[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15862-15864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7267]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 250


Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental 
Shelf--Update of Revised/Reaffirmed Documents Incorporated by Reference

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This document makes technical amendments to regulations that 
were published in a final rule on December 28, 1999 (64 FR 72756). This 
amendment incorporates the revision of 10 documents previously 
incorporated by reference in regulations governing oil and gas and 
sulfur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The revised 
editions of these 10 documents will ensure that lessees use the best 
available and safest technologies while operating in the OCS. 
Additionally, MMS is acknowledging the reaffirmation of 7 documents 
previously incorporated by reference in regulations governing oil and 
gas and sulfur operations in the OCS. The reaffirmation dates issued by 
the American Petroleum Institute's Manual of Petroleum Measurement 
Standards will be added to the 7 pertinent documents incorporated by 
reference.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 24, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of publications listed in the 
regulation is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
April 24, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Gray at (703) 787-1027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The revised editions of the documents 
previously incorporated by reference are: (1) Fourth Edition of the 
American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice for Operation 
and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes (API RP 2D); (2) Sixth Edition of 
the API Specification for Quality Programs for the Petroleum and 
Natural Gas Industry (API Spec Q1); (3) Second Edition of the API 
Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS), Chapter 4, Proving 
Systems, Section 6, Pulse Interpolation (MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 6); 
(4) Second Edition of the API MPMS, Chapter 4, Proving Systems, Section 
7, Field Standard Test Measures (MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 7); (5) 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 
Specification for Concrete Aggregates (ASTM Standard C 33-99a); (6) 
ASTM Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete

[[Page 15863]]

(ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M-99); (7) ASTM Standard Specification for 
Portland Cement (ASTM Standard C 150-99); (8) ASTM Standard 
Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete (ASTM 
Standard C 330-99); (9) ASTM Standard Specification for Blended 
Hydraulic Cements (ASTM Standard C 595-98); and (10) 1999 Edition of 
the NACE International Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic 
Materials for Oilfield Equipment (NACE Standard MR0175-99).
    MMS has reviewed these documents and has determined that the new 
editions must be incorporated into the regulations to ensure the use of 
the best and safest technologies. Our review shows that the changes 
between the old and new editions result in safety improvements or 
represent new industry standard technology and will not impose undue 
cost on the offshore oil and gas industry. Furthermore, the old 
editions are not readily available to the affected parties because they 
are out of publication. Therefore, we are amending these documents to 
incorporate the updated editions according to the authority in 30 CFR 
250.198(a)(2). We are updating the appropriate sections of other 
subparts to reflect these document revisions.
    The regulations for cranes and other material-handling equipment on 
fixed platforms were recently revised under Sec. 250.108 for all 
operations on the OCS, including those for sulphur. However, crane 
operations for sulphur leases are also regulated under 
Sec. 250.1605(g). For consistency, this technical amendment simply 
revises Sec. 250.1605(g) to specify that sulphur operations follow the 
requirements in Sec. 250.108 with respect to crane operations.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 250

    Continental shelf, Environmental impact statements, Environmental 
protection, Government contracts, Incorporation by reference, 
Investigations, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas development and 
production, Oil and gas exploration, Oil and gas reserves, Penalties, 
Pipelines, Public lands--mineral resources, Public lands--rights-of-
way, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulphur development and 
production, Sulphur exploration, Surety bonds.

    Accordingly, 30 CFR Part 250 is amended by making the following 
technical amendments:

PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER 
CONTINENTAL SHELF

    1. The authority citation for part 250 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.


    2. In Sec. 250.198, in the table in paragraph (e), the following 
changes are made:
    A. Remove the entries for ASTM standards C33-93, C94-96, C150-95a, 
C330-89, C595-94, and NACE standard MR.01-75-96.
    B. Add entries for ASTM standards C 33-99a, C 94/C 94M-99, C 150-
99, C 330-99, C 595-98 and NACE standard MR0175-99 as set forth below.
    C. Revise the remaining entries as set forth below.


