[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48893-48895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19424]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0004; OMB Control Number 1014-0004: 134E1700D2 
EEEE500000 ET1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Well-Completion 
Operations; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-day Notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) 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 renewal to the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-
Completion Operations.

DATE: You must submit comments by October 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2013-0004 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry comments 
to the Department of the Interior; BSEE; Regulations and Standards 
Branch; Attention: Nicole Mason; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1014-0004 in your comment and 
include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Mason, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1605 to request additional information 
about this ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion 
Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0004.
    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 necessary 
for the administration of the leasing provisions of the Act related to 
the mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply 
to all operations conducted under a lease. Operations on the OCS must 
preserve, protect, and develop mineral 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.'' These authorities and 
responsibilities are among those delegated to BSEE to ensure that 
operations in the OCS will meet statutory requirements; provide for 
safety and protection of the environment; and result in diligent 
exploration, development, and production of OCS leases. This 
information collection (IC) request addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 
250, Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations, and any 
associated supplementary Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) 
intended to provide clarification, description, or explanation of these 
regulations.
    In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43 
U.S.C. 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty 
Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants authority to the 
Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably 
necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of 
FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some 
provisions apply to offshore

[[Page 48894]]

operations. For example, section 108 of FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants 
the Secretary broad authority to inspect lease sites for the purpose of 
determining whether there is compliance with the mineral leasing laws. 
Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose 
substantial civil penalties for failure to permit lawful inspections 
and for knowing or willful preparation or submission of false, 
inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or other information. 
Because the Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA 
to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as additional authority for these 
requirements.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 250 implement these statutory 
requirements. We use the information to ensure that planned well-
completion operations will protect personnel and natural resources. 
They use the analysis and evaluation results in the decision to 
approve, disapprove, or require modification to the proposed well-
completion operations. Specifically, BSEE uses the information to 
ensure: (a) Compliance with personnel safety training requirements; (b) 
crown block safety device is operating and can be expected to function 
to avoid accidents; (c) proposed operation of the annular preventer is 
technically correct and provides adequate protection for personnel, 
property, and natural resources; (d) well-completion operations are 
conducted on well casings that are structurally competent; and (e) 
sustained casing pressures are within acceptable limits.
    The BSEE will protect proprietary information according to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 
regulations (43 CFR 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made 
available to the public or for limited inspection; and 30 CFR part 252, 
OCS Oil and Gas Information Program. No items of a sensitive nature are 
collected. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: Responses are generally weekly, monthly, annually, and 
vary by section.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and holders of pipeline rights-of-
way.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 46,859 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.

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    Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart E and
              related NTLs                 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements           Hour burden
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                                                    Requests
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502.....................................  Request an exception to shutting in         5
                                           producible wells before moving a well-
                                           completion rig or related equipment.
512.....................................  Request establishment, amendment, or        10
                                           cancellation of well-completion field
                                           rules.
500-531.................................  General departure and alternative           2
                                           compliance requests not specifically
                                           covered elsewhere in Subpart E
                                           regulations.
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                                                     Records
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506.....................................  Record dates and times of well-completion   0.5
                                           operations safety meetings.
511.....................................  Record results of traveling-block safety    1
                                           device in operations log.
514(d)..................................  Request approval from the District Manager  2
                                           to displace kill-weight fluids to an
                                           underbalanced state; submit detailed
                                           written procedures with your APM.
515(e)(2)(ii)...........................  Allow BSEE access to witness testing,       0.25
                                           inspections, and information
                                           verification. Notify District Manager at
                                           least 72 hours prior to shearing ram
                                           tests.
517(a)..................................  Record all your BOP test pressures........  0.75
517(c), (i).............................  Record time, date, and results of all       5
                                           pressure tests, crew drills, actuations,
                                           and inspections of the BOP in driller's
                                           report.
517(d)(8)...............................  Function test ROV interventions on your     10
                                           subsea BOP stack; document all test
                                           results; make available to BSEE upon
                                           request.
517(d)(8)(ii) & (iii)...................  Notify District Manager at least 72 hours   0.25
                                           prior to stump/initial test on seafloor;
                                           document all test results and make them
                                           available to BSEE upon request.
517(d)(9)...............................  Function test autoshear and deadman on
                                           your subsea BOP stack during stump test;
                                           document all test results; make available
                                           to BSEE upon request.
517(e)..................................  Record reason for postponing BOP test in    0.5
                                           driller's report.
517(g)(l)...............................  Document the procedures used for BOP        7 days x 12 hrs/day = 84
                                           inspections; record results; maintain
                                           records for 2 years; make available to
                                           BSEE upon request.
517(g)(2)...............................  Request alternative method to inspect a     0
                                           marine riser.
517(h)..................................  Document the procedures used for BOP        1
                                           maintenance; record results; maintain
                                           records for 2 years; make available to
                                           BSEE upon request.
517(i)(1)-(3)...........................  Record BOP test pressure on pressure        2
                                           charts; onsite rep certify and sign/date
                                           reports; document sequential order of BOP/
                                           auxiliary testing, pressure, and duration
                                           of each test.
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                                                   Submittals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
505; 513; 516(a); 526...................  Submit Forms BSEE-0123, BSEE-0123S, BSEE-   0
                                           0124, and BSEE-0125 and all accompanying
                                           information to conduct well-completion
                                           operations; request written approval.
515.....................................  Submit a description of your BOP and its    15
                                           components; schematic drawings;
                                           independent third-party verification and
                                           all supporting information (evidence
                                           showing appropriate licenses, has
                                           expertise/experience necessary to perform
                                           required verifications, etc) with your
                                           APM.

[[Page 48895]]

 
517(d)(8), (9)..........................  Submit test procedures with your APM for    0
                                           approval and relevant supporting data.
518(b), NTL.............................  Submit results of casing pressure testing,  4
                                           callipering, and other evaluations;
                                           notify BSEE if sustained casing pressure
                                           is observed on a well.
526(a); 527.............................  Submit notification of corrective action..  1.5
526(a); 530(a)..........................  Submit a corrective action plan; notify     11
                                           BSEE after completion of corrected action
                                           within 30 days.
526(b); 528.............................  Submit a casing pressure request; any       9
                                           additional information as needed.
530(b)..................................  Submit the casing pressure diagnostic test  1
                                           data within 14 days.
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                                                   Post/Retain
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
514(c)..................................  Post the number of stands of drill pipe/    0.5
                                           collars that may be pulled and equivalent
                                           well-control fluid volume.
517(i)(6)...............................  Retain all records including pressure       1.5
                                           charts, driller's report, referenced
                                           documents pertaining to BOP tests,
                                           actuations, and inspections at the
                                           facility for duration of the activity.
517(i)(7)...............................  After completion of well, retain all        2
                                           records for 2 two years at location
                                           conveniently available to BSEE.
524.....................................  Retain records of casing pressure and       1
                                           diagnostic tests for 2 years or until the
                                           well is abandoned.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified no 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 
collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy 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 
technology.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour paperwork cost burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have other than hour burden 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. For further 
information on this burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or 
contact the Bureau representative listed previously in this notice.
    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 Procedures: 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.
    BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon (703) 
787-1607.

    Dated: August 2, 2013.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-19424 Filed 8-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P