Take proportional-to-flow or spot samples upstream or downstream of the meter at least once every
6 months.
(6) When requested by the Regional Supervisor, provide available information on the gas quality.
(7) Ensure that standard conditions for reporting gross heating value (Btu) are at a base temperature of
60 °F and at a base pressure of 14.73 psia and reflect the same degree of water saturation as in the
gas volume.
(8) When requested by the Regional Supervisor, submit copies of gas volume statements for each
requested gas meter. Show whether gas volumes and gross Btu heating values are reported at
saturated or unsaturated conditions; and
(9) When requested by the Regional Supervisor, provide volume and quality statements on dispositions
other than those on the gas volume statement.
(c) What are the requirements for gas meter calibrations? You must:
(1) Verify/calibrate operating meters monthly, but do not exceed 42 days between verifications/
calibrations. When a force majeure event precludes the required monthly meter verification/
calibration, meters must be verified/calibrated within 15 days after being returned to service. The
meters must be verified/calibrated monthly thereafter, but do not exceed 42 days between meter
verifications/calibrations;
(2) Calibrate each meter by using the manufacturer's specifications;
(3) Conduct calibrations as close as possible to the average hourly rate of flow since the last calibration;
(4) Retain calibration reports at the field location for 2 years, and send the reports to the Regional
Supervisor upon request; and
(5) Permit BSEE representatives to witness calibrations.
(d) What must I do if a gas meter is out of calibration or malfunctioning? If a gas meter is out of calibration or
malfunctioning, you must:
(1) If the readings are greater than the contractual tolerances, adjust the meter to function properly or
remove it from service and replace it.
(2) Correct the volumes to the last acceptable calibration as follows:
(i)

If the duration of the error can be determined, calculate the volume adjustment for that period.

(ii) If the duration of the error cannot be determined, apply the volume adjustment to one-half of the
time elapsed since the last calibration or 21 days, whichever is less.
(e) What are the requirements when natural gas from a Federal lease on the OCS is transferred to a gas plant
before royalty determination? If natural gas from a Federal lease on the OCS is transferred to a gas plant
before royalty determination:
30 CFR 250.1203(e) (enhanced display)

page 257 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1203(e)(1)

(1) You must provide the following to the Regional Supervisor upon request:
(i)

A copy of the monthly gas processing plant allocation statement; and

(ii) Gross heating values of the inlet and residue streams when not reported on the gas plant
statement.
(2) You must permit BSEE to inspect the measurement and sampling equipment of natural gas
processing plants that process Federal production.
(f) What are the requirements for measuring gas lost or used on a lease?
(1) You must either measure or estimate the volume of gas lost or used on a lease.
(2) If you measure the volume, document the measurement equipment used and include the volume
measured.
(3) If you estimate the volume, document the estimating method, the data used, and the volumes
estimated.
(4) You must keep the documentation, including the volume data, easily obtainable for inspection at the
field location for at least 2 years, and must retain the documentation at a location of your choosing
for at least 7 years after the documentation is generated, subject to all other document retention and
production requirements in 30 U.S.C. 1713 and 30 CFR part 1212.
(5) Upon the request of the Regional Supervisor, you must provide copies of the records.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 18922, Mar. 29, 2012; 85 FR 84237, Dec. 28, 2020]

§ 250.1204 Surface commingling.
(a) What are the requirements for the surface commingling of production? You must:
(1) Submit a written application to, and obtain approval from, the Regional Supervisor before
commencing the commingling of production or making any changes to the previously approved
commingling procedures. Your application (which may also include any relevant liquid hydrocarbon
and gas measurement requests) must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in §
250.125. The service fees are divided into two levels based on complexity, see table in §
250.1202(a)(1).
(2) Upon the request of the Regional Supervisor, lessees who deliver State lease production into a
Federal commingling system must provide volumetric or fractional analysis data on the State lease
production through the designated system operator.
(b) What are the requirements for a periodic well test used for allocation? You must:
(1) Conduct a well test at least once every 60 days unless the Regional Supervisor approves a different
frequency. When a force majeure event precludes the required well test within the prescribed 60 day
period (or other frequency approved by the Regional Supervisor), wells must be tested within 15 days
after being returned to production. Thereafter, well tests must be conducted at least once every 60
days (or other frequency approved by the Regional Supervisor);
(2) Follow the well test procedures in 30 CFR part 250, subpart K; and
(3) Retain the well test data at the field location for 2 years.
30 CFR 250.1204(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 258 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1205

§ 250.1205 Site security.
(a) What are the requirements for site security? You must:
(1) Protect Federal production against production loss or theft;
(2) Post a sign at each royalty or inventory tank which is used in the royalty determination process. The
sign must contain the name of the facility operator, the size of the tank, and the tank number;
(3) Not bypass BSEE-approved liquid hydrocarbon royalty meters and tanks; and
(4) Report the following to the Regional Supervisor as soon as possible, but no later than the next
business day after discovery:
(i)

Theft or mishandling of production;

(ii) Tampering or bypassing any component of the royalty measurement facility; and
(iii) Falsifying production measurements.
(b) What are the requirements for using seals? You must:
(1) Seal the following components of liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter installations to ensure that
tampering cannot occur without destroying the seal:
(i)

Meter component connections from the base of the meter up to and including the register;

(ii) Sampling systems including packing device, fittings, sight glass, and container lid;
(iii) Temperature and gravity compensation device components;
(iv) All valves on lines leaving a royalty or inventory storage tank, including load-out line valves,
drain-line valves, and connection-line valves between royalty and non-royalty tanks; and
(v) Any additional components required by the Regional Supervisor.
(2) Seal all bypass valves of gas royalty and allocation meters.
(3) Number and track the seals and keep the records at the field location for at least 2 years; and
(4) Make the records of seals available for BSEE inspection.

Subpart M—Unitization
§ 250.1300 What is the purpose of this subpart?
This subpart explains how Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases are unitized. If you are an OCS lessee, use the
regulations in this subpart for both competitive reservoir and unitization situations. The purpose of joint
development and unitization is to:
(a) Conserve natural resources;
(b) Prevent waste; and/or
(c) Protect correlative rights, including Federal royalty interests.

30 CFR 250.1300(c) (enhanced display)

page 259 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1301

§ 250.1301 What are the requirements for unitization?
(a) Voluntary unitization. You and other OCS lessees may ask the Regional Supervisor to approve a request
for voluntary unitization. The Regional Supervisor may approve the request for voluntary unitization if
unitized operations:
(1) Promote and expedite exploration and development; or
(2) Prevent waste, conserve natural resources, or protect correlative rights, including Federal royalty
interests, of a reasonably delineated and productive reservoir.
(b) Compulsory unitization. The Regional Supervisor may require you and other lessees to unitize operations
of a reasonably delineated and productive reservoir if unitized operations are necessary to:
(1) Prevent waste;
(2) Conserve natural resources; or
(3) Protect correlative rights, including Federal royalty interests.
(c) Unit area. The area that a unit includes is the minimum number of leases that will allow the lessees to
minimize the number of platforms, facility installations, and wells necessary for efficient exploration,
development, and production of mineral deposits, oil and gas reservoirs, or potential hydrocarbon
accumulations common to two or more leases. A unit may include whole leases or portions of leases.
(d) Unit agreement. You, the other lessees, and the unit operator must enter into a unit agreement. The unit
agreement must: allocate benefits to unitized leases, designate a unit operator, and specify the effective
date of the unit agreement. The unit agreement must terminate when: the unit no longer produces
unitized substances, and the unit operator no longer conducts drilling or well-workover operations (§
250.180) under the unit agreement, unless the Regional Supervisor orders or approves a suspension of
production under § 250.170.
(e) Unit operating agreement. The unit operator and the owners of working interests in the unitized leases
must enter into a unit operating agreement. The unit operating agreement must describe how all the unit
participants will apportion all costs and liabilities incurred maintaining or conducting operations. When a
unit involves one or more net-profit-share leases, the unit operating agreement must describe how to
attribute costs and credits to the net-profit-share lease(s), and this part of the agreement must be
approved by the Regional Supervisor. Otherwise, you must provide a copy of the unit operating agreement
to the Regional Supervisor, but the Regional Supervisor does not need to approve the unit operating
agreement.
(f) Extension of a lease covered by unit operations. If your unit agreement expires or terminates, or the unit
area adjusts so that no part of your lease remains within the unit boundaries, your lease expires unless:
(1) Its initial term has not expired;
(2) You conduct drilling, production, or well-reworking operations on your lease consistent with
applicable regulations; or
(3) BSEE orders or approves a suspension of production or operations for your lease.
(g) Unit operations. If your lease, or any part of your lease, is subject to a unit agreement, the entire lease
continues for the term provided in the lease, and as long thereafter as any portion of your lease remains
part of the unit area, and as long as operations continue the unit in effect.
30 CFR 250.1301(g) (enhanced display)

page 260 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1301(g)(1)

(1) If you drill, produce or perform well-workover operations on a lease within a unit, each lease, or part
of a lease, in the unit will remain active in accordance with the unit agreement. Following a discovery,
if your unit ceases drilling activities for a reasonable time period between the delineation of one or
more reservoirs and the initiation of actual development drilling or production operations and that
time period would extend beyond your lease's primary term or any extension under § 250.180, the
unit operator must request and obtain BSEE approval of a suspension of production under § 250.170
in order to keep the unit from terminating.
(2) When a lease in a unit agreement is beyond the primary term and the lease or unit is not producing,
the lease will expire unless:
(i)

You conduct a continuous drilling or well reworking program designed to develop or restore the
lease or unit production; or

(ii) BSEE orders or approves a suspension of operations under § 250.170.

§ 250.1302 What if I have a competitive reservoir on a lease?
(a) The Regional Supervisor may require you to conduct development and production operations in a
competitive reservoir under either a joint Competitive Reservoir Development Program submitted to BSEE
or a unitization agreement. A competitive reservoir has one or more producing or producible well
completions on each of two or more leases, or portions of leases, with different lease operating interests.
For purposes of this paragraph, a producible well completion is a well which is capable of production and
which is shut in at the well head or at the surface but not necessarily connected to production facilities
and from which the operator plans future production.
(b) You may request that the Regional Supervisor make a preliminary determination whether a reservoir is
competitive. When you receive the preliminary determination, you have 30 days (or longer if the Regional
Supervisor allows additional time) to concur or to submit an objection with supporting evidence if you do
not concur. The Regional Supervisor will make a final determination and notify you and the other lessees.
(c) If you conduct drilling or production operations in a reservoir determined competitive by the BSEE
Regional Supervisor, you and the other affected lessees must submit for approval a joint Competitive
Reservoir Development Program. You must submit the joint Competitive Reservoir Development Program
within 90 days after the Regional Supervisor makes a final determination that the reservoir is competitive.
The joint Competitive Reservoir Development Program must provide for the development and/or
production of the reservoir. You may submit supplemental Competitive Reservoir Development Programs
for the Regional Supervisor's approval.
(d) If you and the other affected lessees cannot reach an agreement on a joint Competitive Reservoir
Development Program, submitted to BSEE within the approved period of time, each lessee must submit a
separate Competitive Reservoir Development Program to the Regional Supervisor. The Regional
Supervisor will hold a hearing to resolve differences in the separate Competitive Reservoir Development
Programs. If the differences in the separate programs are not resolved at the hearing and the Regional
Supervisor determines that unitization is necessary under § 250.1301(b), BSEE will initiate unitization
under § 250.1304.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1303 How do I apply for voluntary unitization?
(a) You must file a request for a voluntary unit with the Regional Supervisor. Your request must include:
30 CFR 250.1303(a) (enhanced display)

page 261 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1303(a)(1)

(1) A draft of the proposed unit agreement;
(2) A proposed initial plan of operation;
(3) Supporting geological, geophysical, and engineering data; and
(4) Other information that may be necessary to show that the unitization proposal meets the criteria of §
250.1300.
(b) The unit agreement must comply with the requirements of this part. BSEE will maintain and provide a
model unit agreement for you to follow. If BSEE revises the model, BSEE will publish the revised model in
the FEDERAL REGISTER. If you vary your unit agreement from the model agreement, you must obtain the
approval of the Regional Supervisor.
(c) After the Regional Supervisor accepts your unitization proposal, you, the other lessees, and the unit
operator must sign and file copies of the unit agreement, the unit operating agreement, and the initial plan
of operation with the Regional Supervisor for approval.
(d) You must pay the service fee listed in § 250.125 of this part with your request for a voluntary unitization
proposal or the expansion of a previously approved voluntary unit to include additional acreage.
Additionally, you must pay the service fee listed in § 250.125 with your request for unitization revision.

§ 250.1304 How will BSEE require unitization?
(a) If the Regional Supervisor determines that unitization of operations within a proposed unit area is
necessary to prevent waste, conserve natural resources of the OCS, or protect correlative rights, including
Federal royalty interests, the Regional Supervisor may require unitization.
(b) If you ask BSEE to require unitization, you must file a request with the Regional Supervisor. You must
include a proposed unit agreement as described in §§ 250.1301(d) and 250.1303(b); a proposed unit
operating agreement; a proposed initial plan of operation; supporting geological, geophysical, and
engineering data; and any other information that may be necessary to show that unitization meets the
criteria of § 250.1300. The proposed unit agreement must include a counterpart executed by each lessee
seeking compulsory unitization. Lessees who seek compulsory unitization must simultaneously serve on
the nonconsenting lessees copies of:
(1) The request;
(2) The proposed unit agreement with executed counterparts;
(3) The proposed unit operating agreement; and
(4) The proposed initial plan of operation.
(c) If the Regional Supervisor initiates compulsory unitization, BSEE will serve all lessees of the proposed unit
area with a proposed unitization plan and a statement of reasons for the proposed unitization.
(d) The Regional Supervisor will not require unitization until BSEE provides all lessees of the proposed unit
area written notice and an opportunity for a hearing. If you want BSEE to hold a hearing, you must request
it within 30 days after you receive written notice from the Regional Supervisor or after you are served with
a request for compulsory unitization from another lessee.
(e) BSEE will not hold a hearing under this paragraph until at least 30 days after BSEE provides written notice
of the hearing date to all parties owning interests that would be made subject to the unit agreement. The
Regional Supervisor must give all lessees of the proposed unit area an opportunity to submit views orally
30 CFR 250.1304(e) (enhanced display)

page 262 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1304(f)

and in writing and to question both those seeking and those opposing compulsory unitization.
Adjudicatory procedures are not required. The Regional Supervisor will make a decision based upon a
record of the hearing, including any written information made a part of the record. The Regional
Supervisor will arrange for a court reporter to make a verbatim transcript. The party seeking compulsory
unitization must pay for the court reporter and pay for and provide to the Regional Supervisor within 10
days after the hearing three copies of the verbatim transcript.
(f) The Regional Supervisor will issue an order that requires or rejects compulsory unitization. That order
must include a statement of reasons for the action taken and identify those parts of the record which
form the basis of the decision. Any adversely affected party may appeal the final order of the Regional
Supervisor under 30 CFR part 290.

Subpart N—Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT CIVIL PENALTIES
§ 250.1400 How does BSEE begin the civil penalty process?
This subpart explains BSEEs civil penalty procedures whenever a lessee, operator or other person engaged in oil,
gas, sulphur or other minerals operations in the OCS has a violation. Whenever BSEE determines, on the basis of
available evidence, that a violation occurred and a civil penalty review is appropriate, it will prepare a case file. BSEE
will appoint a Reviewing Officer.

§ 250.1401 [Reserved]
§ 250.1402 Definitions.
Terms used in this subpart have the following meaning:
Case file means a BSEE document file containing information and the record of evidence related to the alleged
violation.
Civil penalty means a fine. It is a BSEE regulatory enforcement tool used in addition to Notices of Incidents of
Noncompliance and directed suspensions of production or other operations.
Reviewing Officer means a BSEE employee assigned to review case files and assess civil penalties.
Violation means failure to comply with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) or any other applicable
laws, with any regulations issued under the OCSLA, or with the terms or provisions of leases, licenses,
permits, rights-of-way, or other approvals issued under the OCSLA.
Violator means a person responsible for a violation.

§ 250.1403 What is the maximum civil penalty?
The maximum civil penalty is $52,646 per day per violation.
[88 FR 17727, Mar. 24, 2023]

§ 250.1404 Which violations will BSEE review for potential civil penalties?
BSEE will review each of the following violations for potential civil penalties:
30 CFR 250.1404 (enhanced display)

page 263 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1404(a)

(a) Violations that you do not correct within the period BSEE grants;
(b) Violations that BSEE determines may constitute, or constituted, a threat of serious, irreparable, or
immediate harm or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, any mineral deposit, or
the marine, coastal, or human environment; or
(c) Violations that cause serious, irreparable, or immediate harm or damage to life (including fish and other
aquatic life), property, any mineral deposit, or the marine, coastal, or human environment.
(d) Violations of the oil spill financial responsibility requirements at 30 CFR part 553.

§ 250.1405 When is a case file developed?
BSEE will develop a case file during its investigation of the violation, and forward it to a Reviewing Officer if any of
the conditions in § 250.1404 exist. The Reviewing Officer will review the case file and determine if a civil penalty is
appropriate. The Reviewing Officer may administer oaths and issue subpoenas requiring witnesses to attend
meetings, submit depositions, or produce evidence.

§ 250.1406 When will BSEE notify me and provide penalty information?
If the Reviewing Officer determines that a civil penalty should be assessed, the Reviewing Officer will send the
violator a letter of notification. The letter of notification will include:
(a) The amount of the proposed civil penalty;
(b) Information on the violation(s); and
(c) Instruction on how to obtain a copy of the case file, schedule a meeting, submit information, or pay the
penalty.

§ 250.1407 How do I respond to the letter of notification?
You have 30 calendar days after you receive the Reviewing Officer's letter to either:
(a) Request, in writing, a meeting with the Reviewing Officer;
(b) Submit additional information; or
(c) Pay the proposed civil penalty.

§ 250.1408 When will I be notified of the Reviewing Officer's decision?
At the end of the 30 calendar days or after the meeting and submittal of additional information, the Reviewing
Officer will review the case file, including all information you submitted, and send you a decision. The decision will
include the amount of any final civil penalty, the basis for the civil penalty, and instructions for paying or appealing
the civil penalty.

§ 250.1409 What are my appeal rights?
(a) When you receive the Reviewing Officer's final decision, you have 60 days to either pay the penalty or file
an appeal in accordance with 30 CFR part 290, subpart A.
(b) If you file an appeal, you must either:

30 CFR 250.1409(b) (enhanced display)

page 264 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1409(b)(1)

(1) Submit a surety bond in the amount of the penalty to the appropriate Leasing Office in the Region
where the penalty was assessed, following instructions that the Reviewing Officer will include in the
final decision; or
(2) Notify the appropriate Leasing Office, in the Region where the penalty was assessed, that you want
your lease-specific/area-wide bond on file to be used as the bond for the penalty amount.
(c) If you choose the alternative in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the BOEM Regional Director may require
additional security (i.e., security in excess of your existing bond) to ensure sufficient coverage during an
appeal. In that event, the Regional Director will require you to post the supplemental bond with the
regional office in the same manner as under 30 CFR 556.53(d) through (f). If the Regional Director
determines the appeal should be covered by a lease-specific abandonment account then you must
establish an account that meets the requirements of 30 CFR part 556.56.
(d) If you do not either pay the penalty or file a timely appeal, BSEE will take one or more of the following
actions:
(1) We will collect the amount you were assessed, plus interest, late payment charges, and other fees as
provided by law, from the date you received the Reviewing Officer's final decision until the date we
receive payment;
(2) We may initiate additional enforcement, including, if appropriate, cancellation of the lease, right-ofway, license, permit, or approval, or the forfeiture of a bond under this part; or
(3) We may bar you from doing further business with the Federal Government according to Executive
Orders 12549 and 12689, and section 2455 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, 31
U.S.C. 6101. The Department of the Interior's regulations implementing these authorities are found
at 43 CFR part 12, subpart D.

FEDERAL OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT ACT CIVIL PENALTIES DEFINITIONS
§ 250.1450 What definitions apply to this subpart?
The terms used in this subpart have the same meaning as in 30 U.S.C. 1702.

PENALTIES AFTER A PERIOD TO CORRECT
§ 250.1451 What may BSEE do if I violate a statute, regulation, order, or lease term relating to a
Federal oil and gas lease?
(a) If we believe that you have not followed any requirement of a statute, regulation, order, or lease term for
any Federal oil or gas lease, we may send you a Notice of Noncompliance informing you what the
violation is and what you need to do to correct it to avoid civil penalties under 30 U.S.C. 1719(a) and (b).
(b) We will serve the Notice of Noncompliance by registered mail or personal service using the most current
address on file as maintained by the BOEM Leasing Office in your respective Region.

