[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4911-4914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1350]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0007]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0141 (30 CFR 250, 
Subpart D) Oil and Gas Drilling Operations, Revision of a Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a 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.

DATES: Submit written comments by March 28, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any either 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-2008-OMM-0007 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 1010-0141'' 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 D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations.
    Form(s): MMS-123, MMS-123S, MMS-124, MMS-125, MMS-133 and MMS-133S.

[[Page 4912]]

    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 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 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 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.
    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 and 
Operators (NTLs) to clarify and provide additional guidance on some 
aspect of the regulations, as well as various forms to capture the data 
and 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): The MMS 
uses the information from these forms to determine the conditions of a 
drilling site to avoid hazards inherent in drilling operations.
     Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify: The 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.
     Form MMS-125, End of Operations Report: The 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.
     Form MMS-133, Well Activity Report and Form MMS-133S, Open 
Hole Data Report (Supplement to the Well Activity Report): The MMS uses 
this information to monitor the conditions of a well and status of 
drilling operations.
    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,'' and 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are required to obtain or retain a benefit and/or mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion, weekly, monthly, semi-annually, annually, 
and varies by section.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil and gas lessees or their representatives.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for the collections of 
subpart D and associated forms is 163,954 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 250 subpart D and NTL(s)    Reporting and recordkeeping requirement         Hour burden Fee
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402(b)..................................  Request approval to use blind or blind-     0.25
                                           shear ram or pipe rams and inside BOP.
403.....................................  Notify MMS of drilling rig movement on or   0.1
                                           off drilling location.
                                          In Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, rig
                                           movements reported on form MMS-144--
                                           burden covered under 1010-0150.
404.....................................  Perform operational check of crown block    0.25
                                           safety device; record results (weekly).
408, 409................................  Apply for use of alternative procedures     5
                                           and/or departures not requested in MMS
                                           forms (including discussions with MMS or
                                           oral approvals).
408, 409; 410-418, plus various other     Apply for permit to drill, revised permit   MMS-123 2.5+*
 references in subpart D.                  to drill, and requests for various         $1,850 Fee.
                                           approvals required in subpart D            MMS-123S 1.5+*
                                           (including Sec.  Sec.   250.423, 424,
                                           427, 432, 442(c), 447, 448(b), 451(g),
                                           456(a)(3), (f), 460, 490(c)(1), (2)) 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.
410(b), 417(b)..........................  Reference to Exploration Plan, Development  0
                                           and Production Plan, Development
                                           Operations Coordination Document (30 CFR
                                           250, subpart B)--burden covered under
                                           1010-0151.
417(a), (b).............................  Collect and report additional information   4
                                           on case-by-case basis if sufficient
                                           information is not available.
417(c)..................................  Submit 3rd party review of drilling unit    0
                                           according to 30 CFR 250, subpart I--
                                           burden covered under 1010-0149.
418(e)..................................  Submit welding and burning plan according   0
                                           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 4913]]

