[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8621-8624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3242]



[[Page 8621]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension and revision of an information collection 
(1010-0141).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS 
is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 
The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart D, ``Oil and 
Gas Drilling Operations,'' and forms MMS-123, MMS-123S, MMS-124, MMS-
125, MMS-133 and MMS-133S. The current OMB approval of these forms 
expires in October 2005. MMS has revised the forms, so that the paper 
forms and eWell submitted information will be compatible; we will 
submit these revisions to OMB for approval.

DATES: Submit written comments by April 25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the burden by any of the 
following methods listed below. Please use OMB Control Number 1010-0141 
as an identifier in your message.
     MMS's Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the website for 
submitting comments.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions on the website for submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Use 1010-0141 in the 
subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with 1010-0141.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing Team 
(RPT); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please 
reference Information Collection 1010-0141 in your comments and include 
your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team 
at (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a 
copy, at no cost, of the regulation and any forms that require the 
subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0141.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations to 
administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to 
all operations conducted under a lease. Operations on the OCS must 
preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in a 
manner which is consistent with the need to make such resources 
available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to 
balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, 
marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and 
equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and 
maintain free enterprise competition.
    Section 1332(6) states that ``operations in the [O]uter Continental 
Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well trained personnel 
using technology, precautions, and other techniques sufficient to 
prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, 
fires, spillages, physical obstructions to other users of the waters or 
subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the 
environment or to property or endanger life or health.'' This authority 
and responsibility are among those delegated to the MMS. To carry out 
these responsibilities, MMS issues regulations governing oil and gas 
and sulphur operations in the OCS. This notice pertains to the 
information collection requirements of subpart D and the MMS forms that 
are used to submit information required pursuant to 30 CFR 250, Subpart 
D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations. These requirements and burdens for 
the forms are being consolidated into the primary collection for 
subpart D, OMB Control Number 1010-0141.
    The MMS OCS Regions use the information collected to ensure that 
requirements are carried out for oil and gas drilling operations; that 
operators are required to take necessary precautions to keep wells 
under control at all times using the best available and safest drilling 
technology to monitor and evaluate well conditions; and that operators 
must use and maintain equipment and materials necessary to ensure the 
safety and protection of personnel, equipment, natural resources, and 
the environment.
    In addition, MMS also issues various Notices to Lessees (NTLs) and 
Operators to clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspect of 
the regulations, as well as various forms to capture the data and 
information. The current subpart D regulations specify the use of forms 
MMS-123 (Application for Permit to Drill, OMB Control Number 1010-0044, 
expiration 10/31/05), MMS-123S (Supplemental APD Information Sheet, OMB 
Control Number 1010-0131, expiration 10/31/05), MMS-124 (Application 
for Permit to Modify, OMB Control Number 1010-0045, expiration 10/31/
05), MMS-125 (End of Operations Report, OMB Control Number 1010-0046, 
expiration 10/31/05), and MMS-133 (Well Activity Report, OMB Control 
Number 1010-0132, expiration 10/31/05), which were approved 
individually by OMB and assigned separate control numbers. The 
requirements and burdens for these forms are being merged into the main 
collection for subpart D, OMB Control Number 1010-0141. One of the 
forms has been broken out into two separate forms, MMS-133 and MMS-
133S, for submission to separate offices.
    Previous Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approvals associated 
with the forms relating to the subpart D collection of information 
attached a term of clearance specifying `` * * * future submissions 
will provide an update to efforts currently underway to accommodate the 
electronic submission of data and how these efforts are reducing 
burden.'' For Forms MMS-123S and MMS-133, another term of clearance was 
requested specifying ``* * * include in its estimate the number of 
hours needed to collect information submitted in the form.'' To 
implement the Government Paperwork Elimination Act and to streamline 
data collection, MMS has been developing systems to provide electronic 
options for lessees and operators to use in submitting information and 
requesting approvals. An electronic system entitled eWell has been up 
and running, operators who wished to be involved were trained from June 
through August 2004, and the system is being used in the Gulf of Mexico 
(GOM) Region. Out of all the GOM respondents, 45 percent of all 
submissions are now done electronically. At this time, neither the 
Pacific nor the Alaska Regions have the electronic eWell system. Until 
the time that the transition process from paper forms to submitting 
information via the eWell system is not an issue, some of the regions 
will have respondents submitting paper forms. With this