§ 250.1452 What if I correct the violation?
The matter will be closed if you correct all of the violations identified in the Notice of Noncompliance within 20 days
after you receive the Notice (or within a longer time period specified in the Notice).
30 CFR 250.1452 (enhanced display)

page 265 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1453

§ 250.1453 What if I do not correct the violation?
(a) We may send you a Notice of Civil Penalty if you do not correct all of the violations identified in the Notice
of Noncompliance within 20 days after you receive the Notice of Noncompliance (or within a longer time
period specified in that Notice). The Notice of Civil Penalty will tell you how much penalty you must pay
for each day, beginning with the date of the Notice of Noncompliance, for each violation identified in the
Notice of Noncompliance for as long as you do not correct the violation. The maximum civil penalty
amount for each day of such an uncorrected violation is as specified in 30 CFR 1241.52(a)(2).
(b) If you do not correct all of the violations identified in the Notice of Noncompliance within 40 days after you
receive the Notice of Noncompliance (or 20 days following the expiration of a longer time period specified
in that Notice), we may increase the penalty for each day, beginning with the date of the Notice of
Noncompliance, for each violation for as long as you do not correct the violations. The maximum civil
penalty amount for each day of such an uncorrected violation is as specified in 30 CFR 1241.52(b).
[86 FR 34134, June 29, 2021]

§ 250.1454 How may I request a hearing on the record on a Notice of Noncompliance?
You may request a hearing on the record on a Notice of Noncompliance by filing a request within 30 days of the
date you received the Notice of Noncompliance with the Hearings Division (Departmental), Office of Hearings and
Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203. You may do this
regardless of whether you correct the violations identified in the Notice of Noncompliance.

§ 250.1455 Does my request for a hearing on the record affect the penalties?
(a) If you do not correct the violations identified in the Notice of Noncompliance, the penalties will continue to
accrue even if you request a hearing on the record.
(b) You may petition the Hearings Division (Departmental) of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, to stay the
accrual of penalties pending the hearing on the record and a decision by the Administrative Law Judge
under § 250.1472.
(1) You must file your petition within 45 calendar days of receiving the Notice of Noncompliance.
(2) To stay the accrual of penalties, you must post a bond or other surety instrument, or demonstrate
financial solvency, using the standards and requirements as prescribed in BOEM's regulations, 30
CFR part 550, subpart N. The posted amount must cover the unpaid principal and interest due for the
Notice of Noncompliance, plus the amount of any penalties accrued before the date a stay becomes
effective.
(3) The Hearings Division will grant or deny the petition under 43 CFR 4.21(b).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

30 CFR 250.1455(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 266 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1456

§ 250.1456 May I request a hearing on the record regarding the amount of a civil penalty if I did
not request a hearing on the Notice of Noncompliance?
(a) You may request a hearing on the record to challenge only the amount of a civil penalty when you receive
a Notice of Civil Penalty, if you did not previously request a hearing on the record under § 250.1454. If you
did not request a hearing on the record on the Notice of Noncompliance under § 250.1454, you may not
contest your underlying liability for civil penalties.
(b) You must file your request within 10 days after you receive the Notice of Civil Penalty with the Hearings
Division (Departmental), Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North Quincy
Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

PENALTIES WITHOUT A PERIOD TO CORRECT
§ 250.1460 May I be subject to penalties without prior notice and an opportunity to correct?
The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act sets out several specific violations for which penalties accrue
without an opportunity to first correct the violation.
(a) Under 30 U.S.C. 1719(c), you may be subject to civil penalties up to the maximum amount specified in 30
CFR 1241.60(b)(1) for each violation for each day that it continues if you:
(1) Fail or refuse to permit lawful entry, inspection, or audit; or
(2) Knowingly or willfully fail or refuse to notify the Secretary, within 5 business days after any well
begins production on a lease site or allocated to a lease site, or resumes production in the case of a
well which has been off production for more than 90 days, of the date on which production has
begun or resumed.
(b) Under 30 U.S.C. 1719(d), you may be subject to civil penalties up to the maximum amount specified in 30
CFR 1241.60(b)(2) for each violation for each day that it continues if you:
(1) Knowingly or willfully prepare, maintain, or submit false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, notices,
affidavits, records, data, or other written information;
(2) Knowingly or willfully take or remove, transport, use or divert any oil or gas from any lease site
without having valid legal authority to do so; or
(3) Purchase, accept, sell, transport, or convey to another person, any oil or gas knowing or having
reason to know that such oil or gas was stolen or unlawfully removed or diverted.
[86 FR 34134, June 29, 2021]

§ 250.1461 How will BSEE inform me of violations without a period to correct?
We will inform you of any violation, without a period to correct, by issuing a Notice of Noncompliance and Civil
Penalty explaining the violation, how to correct it, and the penalty assessment. We will serve the Notice of
Noncompliance and Civil Penalty by registered mail or personal service using your address of record as specified
under 30 CFR part 1218, Subpart H.

§ 250.1462 How may I request a hearing on the record on a Notice of Noncompliance regarding
30 CFR 250.1462 (enhanced display)

page 267 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1463

violations without a period to correct?
You may request a hearing on the record of a Notice of Noncompliance regarding violations without a period to
correct by filing a request within 30 days after you receive the Notice of Noncompliance with the Hearings Division
(Departmental), Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, Arlington,
Virginia 22203. You may do this regardless of whether you correct the violations identified in the Notice of
Noncompliance.

§ 250.1463 Does my request for a hearing on the record affect the penalties?
(a) If you do not correct the violations identified in the Notice of Noncompliance regarding violations without
a period to correct, the penalties will continue to accrue even if you request a hearing on the record.
(b) You may ask the Hearings Division (Departmental) to stay the accrual of penalties pending the hearing on
the record and a decision by the Administrative Law Judge under § 250.1472.
(1) You must file your petition within 45 calendar days after you receive the Notice of Noncompliance.
(2) To stay the accrual of penalties, you must post a bond or other surety instrument, or demonstrate
financial solvency, using the standards and requirements as prescribed in BOEM's regulations, 30
CFR part 550, subpart N. The posted amount must cover the unpaid principal and interest due for the
Notice of Noncompliance, plus the amount of any penalties accrued before the date a stay becomes
effective.
(3) The Hearings Division will grant or deny the petition under 43 CFR 4.21(b).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1464 May I request a hearing on the record regarding the amount of a civil penalty if I did
not request a hearing on the Notice of Noncompliance?
(a) You may request a hearing on the record to challenge only the amount of a civil penalty when you receive
a Notice of Civil Penalty regarding violations without a period to correct, if you did not previously request a
hearing on the record under § 250.1462. If you did not request a hearing on the record on the Notice of
Noncompliance under § 250.1462, you may not contest your underlying liability for civil penalties.
(b) You must file your request within 10 days after you receive Notice of Civil Penalty with the Hearings
Division (Departmental), Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North
Quincy, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 250.1470 How does BSEE decide what the amount of the penalty should be?
We determine the amount of the penalty by considering the severity of the violations, your history of compliance,
and if you are a small business.

§ 250.1471 Does the penalty affect whether I owe interest?
If you do not pay the penalty by the date required under § 250.1475(d), BSEE will assess you late payment interest
on the penalty amount at the same rate interest is assessed under 30 CFR 1218.54.
30 CFR 250.1471 (enhanced display)

page 268 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1472

§ 250.1472 How will the Office of Hearings and Appeals conduct the hearing on the record?
If you request a hearing on the record under §§ 250.1454, 250.1456, 250.1462, or 250.1464, the hearing will be
conducted by a Departmental Administrative Law Judge from the Office of Hearings and Appeals. After the hearing,
the Administrative Law Judge will issue a decision in accordance with the evidence presented and applicable law.

§ 250.1473 How may I appeal the Administrative Law Judge's decision?
If you are adversely affected by the Administrative Law Judge's decision, you may appeal that decision to the
Interior Board of Land Appeals under 43 CFR part 4, subpart E.

§ 250.1474 May I seek judicial review of the decision of the Interior Board of Land Appeals?
Under 30 U.S.C. 1719(j), you may seek judicial review of the decision of the Interior Board of Land Appeals. A suit
for judicial review in the District Court will be barred unless filed within 90 days after the final order.

§ 250.1475 When must I pay the penalty?
(a) You must pay the amount of the Notice of Civil Penalty issued under § 250.1453 or § 250.1461, if you do
not request a hearing on the record under § 250.1454, § 250.1456, § 250.1462, or § 250.1464.
(b) If you request a hearing on the record under § 250.1454, § 250.1456, § 250.1462, or § 250.1464, but you
do not appeal the determination of the Administrative Law Judge to the Interior Board of Land Appeals
under § 250.1473, you must pay the amount assessed by the Administrative Law Judge.
(c) If you appeal the determination of the Administrative Law Judge to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, you
must pay the amount assessed in the IBLA decision.
(d) You must pay the penalty assessed within 40 days after:
(1) You received the Notice of Civil Penalty, if you did not request a hearing on the record under either §
250.1454, § 250.1456, § 250.1462, or § 250.1464;
(2) You received an Administrative Law Judge's decision under § 250.1472, if you obtained a stay of the
accrual of penalties pending the hearing on the record under § 250.1455(b) or § 250.1463(b) and did
not appeal the Administrative Law Judge's determination to the IBLA under § 250.1473;
(3) You received an IBLA decision under § 250.1473 if the IBLA continued the stay of accrual of
penalties pending its decision and you did not seek judicial review of the IBLA's decision; or
(4) A final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is entered, if you sought judicial
review of the IBLA's decision and the Department or the appropriate court suspended compliance
with the IBLA's decision pending the adjudication of the case.
(e) If you do not pay, that amount is subject to collection under the provisions of § 250.1477.

§ 250.1476 Can BSEE reduce my penalty once it is assessed?
Under 30 U.S.C. 1719(g), the Director or his or her delegate may compromise or reduce civil penalties assessed
under this part.

§ 250.1477 How may BSEE collect the penalty?
(a) BSEE may use all available means to collect the penalty including, but not limited to:
30 CFR 250.1477(a) (enhanced display)

page 269 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1477(a)(1)

(1) Requiring the lease surety, for amounts owed by lessees, to pay the penalty;
(2) Deducting the amount of the penalty from any sums the United States owes to you; and
(3) Using judicial process to compel your payment under 30 U.S.C. 1719(k).
(b) If the Department uses judicial process, or if you seek judicial review under § 250.1474 and the court
upholds assessment of a penalty, the court shall have jurisdiction to award the amount assessed plus
interest assessed from the date of the expiration of the 90-day period referred to in § 250.1474. The
amount of any penalty, as finally determined, may be deducted from any sum owing to you by the United
States.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES
§ 250.1480 May the United States criminally prosecute me for violations under Federal oil and
gas leases?
If you commit an act for which a civil penalty is provided at 30 U.S.C. 1719(d) and § 250.1460(b), the United States
may pursue criminal penalties as provided at 30 U.S.C. 1720, in addition to any authority for prosecution under other
statutes.

Subpart O—Well Control and Production Safety Training
§ 250.1500 Definitions.
Terms used in this subpart have the following meaning:
Contractor and contract personnel mean anyone, other than an employee of the lessee, performing well control,
deepwater well control, or production safety duties for the lessee.
Deepwater well control means well control when you are using a subsea BOP system.
Employee means direct employees of the lessees who are assigned well control, deepwater well control, or
production safety duties.
I or you means the lessee engaged in oil, gas, or sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Lessee means a person who has entered into a lease with the United States to explore for, develop, and produce
the leased minerals. The term lessee also includes an owner of operating rights for that lease and the
BOEM-approved assignee of that lease.
Periodic means occurring or recurring at regular intervals. Each lessee must specify the intervals for periodic
training and periodic assessment of training needs in their training programs.
Production operations include, but are not limited to, separation, dehydration, compression, sweetening, and
metering operations.
Production safety includes measures, practices, procedures, and equipment to ensure safe, accident-free, and
pollution-free production operations, as well as installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of
surface and subsurface safety equipment.
Well completion/well workover means those operations following the drilling of a well that are intended to
establish or restore production.
30 CFR 250.1500 “Well completion/well workover” (enhanced display)

page 270 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1500 “Well-control”

Well-control means methods used to minimize the potential for the well to flow or kick and to maintain control
of the well in the event of flow or a kick. Well-control applies to drilling, well-completion, well-workover,
abandonment, and well-servicing operations. It includes measures, practices, procedures and equipment,
such as fluid flow monitoring, to ensure safe and environmentally protective drilling, completion,
abandonment, and workover operations as well as the installation, repair, maintenance, and operation of
surface and subsea well-control equipment.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50896, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.1501 What is the goal of my training program?
The goal of your training program must be safe and clean OCS operations. To accomplish this, you must ensure that
your employees and contract personnel engaged in well control, deepwater well control, or production safety
operations understand and can properly perform their duties.

§ 250.1503 What are my general responsibilities for training?
(a) You must establish and implement a training program so that all of your employees are trained to
competently perform their assigned well control, deepwater well control, and production safety duties.
You must verify that your employees understand and can perform the assigned well control, deepwater
well control, or production safety duties.
(b) If you conduct operations with a subsea BOP stack, your employees and contract personnel must be
trained in deepwater well control. The trained employees and contract personnel must have a
comprehensive knowledge of deepwater well control equipment, practices, and theory.
(c) You must have a training plan that specifies the type, method(s), length, frequency, and content of the
training for your employees. Your training plan must specify the method(s) of verifying employee
understanding and performance. This plan must include at least the following information:
(1) Procedures for training employees in well control, deepwater well control, or production safety
practices;
(2) Procedures for evaluating the training programs of your contractors;
(3) Procedures for verifying that all employees and contractor personnel engaged in well control,
deepwater well control, or production safety operations can perform their assigned duties;
(4) Procedures for assessing the training needs of your employees on a periodic basis;
(5) Recordkeeping and documentation procedures; and
(6) Internal audit procedures.
(d) Upon request of the District Manager or Regional Supervisor, you must provide:
(1) Copies of training documentation for personnel involved in well control, deepwater well control, or
production safety operations during the past 5 years; and
(2) A copy of your training plan.

30 CFR 250.1503(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 271 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1504

§ 250.1504 May I use alternative training methods?
You may use alternative training methods. These methods may include computer-based learning, films, or their
equivalents. This training should be reinforced by appropriate demonstrations and “hands-on” training. Alternative
training methods must be conducted according to, and meet the objectives of, your training plan.

§ 250.1505 Where may I get training for my employees?
You may get training from any source that meets the requirements of your training plan.

§ 250.1506 How often must I train my employees?
You determine the frequency of the training you provide your employees. You must do all of the following:
(a) Provide periodic training to ensure that employees maintain understanding of, and competency in, well
control, deepwater well control, or production safety practices;
(b) Establish procedures to verify adequate retention of the knowledge and skills that employees need to
perform their assigned well control, deepwater well control, or production safety duties; and
(c) Ensure that your contractors' training programs provide for periodic training and verification of well
control, deepwater well control, or production safety knowledge and skills.

§ 250.1507 How will BSEE measure training results?
BSEE may periodically assess your training program, using one or more of the methods in this section.
(a) Training system audit. BSEE or its authorized representative may conduct a training system audit at your
office. The training system audit will compare your training program against this subpart. You must be
prepared to explain your overall training program and produce evidence to support your explanation.
(b) Employee or contract personnel interviews. BSEE or its authorized representative may conduct interviews
at either onshore or offshore locations to inquire about the types of training that were provided, when and
where this training was conducted, and how effective the training was.
(c) Employee or contract personnel testing. BSEE or its authorized representative may conduct testing at
either onshore or offshore locations for the purpose of evaluating an individual's knowledge and skills in
perfecting well control, deepwater well control, and production safety duties.
(d) Hands-on production safety, simulator, or live well testing. BSEE or its authorized representative may
conduct tests at either onshore or offshore locations. Tests will be designed to evaluate the competency
of your employees or contract personnel in performing their assigned well control, deepwater well control,
and production safety duties. You are responsible for the costs associated with this testing, excluding
salary and travel costs for BSEE personnel.

§ 250.1508 What must I do when BSEE administers written or oral tests?
BSEE or its authorized representative may test your employees or contract personnel at your worksite or at an
onshore location. You and your contractors must:
(a) Allow BSEE or its authorized representative to administer written or oral tests; and

30 CFR 250.1508(a) (enhanced display)

page 272 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1508(b)

(b) Identify personnel by current position, years of experience in present position, years of total oil field
experience, and employer's name (e.g., operator, contractor, or sub-contractor company name).

§ 250.1509 What must I do when BSEE administers or requires hands-on, simulator, or other
types of testing?
If BSEE or its authorized representative conducts, or requires you or your contractor to conduct hands-on, simulator,
or other types of testing, you must:
(a) Allow BSEE or its authorized representative to administer or witness the testing;
(b) Identify personnel by current position, years of experience in present position, years of total oil field
experience, and employer's name (e.g., operator, contractor, or sub-contractor company name); and
(c) Pay for all costs associated with the testing, excluding salary and travel costs for BSEE personnel.

§ 250.1510 What will BSEE do if my training program does not comply with this subpart?
If BSEE determines that your training program is not in compliance, we may initiate one or more of the following
enforcement actions:
(a) Issue an Incident of Noncompliance (INC);
(b) Require you to revise and submit to BSEE your training plan to address identified deficiencies;
(c) Assess civil/criminal penalties; or
(d) Initiate disqualification procedures.

Subpart P—Sulphur Operations
§ 250.1600 Performance standard.
Operations to discover, develop, and produce sulphur in the OCS shall be in accordance with a BOEM-approved
Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan and shall be conducted in a manner to protect against harm
or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, natural resources of the OCS including any mineral
deposits (in areas leased or not leased), the National security or defense, and the marine, coastal, or human
environment.

§ 250.1601 Definitions.
Terms used in this subpart shall have the meanings as defined below:
Air line means a tubing string that is used to inject air within a sulphur producing well to airlift sulphur out of the
well.
Bleedwater means a mixture of mine water or booster water and connate water that is produced by a bleedwell.
Bleedwell means a well drilled into a producing sulphur deposit that is used to control the mine pressure
generated by the injection of mine water.
Brine means the water containing dissolved salt obtained from a brine well by circulating water into and out of a
cavity in the salt core of a salt dome.
30 CFR 250.1601 “Brine” (enhanced display)

page 273 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1601 “Brine well”

Brine well means a well drilled through cap rock into the core at a salt dome for the purpose of producing brine.
Cap rock means the rock formation, a body of limestone, anhydride, and/or gypsum, overlying a salt dome.
Sulphur deposit means a formation of rock that contains elemental sulphur.
Sulphur production rate means the number of long tons of sulphur produced during a certain period of time,
usually per day.

§ 250.1602 Applicability.
(a) The requirements of this subpart P are applicable to all exploration, development, and production
operations under an OCS sulphur lease. Sulphur operations include all activities conducted under a lease
for the purpose of discovery or delineation of a sulphur deposit and for the development and production
of elemental sulphur. Sulphur operations also include activities conducted for related purposes. Activities
conducted for related purposes include, but are not limited to, production of other minerals, such as salt,
for use in the exploration for or the development and production of sulphur. The lessee must have
obtained the right to produce and/or use these other minerals.
(b) Lessees conducting sulphur operations in the OCS shall comply with the requirements of the applicable
provisions of subparts A, B, C, I, J, M, N, O, and Q of this part and the applicable provisions of 30 CFR 550
subparts A, B, C, J and N.
(c) Lessees conducting sulphur operations in the OCS are also required to comply with the requirements in
the applicable provisions of subparts D, E, F, H, K, and L of this part and the applicable provisions of 30
CFR 550, subpart K, where such provisions specifically are referenced in this subpart.

§ 250.1603 Determination of sulphur deposit.
(a) Upon receipt of a written request from the lessee, the District Manager will determine whether a sulphur
deposit has been defined that contains sulphur in paying quantities (i.e., sulphur in quantities sufficient to
yield a return in excess of the costs, after completion of the wells, of producing minerals at the
wellheads).
(b) A determination under paragraph (a) of this section shall be based upon the following:
(1) Core analyses that indicate the presence of a producible sulphur deposit (including an assay of
elemental sulphur);
(2) An estimate of the amount of recoverable sulphur in long tons over a specified period of time; and
(3) Contour map of the cap rock together with isopach map showing the extent and estimated thickness
of the sulphur deposit.

§ 250.1604 General requirements.
Sulphur lessees shall comply with requirements of this section when conducting well-drilling, well-completion, wellworkover, or production operations.
(a) Equipment movement. The movement of well-drilling, well-completion, or well-workover rigs and related
equipment on and off an offshore platform, or from one well to another well on the same offshore
platform, including rigging up and rigging down, shall be conducted in a safe manner.

30 CFR 250.1604(a) (enhanced display)

page 274 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1604(b)

(b) Hydrogen sulfide (H2S). When a drilling, well-completion, well-workover, or production operation is being
conducted on a well in zones known to contain H2S or in zones where the presence of H2S is unknown (as
defined in § 250.490 of this part), the lessee shall take appropriate precautions to protect life and
property, especially during operations such as dismantling wellhead equipment and flow lines and
circulating the well. The lessee shall also take appropriate precautions when H2S is generated as a result
of sulphur production operations. The lessee shall comply with the requirements in § 250.490 of this part
as well as the requirements of this subpart.
(c) Welding and burning practices and procedures. All welding, burning, and hot-tapping activities involved in
drilling, well-completion, well-workover or production operations shall be conducted with properly
maintained equipment, trained personnel, and appropriate procedures in order to minimize the danger to
life and property according to the specific requirements in §§ 250.109 through 250.113 of this part.
(d) Electrical requirements. All electrical equipment and systems involved in drilling, well-completion, wellworkover, and production operations shall be designed, installed, equipped, protected, operated, and
maintained so as to minimize the danger to life and property in accordance with the requirements of §
250.114 of this part.
(e) Structures on fixed OCS platforms. Derricks, cranes, masts, substructures, and related equipment shall be
selected, designed, installed, used, and maintained so as to be adequate for the potential loads and
conditions of loading that may be encountered during the operations. Prior to moving equipment such as
a well-drilling, well-completion, or well-workover rig or associated equipment or production equipment
onto a platform, the lessee shall determine the structural capability of the platform to safely support the
equipment and operations, taking into consideration corrosion protection, platform age, and previous
stresses.
(f) Traveling-block safety device. All drilling units being used for drilling, well-completion, or well-workover
operations that have both a traveling block and a crown block must be equipped with a safety device that
is designed to prevent the traveling block from striking the crown block. The device must be checked for
proper operation weekly and after each drill-line slipping operation. The results of the operational check
must be entered in the operations log.