 
424.....................................  Caliper, pressure test, or evaluate         4
                                           casing; submit evaluation results;
                                           request approval before resuming
                                           operations or beginning repairs (every 30
                                           days during prolonged drilling).
426.....................................  Perform pressure test on all casing         2
                                           strings and drilling liner lap; record
                                           results.
427(a)..................................  Perform pressure-integrity tests and        4
                                           related hole-behavior observations;
                                           record results.
434; 467................................  Perform diverter tests when installed and   2
                                           once every 7 days; actuate system at
                                           least once every 24-hour period; record
                                           results (average 2 per drilling
                                           operation).
450; 467................................  Perform BOP pressure tests, actuations and  10
                                           inspections when installed; at a minimum
                                           every 14 days; as stated for components;
                                           record results.
450, 467................................  Function test annulars and rams; document   0.5
                                           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   0.25
                                           occasion--approx. 2/year).
456(b), (i); 458(b).....................  Record each drilling fluid circulation;     2
                                           test drilling fluid, record results;
                                           record daily inventory of drilling fluid/
                                           materials; test and recalibrate gas
                                           detectors; record results (on occasion,
                                           daily, weekly, quarterly).
456(c), (f).............................  Perform various calculations; post          0.5
                                           information (on occasion, daily, weekly).
459(a)(3)...............................  Request exception to procedure for          2
                                           protecting negative pressure area.
460; 465................................  Submit revised plans, changes, well/        MMS-124 1.5+*
                                           drilling records, etc., on forms MMS-124   $110 Fee.
                                           (Application for Permit to Modify) or MMS- MMS-125 1.6+*
                                           125 (End of Operations Report) and
                                           supporting information.
460.....................................  Submit plans for well testing and notify    2
                                           MMS before test.
461(a-b); 466(e); 468(a)................  Record and submit well logs, survey         1.5
                                           results, etc.
                                          Record and submit directional and vertical- 1
                                           well surveys.
                                          Record and submit velocity profiles and     1
                                           surveys.
                                          Record and submit core analyses...........  1
461(e)..................................  Provide copy of well directional survey to  1
                                           affected leaseholder.
462(a)..................................  Prepare and post well control drill plan    3
                                           for crew members.
462(c)..................................  Perform well-control drills; record         1
                                           results (2 crews weekly).
463(b)..................................  Request field drilling rules be             2.5
                                           established, amended, or canceled.
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.
468(b); 465(b)(3).......................  In the GOM OCS Region, submit drilling      0.8+*
                                           activity reports weekly on forms MMS-133
                                           (Well Activity Report) and MMS-133S (Bore
                                           Hole Data) and supporting information.
468(c)..................................  In the Pacific and Alaska OCS Regions       1
                                           during drilling operations, submit daily
                                           drilling reports. N/A in GOM.
469.....................................  As specified by region, submit well         1.5
                                           records, paleontological interpretations
                                           or reports, service company reports, and
                                           other reports or records of operations.
490(c)(4), (d)..........................  Submit request for reclassification of H2S  2
                                           zone; notify MMS if conditions change.
490(f); referred in 418(d) also.........  Submit contingency plans for operations in  25
                                           H2S areas (16 drilling, 5 work-over, 6
                                           production).
490(g)..................................  Conduct H2S training; post safety           4
                                           instructions; document training on
                                           occasion and annual refresher (approx. 2/
                                           year).
490(h)(2)...............................  Conduct weekly drills and safety meetings;  2
                                           document attendance.
490(i)..................................  Display warning signs--no burden as         0
                                           facilities would display warning signs
                                           and use other visual and audible systems.
490(j)(7-8).............................  Test H2S detection and monitoring sensors   4
                                           during drilling; record testing and
                                           calibrations on occasion, daily during
                                           drilling (approx. 12 sensors per rig).
490(j)(7-8).............................  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).
490(j)(12)..............................  Propose alternatives to minimize or         0
                                           eliminate SO2 hazards--submitted with
                                           contingency plans--burden covered under
                                           250.490(f).
490(j)(13)(vi)..........................  Label breathing air bottles--no burden as   0
                                           supplier normally labels bottles;
                                           facilities would routinely label if not.
490(l)..................................  Notify (phone) MMS of unplanned H2S         0.2
                                           releases (approx. 2/year).
490(o)(5)...............................  Request approval to use drill pipe for      2
                                           well testing.
490(q)(1)...............................  Seal and mark for the presence of H2S       0
                                           cores to be transported--no burden as
                                           facilities would routinely mark
                                           transported cores.
490(q)(9)...............................  Request approval to use gas containing H2S  2
                                           for instrument gas.
490(q)(12)..............................  Analyze produced water disposed of for H2S  2.8
                                           content and submit results to MMS on
                                           occasion (approx. weekly).
400-490.................................  General departure or alternative            2
                                           compliance requests not specifically
                                           covered elsewhere in subpart D.
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* The hour burdens are an average of the estimate due to the fact that a percentage of the submittals are
  reported electronically, which in some cases takes less time than the percentage of the submittals that are
  reported in paper form.


[[Page 4914]]

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified two non-hour cost burdens for this collection. When 
respondents submit an Application for Permit to Drill (Form MMS-123), 
they submit a $1,850 fee for initial applications only (there is no fee 
for revisions); and when respondents submit an Application for Permit 
to Modify (Form MMS-124), they submit a $110 fee. There are no other 
``non-hour 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 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, e-mail 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: January 16, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-1350 Filed 1-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P