Sec. 250.198  Documents incorporated by reference.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Incorporated by reference
              Title of document                            at
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*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 4, Section 6, Pulse          Sec.  250.1202(a)(3) and
 Interpolation, Second Edition, May 1999, API   (f)(1).
 Stock No. H04062.
API MPMS, Chapter, Section 7, Field Standard   Sec.  250.1202(a)(3) and
 Test Measures, Second Edition, December        (f)(1).
 1998, API Stock No. H04072.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 2, Measurement    Sec.  250.1202(a)(3).
 of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Displacement
 Meters, Second Edition, November 1987,
 reaffirmed January 1997, API Stock No.
 H30102.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 5, Section 5, Fidelity and   Sec.  250.1202(a)(3).
 Security of Flow Measurement Pulsed-Data
 Transmission Systems, First Edition, June
 1982, reaffirmed January 1997, API Stock No.
 H30105.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 6, Section 7, Metering       Sec.  250.1202(a)(3).
 Viscous Hydrocarbons, Sescond Edition, May
 1991, reaffirmed July 1996, API Stock No.
 H30127.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 9, Density Determination,    Sec.  250.1202(a)(3) and
 Section 1, Hydrometer Test Method for          (1)(4).
 Density, Relative Density (Specific
 Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum
 and Liquid Petroleum Products, First
 Edition, June 1981, reaffirmed December
 1998, API Stock No. H30181; also available
 as ANSI/ASTM D 1298.
 
 
API MPMS, Chapter 9, Section 2, Pressure       Sec.  250.1202(a)(3) and
 Hydrometer Test Method for Density or          (1)(4).
 Relative Density, First Edition, April 1982,
 reaffirmed December 1998, API Stock No.
 H30182.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 11.2.2, Compressibility      Sec.  250.1202(a)(3) and
 Factors for Hydrocarbons: 0.350-0.637          (g)(4).
 Relative Density (60 deg.F/60 deg.F) and -50
 deg.F to 140 deg.F Metering Temperature,
 Second Edition, October 1986, reaffirmed
 March 1997, API Stock No. H27307; also
 available as Gas Processors Association
 (GPA) 8286.
 

[[Page 15864]]

 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API MPMS, Chapter 14, Section 3, Part 3,       Sec.  250.1203(b)(2).
 Natural Gas Applications, Third Edition,
 August 1992, reaffirmed December 1998, API
 Stock No. H30353; also available as ANS/API
 2530, Part 3.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API RP 2D, Recommended practice for Operation  Sec.  250.108(a)(1).
 and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Fourth
 Edition, August 1, 1999. API Stock No.
 G02D04.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
API Spec Q1, Specification for Quality         Sec.  250.806(a)(2)(ii).
 Programs for the Petroleum and Natural Gas
 Industry, Sixth Edition, March 1, 1999. API
 Stock No. GQ1006.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
ASTM Standard C 33-99a. Standard               Sec.  250.908(b)(4)(i).
 Specification for Concrete Aggregates.
ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M-99, Standard          Sec.  250.908(e)(2)(i).
 Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete.
ASTM Standard C 150-99, Standard               Sec.  250.908(b)(2)(i).
 Specification for Portland Cement.
ASTM Standard C 330-99, Standard               Sec.  250.908(b)(4)(i).
 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for
 Structural Concrete.
ASTM Standard C 595-98, Standard               Sec.  250.908(b)(2)(i).
 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
NACE Standard MR0175-99, Sulfide Stress        Sec.  250.417(p)(2).
 Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for
 Oilfield Equipment, Revised January 1999,
 NACE Item No. 21302.
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    3. In Sec. 250.417, paragraph (p)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.417  Hydrogen sulfide.

* * * * *
    (p) * * *
    (2) Use BOP system components, wellhead, pressure-control 
equipment, and related equipment exposed to H2S-bearing 
fluids that conform to NACE Standard MR0175-99.
* * * * *

    4. In Sec. 250.908, paragraphs (b)(2)(i), (b)(4)(i), and (e)(2)(i) 
are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.908  Concrete-gravity platforms.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Cement must be equivalent to Type I, II, or III portland cement 
as specified by ASTM Standard C 150-99, Standard Specification for 
Portland Cement, or portland-pozzolan cement as specified by ASTM 
Standard C 595-98, Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic 
Cements. However, the suitability of Type III cement to serve its 
intended function must be demonstrated.
    (4) * * *
    (i) Aggregates must conform to the requirements of ASTM Standard C 
33-99a, Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates. Lightweight 
aggregates conforming to ASTM Standard C 330-99, Standard Specification 
for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete, will only be 
permitted if they do not pose durability problems and where they are 
used according to the applicable provisions of the ACI publication, ACI 
Standard 318, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, plus 
Commentary.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Mixing of concrete must conform to the requirements of ACI 
Standard 318 and ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M-99, Standard Specification 
for Ready-Mixed Concrete;
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 250.1605, paragraph (g) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.1605  Drilling requirements.

* * * * *
    (g) Crane operations. You must operate a crane installed on fixed 
platforms according to Sec. 250.108 of this subpart.
* * * * *

    Dated: March 16, 2000.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 00-7267 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P