§ 250.1605 Drilling requirements.
(a) Sulphur leases. Lessees of OCS sulphur leases shall conduct drilling operations in accordance with §§
250.1605 through 250.1619 of this subpart and with other requirements of this part, as appropriate.
(b) Fitness of drilling unit.
(1) Drilling units shall be capable of withstanding the oceanographic and meteorological conditions for
the proposed season and location of operations.
(2) Prior to commencing operation, drilling units shall be made available for a complete inspection by
the District Manager.
(3) The lessee shall provide information and data on the fitness of the drilling unit to perform the
proposed drilling operation. The information shall be submitted with, or prior to, the submission of
Form BSEE–0123, Application for Permit to Drill (APD), in accordance with § 250.1617 of this
subpart. After a drilling unit has been approved by a BSEE district office, the information required in
this paragraph need not be resubmitted unless required by the District Manager or there are changes
in the equipment that affect the rated capacity of the unit.

30 CFR 250.1605(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 275 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1605(c)

(c) Oceanographic, meteorological, and drilling unit performance data. Where oceanographic, meteorological,
and drilling unit performance data are not otherwise readily available, lessees shall collect and report
such data upon request to the District Manager. The type of information to be collected and reported will
be determined by the District Manager in the interests of safety in the conduct of operations and the
structural integrity of the drilling unit.
(d) Foundation requirements. When the lessee fails to provide sufficient information pursuant to 30 CFR
550.211 through 550.228 and 30 CFR 550.241 through 550.262 to support a determination that the
seafloor is capable of supporting a specific bottom-founded drilling unit under the site-specific soil and
oceanographic conditions, the District Manager may require that additional surveys and soil borings be
performed and the results submitted for review and evaluation by the District Manager before approval is
granted for commencing drilling operations.
(e) Tests, surveys, and samples.
(1) Lessees shall drill and take cores and/or run well and mud logs through the objective interval to
determine the presence, quality, and quantity of sulphur and other minerals (e.g., oil and gas) in the
cap rock and the outline of the commercial sulphur deposit.
(2) Inclinational surveys shall be obtained on all vertical wells at intervals not exceeding 1,000 feet
during the normal course of drilling. Directional surveys giving both inclination and azimuth shall be
obtained on all directionally drilled wells at intervals not exceeding 500 feet during the normal course
of drilling and at intervals not exceeding 200 feet in all planned angle-change portions of the
borehole.
(3) Directional surveys giving both inclination and azimuth shall be obtained on both vertically and
directionally drilled wells at intervals not exceeding 500 feet prior to or upon setting a string of
casing, or production liner, and at total depth. Composite directional surveys shall be prepared with
the interval shown from the bottom of the conductor casing. In calculating all surveys, a correction
from the true north to Universal-Transverse-Mercator-Grid-north or Lambert-Grid-north shall be made
after making the magnetic-to-true-north correction. A composite dipmeter directional survey or a
composite measurement while-drilling directional survey will be acceptable as fulfilling the
applicable requirements of this paragraph.
(4) Wells are classified as vertical if the calculated average of inclination readings weighted by the
respective interval lengths between readings from surface to drilled depth does not exceed 3
degrees from the vertical. When the calculated average inclination readings weighted by the length
of the respective interval between readings from the surface to drilled depth exceeds 3 degrees, the
well is classified as directional.
(5) At the request of a holder of an adjoining lease, the Regional Supervisor may, for the protection of
correlative rights, furnish a copy of the directional survey to that leaseholder.
(f) Fixed drilling platforms. Applications for installation of fixed drilling platforms or structures including
artificial islands shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of subpart I, Platforms and
Structures, of this part. Mobile drilling units that have their jacking equipment removed or have been
otherwise immobilized are classified as fixed bottom founded drilling platforms.
(g) Crane operations. You must operate a crane installed on fixed platforms according to § 250.108 of this
subpart.

30 CFR 250.1605(g) (enhanced display)

page 276 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1605(h)

(h) Diesel-engine air intakes. Diesel-engine air intakes must be equipped with a device to shut down the diesel
engine in the event of runaway. Diesel engines that are continuously attended must be equipped with
either remote-operated manual or automatic-shutdown devices. Diesel engines that are not continuously
attended must be equipped with automatic shutdown devices.

§ 250.1606 Control of wells.
The lessee shall take necessary precautions to keep its wells under control at all times. Operations shall be
conducted in a safe and workmanlike manner. The lessee shall utilize the best available and safest drilling
technologies and state-of-the-art methods to evaluate and minimize the potential for a well to flow or kick. The
lessee shall utilize personnel who are trained and competent and shall utilize and maintain equipment and materials
necessary to assure the safety and protection of personnel, equipment, natural resources, and the environment.

§ 250.1607 Field rules.
When geological and engineering information in a field enables a District Manager to determine specific operating
requirements, field rules may be established for drilling, well completion, or well workover on the District Manager's
initiative or in response to a request from a lessee; such rules may modify the specific requirements of this subpart.
After field rules have been established, operations in the field shall be conducted in accordance with such rules and
other requirements of this subpart. Field rules may be amended or canceled for cause at any time upon the initiative
of the District Manager or upon the request of a lessee.

§ 250.1608 Well casing and cementing.
(a) General requirements.
(1) For the purpose of this subpart, the several casing strings in order of normal installation are:
(i)

Drive or structural,

(ii) Conductor,
(iii) Cap rock casing,
(iv) Bobtail cap rock casing (required when the cap rock casing does not penetrate into the cap
rock),
(v) Second cap rock casing (brine wells), and
(vi) Production liner.
(2) The lessee shall case and cement all wells with a sufficient number of strings of casing cemented in
a manner necessary to prevent release of fluids from any stratum through the wellbore (directly or
indirectly) into the sea, protect freshwater aquifers from contamination, support unconsolidated
sediments, and otherwise provide a means of control of the formation pressures and fluids. Cement
composition, placement techniques, and waiting time shall be designed and conducted so that the
cement in place behind the bottom 500 feet of casing or total length of annular cement fill, if less,
attains a minimum compressive strength of 160 pounds per square inch (psi).
(3) The lessee shall install casing designed to withstand the anticipated stresses imposed by tensile,
compressive, and buckling loads; burst and collapse pressures; thermal effects; and combinations
thereof. Safety factors in the drilling and casing program designs shall be of sufficient magnitude to
provide well control during drilling and to assure safe operations for the life of the well.
30 CFR 250.1608(a)(3) (enhanced display)

page 277 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1608(a)(4)

(4) In cases where cement has filled the annular space back to the mud line, the cement may be washed
out or displaced to a depth not exceeding the depth of the structural casing shoe to facilitate casing
removal upon well abandonment if the District Manager determines that subsurface protection
against damage to freshwater aquifers and against damage caused by adverse loads, pressures,
and fluid flows is not jeopardized.
(5) If there are indications of inadequate cementing (such as lost returns, cement channeling, or
mechanical failure of equipment), the lessee shall evaluate the adequacy of the cementing
operations by pressure testing the casing shoe. If the test indicates inadequate cementing, the
lessee shall initiate remedial action as approved by the District Manager. For cap rock casing, the
test for adequacy of cementing shall be the pressure testing of the annulus between the cap rock
and the conductor casings. The pressure shall not exceed 70 percent of the burst pressure of the
conductor casing or 70 percent of the collapse pressure of the cap rock casing.
(b) Drive or structural casing. This casing shall be set by driving, jetting, or drilling to a minimum depth of 100
feet below the mud line or such other depth, as may be required or approved by the District Manager, in
order to support unconsolidated deposits and to provide hole stability for initial drilling operations. If this
portion of the hole is drilled, a quantity of cement sufficient to fill the annular space back to the mud line
shall be used.
(c) Conductor and cap rock casing setting and cementing requirements.
(1) Conductor and cap rock casing design and setting depths shall be based upon relevant engineering
and geologic factors including the presence or absence of hydrocarbons, potential hazards, and
water depths. The proposed casing setting depths may be varied, subject to District Manager
approval, to permit the casing to be set in a competent formation or through formations determined
desirable to be isolated from the wellbore by casing for safer drilling operations. However, the
conductor casing shall be set immediately prior to drilling into formations known to contain oil or
gas or, if unknown, upon encountering such formations. Cap rock casing shall be set and cemented
through formations known to contain oil or gas or, if unknown, upon encountering such formations.
Upon encountering unexpected formation pressures, the lessee shall submit a revised casing
program to the District Manager for approval.
(2) Conductor casing shall be cemented with a quantity of cement that fills the calculated annular space
back to the mud line. Cement fill shall be verified by the observation of cement returns. In the event
that observation of cement returns is not feasible, additional quantities of cement shall be used to
assure fill to the mud line.
(3) Cap rock casing shall be cemented with a quantity of cement that fills the calculated annular space
to at least 200 feet inside the conductor casing. When geologic conditions such as near surface
fractures and faulting exist, cap rock casing shall be cemented with a quantity of cement that fills
the calculated annular space to the mud line, unless otherwise approved by the District Manager. In
brine wells, the second cap rock casing shall be cemented with a quantity of cement that fills the
calculated annular space to at least 200 feet above the setting depth of the first cap rock casing.
(d) Bobtail cap rock casing setting and cementing requirements.
(1) Bobtail cap rock casing shall be set on or just in cap rock and lapped a minimum of 100 feet into the
previous casing string.
(2) Sufficient cement shall be used to fill the annular space to the top of the bobtail cap rock casing.

30 CFR 250.1608(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 278 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1608(e)

(e) Production liner setting and cementing requirements.
(1) Production liners for sulphur wells and bleedwells shall be set in cap rock at or above the bottom of
the open hole (hole that is open in cap rock, below the bottom of the cap rock casing) and lapped
into the previous casing string or to the surface. For brine wells, the liner shall be set in salt and
lapped into the previous casing string or to the surface.
(2) The production liner is not required to be cemented unless the cap rock contains oil or gas. If the cap
rock contains oil or gas, sufficient cement shall be used to fill the annular space to the top of the
production liner.

§ 250.1609 Pressure testing of casing.
(a) Prior to drilling the plug after cementing, all casing strings, except the drive or structural casing, shall be
pressure tested. The conductor casing shall be tested to at least 200 psi. All casing strings below the
conductor casing shall be tested to 500 psi or 0.22 psi/ft, whichever is greater. (When oil or gas is not
present in the cap rock, the production liner need not be cemented in place; thus, it would not be subject
to pressure testing.) If the pressure declines more than 10 percent in 30 minutes or if there is another
indication of a leak, the casing shall be recemented, repaired, or an additional casing string run and the
casing tested again. The above procedures shall be repeated until a satisfactory test is obtained. The
time, conditions of testing, and results of all casing pressure tests shall be recorded in the driller's report.
(b) After cementing any string of casing other than structural, drilling shall not be resumed until there has
been a time lapse of at least 8 hours under pressure for the conductor casing string or 12 hours under
pressure for all other casing strings. Cement is considered under pressure if one or more float valves are
shown to be holding the cement in place or when other means of holding pressure are used.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36151, June 6, 2016]

§ 250.1610 Blowout preventer systems and system components.
(a) General. The blowout preventer (BOP) systems and system components shall be designed, installed, used,
maintained, and tested to assure well control.
(b) BOP stacks. The BOP stacks shall consist of an annular preventer and the number of ram-type preventers
as specified under paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. The pipe rams shall be of proper size to fit the
drill pipe in use.
(c) Working pressure. The working-pressure rating of any BOP shall exceed the surface pressure to which it
may be anticipated to be subjected.
(d) BOP equipment. All BOP systems shall be equipped and provided with the following:
(1) An accumulator system that provides sufficient capacity to supply 1.5 times the volume necessary to
close and hold closed all BOP equipment units with a minimum pressure of 200 psi above the
precharge pressure, without assistance from a charging system. Accumulator regulators supplied by
rig air that do not have a secondary source of pneumatic supply must be equipped with manual
overrides or other devices alternately provided to ensure capability of hydraulic operations if rig air is
lost.
(2) An automatic backup to the accumulator system. The backup system shall be supplied by a power
source independent from the power source to the primary accumulator system. The automatic
backup system shall possess sufficient capability to close the BOP and hold it closed.
30 CFR 250.1610(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 279 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1610(d)(3)

(3) At least one operable remote BOP control station in addition to the one on the drilling floor. This
control station shall be in a readily accessible location away from the drilling floor.
(4) A drilling spool with side outlets, if side outlets are not provided in the body of the BOP stack, to
provide for separate kill and choke lines.
(5) A choke line and a kill line each equipped with two full-opening valves. At least one of the valves on
the choke line and one valve on the kill line shall be remotely controlled, except that a check valve
may be installed on the kill line in lieu of the remotely controlled valve, provided that two readily
accessible manual valves are in place and the check valve is placed between the manual valve and
the pump.
(6) A fill-up line above the uppermost preventer.
(7) A choke manifold designed with consideration of anticipated pressures to which it may be subjected,
method of well control to be employed, surrounding environment, and corrosiveness, volume, and
abrasiveness of fluids. The choke manifold shall also meet the following requirements:
(i)

Manifold and choke equipment subject to well and/or pump pressure shall have a rated working
pressure at least as great as the rated working pressure of the ram-type BOP's or as otherwise
approved by the District Manager;

(ii) All components of the choke manifold system shall be protected from freezing by heating,
draining, or filling with proper fluids; and
(iii) When buffer tanks are installed downstream of the choke assemblies for the purpose of
manifolding the bleed lines together, isolation valves shall be installed on each line.
(8) Valves, pipes, flexible steel hoses, and other fittings upstream of, and including, the choke manifold
with a pressure rating at least as great as the rated working pressure of the ram-type BOP's unless
otherwise approved by the District Manager.
(9) A wellhead assembly with a rated working pressure that exceeds the pressure to which it might be
subjected.
(10) The following system components:
(i)

A kelly cock (an essentially full-opening valve) installed below the swivel and a similar valve of
such design that it can be run through the BOP stack installed at the bottom of the kelly. A
wrench to fit each valve shall be stored in a location readily accessible to the drilling crew;

(ii) An inside BOP and an essentially full-opening, drill-string safety valve in the open position on the
rig floor at all times while drilling operations are being conducted. These valves shall be
maintained on the rig floor to fit all connections that are in the drill string. A wrench to fit the
drill-string safety valve shall be stored in a location readily accessible to the drilling crew;
(iii) A safety valve available on the rig floor assembled with the proper connection to fit the casing
string being run in the hole; and
(iv) Locking devices installed on the ram-type preventers.
(e) BOP requirements. Prior to drilling below cap rock casing, a BOP system shall be installed consisting of at
least three remote-controlled, hydraulically operated BOP's including at least one equipped with pipe rams,
one with blind rams, and one annular type.
30 CFR 250.1610(e) (enhanced display)

page 280 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1610(f)

(f) Tapered drill-string operations. Prior to commencing tapered drill-string operations, the BOP stack shall be
equipped with conventional and/or variable-bore pipe rams to provide either of the following:
(1) One set of variable bore rams capable of sealing around both sizes in the string and one set of blind
rams, or
(2) One set of pipe rams capable of sealing around the larger size string, provided that blind-shear ram
capability is present, and crossover subs to the larger size pipe are readily available on the rig floor.

§ 250.1611 Blowout preventer systems tests, actuations, inspections, and maintenance.
(a) Prior to conducting high-pressure tests, all BOP systems shall be tested to a pressure of 200 to 300 psi.
(b) Ram-type BOP's and the choke manifold shall be pressure tested with water to rated working pressure or
as otherwise approved by the District Manager. Annular type BOP's shall be pressure tested with water to
70 percent of rated working pressure or as otherwise approved by the District Manager.
(c) In conjunction with the weekly pressure test of BOP systems required in paragraph (d) of this section, the
choke manifold valves, upper and lower kelly cocks, and drill-string safety valves shall be pressure tested
to pipe-ram test pressures. Safety valves with proper casing connections shall be actuated prior to
running casing.
(d) BOP system shall be pressure tested as follows:
(1) When installed;
(2) Before drilling out each string of casing or before continuing operations in cases where cement is
not drilled out;
(3) At least once each week, but not exceeding 7 days between pressure tests, alternating between
control stations. If either control system is not functional, further drilling operations shall be
suspended until that system becomes operable. A period of more than 7 days between BOP tests is
allowed when there is a stuck drill pipe or there are pressure control operations and remedial efforts
are being performed, provided that the pressure tests are conducted as soon as possible and before
normal operations resume. The date, time, and reason for postponing pressure testing shall be
entered into the driller's report. Pressure testing shall be performed at intervals to allow each drilling
crew to operate the equipment. The weekly pressure test is not required for blind and blind-shear
rams;
(4) Blind and blind-shear rams shall be actuated at least once every 7 days. Closing pressure on the
blind and blind-shear rams greater than necessary to indicate proper operation of the rams is not
required;
(5) Variable bore-pipe rams shall be pressure tested against all sizes of pipe in use, excluding drill
collars and bottomhole tools; and
(6) Following the disconnection or repair of any well-pressure containment seal in the wellhead/BOP
stack assembly. In this situation, the pressure tests may be limited to the affected component.
(e) All BOP systems shall be inspected and maintained to assure that the equipment will function properly.
The BOP systems shall be visually inspected at least once each day. The manufacturer's recommended
inspection and maintenance procedures are acceptable as guidelines in complying with this requirement.

30 CFR 250.1611(e) (enhanced display)

page 281 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1611(f)

(f) The lessee shall record pressure conditions during BOP tests on pressure charts, unless otherwise
approved by the District Manager. The test duration for each BOP component tested shall be sufficient to
demonstrate that the component is effectively holding pressure. The charts shall be certified as correct
by the operator's representative at the facility.
(g) The time, date, and results of all pressure tests, actuations, inspections, and crew drills of the BOP system
and system components shall be recorded in the driller's report. The BOP tests shall be documented in
accordance with the following:
(1) The documentation shall indicate the sequential order of BOP and auxiliary equipment testing and
the pressure and duration of each test. As an alternate, the documentation in the driller's report may
reference a BOP test plan that contains the required information and is retained on file at the facility.
(2) The control station used during the test shall be identified in the driller's report.
(3) Any problems or irregularities observed during BOP and auxiliary equipment testing and any actions
taken to remedy such problems or irregularities shall be noted in the driller's report.
(4) Documentation required to be entered in the driller's report may instead be referenced in the driller's
report. All records, including pressure charts, driller's report, and referenced documents, pertaining to
BOP tests, actuations, and inspections, shall be available for BSEE review at the facility for the
duration of the drilling activity. Following completion of the drilling activity, all drilling records shall be
retained for a period of 2 years at the facility, at the lessee's field office nearest the OCS facility, or at
another location conveniently available to the District Manager.

§ 250.1612 Well-control drills.
Well-control drills must be conducted for each drilling crew in accordance with the requirements set forth in §
250.711 or as approved by the District Manager.
[81 FR 26037, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.1613 Diverter systems.
(a) When drilling a conductor or cap rock hole, all drilling units shall be equipped with a diverter system
consisting of a diverter sealing element, diverter lines, and control systems. The diverter system shall be
designed, installed, and maintained so as to divert gases, water, mud, and other materials away from the
facilities and personnel.
(b) The diverter system shall be equipped with remote-control valves in the flow lines that can be operated
from at least one remote-control station in addition to the one on the drilling floor. Any valve used in a
diverter system shall be full opening. No manual or butterfly valves shall be installed in any part of a
diverter system. There shall be a minimum number of turns in the vent line(s) downstream of the spool
outlet flange, and the radius of curvature of turns shall be as large as practicable. Flexible hose may be
used for diversion lines instead of rigid pipe if the flexible hose has integral end couplings. The entire
diverter system shall be firmly anchored and supported to prevent whipping and vibrations. All diverter
control equipment and lines shall be protected from physical damage from thrown and falling objects.
(c) For drilling operations conducted with a surface wellhead configuration, the following shall apply:
(1) If the diverter system utilizes only one spool outlet, branch lines shall be installed to provide
downwind diversion capability, and
30 CFR 250.1613(c)(1) (enhanced display)

page 282 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1613(c)(2)

(2) No spool outlet or diverter line internal diameter shall be less than 10 inches, except that dual spool
outlets are acceptable if each outlet has a minimum internal diameter of 8 inches, and both outlets
are piped to overboard lines and that each line downstream of the changeover nipple at the spool
has a minimum internal diameter of 10 inches.
(d) The diverter sealing element and diverter valves shall be pressure tested to a minimum of 200 psi when
nippled upon conductor casing. No more than 7 days shall elapse between subsequent pressure tests.
The diverter sealing element, diverter valves, and diverter control systems (including the remote) shall be
actuation tested, and the diverter lines shall be tested for flow prior to spudding and thereafter at least
once each 24-hour period alternating between control stations. All test times and results shall be
recorded in the driller's report.

