[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3122-3123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00966]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2022-0003; EEEE500000 223E1700D2 ET1SF0000.EAQ000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0019]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas Production 
Requirements

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to 
renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by either of the following methods listed below:
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2022-0003 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected], fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or 
hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: 
Kye Mason; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1014-0019 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Kye Mason by email at [email protected] or by 
telephone at (703) 787-1607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the 
PRA. We may not conduct, or sponsor and you are not required to respond 
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand our information collection requirements and provide the 
requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or

[[Page 3123]]

summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. 
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.
    Abstract: The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart K, concern 
Oil and Gas Production Requirements (including the associated forms) 
and are the subject of this collection. This request also covers any 
related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to 
clarify, supplement, or provide additional guidance on some aspects of 
our regulations. The information collected under Subpart K is used in 
our efforts to conserve natural resources, prevent waste, and protect 
correlative rights, including the Government's royalty interest. 
Specifically, BSEE uses the information to:
     Evaluate requests to burn liquid hydrocarbons and vent and 
flare gas to ensure that these requests are appropriate;
     determine if a maximum production or efficient rate is 
required; and,
     review applications for downhole commingling to ensure 
that action does not result in harm to ultimate recovery.
    The forms used in this ICR are:

Form BSEE-0126, Well Potential Test Report

    BSEE uses this information for reservoir, reserves, and 
conservation analyses, including the determination of maximum 
production rates (MPRs) when necessary for certain oil and gas 
completions. This requirement implements the conservation provisions of 
the OCS Lands Act and 30 CFR 250. The information obtained from the 
well potential test is essential to determine if an MPR is necessary 
for a well and to establish the appropriate rate. It is not possible to 
specify an MPR in the absence of information about the production rate 
capability (potential) of the well. The form asks for, in either fill 
in the blanks or check marks:
     General information about the well and the company;
     pertinent information relating to the well test; and
     24-hour rates pertaining to test production.

Form BSEE-0128, Semiannual Well Test Report

    BSEE 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. This information is 
collected to determine the capability of hydrocarbon wells and to 
evaluate and verify an operator's approved maximum production rate if 
assigned. The form was designed to present current well data on a 
semiannual basis to permit the updating of permissible producing rates, 
and to provide the basis for estimates of currently remaining 
recoverable gas reserves. The form requires, in either fill in the 
blanks or check marks:
     General information about the well;
     volumes;
     choke size;
     pressures;
     production method;
     API oil/condensate gravity; and
     date of test.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250, subpart K, Oil and Gas 
Production Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0019.
    Form Number: BSEE-0126--Well Potential Test Report, and BSEE-0128--
Semiannual Well Test Report.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents include Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and/or operators and holders of 
pipeline rights-of-way.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Currently there are 
approximately 60 Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Operators in the 
OCS. Not all the potential respondents will submit information in any 
given year, and some may submit multiple times.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,688.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 hour to 100 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 46,466.
    Respondent's Obligation: Most responses are mandatory, while others 
are required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, weekly, monthly, semi-annual, 
annual, and varies by section.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,077,816.
    An agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Kirk Malstrom,
Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.
[FR Doc. 2022-00966 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P