[[Page 8622]]

submission, forms are being revised so that paper submittal and eWell 
submittal information is compatible. Some of the paper forms have been 
revamped and the data fields may be renumbered. We have eliminated some 
data fields that were either duplicative or no longer needed, renamed 
some sections and data fields, relocated data fields from one form to 
another, and added some data fields in a different format to make 
responses quicker for the respondent. It should be noted that the added 
data fields should not impose any additional burden on respondents, and 
are not actually new information.
    The following explains how we use the information collected on each 
form.
     Form MMS-123, Application for Permit to Drill and Form 
MMS-123S, Supplemental APD Information Sheet (Casing Design): MMS uses 
the information from these forms to determine the conditions of a 
drilling site to avoid hazards inherent in drilling operations. 
Specifically, the appropriate MMS District Office uses the information 
to evaluate the adequacy of a lessee's drilling, well-completion, well-
workover, and well-abandonment plans and equipment to determine if the 
proposed operations will be conducted in an operationally safe manner 
that provides adequate protection for the environment. The District 
Office also reviews the information to ensure conformance with specific 
provisions of the lease.
     Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify: MMS uses 
the information on this form to evaluate the adequacy of the equipment, 
materials, and/or procedures that the lessee plans to use during well 
drilling, completion, workover, and production operations. This 
includes deepening, plugging back, and well-abandonment operations, 
including temporary abandonments where the wellbore will be re-entered 
and completed or permanently plugged.
     Form MMS-125, End of Operations Report: MMS uses this 
information to ensure that they have accurate and up-to-date data and 
information on wells and leasehold activities under their jurisdiction 
and to ensure compliance with approved plans and any conditions placed 
upon a suspension or temporary prohibition. It is also used to evaluate 
the remedial action in the event of well equipment failure or well 
control loss. The information keeps us aware of the status of drilling 
operations.
     Form MMS-133, Well Activity Report and Form MMS-133S, Open 
Hole Data Report (Supplement to the Well Activity Report): MMS uses 
this information to monitor the conditions of a well and status of 
drilling operations. Specifically, the drilling engineer in the 
District Supervisor reviews the information to be aware of the well 
conditions and current drilling activity (i.e., well depth, drilling 
fluid weight, casing types and setting depths, completed well logs, and 
recent safety equipment tests and drills). The engineer uses this 
information to determine how accurately the lessee anticipated well 
conditions and if the lessee is following the approved Application for 
Permit to Drill (form MMS-123) and its companion form (MMS-123S). The 
MMS engineer and District Manager also use the information in their 
review of an Application for Permit to Modify (form MMS-124). With the 
information collected on forms MMS-133 and MMS-133S available, the 
reviewers can analyze the proposed revisions (i.e., revised grade of 
casing or deeper casing setting depth) and make a quick and informed 
decision on the request. This was originally one form; it has now been 
broken out in paper format into two separate forms so that the 
information can be released to separate MMS District offices. There are 
new items that were previously submitted in report format that are now 
put on the forms to facilitate the eWell process; we anticipate no 
change in the burden hours.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.196, ``Data and information to be made available to the 
public,'' and 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.''
    No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are 
mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion, weekly, monthly, semi-annually, annually, 
and varies by section.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS permittees, notice filers, or respondents.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for the collections of 
subpart D and associated forms is 146,663 hours combined. The following 
chart details the individual components and respective hour burden 
estimates of this ICR. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that 
respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their 
activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that 
into account in estimating the burden.