§ 250.1614 Mud program.
(a) The quantities, characteristics, use, and testing of drilling mud and the related drilling procedures shall be
designed and implemented to prevent the loss of well control.
(b) The lessee shall comply with requirements concerning mud control, mud test and monitoring equipment,
mud quantities, and safety precautions in enclosed mud handling areas as prescribed in §§ 250.455
through 250.459 of this part, except that the installation of an operable degasser in the mud system as
required in § 250.456(g) is not required for sulphur operations.

§ 250.1615 Securing of wells.
A downhole-safety device such as a cement plug, bridge plug, or packer shall be timely installed when drilling
operations are interrupted by events such as those that force evacuation of the drilling crew, prevent station
keeping, or require repairs to major drilling units or well-control equipment. The use of blind-shear rams or pipe
rams and an inside BOP may be approved by the District Manager in lieu of the above requirements if cap rock
casing has been set.

§ 250.1616 Supervision, surveillance, and training.
(a) The lessee shall provide onsite supervision of drilling operations at all times.
(b) From the time drilling operations are initiated and until the well is completed or abandoned, a member of
the drilling crew or the toolpusher shall maintain rig-floor surveillance continuously, unless the well is
secured with BOP's, bridge plugs, packers, or cement plugs.
(c) Lessee and drilling contractor personnel shall be trained and qualified in accordance with the provisions
of subpart O of this part. Records of specific training that lessee and drilling contractor personnel have
successfully completed, the dates of completion, and the names and dates of the courses shall be
maintained at the drill site.

§ 250.1617 Application for permit to drill.
(a) Before drilling a well under a BOEM-approved Exploration Plan, Development and Production Plan, or
Development Operations Coordination Document, you must file Form BSEE–0123, APD, with the District
Manager for approval. The submission of your APD must be accompanied by payment of the service fee
listed in § 250.125. Before starting operations, you must receive written approval from the District
Manager unless you received oral approval under § 250.140.

30 CFR 250.1617(a) (enhanced display)

page 283 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1617(b)

(b) An APD shall include rated capacities of the proposed drilling unit and of major drilling equipment. After a
drilling unit has been approved for use in a BSEE district, the information need not be resubmitted unless
required by the District Manager or there are changes in the equipment that affect the rated capacity of
the unit.
(c) An APD shall include a fully completed Form BSEE–0123 and the following:
(1) A plat, drawn to a scale of 2,000 feet to the inch, showing the surface and subsurface location of the
well to be drilled and of all the wells previously drilled in the vicinity from which information is
available. For development wells on a lease, the wells previously drilled in the vicinity need not be
shown on the plat. Locations shall be indicated in feet from the nearest block line;
(2) The design criteria considered for the well and for well control, including the following:
(i)

Pore pressure;

(ii) Formation fracture gradients;
(iii) Potential lost circulation zones;
(iv) Mud weights;
(v) Casing setting depths;
(vi) Anticipated surface pressures (which for purposes of this section are defined as the pressure
that can reasonably be expected to be exerted upon a casing string and its related wellhead
equipment). In the calculation of anticipated surface pressure, the lessee shall take into
account the drilling, completion, and producing conditions. The lessee shall consider mud
densities to be used below various casing strings, fracture gradients of the exposed formations,
casing setting depths, and cementing intervals, total well depth, formation fluid type, and other
pertinent conditions. Considerations for calculating anticipated surface pressure may vary for
each segment of the well. The lessee shall include as a part of the statement of anticipated
surface pressure the calculations used to determine this pressure during the drilling phase and
the completion phase, including the anticipated surface pressure used for production string
design; and
(vii) If a shallow hazards site survey is conducted, the lessee shall submit with or prior to the
submittal of the APD, two copies of a summary report describing the geological and manmade
conditions present. The lessee shall also submit two copies of the site maps and data records
identified in the survey strategy.
(3) A BOP equipment program including the following:
(i)

The pressure rating of BOP equipment,

(ii) A schematic drawing of the diverter system to be used (plan and elevation views) showing
spool outlet internal diameter(s); diverter line lengths and diameters, burst strengths, and
radius of curvature at each turn; valve type, size, working-pressure rating, and location; the
control instrumentation logic; and the operating procedure to be used by personnel, and
(iii) A schematic drawing of the BOP stack showing the inside diameter of the BOP stack and the
number of annular, pipe ram, variable-bore pipe ram, blind ram, and blind-shear ram preventers.
(4) A casing program including the following:
30 CFR 250.1617(c)(4) (enhanced display)

page 284 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

(i)

30 CFR 250.1617(c)(4)(i)

Casing size, weight, grade, type of connection and setting depth, and

(ii) Casing design safety factors for tension, collapse, and burst with the assumptions made to
arrive at these values.
(5) The drilling prognosis including the following:
(i)

Estimated coring intervals,

(ii) Estimated depths to the top of significant marker formations, and
(iii) Estimated depths at which encounters with fresh water, sulphur, oil, gas, or abnormally
pressured water are expected.
(6) A cementing program including type and amount of cement in cubic feet to be used for each casing
string;
(7) A mud program including the minimum quantities of mud and mud materials, including weight
materials, to be kept at the site;
(8) A directional survey program for directionally drilled wells;
(9) An H2S Contingency Plan, if applicable, and if not previously submitted; and
(10) Such other information as may be required by the District Manager.
(d) Public information copies of the APD shall be submitted in accordance with § 250.186 of this part.

§ 250.1618 Application for permit to modify.
(a) You must submit requests for changes in plans, changes in major drilling equipment, proposals to deepen,
sidetrack, complete, workover, or plug back a well, or engage in similar activities to the District Manager
on Form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify (APM). The submission of your APM must be
accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. Before starting operations associated
with the change, you must receive written approval from the District Manager unless you received oral
approval under § 250.140.
(b) The Form BSEE–0124 submittal shall contain a detailed statement of the proposed work that will
materially change from the work described in the approved APD. Information submitted shall include the
present state of the well, including the production liner and last string of casing, the well depth and
production zone, and the well's capability to produce. Within 30 days after completion of the work, a
subsequent detailed report of all the work done and the results obtained shall be submitted.
(c) Public information copies of Form BSEE–0124 shall be submitted in accordance with § 250.186 of this
part.

§ 250.1619 Well records.
(a) Complete and accurate records for each well and all well operations shall be retained for a period of 2
years at the lessee's field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to
the District Manager. The records shall contain a description of any significant malfunction or problem; all
the formations penetrated; the content and character of sulphur in each formation if cored and analyzed;
the kind, weight, size, grade, and setting depth of casing; all well logs and surveys run in the wellbore; and

30 CFR 250.1619(a) (enhanced display)

page 285 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1619(b)

all other information required by the District Manager in the interests of resource evaluation, prevention of
waste, conservation of natural resources, protection of correlative rights, safety of operations, and
environmental protection.
(b) When drilling operations are suspended or temporarily prohibited under the provisions of § 250.170 of this
part, the lessee shall, within 30 days after termination of the suspension or temporary prohibition or within
30 days after the completion of any activities related to the suspension or prohibition, transmit to the
District Manager duplicate copies of the records of all activities related to and conducted during the
suspension or temporary prohibition on, or attached to, Form BSEE–0125, End of Operations Report, or
Form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify, as appropriate.
(c) Upon request by the District Manager or Regional Supervisor, the lessee shall furnish the following:
(1) Copies of the records of any of the well operations specified in paragraph (a) of this section;
(2) Copies of the driller's report at a frequency as determined by the District Manager. Items to be
reported include spud dates, casing setting depths, cement quantities, casing characteristics, mud
weights, lost returns, and any unusual activities; and
(3) Legible, exact copies of reports on cementing, acidizing, analyses of cores, testing, or other similar
services.
(d) As soon as available, the lessee shall transmit copies of logs and charts developed by well-logging
operations, directional-well surveys, and core analyses. Composite logs of multiple runs and directionalwell surveys shall be transmitted to the District Manager in duplicate as soon as available but not later
than 30 days after completion of such operations for each well.
(e) If the District Manager determines that circumstances warrant, the lessee shall submit any other reports
and records of operations in the manner and form prescribed by the District Manager.

§ 250.1620 Well-completion and well-workover requirements.
(a) Lessees shall conduct well-completion and well-workover operations in sulphur wells, bleedwells, and
brine wells in accordance with §§ 250.1620 through 250.1626 of this part and other provisions of this
part as appropriate (see §§ 250.501 and 250.601 of this part for the definition of well-completion and
well-workover operations).
(b) Well-completion and well-workover operations shall be conducted in a manner to protect against harm or
damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, natural resources of the OCS including any
mineral deposits (in areas leased and not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal,
or human environment.

§ 250.1621 Crew instructions.
Prior to engaging in well-completion or well-workover operations, crew members shall be instructed in the safety
requirements of the operations to be performed, possible hazards to be encountered, and general safety
considerations to protect personnel, equipment, and the environment. Date and time of safety meetings shall be
recorded and available for BSEE review.

30 CFR 250.1621 (enhanced display)

page 286 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1622

§ 250.1622 Approvals and reporting of well-completion and well-workover operations.
(a) No well-completion or well-workover operation shall begin until the lessee receives written approval from
the District Manager. Approval for such operations shall be requested on Form BSEE–0124. Approvals by
the District Manager shall be based upon a determination that the operations will be conducted in a
manner to protect against harm or damage to life, property, natural resources of the OCS, including any
mineral deposits, the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human environment.
(b) The following information shall be submitted with Form BSEE–0124 (or with Form BSEE–0123):
(1) A brief description of the well-completion or well-workover procedures to be followed;
(2) When changes in existing subsurface equipment are proposed, a schematic drawing showing the
well equipment; and
(3) Where the well is in zones known to contain H2S or zones where the presence of H2S is unknown, a
description of the safety precautions to be implemented.
(c)
(1) Within 30 days after completion, Form BSEE–0125, including a schematic of the tubing and the
results of any well tests, shall be submitted to the District Manager.
(2) Within 30 days after completing the well-workover operation, except routine operations, Form
BSEE–0124 shall be submitted to the District Manager and shall include the results of any well tests
and a new schematic of the well if any subsurface equipment has been changed.

§ 250.1623 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
(a) Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations shall be designed, utilized, maintained, and/or tested as
necessary to control the well in foreseeable conditions and circumstances, including subfreezing
conditions. The well shall be continuously monitored during well-completion and well-workover operations
and shall not be left unattended at any time unless the well is shut in and secured;
(b) The following well-control fluid equipment shall be installed, maintained, and utilized:
(1) A fill-up line above the uppermost BOP,
(2) A well-control fluid-volume measuring device for determining fluid volumes when filling the hole on
trips, and
(3) A recording mud-pit-level indicator to determine mud-pit-volume gains and losses. This indicator
shall include both a visual and an audible warning device.
(c) When coming out of the hole with drill pipe or a workover string, the annulus shall be filled with wellcontrol fluid before the change in fluid level decreases the hydrostatic pressure 75 psi or every five stands
of drill pipe or workover string, whichever gives a lower decrease in hydrostatic pressure. The number of
stands of drill pipe or workover string and drill collars that may be pulled prior to filling the hole and the
equivalent well-control fluid volume shall be calculated and posted near the operator's station. A
mechanical, volumetric, or electronic device for measuring the amount of well-control fluid required to fill
the hole shall be utilized.

30 CFR 250.1623(c) (enhanced display)

page 287 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1624

§ 250.1624 Blowout prevention equipment.
(a) The BOP system and system components and related well-control equipment shall be designed, used,
maintained, and tested in a manner necessary to assure well control in foreseeable conditions and
circumstances, including subfreezing conditions. The working pressure of the BOP system and system
components shall equal or exceed the expected surface pressure to which they may be subjected.
(b) The minimum BOP stack for well-completion operations or for well-workover operations with the tree
removed shall consist of the following:
(1) Three remote-controlled, hydraulically operated preventers including at least one equipped with pipe
rams, one with blind rams, and one annular type.
(2) When a tapered string is used, the minimum BOP stack shall consist of either of the following:
(i)

An annular preventer, one set of variable bore rams capable of sealing around both sizes in the
string, and one set of blind rams; or

(ii) An annular preventer, one set of pipe rams capable of sealing around the larger size string, a
preventer equipped with blind-shear rams, and a crossover sub to the larger size pipe that shall
be readily available on the rig floor.
(c) The BOP systems for well-completion operations, or for well-workover operations with the tree removed,
shall be equipped with the following:
(1) An accumulator system that provides sufficient capacity to supply 1.5 times the volume necessary to
close and hold closed all BOP equipment units with a minimum pressure of 200 psi above the
precharge pressure without assistance from a charging system. After February 14, 1992,
accumulator regulators supplied by rig air which do not have a secondary source of pneumatic
supply shall be equipped with manual overrides or alternately other devices provided to ensure
capability of hydraulic operations if rig air is lost;
(2) An automatic backup to the accumulator system supplied by a power source independent from the
power source to the primary accumulator system and possessing sufficient capacity to close all
BOP's and hold them closed;
(3) Locking devices for the pipe-ram preventers;
(4) At least one remote BOP-control station and one BOP-control station on the rig floor; and
(5) A choke line and a kill line each equipped with two full-opening valves and a choke manifold. One of
the choke-line valves and one of the kill-line valves shall be remotely controlled except that a check
valve may be installed on the kill line in lieu of the remotely-controlled valve provided that two readily
accessible manual valves are in place, and the check valve is placed between the manual valve and
the pump.
(d) The minimum BOP-stack components for well-workover operations with the tree in place and performed
through the wellhead inside of the sulphur line using small diameter jointed pipe (usually 3⁄4 inch to 11⁄4
inch) as a work string; i.e., small-tubing operations, shall consist of the following:
(1) For air line changes, the well shall be killed prior to beginning operations. The procedures for killing
the well shall be included in the description of well-workover procedures in accordance with §
250.1622 of this part. Under these circumstances, no BOP equipment is required.

30 CFR 250.1624(d)(1) (enhanced display)

page 288 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1624(d)(2)

(2) For other work inside of the sulphur line, a tubing stripper or annular preventer shall be installed prior
to beginning work.
(e) An essentially full-opening, work-string safety valve shall be maintained on the rig floor at all times during
well-completion operations. A wrench to fit the work-string safety valve shall be readily available. Proper
connections shall be readily available for inserting a safety valve in the work string.

§ 250.1625 Blowout preventer system testing, records, and drills.
(a) Prior to conducting high-pressure tests, all BOP systems shall be tested to a pressure of 200 to 300 psi.
(b) Ram-type BOP's and the choke manifold shall be pressure tested with water to a rated working pressure or
as otherwise approved by the District Manager. Annular type BOP's shall be pressure tested with water to
70 percent of rated working pressure or as otherwise approved by the District Manager.
(c) In conjunction with the weekly pressure test of BOP systems required in paragraph (d) of this section, the
choke manifold valves, upper and lower kelly cocks, and drill-string safety valves shall be pressure tested
to pipe-ram test pressures. Safety valves with proper casing connections shall be actuated prior to
running casing.
(d) BOP system shall be pressure tested as follows:
(1) When installed;
(2) Before drilling out each string of casing or before continuing operations in cases where cement is
not drilled out;
(3) At least once each week, but not exceeding 7 days between pressure tests, alternating between
control stations. If either control system is not functional, further drilling operations shall be
suspended until that system becomes operable. A period of more than 7 days between BOP tests is
allowed when there is a stuck drill pipe or there are pressure control operations, and remedial efforts
are being performed, provided that the pressure tests are conducted as soon as possible and before
normal operations resume. The time, date, and reason for postponing pressure testing shall be
entered into the driller's report. Pressure testing shall be performed at intervals to allow each drilling
crew to operate the equipment. The weekly pressure test is not required for blind and blind-shear
rams;
(4) Blind and blind-shear rams shall be actuated at least once every 7 days. Closing pressure on the
blind and blind-shear rams greater than necessary to indicate proper operation of the rams is not
required;
(5) Variable bore-pipe rams shall be pressure tested against all sizes of pipe in use, excluding drill
collars and bottomhole tools; and
(6) Following the disconnection or repair of any well-pressure containment seal in the wellhead/BOP
stack assembly, the pressure tests may be limited to the affected component.
(e) All personnel engaged in well-completion operations shall participate in a weekly BOP drill to familiarize
crew members with appropriate safety measures.
(f) The lessee shall record pressure conditions during BOP tests on pressure charts, unless otherwise
approved by the District Manager. The test duration for each BOP component tested shall be sufficient to
demonstrate that the component is effectively holding pressure. The charts shall be certified as correct
by the operator's representative at the facility.
30 CFR 250.1625(f) (enhanced display)

page 289 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1625(g)

(g) The time, date, and results of all pressure tests, actuations, inspections, and crew drills of the BOP system
and system components shall be recorded in the operations log. The BOP tests shall be documented in
accordance with the following:
(1) The documentation shall indicate the sequential order of BOP and auxiliary equipment testing and
the pressure and duration of each test. As an alternate, the documentation in the operations log may
reference a BOP test plan that contains the required information and is retained on file at the facility.
(2) The control station used during the test shall be identified in the operations log.
(3) Any problems or irregularities observed during BOP and auxiliary equipment testing and any actions
taken to remedy such problems or irregularities shall be noted in the operations log.
(4) Documentation required to be entered in the driller's report may instead be referenced in the driller's
report. All records, including pressure charts, driller's report, and referenced documents, pertaining to
BOP tests, actuations, and inspections shall be available for BSEE review at the facility for the
duration of the drilling activity. Following completion of the drilling activity, all drilling records shall be
retained for a period of 2 years at the facility, at the lessee's field office nearest the OCS facility, or at
another location conveniently available to the District Manager.

§ 250.1626 Tubing and wellhead equipment.
(a) No tubing string shall be placed into service or continue to be used unless such tubing string has the
necessary strength and pressure integrity and is otherwise suitable for its intended use.
(b) Wellhead, tree, and related equipment shall be designed, installed, tested, used, and maintained so as to
achieve and maintain pressure control.

§ 250.1627 Production requirements.
(a) The lessee shall conduct sulphur production operations in compliance with the approved Development
and Production Plan requirements of §§ 250.1627 through 250.1634 of this subpart and requirements of
this part, as appropriate.
(b) Production safety equipment shall be designed, installed, used, maintained, and tested in a manner to
assure the safety of operations and protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments.

§ 250.1628 Design, installation, and operation of production systems.
(a) General. All production facilities shall be designed, installed, and maintained in a manner that provides for
efficiency and safety of operations and protection of the environment.
(b) Approval of design and installation features for sulphur production facilities. Prior to installation, the
lessee shall submit a sulphur production system application, in duplicate, to the District Manager for
approval. The application shall include information relative to the proposed design and installation
features. Information concerning approved design and installation features shall be maintained by the
lessee at the lessee's offshore field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently
available to the District Manager. All approvals are subject to field verification. The application shall
include the following:
(1) A schematic flow diagram showing size, capacity, design, working pressure of separators, storage
tanks, compressor pumps, metering devices, and other sulphur-handling vessels;

30 CFR 250.1628(b)(1) (enhanced display)

page 290 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1628(b)(2)

(2) A schematic piping diagram showing the size and maximum allowable working pressures as
determined in accordance with API RP 14E, Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of
Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(3) Electrical system information including a plan of each platform deck, outlining all hazardous areas
classified according to API RP 500, Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2, or API
RP 505, Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at
Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 (as incorporated by reference
in § 250.198), and outlining areas in which potential ignition sources are to be installed;
(4) Certification that the design for the mechanical and electrical systems to be installed were approved
by registered professional engineers. After these systems are installed, the lessee shall submit a
statement to the District Manager certifying that the new installations conform to the approved
designs of this subpart.
(c) Hydrocarbon handling vessels associated with fuel gas system. You must protect hydrocarbon handling
vessels associated with the fuel gas system with a basic and ancillary surface safety system. This
system must be designed, analyzed, installed, tested, and maintained in operating condition in
accordance with API RP 14C, Analysis, Design, Installation, and Testing of Basic Surface Safety Systems
for Offshore Production Platforms (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198). If processing components
are to be utilized, other than those for which Safety Analysis Checklists are included in API RP 14C, you
must use the analysis technique and documentation specified therein to determine the effect and
requirements of these components upon the safety system.
(d) Approval of safety-systems design and installation features for fuel gas system. Prior to installation, the
lessee shall submit a fuel gas safety system application, in duplicate, to the District Manager for approval.
The application shall include information relative to the proposed design and installation features.
Information concerning approved design and installation features shall be maintained by the lessee at the
lessee's offshore field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available to the
District Manager. All approvals are subject to field verification. The application shall include the following:
(1) A schematic flow diagram showing size, capacity, design, working pressure of separators, storage
tanks, compressor pumps, metering devices, and other hydrocarbon-handling vessels;
(2) A schematic flow diagram (API RP 14C, Figure E1, as incorporated by reference in § 250.198) and the
related Safety Analysis Function Evaluation chart (API RP 14C, subsection 4.3c, as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198).
(3) A schematic piping diagram showing the size and maximum allowable working pressures as
determined in accordance with API RP 14E, Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform
Piping Systems (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198);
(4) Electrical system information including the following:
(i)

A plan of each platform deck, outlining all hazardous areas classified according to API RP 500,
Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum
Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2, or API RP 505, Recommended Practice
for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as
Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), and outlining
areas in which potential ignition sources are to be installed;

30 CFR 250.1628(d)(4)(i) (enhanced display)

page 291 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1628(d)(4)(ii)

(ii) All significant hydrocarbon sources and a description of the type of decking, ceiling, walls (e.g.,
grating or solid), and firewalls; and
(iii) Elementary electrical schematic of any platform safety shutdown system with a functional
legend.
(5) Certification that the design for the mechanical and electrical systems to be installed was approved
by registered professional engineers. After these systems are installed, the lessee shall submit a
statement to the District Manager certifying that the new installations conform to the approved
designs of this subpart; and
(6) Design and schematics of the installation and maintenance of all fire- and gas-detection systems
including the following:
(i)

Type, location, and number of detection heads;

(ii) Type and kind of alarm, including emergency equipment to be activated;
(iii) Method used for detection;
(iv) Method and frequency of calibration; and
(v) A functional block diagram of the detection system, including the electric power supply.

