[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11834-11837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05052]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

[Docket ID BSEE-2016-0002; OMB Control Number 1014-0002; 16XE1700DX 
EX1SF0000.DAQ000 EEEE500000]


Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Production 
Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
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 a renewal to the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart L, Oil and Gas 
Production Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security.

DATES: You must submit comments by May 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
search for BSEE-2016-0002. 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; 
ATTN: Kelly Odom; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Please 
reference ICR 1014-0002 in your comment and include your name and 
return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Odom, Regulations and Standards 
Branch at (703) 787-1775 to request additional information about this 
ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 11835]]

    Title: 30 CFR part 250, subpart L, Oil and Gas Production 
Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0002.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (the 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 necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions 
of the Act related to the mineral resources on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (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.
    The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 
1701, et seq.) at section 1712(b)(2) prescribes that an operator will 
``develop and comply with such minimum site security measures as the 
Secretary deems appropriate, to protect oil or gas produced or stored 
on a lease site or on the Outer Continental Shelf from theft.''
    The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the 
Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 
1996), and OMB Circular A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the 
full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the 
Department of the Interior's implementing policy, BSEE is required to 
charge fees for services that provide special benefits or privileges to 
an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond those which 
accrue to the public at large. Applications for surface commingling and 
measurement applications are subject to cost recovery and BSEE 
regulations specify service fees for these requests.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart L, implement these 
statutory requirements. We use the information to ensure that the 
volumes of hydrocarbons produced are measured accurately, and royalties 
are paid on the proper volumes. Specifically, we need the information 
to:
     Determine if measurement equipment is properly installed, 
provides accurate measurement of production on which royalty is due, 
and is operating properly;
     Obtain rates of production data in allocating the volumes 
of production measured at royalty sales meters, which can be examined 
during field inspections;
     Ascertain if all removals of oil and condensate from the 
lease are reported;
     Determine the amount of oil that was shipped when 
measurements are taken by gauging the tanks rather than being measured 
by a meter;
     Ensure that the sales location is secure and production 
cannot be removed without the volumes being recorded; and
     Review proving reports to verify that data on run tickets 
are calculated and reported accurately.
    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 inspection. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: Varies by section, but primarily monthly, or on 
occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas and sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is a total of 
30,856 hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
estimated hour burdens. 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Hour burden
Citation 30 CFR  part 250 subpart L   Reporting or recordkeeping -----------------------------------------------
                                             requirement                       Non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(a)(1), (b)(1); 1203(b)(1);                                   7 (7 hours x 1 application)
                                                                  Non-Hour $1,271
                                                                  ($1,271 simple fee x 1 application).
1204(a)(1)......................................................
Submit application for liquid hydrocarbon or gas measurement
 procedures or changes; or for commingling of production or
 changes.
No fee.............................  Submit meter status and      2 (2 hrs. x 1 notification).
                                      replacement notifications.
1202(a)(4).........................  Copy and send pipeline       0.
                                      (retrograde) condensate
                                      volumes upon request.
1202(c)(1), (2); 1202(e)(4);         Record observed data,        0.
 1202(h)(1), (2), (3), (4);           correction factors and net
 1202(i)(1)(iv), (2)(iii); 1202(j).   standard volume on royalty
                                      meter and tank run tickets.
                                     Record master meter
                                      calibration runs.
                                     Record mechanical-
                                      displacement prover,
                                      master meter, or tank
                                      prover proof runs.
                                     Record liquid hydrocarbon
                                      royalty meter malfunction
                                      and repair or adjustment
                                      on proving report; record
                                      unregistered production on
                                      run ticket.
                                     List Cpl and Ctl factors on
                                      run tickets.
1202(c)(4) *.......................  Copy and send all liquid     120 (20 min. x 360 tickets).
                                      hydrocarbon run tickets
                                      monthly.
1202(d)(1) (d)(4); (k)(9);           Permit BSEE to witness       2 (2 x 1 well test request).
 1204(b)(1).                          testing; request approval
                                      for proving on a schedule
                                      other than monthly;
                                      request approval for well
                                      testing on a schedule
                                      other than every 60 days.
1202(d)(5) *.......................  Copy and submit liquid       68 (20 min. x 204 reports).
                                      hydrocarbon royalty meter
                                      proving reports monthly
                                      and request waiver as
                                      needed.

