[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56980-56981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20047]


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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; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 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 with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 17, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please 
provide a copy of your comments to Kye Mason, BSEE ICCO, 45600 Woodland 
Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to [email protected]. 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. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the ICR at 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity 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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
January 20, 2022 (87 FR 3122). No comments were received.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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

[[Page 56981]]

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.
    The ability to request a general departure or alternative 
compliance are throughout all of 30 CFR part 250 and the hour burdens 
are approved under 1014-0022 (subpart A). The hours associated with 
this request will be removed from this information collection.
    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: Revision 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 550 Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and holders 
of pipeline rights-of-way. Not all the potential respondents will 
submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple 
times.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 6,021.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 hour to 100 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 37,750.
    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: $1,067,544.
    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. 2022-20047 Filed 9-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P