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Citation 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart D
            and NTL(s)                  Reporting and recordkeeping requirement              Hour burden
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402(b)............................  Request approval to use blind or blind-shear    .25
                                     ram or pipe rams and inside BOP.
403...............................  Notify MMS of drilling rig movement on or off   .1
                                     drilling location.
                                    In Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, rig movements
                                     reported on form MMS-144--burden covered
                                     under 1010-0150.
408, 409..........................  Apply for use of alternative procedures and/or  1
                                     departures not requested in MMS forms
                                     (including discussions with MMS or oral
                                     approvals).
408, 409; 410-418, plus various     Apply for permit to drill and requests for      Form 123, 1.5
 other references in subpart D.      various approvals required in subpart D
                                     (including Sec.  Sec.   250.423, 424, 442(c),
                                     451(g), 456(f)) and obtained via forms MMS-
                                     123 (Application for Permit to Drill) and MMS-
                                     123S (Supplemental APD Information Sheet),
                                     and supporting information and notices to MMS.
                                                                                    Form 123S, 2.5
410(a)(3), 417(b).................  Reference to Exploration Plan, Development and
                                     Production Plan, Development Operations
                                     Coordination Document (30 CFR 250, subpart
                                     B)--burden covered under 1010-0049.
417(a), (b).......................  Collect and report additional information on    4
                                     case-by-case basis if sufficient information
                                     is not available.
417(c)............................  Submit 3rd party review of drilling unit
                                     according to 30 CFR 250, subpart I--burden
                                     covered under 1010-0058.
418(e)............................  Submit welding and burning plan according to
                                     30 CFR 250, subpart A--burden covered under
                                     1010-0114.
421; 423; 428.....................  Submit casing and cementing program and         2
                                     revisions or changes..

[[Page 8623]]