§ 250.1629 Additional production and fuel gas system requirements.
(a) General. Lessees shall comply with the following production safety system requirements (some of which
are in addition to those contained in § 250.1628 of this part).
(b) Design, installation, and operation of additional production systems, including fuel gas handling safety
systems.
(1) Pressure and fired vessels must be designed, fabricated, and code stamped in accordance with the
applicable provisions of sections I, IV, and VIII of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (as specified in § 250.198). Pressure and fired vessels
must have maintenance inspection, rating, repair, and alteration performed in accordance with the
applicable provisions of API Pressure Vessel Inspections Code: In-Service Inspection, Rating, Repair,
and Alteration, API 510 (except Sections 5.8 and 9.5) (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(i)

Pressure safety relief valves shall be designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with
applicable provisions of sections I, IV, and VIII of the ANSI/ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (as specified in § 250.198). The safety relief valves shall conform to the valve-sizing and
pressure-relieving requirements specified in these documents; however, the safety relief valves
shall be set no higher than the maximum-allowable working pressure of the vessel. All safety
relief valves and vents shall be piped in such a way as to prevent fluid from striking personnel
or ignition sources.

(ii) The lessee shall use pressure recorders to establish the operating pressure ranges of pressure
vessels in order to establish the pressure-sensor settings. Pressure-recording charts used to
determine operating pressure ranges shall be maintained by the lessee for a period of 2 years
at the lessee's field office nearest the OCS facility or at another location conveniently available
to the District Manager. The high-pressure sensor shall be set no higher than 15 percent or 5
psi, whichever is greater, above the highest operating pressure of the vessel. This setting shall
also be set sufficiently below (15 percent or 5 psi, whichever is greater) the safety relief valve's
30 CFR 250.1629(b)(1)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 292 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1629(b)(2)

set pressure to assure that the high-pressure sensor sounds an alarm before the safety relief
valve starts relieving. The low-pressure sensor shall sound an alarm no lower than 15 percent
or 5 psi, whichever is greater, below the lowest pressure in the operating range.
(2) Engine exhaust. You must equip engine exhausts to comply with the insulation and personnel
protection requirements of API RP 14C, section 4.2c(4) (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
Exhaust piping from diesel engines must be equipped with spark arresters.
(3) Firefighting systems. Firefighting systems must conform to subsection 5.2, Fire Water Systems, of
API RP 14G, Recommended Practice for Fire Prevention and Control on Open Type Offshore
Production Platforms (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), and must be subject to the
approval of the District Manager. Additional requirements must apply as follows:
(i)

A firewater system consisting of rigid pipe with firehose stations shall be installed. The
firewater system shall be installed to provide needed protection, especially in areas where fuel
handling equipment is located.

(ii) Fuel or power for firewater pump drivers shall be available for at least 30 minutes of run time
during platform shut-in time. If necessary, an alternate fuel or power supply shall be installed to
provide for this pump-operating time unless an alternate firefighting system has been approved
by the District Manager;
(iii) A firefighting system using chemicals may be used in lieu of a water system if the District
Manager determines that the use of a chemical system provides equivalent fire-protection
control; and
(iv) A diagram of the firefighting system showing the location of all firefighting equipment shall be
posted in a prominent place on the facility or structure.
(4) Fire- and gas-detection system.
(i)

Fire (flame, heat, or smoke) sensors shall be installed in all enclosed classified areas. Gas
sensors shall be installed in all inadequately ventilated, enclosed classified areas. Adequate
ventilation is defined as ventilation that is sufficient to prevent accumulation of significant
quantities of vapor-air mixture in concentrations over 25 percent of the lower explosive limit.
One approved method of providing adequate ventilation is a change of air volume each 5
minutes or 1 cubic foot of air-volume flow per minute per square foot of solid floor area,
whichever is greater. Enclosed areas (e.g., buildings, living quarters, or doghouses) are defined
as those areas confined on more than four of their six possible sides by walls, floors, or ceilings
more restrictive to air flow than grating or fixed open louvers and of sufficient size to allow entry
of personnel. A classified area is any area classified Class I, Group D, Division 1 or 2, following
the guidelines of API RP 500 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), or any area classified
Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, or Zone 2, following the guidelines of API RP 505 (as incorporated by
reference in § 205.198).

(ii) All detection systems shall be capable of continuous monitoring. Fire-detection systems and
portions of combustible gas-detection systems related to the higher gas concentration levels
shall be of the manual-reset type. Combustible gas-detection systems related to the lower gasconcentration level may be of the automatic-reset type.

30 CFR 250.1629(b)(4)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 293 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1629(b)(4)(iii)

(iii) A fuel-gas odorant or an automatic gas-detection and alarm system is required in enclosed,
continuously manned areas of the facility that are provided with fuel gas. Living quarters and
doghouses not containing a gas source and not located in a classified area do not require a gas
detection system.
(iv) The District Manager may require the installation and maintenance of a gas detector or alarm in
any potentially hazardous area.
(v) Fire- and gas-detection systems must be an approved type, designed and installed according to
API RP 14C, API RP 14G, and either API RP 14F or API RP 14FZ (the preceding four documents
as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
(c) General platform operations. Safety devices shall not be bypassed or blocked out of service unless they
are temporarily out of service for startup, maintenance, or testing procedures. Only the minimum number
of safety devices shall be taken out of service. Personnel shall monitor the bypassed or blocked out
functions until the safety devices are placed back in service. Any safety device that is temporarily out of
service shall be flagged by the person taking such device out of service.

§ 250.1630 Safety-system testing and records.
(a) Inspection and testing. You must inspect and successfully test safety system devices at the interval
specified below or more frequently if operating conditions warrant. Testing must be in accordance with
API RP 14C, Appendix D (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198). For safety system devices other than
those listed in API RP 14C, Appendix D, you must utilize the analysis technique and documentation
specified therein for inspection and testing of these components, and the following:
(1) Safety relief valves on the natural gas feed system for power plant operations such as pressure
safety valves shall be inspected and tested for operation at least once every 12 months. These
valves shall be either bench tested or equipped to permit testing with an external pressure source.
(2) The following safety devices (excluding electronic pressure transmitters and level sensors) must be
inspected and tested at least once each calendar month, but at no time may more than 6 weeks
elapse between tests:
(i)

All pressure safety high or pressure safety low, and

(ii) All level safety high and level safety low controls.
(3) The following electronic pressure transmitters and level sensors must be inspected and tested at
least once every 3 months, but at no time may more than 120 days elapse between tests:
(i)

All PSH or PSL, and

(ii) All LSH and LSL controls.
(4) All pumps for firewater systems shall be inspected and operated weekly.
(5) All fire- (flame, heat, or smoke) and gas-detection systems shall be inspected and tested for
operation and recalibrated every 3 months provided that testing can be performed in a
nondestructive manner.
(6) Prior to the commencement of production, the lessee shall notify the District Manager when the
lessee is ready to conduct a preproduction test and inspection of the safety system. The lessee shall
also notify the District Manager upon commencement of production in order that a complete
inspection may be conducted.
30 CFR 250.1630(a)(6) (enhanced display)

page 294 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1630(b)

(b) Records. The lessee shall maintain records for a period of 2 years for each safety device installed. These
records shall be maintained by the lessee at the lessee's field office nearest the OCS facility or another
location conveniently available to the District Manager. These records shall be available for BSEE review.
The records shall show the present status and history of each safety device, including dates and details of
installation, removal, inspection, testing, repairing, adjustments, and reinstallation.

§ 250.1631 Safety device training.
Prior to engaging in production operations on a lease and periodically thereafter, personnel installing, inspecting,
testing, and maintaining safety devices shall be instructed in the safety requirements of the operations to be
performed; possible hazards to be encountered; and general safety considerations to be taken to protect personnel,
equipment, and the environment. Date and time of safety meetings shall be recorded and available for BSEE review.

§ 250.1632 Production rates.
Each sulphur deposit shall be produced at rates that will provide economic development and depletion of the
deposit in a manner that would maximize the ultimate recovery of sulphur without resulting in waste (e.g., an undue
reduction in the recovery of oil and gas from an associated hydrocarbon accumulation).

§ 250.1633 Production measurement.
(a) General. Measurement equipment and security procedures shall be designed, installed, used, maintained,
and tested so as to accurately and completely measure the sulphur produced on a lease for purposes of
royalty determination.
(b) Application and approval. The lessee shall not commence production of sulphur until the Regional
Supervisor has approved the method of measurement. The request for approval of the method of
measurement shall contain sufficient information to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Regional
Supervisor that the method of measurement meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

§ 250.1634 Site security.
(a) All locations where sulphur is produced, measured, or stored shall be operated and maintained to ensure
against the loss or theft of produced sulphur and to assure accurate and complete measurement of
produced sulphur for royalty purposes.
(b) Evidence of mishandling of produced sulphur from an offshore lease, or tampering or falsifying any
measurement of production for an offshore lease, shall be reported to the Regional Supervisor as soon as
possible but no later than the next business day after discovery of the evidence of mishandling.

Subpart Q—Decommissioning Activities
GENERAL
§ 250.1700 What do the terms “decommissioning,” “obstructions,” “facility,” and “predecessor”
mean in this subpart?
(a) Decommissioning means:
(1) Ending oil, gas, or sulphur operations; and

30 CFR 250.1700(a)(1) (enhanced display)

page 295 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1700(a)(2)

(2) Returning the lease, pipeline right-of-way, or the area of a right-of-use and easement to a condition
that meets the requirements of BSEE and other agencies that have jurisdiction over
decommissioning activities.
(b) Obstructions mean structures, equipment, or objects that were used in oil, gas, or sulphur operations or
marine growth that, if left in place, would hinder other users of the OCS. Obstructions may include, but are
not limited to, shell mounds, wellheads, casing stubs, mud line suspensions, well protection devices,
subsea trees, jumper assemblies, umbilicals, manifolds, termination skids, production and pipeline risers,
platforms, templates, pilings, pipelines, pipeline valves, and power cables.
(c) Facility means any installation other than a pipeline used for oil, gas, or sulphur activities that is
permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed on the OCS. Facilities include production and pipeline
risers, templates, pilings, and any other facility or equipment that constitutes an obstruction such as
jumper assemblies, termination skids, umbilicals, anchors, and mooring lines.
(d) Predecessor means a prior lessee or owner of operating rights, or a prior holder of a right-of-use and
easement grant or a pipeline right-of-way grant, that is liable for accrued obligations on that lease or
grant.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 88 FR 23579, Apr. 18, 2023]

§ 250.1701 Who must meet the decommissioning obligations in this subpart?
(a) Lessees, owners of operating rights, and their predecessors are jointly and severally liable for meeting
decommissioning obligations for facilities on leases, including the obligations related to lease-term
pipelines, as the obligations accrue and until each obligation is met.
(b) All holders of a right-of-way grant and their predecessors are jointly and severally liable for meeting
decommissioning obligations for facilities on their right-of-way, including right-of-way pipelines, as the
obligations accrue and until each obligation is met.
(c) All right-of-use and easement grant holders and prior lessees or owners of operating rights of the parcel
on whose leases there existed facilities or obstructions that remain on the right-of-use and easement
grant are jointly and severally liable for meeting decommissioning obligations, including obligations for
any well, pipeline, platform or other facility, or an obstruction, on their right-of-use and easement, as the
obligations accrue and until each obligation is met.
(d) In this subpart, the terms “you” or “I” refer to lessees and owners of operating rights as to facilities
installed under the authority of a lease; to pipeline right-of-way grant holders as to facilities installed under
the authority of a pipeline right-of-way grant; and to right-of-use and easement grant holders as to
facilities constructed, modified, or maintained under the authority of the right-of-use and easement grant.
Predecessors to any of these interest holders are also included within the scope of these terms as
appropriate in the context of the particular regulation.
[88 FR 23580, Apr. 18, 2023]

§ 250.1702 When do I accrue decommissioning obligations?
You accrue decommissioning obligations when you do any of the following:
(a) Drill a well;
30 CFR 250.1702(a) (enhanced display)

page 296 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1702(b)

(b) Install a platform, pipeline, or other facility;
(c) Create an obstruction to other users of the OCS;
(d) Are or become a lessee or the owner of operating rights of a lease on which there is a well that has not
been permanently plugged according to this subpart, a platform, a lease term pipeline, or other facility, or
an obstruction;
(e) Are or become a holder of a pipeline right-of-way grant on which there is a pipeline, platform, other facility,
or an obstruction;
(f) Are or become the holder of a right-of-use and easement grant on which there is a well, pipeline, platform,
other facility, or an obstruction; or
(g) Re-enter a well that was previously plugged according to this subpart.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 88 FR 23580, Apr. 18, 2023]

§ 250.1703 What are the general requirements for decommissioning?
When your facilities are no longer useful for operations, you must:
(a) Get approval from the appropriate District Manager before decommissioning wells and from the Regional
Supervisor before decommissioning platforms and pipelines or other facilities;
(b) Permanently plug all wells. Packers and bridge plugs used as qualified mechanical barriers must comply
with ANSI/API Spec. 11D1 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198). You must have two independent
barriers, one being an ANSI/API Spec. 11D1 qualified mechanical barrier, in the exposed center wellbore
prior to removing the tree and/or well control equipment;
(c) Remove all platforms and other facilities, except as provided in §§ 250.1725(a) and 250.1730.
(d) Decommission all pipelines;
(e) Clear the seafloor of all obstructions created by your lease, pipeline right-of-way, or right-of-use and
easement operations;
(f) Follow all applicable requirements of subpart G of this part; and
(g) Conduct all decommissioning activities in a manner that is safe, does not unreasonably interfere with
other uses of the OCS, and does not cause undue or serious harm or damage to the human, marine, or
coastal environment.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 26037, Apr. 29 2016; 84 FR 21984, May 15, 2019; 88 FR 23580, Apr. 18, 2023]

§ 250.1704 What decommissioning applications and reports must I submit and when must I
submit them?
You must submit decommissioning applications, receive approval of those applications, and submit subsequent
reports according to the requirements and deadlines in the following table.

30 CFR 250.1704 (enhanced display)

page 297 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1704

Decommissioning Applications and Reports Table
Decommissioning
applications and
reports

When to submit

Instructions

(a) Initial platform
removal application
[not required in the
Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region]

In the Pacific OCS
Include information required under § 250.1726.
Region or Alaska
OCS Region, submit
the application to the
Regional Supervisor
at least 2 years
before production is
projected to cease

(b) Submit
decommissioning plan
per § 250.1708(a)(3)
that addresses all
wells, platforms and
other facilities,
pipelines, and site
clearance after
receiving an order to
perform
decommissioning

Within 150 days of
receiving an order to
perform
decommissioning
under § 250.1708

Include information required under § 250.1708(a)(2) and
(3).

(c) Final removal
application for a
platform or other
facility

Before removing a
platform or other
facility in the Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region,
or not more than 2
years after the
submittal of an initial
platform removal
application to the
Pacific OCS Region
and the Alaska OCS
Region

Include information required under § 250.1727.

(d) Post-removal report Within 30 days after
for a platform or other you remove a
facility
platform or other
facility

Include information required under § 250.1729.

(e) Pipeline
decommissioning
application

Before you
decommission a
pipeline

Include information required under § 250.1751(a) or §
250.1752(a), as applicable.

(f) Post-pipeline
decommissioning
report

Within 30 days after
you decommission a
pipeline

Include information required under § 250.1753.

(g) Site clearance

Within 30 days after

Include information required under § 250.1743(b).

30 CFR 250.1704 (enhanced display)

page 298 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Decommissioning
applications and
reports

When to submit

30 CFR 250.1704

Instructions

report for a platform or
other facility

you complete site
clearance
verification activities

(h) Form BSEE–0124,
Application for Permit
to Modify (APM). The
submission of your
APM must be
accompanied by
payment of the service
fee listed in § 250.125;

(1) Before you
temporarily abandon
or permanently plug
a well or zone,

(i) Include information required under §§ 250.1712 and
250.1721.
(ii) When using a BOP for abandonment operations,
include information required under § 250.731.

(2) Before you install
a subsea protective
device,

Refer to § 250.1722(a).

(3) Before you
remove any casing
stub or mud line
suspension
equipment and any
subsea protective
device,

Refer to § 250.1723.

(4) Within 30 days
after you complete
site clearance
verification activities,

Include information required under § 250.1743(a).

(1) Within 30 days
after you complete a
protective device
trawl test,

Include information required under § 250.1722(d).

(2) Within 30 days
after completion of
decommissioning
activity,

Include information required under §§ 250.1712 and
250.1721.

Within 120 days after
completion of each
decommissioning
activity specified in
this paragraph

Submit to the Regional Supervisor a complete summary
of expenditures actually incurred for each
decommissioning activity (including, but not limited to,
the use of rigs, vessels, equipment, supplies and
materials; transportation of any kind; personnel; and
services). Include in, or attach to, the summary a certified
statement by an authorized representative of your
company attesting to the truth, accuracy and
completeness of the summary. The Regional Supervisor
may provide specific instructions or guidance regarding
how to submit the certified summary.

(i) Form BSEE–0125,
End of Operations
Report (EOR);

(j) A certified summary
of expenditures for
permanently plugging
any well, removal of
any platform or other
facility, clearance of
any site after wells
have been plugged or
platforms or facilities
removed, and
decommissioning of
pipelines

30 CFR 250.1704 (enhanced display)

page 299 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

Decommissioning
applications and
reports
(k) If requested by the
Regional Supervisor,
additional information
in support of any
decommissioning
activity expenditures
included in a summary
submitted under
paragraph (i) of this
section

When to submit
Within a reasonable
time as determined
by the Regional
Supervisor

30 CFR 250.1705-250.1707

Instructions
The Regional Supervisor will review the summary and
may provide specific instructions or guidance regarding
the submission of additional information (including, but
not limited to, copies of contracts and invoices), if
requested, to complete or otherwise support the
summary.

[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50896, Aug. 22, 2012; 80 FR 75810, Dec. 4, 2015; 81 FR 26037, Apr. 29, 2016;
81 FR 80591, Nov. 16, 2016; 84 FR 21984, May 15, 2019; 88 FR 23580, Apr. 18, 2023]

§§ 250.1705-250.1707 [Reserved]
§ 250.1708 How will BSEE enforce accrued decommissioning obligations against predecessors?
(a) When BSEE issues an order to predecessors to perform accrued decommissioning obligations, the order
recipients must, unless otherwise specified in the order:
(1) Within 30 days of receiving the order, begin maintaining and monitoring, through a single entity
identified to BSEE, any facility, including wells and pipelines, as identified by BSEE in the order and in
accordance with applicable requirements under this part (including, but not limited to, testing safety
valves and sensors, draining vessels, and performing pollution inspections);
(2) Within 90 days of receiving the order, designate a single entity to serve as operator or agent for the
decommissioning operations;
(3) Within 150 days of receiving the order, submit through the entity identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this
section a decommissioning plan for approval by the Regional Supervisor that includes the scope of
work and a reasonable decommissioning schedule for all wells, platforms and other facilities,
pipelines, and site clearance, as identified in the order; and
(4) Perform the required decommissioning in the time and manner specified by BSEE in its
decommissioning plan approval.
(b) Failure to comply with the obligations under paragraph (a) of this section to maintain and monitor a
facility or to submit a decommissioning plan may result in a Notice of Incident of Noncompliance and
potentially other enforcement actions, including civil penalties and disqualification as an operator.
(c) BSEE's issuance of orders to any predecessors will not relieve any current lessee or grant holder, or any
other predecessor, of its obligations to comply with any prior decommissioning order or to satisfy any
accrued decommissioning obligations.
(d) A pending appeal, pursuant to 30 CFR part 290, of any decommissioning order does not preclude BSEE
from proceeding against any or all predecessors other than the appellant.
[88 FR 23580, Apr. 18, 2023]
30 CFR 250.1708(d) (enhanced display)

page 300 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1709

§ 250.1709 [Reserved]
PERMANENTLY PLUGGING WELLS
§ 250.1710 When must I permanently plug all wells on a lease?
You must permanently plug all wells on a lease within 1 year after the lease terminates.