[[Page 11836]]

 
1202(f)(2) *.......................  Copy and submit mechanical-  .33 (20 min. x 1 report).
                                      displacement prover and
                                      tank prover calibration
                                      reports.
1202(l)(2) *.......................  Copy and submit royalty      0.
                                      tank calibration charts
                                      before using for royalty
                                      measurement.
1202(l)(3) *.......................  Copy and submit inventory    0.
                                      tank calibration charts
                                      upon request; retain
                                      charts for as long as
                                      tanks are in use.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.......................  ...........................  199.33 burden hours.
                                     ...........................  1,271 non-hour cost burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Gas Measurement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1203(b)(6), (8), (9) *.............  Copy and submit gas quality  28 (20 min. x 84 statements).
                                      and volume statements
                                      monthly or as requested.
1203(c)(1).........................  Request approval for gas     0.
                                      calibration on a schedule
                                      other than monthly.
1203(c)(4) *; (c)(5)...............  Copy and submit gas meter    1 (7.5 min. x 8 reports).
                                      calibration reports upon
                                      request; retain for 2
                                      years; permit BSEE to
                                      witness calibrations.
1203(e)(1) *.......................  Copy and submit gas          0.
                                      processing plant records
                                      upon request.
1203(f)(5).........................  Copy and submit measuring    0.
                                      records of gas lost or
                                      used on lease upon request.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.......................  ...........................  29 burden hours.
                                     ...........................  0 non-hour cost burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Surface Commingling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1204(a)(2).........................  Provide state production     0.
                                      volumetric and/or
                                      fractional analysis data
                                      upon request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1205(a)(2).........................  Post signs at royalty or     0.
                                      inventory tank used in
                                      royalty determination
                                      process.
1205(a)(4).........................  Report security problems     0.
                                      (telephone).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.......................  ...........................  0 burden hours.
                                     ...........................  0 non-hour cost burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Miscellaneous and Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1200 thru 1205.....................  General departure and        1.3 (1.3 hrs. x 1 request).
                                      alternative compliance
                                      requests not specifically
                                      covered elsewhere in
                                      subpart L.
1202(e)(6).........................  Retain master meter          0.
                                      calibration reports for 2
                                      years.
1202(k)(5).........................  Retain liquid hydrocarbon    4 (10 min. x 24 responses).
                                      allocation meter proving
                                      reports for 2 years.
1203(f)(4).........................  Document and retain          7.5 (15 min. x 30 responses).
                                      measurement records on gas
                                      lost or used on lease for
                                      2 years at field location
                                      and minimum 7 years at
                                      location of respondent's
                                      choice.
1204(b)(3).........................  Retain well test data for 2  97.37 (6.7 min. x 872 responses).
                                      years.
1205(b)(3), (4)....................  Retain seal records for 2    .66 (5 min. x 8 responses).
                                      years; make records
                                      available for BSEE
                                      inspection.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.......................  ...........................  110.83 burden hours.
                                     ...........................  0 non-hour cost burdens.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total Burden                 ...........................  339.2 burden hours.
                                     ...........................  $1,271 non-hour cost burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Respondents gather this information as part of their normal business practices. BSEE only requires copies of
  readily available documents. There is no burden for testing, meter reading, etc.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: The 
currently approved non-hour cost burden total in this collection of 
information is $344,279. The cost burdens are for:
    1. Filing fees associated with submitting requests for approval of 
simple applications (applications to temporarily reroute production 
(for a duration not to exceed 6 months); production tests prior to 
pipeline construction; departures related to meter proving, well 
testing, or sampling frequency ($1,271 per application)) or,
    2. Submitting a request for approval of a complex application 
(creation of new facility measurement points (FMPs); association of 
leases or units with existing FMPs; inclusion of production from 
additional structures; meter updates which add buyback gas meters or 
pigging meters; other applications which request deviations from the 
approved allocation procedures).
    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.

[[Page 11837]]

    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.
    Acting BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Kelly Odom 
(703) 787-1775.

    Dated: February 24, 2016.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-05052 Filed 3-4-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P