 
424...............................  Caliper, pressure test, or evaluate casing;     5
                                     submit evaluation results; request approval
                                     before resuming operations or beginning
                                     repairs (every 30 days during prolonged
                                     drilling).
456(c), (f).......................  Perform various calculations; post information  .25
                                     (on occasion, daily, weekly).
459(a)(3).........................  Request exception to procedure for protecting   2
                                     negative pressure area.
460; 465..........................  Submit revised plans, changes, well/drilling    Form 124, 1.25
                                     records, etc., on forms MMS-124 (Application
                                     for Permit to Modify) or MMS-125 (End of
                                     Operations Report)..
                                    ..............................................  Form 125, 1
460...............................  Submit plans for well testing and notify MMS    2
                                     before test.
461(e)............................  Provide copy of well directional survey to      1
                                     affected leaseholder.
462(a)............................  Prepare and post well control drill plan for    3
                                     crew members.
463(b)............................  Request field drilling rules be established,    2.5
                                     amended, or canceled.
468(a)............................  Submit well logs, survey results, etc.........  1.5
                                    Submit directional and vertical well surveys..  .5
                                    Submit velocity profiles and surveys..........  .25
                                    Submit core analyses..........................  .25
468(b); 465(b)(3).................  In the GOM OCS Region, submit drilling          1
                                     activity reports weekly on form MMS-133 (Well
                                     Activity Report (WAR)) and form MMS-133S
                                     (Open Hole Data Report (Supplement to the
                                     WAR)).
468(c)............................  In the Pacific and Alaska OCS Regions during    1
                                     drilling operations, submit daily drilling
                                     reports.
469...............................  As specified by region, submit well records,    .25
                                     paleontological interpretations or reports,
                                     service company reports, and other reports or
                                     records of operations.
490(c)(4), (d)....................  Submit request for reclassification of H2S      1.7
                                     zone; notify MMS if conditions change.
490(f); also referred in 418(d)...  Submit contingency plans for operations in H2S  10
                                     areas (16 drilling, 5 work-over, 6
                                     production).
490(i)............................  Display warning signs--no burden as facilities
                                     would display warning signs and use other
                                     visual and audible systems.
490(j)(12)........................  Propose alternatives to minimize or eliminate
                                     SO2 hazards--submitted with contingency
                                     plans--burden covered under 250.490(f).
490(j)(13)(vi)....................  Label breathing air bottles--no burden as
                                     supplier normally labels bottles; facilities
                                     would routinely label if not.
490(l)............................  Notify (phone) MMS of unplanned H2S releases    2
                                     (approx. 2/year)..
490(o)(5).........................  Request approval to use drill pipe for well     2
                                     testing.
490(q)(1).........................  Seal and mark for the presence of H2S cores to
                                     be transported--no burden as facilities would
                                     routinely mark transported cores.
490(q)(9).........................  Request approval to use gas containing H2S for  2
                                     instrument gas.
490(q)(12)........................  Analyze produced water disposed of for H2S      2.8
                                     content and submit results to MMS on occasion
                                     (approx. weekly).
-----------------------------------
                                               Reporting Subtotal
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404...............................  Perform operational check of crown block        1
                                     safety device; record results (weekly).
426...............................  Perform pressure test on all casing strings     2
                                     and drilling liner lap; record results.
427(a)............................  Perform pressure-integrity tests and related    4
                                     hole-behavior observations; record results.
434; 467..........................  Perform diverter tests when installed and once  2
                                     every 7 days; actuate system at least once
                                     every 24-hour period; record results (average
                                     per drilling operation).
450; 467..........................  Perform BOP pressure tests, actuations and      6
                                     inspections when installed; at a minimum
                                     every 14 days; as stated for components;
                                     record results..
450, 467..........................  Function test annulars and rams; document       .16
                                     results every 7 days between BOP tests
                                     (biweekly). Note: this test is part of BOP
                                     test when BOP test is conducted.
451(c)............................  Record reason for postponing BOP test (on       .1
                                     occasion--approx. 2/year).
456(b), (i); 458(b)...............  Record each drilling fluid circulation; test    1.25
                                     drilling fluid, record results; record daily
                                     inventory of drilling fluid/materials; test
                                     and recalibrate gas detectors; record results
                                     (on occasion, daily, weekly, quarterly).
462(c)............................  Perform well-control drills; record results (2  1
                                     crews weekly).
466, 467..........................  Retain drilling records for 90 days after       1.5
                                     drilling is complete; retain casing/liner
                                     pressure, diverter, and BOP records for 2
                                     years; retain well completion/well workover
                                     until well is permanently plugged/abandoned
                                     or lease is assigned.
490(g)(2), (g)(5).................  Conduct H2S training; post safety               2
                                     instructions; document training on occasion
                                     and annual refresher (approx. 2/year).
490(h)(2).........................  Conduct weekly drills and safety meetings;      1
                                     document attendance.
490(j)(8).........................  Test H2S detection and monitoring sensors       2
                                     during drilling; record testing and
                                     calibrations on occasion, daily during
                                     drilling (approx. 12 sensors per rig).
490(j)(8).........................  Test H2S detection and monitoring sensors       3.5
                                     every 14 days during production; record
                                     testing and calibrations (approx. 30 sensors/
                                     5 platforms + approx. 42 sensors/23
                                     platforms).
400-490...........................  General departure or alternative compliance     2
                                     requests not specifically covered elsewhere
                                     in subpart D.
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no cost burdens for this collection.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control

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number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not 
obligated to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *''. Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total 
capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance, 
and purchase of service components. You should describe the methods you 
use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology 
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount 
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup 
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase 
to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage 
facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services 
purchased: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) 
as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
    We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them 
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we 
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to 
OMB.
    Public Comment Procedure: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. If you wish your name and/or 
address to be withheld, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. MMS will honor this request to the extent 
allowable by law; however, anonymous comments will not be considered. 
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: February 9, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-3242 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P