§ 250.1711 When will BSEE order me to permanently plug a well?
BSEE will order you to permanently plug a well if that well:
(a) Poses a hazard to safety or the environment; or
(b) Is not useful for lease operations and is not capable of oil, gas, or sulphur production in paying quantities.

§ 250.1712 What information must I submit before I permanently plug a well or zone?
Before you permanently plug a well or zone, you must submit form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify, to
the appropriate District Manager and receive approval. A request for approval must contain the following
information:
(a) The reason you are plugging the well (or zone), for completions with production amounts specified by the
Regional Supervisor, along with substantiating information demonstrating its lack of capacity for further
profitable production of oil, gas, or sulfur;
(b) Recent well test data and pressure data, if available;
(c) Maximum possible surface pressure, and how it was determined;
(d) Type and weight of well-control fluid you will use;
(e) A description of the work;
(f) A current and proposed well schematic and description that includes:
(1) Well depth;
(2) All perforated intervals that have not been plugged;
(3) Casing and tubing depths and details;
(4) Subsurface equipment;
(5) Estimated tops of cement (and the basis of the estimate) in each casing annulus;
(6) Plug locations;
(7) Plug types;
(8) Plug lengths;
(9) Properties of mud and cement to be used;
(10) Perforating and casing cutting plans;
(11) Plug testing plans;
30 CFR 250.1712(f)(11) (enhanced display)

page 301 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1712(f)(12)

(12) Casing removal (including information on explosives, if used);
(13) Proposed casing removal depth; and
(14) Your plans to protect archaeological and sensitive biological features, including anchor damage
during plugging operations, a brief assessment of the environmental impacts of the plugging
operations, and the procedures and mitigation measures you will take to minimize such impacts; and
(g) Certification by a Registered Professional Engineer of the well abandonment design and procedures and
that all plugs meet the requirements in the table in § 250.1715. In addition to the requirements of §
250.1715, the Registered Professional Engineer must also certify the design will include two independent
barriers, one of which must be a mechanical barrier, in the center wellbore as described in §
250.420(b)(3). The Registered Professional Engineer must be registered in a State of the United States
and have sufficient expertise and experience to perform the certification. You must submit this
certification with your APM (Form BSEE–0124).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50900, Aug. 22, 2012]

§ 250.1713 [Reserved]
§ 250.1714 What must I accomplish with well plugs?
You must ensure that all well plugs:
(a) Provide downhole isolation of hydrocarbon and sulphur zones;
(b) Protect freshwater aquifers; and
(c) Prevent migration of formation fluids within the wellbore or to the seafloor.

§ 250.1715 How must I permanently plug a well?
(a) You must permanently plug wells according to the table in this section. The District Manager may require
additional well plugs as necessary.

Permanent Well Plugging Requirements
If you have . . .

Then you must use . . .

(1) Zones in open hole,

Cement plug(s) set from at least 100 feet below the bottom to 100 feet above
the top of oil, gas, and fresh-water zones to isolate fluids in the strata

(2) Open hole below
casing,

(i) A cement plug, set by the displacement method, at least 100 feet above and
below deepest casing shoe;
(ii) A cement retainer with effective back-pressure control set 50 to 100 feet
above the casing shoe, and a cement plug that extends at least 100 feet below
the casing shoe and at least 50 feet above the retainer; or
(iii) A bridge plug set 50 feet to 100 feet above the shoe with 50 feet of cement
on top of the bridge plug, for expected or known lost circulation conditions

(3) A perforated zone
that is currently open
and not previously

(i) A method to squeeze cement to all perforations;
(ii) A cement plug set by the displacement method, at least 100 feet above to
100 feet below the perforated interval, or down to a casing plug, whichever is

30 CFR 250.1715(a) (enhanced display)

page 302 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you have . . .
squeezed or isolated,

30 CFR 250.1715(a)

Then you must use . . .
less; or
(iii) If the perforated zones are isolated from the hole below, you may use any
of the plugs specified in paragraphs (a)(3)(iii)(A) through (E) of this section
instead of those specified in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) and (a)(3)(ii) of this section.
(A) A cement retainer with effective back-pressure control set 50 to 100 feet
above the top of the perforated interval, and a cement plug that extends at
least 100 feet below the bottom of the perforated interval with at least 50 feet
of cement above the retainer;
(B) A casing bridge plug set 50 to 100 feet above the top of the perforated
interval and at least 50 feet of cement on top of the bridge plug;
(C) A cement plug at least 200 feet in length, set by the displacement method,
with the bottom of the plug no more than 100 feet above the perforated
interval;
(D) A through-tubing basket plug set no more than 100 feet above the
perforated interval with at least 50 feet of cement on top of the basket plug; or
(E) A tubing plug set no more than 100 feet above the perforated interval
topped with a sufficient volume of cement so as to extend at least 100 feet
above the uppermost packer in the wellbore and at least 300 feet of cement in
the casing annulus immediately above the packer.

(4) A casing stub
where the stub end is
within the casing,

(i) A cement plug set at least 100 feet above and below the stub end;

(ii) A cement retainer or bridge plug set at least 50 to 100 feet above the stub
end with at least 50 feet of cement on top of the retainer or bridge plug; or
(iii) A cement plug at least 200 feet long with the bottom of the plug set no
more than 100 feet above the stub end.
(5) A casing stub
where the stub end is
below the casing,

A plug as specified in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section, as applicable.

(6) An annular space
that communicates
with open hole and
extends to the mud
line,

A cement plug at least 200 feet long set in the annular space. For a well
completed above the ocean surface, you must pressure test each casing
annulus to verify isolation.

(7) A subsea well with
unsealed annulus,

A cutter to sever the casing, and you must set a stub plug as specified in
paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) of this section.

(8) A well with casing,

A cement surface plug at least 150 feet long set in the smallest casing that
extends to the mud line with the top of the plug no more than 150 feet below
the mud line.

(9) Fluid left in the
hole,

A fluid in the intervals between the plugs that is dense enough to exert a
hydrostatic pressure that is greater than the formation pressures in the
intervals.

(10) Permafrost areas,

(i) A fluid to be left in the hole that has a freezing point below the temperature
of the permafrost, and a treatment to inhibit corrosion; and
(ii) Cement plugs designed to set before freezing and have a low heat of

30 CFR 250.1715(a) (enhanced display)

page 303 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

If you have . . .

30 CFR 250.1715(b)

Then you must use . . .
hydration.

(11) Removed the
barriers required in §
250.420(b)(3) for the
well to be completed

Two independent barriers, one of which must be a mechanical barrier, in the
center wellbore as described in § 250.420(b)(3) once the well is to be placed in
a permanent or temporary abandonment.

(b) You must test the first plug below the surface plug and all plugs in lost circulation areas that are in open
hole. The plug must pass one of the following tests to verify plug integrity:
(1) A pipe weight of at least 15,000 pounds on the plug; or
(2) A pump pressure of at least 1,000 pounds per square inch. Ensure that the pressure does not drop
more than 10 percent in 15 minutes. The District Manager may require you to tests other plug(s).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50900, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26038, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.1716 To what depth must I remove wellheads and casings?
(a) Unless the District Manager approves an alternate depth under paragraph (b) of this section, you must
remove all wellheads and casings to at least 15 feet below the mud line.
(b) The District Manager may approve an alternate removal depth if:
(1) The wellhead or casing would not become an obstruction to other users of the seafloor or area, and
geotechnical and other information you provide demonstrate that erosional processes capable of
exposing the obstructions are not expected; or
(2) You determine, and BSEE concurs, that you must use divers, and the seafloor sediment stability
poses safety concerns; or
(3) The water depth is greater than 1,000 feet.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 21985, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.1717 [Reserved]
TEMPORARY ABANDONED WELLS
§ 250.1721 If I temporarily abandon a well that I plan to re-enter, what must I do?
You may temporarily abandon a well when it is necessary for proper development and production of a lease. To
temporarily abandon a well, you must do all of the following:
(a) Submit form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify, and the applicable information required by §
250.1712 to the appropriate District Manager and receive approval;
(b) Adhere to the plugging and testing requirements for permanently plugged wells listed in the table in §
250.1715, except for § 250.1715(a)(8). You do not need to sever the casings, remove the wellhead, or
clear the site;
30 CFR 250.1721(b) (enhanced display)

page 304 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1721(c)

(c) Set a bridge plug or a cement plug at least 100-feet long at the base of the deepest casing string, unless
the casing string has been cemented and has not been drilled out. If a cement plug is set, it is not
necessary for the cement plug to extend below the casing shoe into the open hole;
(d) Set a retrievable or a permanent-type bridge plug or a cement plug at least 100 feet long in the inner-most
casing. The top of the bridge plug or cement plug must be no more than 1,000 feet below the mud line.
BSEE may consider approving alternate requirements for subsea wells case-by-case;
(e) Identify and report subsea wellheads, casing stubs, or other obstructions that extend above the mud line
according to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements;
(f) Except in water depths greater than 300 feet, protect subsea wellheads, casing stubs, mud line
suspensions, or other obstructions remaining above the seafloor by using one of the following methods,
as approved by the District Manager or Regional Supervisor:
(1) A caisson designed according to 30 CFR 250, subpart I, and equipped with aids to navigation;
(2) A jacket designed according to 30 CFR 250, subpart I, and equipped with aids to navigation; or
(3) A subsea protective device that meets the requirements in § 250.1722.
(g) Submit certification by a Registered Professional Engineer of the well abandonment design and
procedures and that all plugs meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. In addition to the
requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, the Registered Professional Engineer must also certify the
design will include two independent barriers, one of which must be a mechanical barrier, in the center
wellbore as described in § 250.420(b)(3). The Registered Professional Engineer must be registered in a
State of the United States and have sufficient expertise and experience to perform the certification. You
must submit this certification with your APM (Form BSEE–0124) required by § 250.1712 of this part.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50900, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26038, Apr. 29, 2016]

§ 250.1722 If I install a subsea protective device, what requirements must I meet?
If you install a subsea protective device under § 250.1721(f)(3), you must install it in a manner that allows fishing
gear to pass over the obstruction without damage to the obstruction, the protective device, or the fishing gear.
(a) Use form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify to request approval from the appropriate District
Manager to install a subsea protective device.
(b) The protective device may not extend more than 10 feet above the seafloor (unless BSEE approves
otherwise).
(c) You must trawl over the protective device when you install it (adhere to the requirements at § 250.1741(d)
through (h)). If the trawl does not pass over the protective device or causes damage to it, you must notify
the appropriate District Manager within 5 days and perform remedial action within 30 days of the trawl;
(d) Within 30 days after you complete the trawling test described in paragraph (c) of this section, submit a
report to the appropriate District Manager using form BSEE–0125, End of Operations Report (EOR) that
includes the following:
(1) The date(s) the trawling test was performed and the vessel that was used;
(2) A plat at an appropriate scale showing the trawl lines;
30 CFR 250.1722(d)(2) (enhanced display)

page 305 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1722(d)(3)

(3) A description of the trawling operation and the net(s) that were used;
(4) An estimate by the trawling contractor of the seafloor penetration depth achieved by the trawl;
(5) A summary of the results of the trawling test including a discussion of any snags and interruptions, a
description of any damage to the protective covering, the casing stub or mud line suspension
equipment, or the trawl, and a discussion of any snag removals requiring diver assistance; and
(6) A letter signed by your authorized representative stating that he/she witnessed the trawling test.
(e) If a temporarily abandoned well is protected by a subsea device installed in a water depth less than 100
feet, mark the site with a buoy installed according to the USCG requirements.
(f) Provide annual reports to the Regional Supervisor describing your plans to either re-enter and complete
the well or to permanently plug the well.
(g) Ensure that all subsea wellheads, casing stubs, mud line suspensions, or other obstructions in water
depths less than 300 feet remain protected.
(1) To confirm that the subsea protective covering remains properly installed, either conduct a visual
inspection or perform a trawl test at least annually.
(2) If the inspection reveals that a casing stub or mud line suspension is no longer properly protected, or
if the trawl does not pass over the subsea protective covering without causing damage to the
covering, the casing stub or mud line suspension equipment, or the trawl, notify the appropriate
District Manager within 5 days, and perform the necessary remedial work within 30 days of discovery
of the problem.
(3) In your annual report required by paragraph (f) of this section, include the inspection date, results,
and method used and a description of any remedial work you will perform or have performed.
(h) You may request approval to waive the trawling test required by paragraph (c) of this section if you plan to
use either:
(1) A buoy with automatic tracking capabilities installed and maintained according to USCG
requirements at 33 CFR part 67 (or its successor); or
(2) A design and installation method that has been proven successful by trawl testing of previous
protective devices of the same design and installed in areas with similar bottom conditions.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 84 FR 21985, May 15, 2019]

§ 250.1723 What must I do when it is no longer necessary to maintain a well in temporary
abandoned status?
If you or BSEE determines that continued maintenance of a well in a temporary abandoned status is not necessary
for the proper development or production of a lease, you must:
(a) Promptly and permanently plug the well according to § 250.1715;
(b) Remove any casing stub or mud line suspension equipment and any subsea protective covering. You must
submit a request for approval to perform such work to the appropriate District Manager using form
BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify; and

30 CFR 250.1723(b) (enhanced display)

page 306 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1723(c)

(c) Clear the well site according to §§ 250.1740 through 250.1742.

REMOVING PLATFORMS AND OTHER FACILITIES
§ 250.1725 When do I have to remove platforms and other facilities?
(a) You must remove all platforms and other facilities within 1 year after the lease, pipeline right-of-way, or
right-of-use and easement terminates, unless you receive approval to maintain the structure to conduct
other activities. Platforms include production platforms, well jackets, single-well caissons, and pipeline
accessory platforms. Other activities include those supporting OCS oil and gas production and
transportation, as well as other energy-related or marine-related uses (including LNG) for which adequate
financial assurance for decommissioning has been provided to a Federal agency which has given BSEE a
commitment that it has and will exercise authority to compel the performance of decommissioning within
a time following cessation of the new use acceptable to BSEE. The approval will specify:
(1) Whether you must continue to maintain any financial assurance for decommissioning; and
(2) Whether, and under what circumstances, you must perform any decommissioning not performed by
the new facility owner/user.
(b) Before you may remove a platform or other facility, you must submit a final removal application to the
Regional Supervisor for approval and include the information listed in § 250.1727.
(c) You must remove a platform or other facility according to the approved application.
(d) You must flush all production risers with seawater before you remove them.
(e) You must notify the Regional Supervisor at least 48 hours before you begin the removal operations.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 88 FR 23581, Apr. 18, 2023]

§ 250.1726 When must I submit an initial platform removal application and what must it
include?
An initial platform removal application is required only for leases and pipeline rights-of-way in the Pacific OCS
Region or the Alaska OCS Region. It must include the following information:
(a) Platform or other facility removal procedures, including the types of vessels and equipment you will use;
(b) Facilities (including pipelines) you plan to remove or leave in place;
(c) Platform or other facility transportation and disposal plans;
(d) Plans to protect marine life and the environment during decommissioning operations, including a brief
assessment of the environmental impacts of the operations, and procedures and mitigation measures
that you will take to minimize the impacts; and
(e) A projected decommissioning schedule.

30 CFR 250.1726(e) (enhanced display)

page 307 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1727

§ 250.1727 What information must I include in my final application to remove a platform or
other facility?
You must submit to the Regional Supervisor, a final application for approval to remove a platform or other facility.
Your application must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. If you are proposing to
use explosives, provide three copies of the application. If you are not proposing to use explosives, provide two
copies of the application. Include the following information in the final removal application, as applicable:
(a) Identification of the applicant including:
(1) Lease operator/pipeline right-of-way holder;
(2) Address;
(3) Contact person and telephone number; and
(4) Shore base.
(b) Identification of the structure you are removing including:
(1) Platform Name/BSEE Complex ID Number;
(2) Location (lease/right-of-way, area, block, and block coordinates);
(3) Date installed (year);
(4) Proposed date of removal (Month/Year); and
(5) Water depth.
(c) Description of the structure you are removing including:
(1) Configuration (attach a photograph or a diagram);
(2) Size;
(3) Number of legs/casings/pilings;
(4) Diameter and wall thickness of legs/casings/pilings;
(5) Whether piles are grouted inside or outside;
(6) Brief description of soil composition and condition;
(7) The sizes and weights of the jacket, topsides (by module), conductors, and pilings; and
(8) The maximum removal lift weight and estimated number of main lifts to remove the structure.
(d) A description, including anchor pattern, of the vessel(s) you will use to remove the structure.
(e) Identification of the purpose, including:
(1) Lease expiration/right-of-way relinquishment date; and
(2) Reason for removing the structure.
(f) A description of the removal method, including:
(1) A brief description of the method you will use;
30 CFR 250.1727(f)(1) (enhanced display)

page 308 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1727(f)(2)

(2) If you are using explosives, the following:
(i)

Type of explosives;

(ii) Number and sizes of charges;
(iii) Whether you are using single shot or multiple shots;
(iv) If multiple shots, the sequence and timing of detonations;
(v) Whether you are using a bulk or shaped charge;
(vi) Depth of detonation below the mud line; and
(vii) Whether you are placing the explosives inside or outside of the pilings;
(3) If you will use divers or acoustic devices to conduct a pre-removal survey to detect the presence of
turtles and marine mammals, a description of the proposed detection method; and
(4) A statement whether or not you will use transducers to measure the pressure and impulse of the
detonations.
(g) Your plans for transportation and disposal (including as an artificial reef) or salvage of the removed
platform.
(h) If available, the results of any recent biological surveys conducted in the vicinity of the structure and
recent observations of turtles or marine mammals at the structure site.
(i)

Your plans to protect archaeological and sensitive biological features during removal operations, including
a brief assessment of the environmental impacts of the removal operations and procedures and
mitigation measures you will take to minimize such impacts.

(j)

A statement whether or not you will use divers to survey the area after removal to determine any effects
on marine life.

§ 250.1728 To what depth must I remove a platform or other facility?
(a) Unless the Regional Supervisor approves an alternate depth under paragraph (b) of this section, you must
remove all platforms and other facilities (including templates and pilings) to at least 15 feet below the
mud line.
(b) The Regional Supervisor may approve an alternate removal depth if:
(1) The remaining structure would not become an obstruction to other users of the seafloor or area, and
geotechnical and other information you provide demonstrate that erosional processes capable of
exposing the obstructions are not expected; or
(2) You determine, and BSEE concurs, that you must use divers and the seafloor sediment stability
poses safety concerns; or
(3) The water depth is greater than 800 meters (2,624 feet).

§ 250.1729 After I remove a platform or other facility, what information must I submit?
Within 30 days after you remove a platform or other facility, you must submit a written report to the Regional
Supervisor that includes the following:

30 CFR 250.1729 (enhanced display)

page 309 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1729(a)

(a) A summary of the removal operation including the date it was completed;
(b) A description of any mitigation measures you took; and
(c) A statement signed by your authorized representative that certifies that the types and amount of
explosives you used in removing the platform or other facility were consistent with those set forth in the
approved removal application.

§ 250.1730 When might BSEE approve partial structure removal or toppling in place?
The Regional Supervisor may grant a departure from the requirement to remove a platform or other facility by
approving partial structure removal or toppling in place for conversion to an artificial reef if you meet the following
conditions:
(a) The structure becomes part of a State artificial reef program, and the responsible State agency acquires a
permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and accepts title and liability for the structure; and
(b) You satisfy any U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) navigational requirements for the structure.

§ 250.1731 Who is responsible for decommissioning an OCS facility subject to an Alternate Use
RUE?
(a) The holder of an Alternate Use RUE issued under 30 CFR part 585 is responsible for all decommissioning
obligations that accrue following the issuance of the Alternate Use RUE and which pertain to the Alternate
Use RUE. See 30 CFR part 585, subpart J, for additional information concerning the decommissioning
responsibilities of an Alternate Use RUE grant holder.
(b) The lessee under the lease originally issued under 30 CFR part 556 will remain responsible for
decommissioning obligations that accrued before issuance of the Alternate Use RUE, as well as for
decommissioning obligations that accrue following issuance of the Alternate Use RUE to the extent
associated with continued activities authorized under this part.
(c) If a lease issued under 30 CFR part 556 is cancelled or otherwise terminated under any provision of this
subchapter, the lessee, upon our approval, may defer removal of any OCS facility within the lease area that
is subject to an Alternate Use RUE. If we elect to grant such a deferral, the lessee remains responsible for
removing the facility upon termination of the Alternate Use RUE and will be required to retain sufficient
bonding or other financial assurances to ensure that the structure is removed or otherwise
decommissioned in accordance with the provisions of this subpart.

SITE CLEARANCE FOR WELLS, PLATFORMS, AND OTHER FACILITIES
§ 250.1740 How must I verify that the site of a permanently plugged well, removed platform, or
other removed facility is clear of obstructions?
Within 60 days after you permanently plug a well or remove a platform or other facility, you must verify that the site
is clear of obstructions by using one of the following methods:
(a) For a well site, you must either:
(1) Drag a trawl over the site;
(2) Scan across the location using sonar equipment;
30 CFR 250.1740(a)(2) (enhanced display)

page 310 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1740(a)(3)

(3) Inspect the site using a diver;
(4) Videotape the site using a camera on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV); or
(5) Use another method approved by the District Manager if the particular site conditions warrant.
(b) For a platform or other facility site in water depths less than 300 feet, you must drag a trawl over the site.
(c) For a platform or other facility site in water depths 300 feet or more, you must either:
(1) Drag a trawl over the site;
(2) Scan across the site using sonar equipment; or
(3) Use another method approved by the Regional Supervisor if the particular site conditions warrant.

