30 CFR Part 250, Subpart F

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (May 19, 2026)

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Title 30 —Mineral Resources
Chapter II —Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior
Subchapter B —Offshore
Part 250 —Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf
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.

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.

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 250 appear at 77 FR 50891, 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.
[81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]

30 CFR 250.600 (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR 250.601

§ 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.

§ 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

30 CFR 250.604 (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR 250.605

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
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.

30 CFR 250.612 (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR 250.613

§ 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
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.
30 CFR 250.614(b) (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR 250.614(c)

(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 may 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.
(1) The tubing string must be evaluated for burst, collapse, and axial loads with appropriate safety
factors and material design factors for the pressure and temperature environments of the
completion, production, shut-in, and injection load cases.
(2) The tubing string materials must be appropriate for the environment. You must follow NACE
Standard MR0175-2003 (incorporated by reference in § 250.198) when H2S concentration may equal
or exceed 0.05 psi partial pressure.
(3) The tubing string threaded connectors must be appropriate for the loading identified in paragraph
(a)(1) of this section.
(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*

the
surface

all annuli at the surface (A and B riser annuli). If the production casing below
the mudline and the production casing riser above the mudline are 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.

30 CFR 250.619(b)(1) (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

If you
you must
have . . . equip . . .
wells,

30 CFR 250.619(b)(2)

so you can monitor . . .

wellhead, isolated 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.
(c) You must design and test the wellhead, tree, and related equipment in accordance with ANSI/API Spec. 6A
(incorporated by reference in § 250.198) or ANSI/API Spec. 17D (incorporated by reference in § 250.198),
as applicable. The wellhead, tree, and related equipment must have a pressure rating greater than the
shut-in tubing pressure and must be designed, installed, operated, maintained, and tested so as to achieve
and maintain pressure containment and pressure control.
(1) Dry trees (e.g., fixed, hybrid, or mudline suspension) for production or injection wells must be
equipped with a minimum of one master valve and one surface safety valve (SSV), installed above
the master valve, in the vertical run of the tree.
(2) Subsea production or injection wells must be equipped with a minimum of one USV installed in the
horizontal or vertical run of the tree (for vertical or horizontal subsea trees).
(3) Wells with a mudline suspension conversion to a subsea tree must have a minimum of two casing
strings tied back and sealed below the tubing head. At minimum, the production casing and the next
outer casing must be tied back to the wellhead, to ensure annular isolation.
(d) You must install, maintain, and test surface and subsurface safety equipment in accordance with the
applicable requirements in subpart H of this part.
(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.
30 CFR 250.619(g) (enhanced display)

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30 CFR Part 250 Subpart F (up to date as of 5/19/2026)
Oil and Gas Well-Workover Operations

30 CFR 250.620

[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; 89 FR 71121, Aug. 30, 2024]

§ 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]

30 CFR 250.620(c) (enhanced display)

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