[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2522-2523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-616]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2007-OMM-0078]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0041 (30 CFR 250, 
Subpart K) Oil and Gas Production Rates, Extension of a Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0041).

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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 K, Oil and 
Gas Production Rates.

DATE: Submit written comments by March 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov, select 
``Minerals Management Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then 
click ``submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select MMS-2007-OMM-0078 to 
submit public comments and to view supporting and related materials 
available. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions 
for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket 
after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``User Tips'' link. All comments submitted will be published and posted 
to the docket after the closing period.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 
``Information Collection 1010-0041'' in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon 
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulations and the forms that 
require the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart K, Oil and Gas Production Rates.
    Form(s): MMS-126, MMS-127, MMS-128, and MMS-140.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0041.
    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 (Secretary) 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 that 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 5(a) of the OCS Lands Act requires the Secretary to 
prescribe rules and regulations ``to provide for the prevention of 
waste, and conservation of the natural resources of the Outer 
Continental Shelf, and the protection of correlative rights therein'' 
and to include provisions ``for the prompt and efficient exploration 
and development of a lease area.''
    Section 1334(g)(2) states ``* * * the lessee shall produce such oil 
or gas, or both, at rates * * * to assure the maximum rate of 
production which may be sustained without loss of ultimate recovery of 
oil or gas, or both, under sound engineering and economic principles, 
and which is safe for the duration of the activity covered by the 
approved plan.''
    These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to 
the Minerals Management Service (MMS). The regulations at 30 CFR 250, 
subpart K, concern oil and gas production rates, and are the subject of 
this collection.
    In addition, MMS also issues various Notices to Lessees (NTLs) and 
Operators to clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of 
the regulations, as well as various forms to capture the data and 
information. The current subpart K regulations specify the use of forms 
MMS-126 (Well Potential Test Report), MMS-127 (Sensitive Reservoir 
Information Report), MMS-128 (Semiannual Well Test Report), and MMS-140 
(Bottomhole Pressure Survey Report).
    The forms and their purposes are:

Form MMS-126, Well Potential Test Report

    The MMS uses this information for various environmental, reservoir, 
reserves, and conservation analyses, including the determination of 
maximum production rates (MPRs) when necessary for certain oil and gas 
completions.

Form MMS-127, Sensitive Reservoir Information Report

    The MMS uses this information to determine whether a rate-sensitive 
reservoir is being prudently developed.

Form MMS-128, Semiannual Well Test Report

    The MMS uses this information to evaluate the results of well tests 
to determine if reservoirs are being depleted in a manner that will 
lead to the greatest ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons.

Form MMS-140, Bottomhole Pressure Survey Report

    The MMS uses the information in our efforts to conserve natural 
resources, prevent waste, and protect correlative rights, including the 
Government's royalty interest.
    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 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public 
or for limited use.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency: On occasion, monthly, semi-annually, annually and as a 
result of situations encountered.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burdens totaled for the 
consolidated collection is 43,065 hours. 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.

[[Page 2523]]



 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Hour burden
   Citation 30 CFR 250           Requirement       ---------------------
  Subpart K and NTL(s)                                   Fee burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1101(b), (f)              Request approval to       5
                           produce within 500 feet  $3,300 fee
                           of a lease line..
1101(c), (f)............  Request approval to       12
                           produce gas cap of a     $4,200 fee
                           sensitive reservoir.
1102....................  Submit form MMS-126.....  0.2
                          Submit form MMS-127 and   1.5
                           appropriate supporting
                           information.
                          Submit form MMS-128.....  0.5-3
                         -----------------------------------------------
1102(a)(5)..............    Submit alternative plan for overproduction
                            status--MMS is not currently collecting this
                                            information.
                         -----------------------------------------------
1102(b)(6)..............  Request extension of      0.5
                           time to submit results
                           of semiannual well test.
1103(a).................  Request approval of test  0.5
                           periods of less than 4
                           hours and pretest
                           stabilization periods
                           of less than 6 hours.
1103(c)                   Provide advance notice    0.5
                           of time and date of
                           well tests.
1104(c).................  Submit results of all     1
                           static bottomhole
                           pressure surveys
                           obtained by lessee.
                           Information is
                           submitted on form MMS-
                           140 in the Gulf of
                           Mexico Region.
1105(a), (b)............  Request special approval  0.5
                           to flare or vent oil-
                           well gas.
1105(c).................  Request approval to burn  0.5
                           produced liquid
                           hydrocarbons.
1105(f).................  Submit monthly reports    2
                           of flared or vented gas
                           containing H2S.
1106....................  Submit application to     6
                           commingle hydrocarbons   $4,900 fee
                           produced from multiple
                           reservoirs and inform
                           other lessees having an
                           interest.
1107(b).................  Submit proposed plan for  12
                           enhanced recovery
                           operations.
1107(c).................  Submit periodic reports   2
                           of volumes of oil, gas,
                           or other substances
                           injected, produced, or
                           reproduced.
1100-1107...............  General departure or      1
                           alternative compliance   6
                           requests not
                           specifically covered
                           elsewhere in subpart K,
                           including bottomhole
                           pressure survey waivers
                           and reservoir
                           reclassification
                           requests.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Reporting Subtotal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1105(d), (e)............  Maintain records for 2    13
                           years detailing gas
                           flaring or venting.
1105(d), (e)............  Maintain records for 2    0.5
                           years detailing liquid
                           hydrocarbon burning.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified three non-hour cost burdens for this collection (see 
table above). Section 250.1101(f) requires a fee for a gas cap 
production request. Section 250.1101(f) requires a fee to produce 
within 500 feet of a lease line request. Section 250.1106 requires a 
fee for a downhole commingling request. We have not identified any 
other ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection of 
information.
    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 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: Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: December 21, 2007.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-616 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P