§ 250.1741 If I drag a trawl across a site, what requirements must I meet?
If you drag a trawl across the site in accordance with § 250.1740, you must meet all of the requirements of this
section.
(a) You must drag the trawl in a grid-like pattern as shown in the following table:
For a . . .

You must drag the trawl across a . . .

(1) Well site,

300-foot-radius circle centered on the well location.

(2) Subsea well site,

600-foot-radius circle centered on the well location.

(3) Platform site,

1,320-foot-radius circle centered on the location of
the platform.

(4) Single-well caisson, well protector jacket,
template, or manifold,

600-foot-radius circle centered on the structure
location.

(b) You must trawl 100 percent of the limits described in paragraph (a) of this section in two directions.
(c) You must mark the area to be cleared as a hazard to navigation according to USCG requirements until you
complete the site clearance procedures.
(d) You must use a trawling vessel equipped with a calibrated navigational positioning system capable of
providing position accuracy of ±30 feet.
(e) You must use a trawling net that is representative of those used in the commercial fishing industry (one
that has a net strength equal or greater than that provided by No. 18 twine).
(f) You must ensure that you trawl no closer than 300 feet from a shipwreck, and 500 feet from a sensitive
biological feature.
(g) If you trawl near an active pipeline, you must meet the requirements in the following table:
For . . .
(1) Buried active pipelines,

30 CFR 250.1741(g) (enhanced display)

You must trawl . .
.

And you must . . .
First contact the pipeline owner or
operator to determine the condition of the
pipeline before trawling over the buried
pipeline.
page 311 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

For . . .

30 CFR 250.1741(h)

You must trawl . .
.

And you must . . .

(2) Unburied active pipelines that are 8
inches in diameter or larger,

no closer than
100 feet to the
either side of the
pipeline,

Trawl parallel to the pipeline Do not trawl
across the pipeline.

(3) Unburied smaller diameter active
pipelines in the trawl area that have
obstructions (e.g., pipeline valves)
present,

no closer than
100 feet to either
side of the
pipeline,

Trawl parallel to the pipeline. Do not trawl
across the pipeline.

(4) Unburied active pipelines in the trawl
area that are smaller than 8 inches in
diameter and have no obstructions
present,

parallel to the
pipeline,

(h) You must ensure that any trawling contractor you may use:
(1) Has no corporate or other financial ties to you; and
(2) Has a valid commercial trawling license for both the vessel and its captain.

§ 250.1742 What other methods can I use to verify that a site is clear?
If you do not trawl a site, you can verify that the site is clear of obstructions by using any of the methods shown in
the following table:
If you use . . .

You must . . .

And you must . . .

(a) Sonar,

cover 100 percent of the appropriate grid
area listed in § 250.1741(a),

Use a sonar signal with a frequency of at
least 500 kHz.

(b) A diver,

ensure that the diver visually inspects 100
percent of the appropriate grid area listed in
§ 250.1741(a),

Ensure that the diver uses a search pattern
of concentric circles or parallel lines spaced
no more than 10 feet apart.

(c) An ROV
(remotely
operated
vehicle),

ensure that the ROV camera records
videotape over 100 percent of the
appropriate grid area listed in §
250.1741(a),

Ensure that the ROV uses a pattern of
concentric circles or parallel lines spaced
no more than 10 feet apart.

§ 250.1743 How do I certify that a site is clear of obstructions?
(a) For a well site, you must submit to the appropriate District Manager within 30 days after you complete the
verification activities a form BSEE–0124, Application for Permit to Modify, to include the following
information:
(1) A signed certification that the well site area is cleared of all obstructions;
(2) The date the verification work was performed and the vessel used;
(3) The extent of the area surveyed;
(4) The survey method used;
30 CFR 250.1743(a)(4) (enhanced display)

page 312 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1743(a)(5)

(5) The results of the survey, including a list of any debris removed or a statement from the trawling
contractor that no objects were recovered; and
(6) A post-trawling job plot or map showing the trawled area.
(b) For a platform or other facility site, you must submit the following information to the appropriate Regional
Supervisor within 30 days after you complete the verification activities:
(1) A letter signed by an authorized company official certifying that the platform or other facility site area
is cleared of all obstructions and that a company representative witnessed the verification activities;
(2) A letter signed by an authorized official of the company that performed the verification work for you
certifying that it cleared the platform or other facility site area of all obstructions;
(3) The date the verification work was performed and the vessel used;
(4) The extent of the area surveyed;
(5) The survey method used;
(6) The results of the survey, including a list of any debris removed or a statement from the trawling
contractor that no objects were recovered; and
(7) A post-trawling job plot or map showing the trawled area.

PIPELINE DECOMMISSIONING
§ 250.1750 When may I decommission a pipeline in place?
You may decommission a pipeline in place when the Regional Supervisor determines that the pipeline does not
constitute a hazard (obstruction) to navigation and commercial fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses
of the OCS, or have adverse environmental effects.

§ 250.1751 How do I decommission a pipeline in place?
You must do the following to decommission a pipeline in place:
(a) Submit a pipeline decommissioning application in triplicate to the Regional Supervisor for approval. Your
application must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. Your application
must include the following information:
(1) Reason for the operation;
(2) Proposed decommissioning procedures;
(3) Length (feet) of segment to be decommissioned; and
(4) Length (feet) of segment remaining.
(b) Pig the pipeline, unless the Regional Supervisor determines that pigging is not practical;
(c) Flush the pipeline;
(d) Fill the pipeline with seawater;
(e) Cut and plug each end of the pipeline;
30 CFR 250.1751(e) (enhanced display)

page 313 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1751(f)

(f) Bury each end of the pipeline at least 3 feet below the seafloor or cover each end with protective concrete
mats, if required by the Regional Supervisor; and
(g) Remove all pipeline valves and other fittings that could unduly interfere with other uses of the OCS.

§ 250.1752 How do I remove a pipeline?
Before removing a pipeline, you must:
(a) Submit a pipeline removal application in triplicate to the Regional Supervisor for approval. Your application
must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. Your application must include
the following information:
(1) Proposed removal procedures;
(2) If the Regional Supervisor requires it, a description, including anchor pattern(s), of the vessel(s) you
will use to remove the pipeline;
(3) Length (feet) to be removed;
(4) Length (feet) of the segment that will remain in place;
(5) Plans for transportation of the removed pipe for disposal or salvage;
(6) Plans to protect archaeological and sensitive biological features during removal operations, including
a brief assessment of the environmental impacts of the removal operations and procedures and
mitigation measures that you will take to minimize such impacts; and
(7) Projected removal schedule and duration.
(b) Pig the pipeline, unless the Regional Supervisor determines that pigging is not practical; and
(c) Flush the pipeline.

§ 250.1753 After I decommission a pipeline, what information must I submit?
Within 30 days after you decommission a pipeline, you must submit a written report to the Regional Supervisor that
includes the following:
(a) A summary of the decommissioning operation including the date it was completed;
(b) A description of any mitigation measures you took; and
(c) A statement signed by your authorized representative that certifies that the pipeline was decommissioned
according to the approved application.

§ 250.1754 When must I remove a pipeline decommissioned in place?
You must remove a pipeline decommissioned in place if the Regional Supervisor determines that the pipeline is an
obstruction.

Subpart R [Reserved]
Subpart S—Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS)

30 CFR 250.1754 (enhanced display)

page 314 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1900

§ 250.1900 Must I have a SEMS program?
You must develop, implement, and maintain a safety and environmental management system (SEMS) program.
Your SEMS program must address the elements described in § 250.1902, American Petroleum Institute's
Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program for Offshore
Operations and Facilities (API RP 75) (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198), and other requirements as
identified in this subpart.
(a) If there are any conflicts between the requirements of this subpart and API RP 75; COS–2–01, COS–2–03,
or COS–2–04; or ISO/IEC 17011 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198), you must follow
the requirements of this subpart.
(b) Nothing in this subpart affects safety or other matters under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20440, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1901 What is the goal of my SEMS program?
The goal of your SEMS program is to promote safety and environmental protection by ensuring all personnel aboard
a facility are complying with the policies and procedures identified in your SEMS.
(a) To accomplish this goal, you must ensure that your SEMS program identifies, addresses, and manages
safety, environmental hazards, and impacts during the design, construction, start-up, operation (including,
but not limited to, drilling and decommissioning), inspection, and maintenance of all new and existing
facilities, including mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) when attached to the seabed and Department
of the Interior (DOI) regulated pipelines.
(b) All personnel involved with your SEMS program must be trained to have the skills and knowledge to
perform their assigned duties.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20440, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1902 What must I include in my SEMS program?
You must have a properly documented SEMS program in place and make it available to BSEE upon request as
required by § 250.1924(b).
(a) Your SEMS program must meet the minimum criteria outlined in this subpart, including the following
SEMS program elements:
(1) General (see § 250.1909)
(2) Safety and Environmental Information (see § 250.1910)
(3) Hazards Analysis (see § 250.1911)
(4) Management of Change (see § 250.1912)
(5) Operating Procedures (see § 250.1913)
(6) Safe Work Practices (see § 250.1914)
(7) Training (see § 250.1915)
30 CFR 250.1902(a)(7) (enhanced display)

page 315 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1902(a)(8)

(8) Mechanical Integrity (Assurance of Quality and Mechanical Integrity of Critical Equipment) (see §
250.1916)
(9) Pre-startup Review (see § 250.1917)
(10) Emergency Response and Control (see § 250.1918)
(11) Investigation of Incidents (see § 250.1919)
(12) Auditing (Audit of Safety and Environmental Management Program Elements) (see § 250.1920)
(13) Recordkeeping (Records and Documentation) and additional BSEE requirements (see § 250.1928)
(14) Stop Work Authority (SWA) (see § 250.1930)
(15) Ultimate Work Authority (UWA) (see § 250.1931)
(16) Employee Participation Plan (EPP) (see § 250.1932)
(17) Reporting Unsafe Working Conditions (see § 250.1933).
(b) You must include a job safety analysis (JSA) for OCS activities identified or discussed in your SEMS
program (see § 250.1911).
(c) Your SEMS program must meet or exceed the standards of safety and environmental protection of API RP
75 (as incorporated by reference in § 250.198).
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20440, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1903 Acronyms and definitions.
Definitions listed in this section apply to this subpart and supersede definitions in API RP 75, Appendices D and E;
COS–2–01, COS–2–03, and COS–2–04; and ISO/IEC 17011 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198).
(a) Acronyms used frequently in this subpart have the following meanings:
AB

means Accreditation Body,

ASP means Audit Service Provider,
CAP means Corrective Action Plan,
COS means Center for Offshore Safety,
EPP means Employee Participation Plan,
ISO

means International Organization for Standardization,

JSA means Job Safety Analysis,
MODU means Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit,
OCS means Outer Continental Shelf,
SEMS means Safety and Environmental Management Systems,
SWA means Stop Work Authority,
USCG means United States Coast Guard, and
30 CFR 250.1903(a) “USCG” (enhanced display)

page 316 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1903(a) “UWA”

UWA means Ultimate Work Authority.
(b) Terms used in this subpart are listed alphabetically as follows:
Accreditation Body (AB) means a BSEE-approved independent third-party organization that assesses
and accredits ASPs.
Audit Service Provider (ASP) means an independent third-party organization that demonstrates
competence to conduct SEMS audits in accordance with the requirements of this subpart.
Corrective Action Plan (CAP) means a scheduled plan to correct deficiencies identified during an
audit and that is developed by an operator following the issuance of an audit report.
Personnel means direct employee(s) of the operator and contracted workers.
Ultimate Work Authority (UWA) means the authority assigned to an individual or position to make
final decisions relating to activities and operations on the facility.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20440, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1904 Special instructions.
(a) For purposes of this subpart, each and every reference in COS–2–01, COS–2–03, and COS–2–04
(incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198) to the term deepwater means the entire OCS,
including all water depths.
(b) The BSEE does not incorporate by reference any requirement that you must be a COS member company.
For purposes of this subpart, each and every reference in COS–2–01, COS–2–03, and COS–2–04 to the
phrase COS member company(ies) means you, whether or not you are a COS member.
(c) For purposes of this subpart, each and every reference in the relevant sections of COS–2–01, COS–2–03,
and COS–2–04 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198) to the Center for Offshore Safety or
COS means accreditation body or AB.
(d) For purposes of this subpart, each and every reference in ISO/IEC 17011 (incorporated by reference as
specified in § 250.198) to conformity assessment body (CAB) means ASP.
[78 FR 20441, Apr. 5, 2013]

§§ 250.1905-250.1908 [Reserved]
§ 250.1909 What are management's general responsibilities for the SEMS program?
You, through your management, must require that the program elements discussed in API RP 75 (as incorporated by
reference in § 250.198) and in this subpart are properly documented and are available at field and office locations,
as appropriate for each program element. You, through your management, are responsible for the development,
support, continued improvement, and overall success of your SEMS program. Specifically you, through your
management, must:
(a) Establish goals and performance measures, demand accountability for implementation, and provide
necessary resources for carrying out an effective SEMS program.

30 CFR 250.1909(a) (enhanced display)

page 317 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1909(b)

(b) Appoint management representatives who are responsible for establishing, implementing and maintaining
an effective SEMS program.
(c) Designate specific management representatives who are responsible for reporting to management on the
performance of the SEMS program.
(d) At intervals specified in the SEMS program and at least annually, review the SEMS program to determine if
it continues to be suitable, adequate and effective (by addressing the possible need for changes to policy,
objectives, and other elements of the program in light of program audit results, changing circumstances
and the commitment to continual improvement) and document the observations, conclusions and
recommendations of that review.
(e) Develop and endorse a written description of your safety and environmental policies and organizational
structure that define responsibilities, authorities, and lines of communication required to implement the
SEMS program.
(f) Utilize personnel with expertise in identifying safety hazards, environmental impacts, optimizing
operations, developing safe work practices, developing training programs and investigating incidents.
(g) Ensure that facilities are designed, constructed, maintained, monitored, and operated in a manner
compatible with applicable industry codes, consensus standards, and generally accepted practice as well
as in compliance with all applicable governmental regulations.
(h) Ensure that management of safety hazards and environmental impacts is an integral part of the design,
construction, maintenance, operation, and monitoring of each facility.
(i)

Ensure that suitably trained and qualified personnel are employed to carry out all aspects of the SEMS
program.

(j)

Ensure that the SEMS program is maintained and kept up to date by means of periodic audits to ensure
effective performance.

§ 250.1910 What safety and environmental information is required?
(a) You must require that SEMS program safety and environmental information be developed and maintained
for any facility that is subject to the SEMS program.
(b) SEMS program safety and environmental information must include:
(1) Information that provides the basis for implementing all SEMS program elements, including the
requirements of hazard analysis (§ 250.1911);
(2) process design information including, as appropriate, a simplified process flow diagram and
acceptable upper and lower limits, where applicable, for items such as temperature, pressure, flow
and composition; and
(3) mechanical design information including, as appropriate, piping and instrument diagrams; electrical
area classifications; equipment arrangement drawings; design basis of the relief system; description
of alarm, shutdown, and interlock systems; description of well control systems; and design basis for
passive and active fire protection features and systems and emergency evacuation procedures.

30 CFR 250.1910(b)(3) (enhanced display)

page 318 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1911

§ 250.1911 What hazards analysis criteria must my SEMS program meet?
You must ensure that a hazards analysis (facility level) and a JSA (operations/task level) are developed and
implemented for all of your facilities and activities identified or discussed in your SEMS. You must document and
maintain a current analysis for each operation covered by this section for the life of the operation at the facility. You
must update the analysis when an internal audit is conducted to ensure that it is consistent with your facility's
current operations.
(a) Hazards analysis (facility level). The hazards analysis must be appropriate for the complexity of the
operation and must identify, evaluate, and manage the hazards involved in the operation.
(1) The hazards analysis must address the following:
(i)

Hazards of the operation;

(ii) Previous incidents related to the operation you are evaluating, including any incident in which
you were issued an Incident of Noncompliance or a civil or criminal penalty;
(iii) Control technology applicable to the operation your hazards analysis is evaluating; and
(iv) A qualitative evaluation of the possible safety and health effects on employees, and potential
impacts to the human and marine environments, which may result if the control technology
fails.
(2) The hazards analysis must be performed by a person(s) with experience in the operations being
evaluated. These individuals also need to be experienced in the hazards analysis methodologies
being employed.
(3) You should assure that the recommendations in the hazards analysis are resolved and that the
resolution is documented.
(4) A single hazards analysis can be performed to fulfill the requirements for simple and nearly identical
facilities, such as well jackets and single well caissons. You can apply this single hazards analysis to
simple and nearly identical facilities after you verify that any site-specific deviations are addressed in
each of your SEMS program elements.
(b) JSA. You must ensure a JSA is prepared, conducted, and approved for OCS activities that are identified or
discussed in your SEMS program. The JSA is a technique used to identify risks to personnel associated
with their job activities. The JSAs are also used to determine the appropriate mitigation measures needed
to reduce job risks to personnel. The JSA must include all personnel involved with the job activity.
(1) You must ensure that your JSA identifies, analyzes, and records:
(i)

The steps involved in performing a specific job;

(ii) The existing or potential safety, health, and environmental hazards associated with each step;
and
(iii) The recommended action(s) and/or procedure(s) that will eliminate or reduce these hazards,
the risk of a workplace injury or illness, or environmental impacts.
(2) The immediate supervisor of the crew performing the job onsite must conduct the JSA, sign the JSA,
and ensure that all personnel participating in the job understand and sign the JSA.

30 CFR 250.1911(b)(2) (enhanced display)

page 319 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1911(b)(3)

(3) The individual you designate as being in charge of the facility must approve and sign all JSAs before
personnel start the job.
(4) If a particular job is conducted on a recurring basis, and if the parameters of these recurring jobs do
not change, then the person in charge of the job may decide that a JSA for each individual job is not
required. The parameters you must consider in making this determination include, but are not limited
to, changes in personnel, procedures, equipment, and environmental conditions associated with the
job.
(c) All personnel, which includes contractors, must be trained in accordance with the requirements of §
250.1915. You must also verify that contractors are trained in accordance with § 250.1915 prior to
performing a job.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20441, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1912 What criteria for management of change must my SEMS program meet?
(a) You must develop and implement written management of change procedures for modifications
associated with the following:
(1) Equipment,
(2) Operating procedures,
(3) Personnel changes (including contractors),
(4) Materials, and
(5) Operating conditions.
(b) Management of change procedures do not apply to situations involving replacement in kind (such as,
replacement of one component by another component with the same performance capabilities).
(c) You must review all changes prior to their implementation.
(d) The following items must be included in your management of change procedures:
(1) The technical basis for the change;
(2) Impact of the change on safety, health, and the coastal and marine environments;
(3) Necessary time period to implement the change; and
(4) Management approval procedures for the change.
(e) Employees, including contractors whose job tasks will be affected by a change in the operation, must be
informed of, and trained in, the change prior to startup of the process or affected part of the operation;
and
(f) If a management of change results in a change in the operating procedures of your SEMS program, such
changes must be documented and dated.

30 CFR 250.1912(f) (enhanced display)

page 320 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1913

§ 250.1913 What criteria for operating procedures must my SEMS program meet?
(a) You must develop and implement written operating procedures that provide instructions for conducting
safe and environmentally sound activities involved in each operation addressed in your SEMS program.
These procedures must include the job title and reporting relationship of the person or persons
responsible for each of the facility's operating areas and address the following:
(1) Initial startup;
(2) Normal operations;
(3) All emergency operations (including but not limited to medical evacuations, weather-related
evacuations and emergency shutdown operations);
(4) Normal shutdown;
(5) Startup following a turnaround, or after an emergency shutdown;
(6) Bypassing and flagging out-of-service equipment;
(7) Safety and environmental consequences of deviating from your equipment operating limits and
steps required to correct or avoid this deviation;
(8) Properties of, and hazards presented by, the chemicals used in the operations;
(9) Precautions you will take to prevent the exposure of chemicals used in your operations to personnel
and the environment. The precautions must include control technology, personal protective
equipment, and measures to be taken if physical contact or airborne exposure occurs;
(10) Raw materials used in your operations and the quality control procedures you used in purchasing
these raw materials;
(11) Control of hazardous chemical inventory; and
(12) Impacts to the human and marine environment identified through your hazards analysis.
(b) Operating procedures must be accessible to all employees involved in the operations.
(c) Operating procedures must be reviewed at the conclusion of specified periods and as often as necessary
to assure they reflect current and actual operating practices, including any changes made to your
operations.
(d) You must develop and implement safe and environmentally sound work practices for identified hazards
during operations and the degree of hazard presented.
(e) Review of and changes to the procedures must be documented and communicated to responsible
personnel.

§ 250.1914 What criteria must be documented in my SEMS program for safe work practices and
contractor selection?
Your SEMS program must establish and implement safe work practices designed to minimize the risks associated
with operations, maintenance, modification activities, and the handling of materials and substances that could
affect safety or the environment. Your SEMS program must also document contractor selection criteria. When
selecting a contractor, you must obtain and evaluate information regarding the contractor's safety record and
environmental performance. You must ensure that contractors have their own written safe work practices.
30 CFR 250.1914 (enhanced display)

page 321 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1914(a)

Contractors may adopt appropriate sections of your SEMS program. You and your contractor must document an
agreement on appropriate contractor safety and environmental policies and practices before the contractor begins
work at your facilities.
(a) A contractor is anyone performing work for you. However, these requirements do not apply to contractors
providing domestic services to you or other contractors. Domestic services include janitorial work, food
and beverage service, laundry service, housekeeping, and similar activities.
(b) You must document that your contracted employees are knowledgeable and experienced in the work
practices necessary to perform their job in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Documentation of
each contracted employee's expertise to perform his/her job and a copy of the contractor's safety policies
and procedures must be made available to the operator and BSEE upon request.
(c) Your SEMS program must include procedures and verification for selecting a contractor as follows:
(1) Your SEMS program must have procedures that verify that contractors are conducting their activities
in accordance with your SEMS program.
(2) You are responsible for making certain that contractors have the skills and knowledge to perform
their assigned duties and are conducting these activities in accordance with the requirements in your
SEMS program.
(3) You must make the results of your verification for selecting contractors available to BSEE upon
request.
(d) Your SEMS program must include procedures and verification that contractor personnel understand and
can perform their assigned duties for activities such as, but not limited to:
(1) Installation, maintenance, or repair of equipment;
(2) Construction, startup, and operation of your facilities;
(3) Turnaround operations;
(4) Major renovation; or
(5) Specialty work.
(e) You must:
(1) Perform periodic evaluations of the performance of contract employees that verifies they are
fulfilling their obligations, and
(2) Maintain a contractor employee injury and illness log for 2 years related to the contractor's work in
the operation area, and include this information on Form BSEE–0131.
(f) You must inform your contractors of any known hazards at the facility they are working on including, but
not limited to fires, explosions, slips, trips, falls, other injuries, and hazards associated with lifting
operations.
(g) You must develop and implement safe work practices to control the presence, entrance, and exit of
contract employees in operation areas.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20441, Apr. 5, 2013]

30 CFR 250.1914(g) (enhanced display)

page 322 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1915

§ 250.1915 What training criteria must be in my SEMS program?
Your SEMS program must establish and implement a training program so that all personnel are trained in
accordance with their duties and responsibilities to work safely and are aware of potential environmental impacts.
Training must address such areas as operating procedures (§ 250.1913), safe work practices (§ 250.1914),
emergency response and control measures (§ 250.1918), SWA (§ 250.1930), UWA (§ 250.1931), EPP (§ 250.1932),
reporting unsafe working conditions (§ 250.1933), and how to recognize and identify hazards and how to construct
and implement JSAs (§ 250.1911). You must document your instructors' qualifications. Your SEMS program must
address:
(a) Initial training for the basic well-being of personnel and protection of the environment, and ensure that
persons assigned to operate and maintain the facility possess the required knowledge and skills to carry
out their duties and responsibilities, including startup and shutdown.
(b) Periodic training to maintain understanding of, and adherence to, the current operating procedures, using
periodic drills, to verify adequate retention of the required knowledge and skills.
(c) Communication requirements to ensure that personnel will be informed of and trained as outlined in this
section whenever a change is made in any of the areas in your SEMS program that impacts their ability to
properly understand and perform their duties and responsibilities. Training and/or notice of the change
must be given before personnel are expected to operate the facility.
(d) How you will verify that the contractors are trained in the work practices necessary to understand and
perform their jobs in a safe and environmentally sound manner in accordance with all provisions of this
section.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20441, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1916 What criteria for mechanical integrity must my SEMS program meet?
You must develop and implement written procedures that provide instructions to ensure the mechanical integrity
and safe operation of equipment through inspection, testing, and quality assurance. The purpose of mechanical
integrity is to ensure that equipment is fit for service. Your mechanical integrity program must encompass all
equipment and systems used to prevent or mitigate uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons, toxic substances, or
other materials that may cause environmental or safety consequences. These procedures must address the
following:
(a) The design, procurement, fabrication, installation, calibration, and maintenance of your equipment and
systems in accordance with the manufacturer's design and material specifications.
(b) The training of each employee involved in maintaining your equipment and systems so that your
employees can implement your mechanical integrity program.
(c) The frequency of inspections and tests of your equipment and systems. The frequency of inspections and
tests must be in accordance with BSEE regulations and meet the manufacturer's recommendations.
Inspections and tests can be performed more frequently if determined to be necessary by prior operating
experience.

30 CFR 250.1916(c) (enhanced display)

page 323 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1916(d)

(d) The documentation of each inspection and test that has been performed on your equipment and systems.
This documentation must identify the date of the inspection or test; include the name and position, and
the signature of the person who performed the inspection or test; include the serial number or other
identifier of the equipment on which the inspection or test was performed; include a description of the
inspection or test performed; and the results of the inspection test.
(e) The correction of deficiencies associated with equipment and systems that are outside the
manufacturer's recommended limits. Such corrections must be made before further use of the equipment
and system.
(f) The installation of new equipment and constructing systems. The procedures must address the
application for which they will be used.
(g) The modification of existing equipment and systems. The procedures must ensure that they are modified
for the application for which they will be used.
(h) The verification that inspections and tests are being performed. The procedures must be appropriate to
ensure that equipment and systems are installed consistent with design specifications and the
manufacturer's instructions.
(i)

The assurance that maintenance materials, spare parts, and equipment are suitable for the applications
for which they will be used.

§ 250.1917 What criteria for pre-startup review must be in my SEMS program?
Your SEMS program must require that the commissioning process include a pre-startup safety and environmental
review for new and significantly modified facilities that are subject to this subpart to confirm that the following
criteria are met:
(a) Construction and equipment are in accordance with applicable specifications.
(b) Safety, environmental, operating, maintenance, and emergency procedures are in place and are adequate.
(c) Safety and environmental information is current.
(d) Hazards analysis recommendations have been implemented as appropriate.
(e) Training of operating personnel has been completed.
(f) Programs to address management of change and other elements of this subpart are in place.
(g) Safe work practices are in place.

§ 250.1918 What criteria for emergency response and control must be in my SEMS program?
Your SEMS program must require that emergency response and control plans are in place and are ready for
immediate implementation. These plans must be validated by drills carried out in accordance with a schedule
defined by the SEMS training program (§ 250.1915). The SEMS emergency response and control plans must
include:
(a) Emergency Action Plan that assigns authority and responsibility to the appropriate qualified person(s) at a
facility for initiating effective emergency response and control, addressing emergency reporting and
response requirements, and complying with all applicable governmental regulations;

30 CFR 250.1918(a) (enhanced display)

page 324 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1918(b)

(b) Emergency Control Center(s) designated for each facility with access to the Emergency Action Plans, oil
spill contingency plan, and other safety and environmental information (§ 250.1910); and
(c) Training and Drills incorporating emergency response and evacuation procedures conducted periodically
for all personnel (including contractor's personnel), as required by the SEMS training program (§
250.1915). Drills must be based on realistic scenarios conducted periodically to exercise elements
contained in the facility or area emergency action plan. An analysis and critique of each drill must be
conducted to identify and correct weaknesses.

§ 250.1919 What criteria for investigation of incidents must be in my SEMS program?
To learn from incidents and help prevent similar incidents, your SEMS program must establish procedures for
investigation of all incidents with serious safety or environmental consequences and require investigation of
incidents that are determined by facility management or BSEE to have possessed the potential for serious safety or
environmental consequences. Incident investigations must be initiated as promptly as possible, with due regard for
the necessity of securing the incident scene and protecting people and the environment. Incident investigations
must be conducted by personnel knowledgeable in the process involved, investigation techniques, and other
specialties that are relevant or necessary.
(a) The investigation of an incident must address the following:
(1) The nature of the incident;
(2) The factors (human or other) that contributed to the initiation of the incident and its escalation/
control; and
(3) Recommended changes identified as a result of the investigation.
(b) A corrective action program must be established based on the findings of the investigation in order to
analyze incidents for common root causes. The corrective action program must:
(1) Retain the findings of investigations for use in the next hazard analysis update or audit;
(2) Determine and document the response to each finding to ensure that corrective actions are
completed; and
(3) Implement a system whereby conclusions of investigations are distributed to similar facilities and
appropriate personnel within their organization.

§ 250.1920 What are the auditing requirements for my SEMS program?
(a) Your SEMS program must be audited by an accredited ASP according to the requirements of this subpart
and API RP 75, Section 12 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198). The audit process must
also meet or exceed the criteria in Sections 9.1 through 9.8 of Requirements for Third-party SEMS Auditing
and Certification of Deepwater Operations COS–2–03 (incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198) or its equivalent. Additionally, the audit team lead must be an employee, representative, or agent
of the ASP, and must not have any affiliation with the operator. The remaining team members may be
chosen from your personnel and those of the ASP. The audit must be comprehensive and include all
elements of your SEMS program. It must also identify safety and environmental performance deficiencies.
(b) Your audit plan and procedures must meet or exceed all of the recommendations included in API RP 75
section 12 (as specified in § 250.198) and include information on how you addressed those
recommendations. You must specifically address the following items:
30 CFR 250.1920(b) (enhanced display)

page 325 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1920(b)(1)

(1) Section 12.1 General.
(2) Section 12.2 Scope.
(3) Section 12.3 Audit Coverage.
(4) Section 12.4 Audit Plan. You must submit your written Audit Plan to BSEE at least 30 days before the
audit. BSEE reserves the right to modify the list of facilities that you propose to audit.
(5) Section 12.5 Audit Frequency. You must have your SEMS program audited by an ASP within 2 years
after initial implementation and every 3 years thereafter. The 3-year auditing cycle begins on the start
date of each comprehensive audit (including the initial implementation audit) and ends on the start
date of your next comprehensive audit. For exploratory drilling operations taking place on the Arctic
OCS, you must conduct an audit, consisting of an onshore portion and an offshore portion, including
all related infrastructure, once per year for every year in which drilling is conducted.
(6) Section 12.6 Audit Team. Your audits must be performed by an ASP as described in § 250.1921. You
must include the ASP's qualifications in your audit plan.
(c) You must submit an audit report of the audit findings, observations, deficiencies identified, and
conclusions to BSEE within 60 days of the audit completion date. For exploratory drilling operations taking
place on the Arctic OCS, you must submit an audit report of the audit findings, observations, deficiencies
and conclusions for the onshore portion of your audit no later than March 1 in any year in which you plan
to drill, and for the offshore portion of your audit, within 30 days of the close of the audit.
(d) You must provide BSEE with a copy of your CAP for addressing the deficiencies identified in your audit
within 60 days of the audit completion date. Your CAP must include the name and job title of the
personnel responsible for correcting the identified deficiency(ies). The BSEE will notify you as soon as
practicable after receipt of your CAP if your proposed schedule is not acceptable or if the CAP does not
effectively address the audit findings. For exploratory drilling operations taking place on the Arctic OCS,
you must provide BSEE with a copy of your CAP for addressing deficiencies or nonconformities identified
in the onshore portion of the audit no later than March 1 in any year in which you plan to drill, and for the
offshore portion of your audit, within 30 days of the close of the audit.
(e) BSEE may verify that you undertook the corrective actions and that these actions effectively address the
audit findings.
(f) For exploratory drilling operations taking place on the Arctic OCS, during the offshore portion of each
audit, 100 percent of the facilities operated must be audited while drilling activities are underway. You
must start and close the offshore portion of the audit for each facility within 30 days after the first
spudding of the well or entry into an existing wellbore for any purpose from that facility.
(g) For exploratory drilling operations taking place on the Arctic OCS, if BSEE determines that the CAP or
progress toward implementing the CAP is not satisfactory, BSEE may order you to shut down all or part of
your operations.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013; 81 FR 36151, June 6, 2016; 81 FR 46563, July 15, 2016]

30 CFR 250.1920(g) (enhanced display)

page 326 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1921

§ 250.1921 What qualifications must the ASP meet?
(a) The ASP must meet or exceed the qualifications, competency, and training criteria contained in Section 3
and Sections 6 through 10 of Qualification and Competence Requirements for Audit Teams and Auditors
Performing Third-party SEMS Audits of Deepwater Operations, COS–2–01, (incorporated by reference as
specified in § 250.198) or its equivalent;
(b) The ASP must be accredited by a BSEE-approved AB; and
(c) The ASP must perform an audit in accordance with 250.1920(a).
[78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1922 What qualifications must an AB meet?
(a) In order for BSEE to approve an AB, the organization must satisfy the requirements of the International
Organization for Standardization's (ISO/IEC 17011) Conformity assessment—General requirements for
accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies, First Edition 2004–09–01; Corrected
Version 2005–02–15 (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198) or its equivalent.
(1) The AB must have an accreditation process that meets or exceeds the requirements contained in
Section 6 of Requirements for Accreditation of Audit Service Providers Performing SEMS Audits and
Certification of Deepwater Operations, COS–2–04 (incorporated by reference as specified in §
250.198) or its equivalent, and other requirements specified in this subpart. Organizations requesting
approval must submit documentation to BSEE describing the process for assessing an ASP for
accreditation and approving, maintaining, and withdrawing the accreditation of an ASP. Requests for
approval must be sent to DOI/BSEE, ATTN: Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HE–3314, Herndon, VA 20170.
(2) An AB may be subject to BSEE audits and other requirements deemed necessary to verify
compliance with the accreditation requirements.
(b) An AB must have procedures in place to avoid conflicts of interest with the ASP and make such
information available to BSEE upon request.
[78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1923 [Reserved]
§ 250.1924 How will BSEE determine if my SEMS program is effective?
(a) The BSEE, or its authorized representative, may evaluate or visit your facility(ies) to determine whether
your SEMS program is in place, addresses all required elements, is effective in protecting worker safety
and health and the environment, and preventing incidents. The BSEE, or its authorized representative, may
evaluate any and all aspects of your SEMS program as outlined in this subpart. These evaluations or visits
may be random and may be based upon your performance or that of your contractors.
(b) For the evaluations, you must make the following available to BSEE upon request:
(1) Your SEMS program;
(2) Your audit team's qualifications;
30 CFR 250.1924(b)(2) (enhanced display)

page 327 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1924(b)(3)

(3) The SEMS audits conducted of your program;
(4) Documents or information relevant to whether you have addressed and corrected the deficiencies of
your audit; and
(5) Other relevant documents or information.
(c) During the site visit BSEE may verify that:
(1) Personnel are following your SEMS program,
(2) You can explain and demonstrate the procedures and policies included in your SEMS program; and
(3) You can produce evidence to support the implementation of your SEMS program.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1925 May BSEE direct me to conduct additional audits?
(a) The BSEE may direct you to have an ASP audit of your SEMS program if BSEE identifies safety or noncompliance concerns based on the results of our inspections and evaluations, or as a result of an event.
This BSEE-directed audit is in addition to the regular audit required by § 250.1920. Alternatively, BSEE may
conduct an audit.
(1) If BSEE directs you to have an ASP audit, you are responsible for all of the costs associated with the
audit, and
(i)

The ASP must meet the requirements of §§ 250.1920 and 250.1921 of this subpart.

(ii) You must submit an audit report of the audit findings, observations, deficiencies identified, and
conclusions to BSEE within 60 days of the audit completion date.
(2) If BSEE conducts the audit, BSEE will provide you with a report of the audit findings, observations,
deficiencies identified, and conclusions as soon as practicable.
(b) You must provide BSEE a copy of your CAP for addressing the deficiencies identified in the BSEE-directed
audit within 60 days of the audit completion date. Your CAP must include the name and job title of the
personnel responsible for correcting the identified deficiency(ies). The BSEE will notify you as soon as
practicable after receipt of your CAP if your proposed schedule is not acceptable or if the CAP does not
effectively address the audit findings.
[78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1926 [Reserved]
§ 250.1927 What happens if BSEE finds shortcomings in my SEMS program?
If BSEE determines that your SEMS program is not in compliance with this subpart we may initiate one or more of
the following enforcement actions:
(a) Issue an Incident(s) of Noncompliance;
(b) Assess civil penalties; or
(c) Initiate probationary or disqualification procedures from serving as an OCS operator.
30 CFR 250.1927(c) (enhanced display)

page 328 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1928

§ 250.1928 What are my recordkeeping and documentation requirements?
(a) Your SEMS program procedures must ensure that records and documents are maintained for a period of 6
years, except as provided below. You must document and keep all SEMS audits for 6 years and make
them available to BSEE upon request. You must maintain a copy of all SEMS program documents at an
onshore location.
(b) For JSAs, the person in charge of the job must document the results of the JSA in writing and must ensure
that records are kept onsite for 30 days. In the case of a MODU, records must be kept onsite for 30 days
or until you release the MODU, whichever comes first. You must retain these records for 2 years and make
them available to BSEE upon request.
(c) You must document and date all management of change provisions as specified in § 250.1912. You must
retain these records for 2 years and make them available to BSEE upon request.
(d) You must keep your injury/illness log for 2 years and make them available to BSEE upon request.
(e) You must keep all evaluations completed on contractor's safety policies and procedures for 2 years and
make them available to BSEE upon request.
(f) For SWA, you must document all training and reviews required by § 250.1930(e). You must ensure that
these records are kept onsite for 30 days. In the case of a MODU, records must be kept onsite for 30 days
or until you release the MODU, whichever comes first. You must retain these records for 2 years and make
them available to BSEE upon request.
(g) For EPP, you must document your employees' participation in the development and implementation of the
SEMS program. You must retain these records for 2 years and make them available to BSEE upon request.
(h) You must keep all records in an orderly manner, readily identifiable, retrievable and legible, and include the
date of any and all revisions.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 78 FR 20442, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1929 What are my responsibilities for submitting OCS performance measure data?
You must submit Form BSEE–0131 on an annual basis by March 31st. The form must be broken down quarterly,
reporting the previous calendar year's data.

§ 250.1930 What must be included in my SEMS program for SWA?
(a) Your SWA procedures must ensure the capability to immediately stop work that is creating imminent risk
or danger. These procedures must grant all personnel the responsibility and authority, without fear of
reprisal, to stop work or decline to perform an assigned task when an imminent risk or danger exists.
Imminent risk or danger means any condition, activity, or practice in the workplace that could reasonably
be expected to cause:
(1) Death or serious physical harm; or
(2) Significant environmental harm to:
(i)

Land;

(ii) Air; or
30 CFR 250.1930(a)(2)(ii) (enhanced display)

page 329 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1930(a)(2)(iii)

(iii) Mineral deposits, marine, coastal, or human environment.
(b) The person in charge of the conducted work is responsible for ensuring the work is stopped in an orderly
and safe manner. Individuals who receive a notification to stop work must comply with that direction
immediately.
(c) Work may be resumed when the individual on the facility with UWA determines that the imminent risk or
danger does not exist or no longer exists. The decision to resume activities must be documented in
writing as soon as practicable.
(d) You must include SWA procedures and expectations as a standard statement in all JSAs.
(e) You must conduct training on your SWA procedures as part of orientations for all new personnel who
perform activities on the OCS. Additionally, the SWA procedures must be reviewed during all meetings
focusing on safety on facilities subject to this subpart.
[78 FR 20443, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1931 What must be included in my SEMS program for UWA?
(a) Your SEMS program must have a process to identify the individual with the UWA on your facility(ies). You
must designate this individual taking into account all applicable USCG regulations that deal with
designating a person in charge of an OCS facility. Your SEMS program must clearly define who is in
charge at all times. In the event that multiple facilities, including a MODU, are attached and working
together or in close proximity to one another to perform an OCS operation, your SEMS program must
identify the individual with the UWA over the entire operation, including all facilities.
(b) You must ensure that all personnel clearly know who has UWA and who is in charge of a specific
operation or activity at all times, including when that responsibility shifts to a different individual.
(c) The SEMS program must provide that if an emergency occurs that creates an imminent risk or danger to
the health or safety of an individual, the public, or to the environment (as specified in § 250.1930(a)), the
individual with the UWA is authorized to pursue the most effective action necessary in that individual's
judgment for mitigating and abating the conditions or practices causing the emergency.
[78 FR 20443, Apr. 5, 2013]

§ 250.1932 What are my EPP requirements?
(a) Your management must consult with their employees on the development, implementation, and
modification of your SEMS program.
(b) Your management must develop a written plan of action regarding how your appropriate employees, in
both your offices and those working on offshore facilities, will participate in your SEMS program
development and implementation.
(c) Your management must ensure that employees have access to sections of your SEMS program that are
relevant to their jobs.
[78 FR 20443, Apr. 5, 2013]

30 CFR 250.1932(c) (enhanced display)

page 330 of 331

30 CFR Part 250 (up to date as of 6/05/2023)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf

30 CFR 250.1933

§ 250.1933 What procedures must be included for reporting unsafe working conditions?
(a) Your SEMS program must include procedures for all personnel to report unsafe working conditions in
accordance with § 250.193. These procedures must take into account applicable USCG reporting
requirements for unsafe working conditions.
(b) You must post a notice at the place of employment in a visible location frequently visited by personnel
that contains the reporting information in § 250.193.
[78 FR 20443, Apr. 5, 2013]

30 CFR 250.1933(b) (enhanced display)

page 331 of 331