Notice to Lessees (NTLs)

Under Section (b)(7) of 43 U.S.C 1337 (Section 8(b)(7) of the OCS Lands Act, as amended), each offshore lease issued after September 18, 1978, has a 20 percent small refiner offer provision. Under this provision, lessees must offer small or independent refiners 20 percent of the crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids produced on each lease, at the market value and point of delivery applicable to Federal royalty oil. This 20 percent set aside is in addition to the amounts available under the Federal royalty oil program.

Guidance on how to implement monitoring programs to minimize risks of vessel strikes of protected species and report observations of injured or dead animals.   In place of formal observer program, the NTL provides guidelines to identify and avoid injury to marine mammals and sea turtles by reducing speed and maintaining appropriate distances from protected species.

This NTL supersedes and replaces NTL No. 2007-G02. It does not introduce any new types of mitigation measures; however, it clarifies how you should implement seismic survey mitigation measures, including ramp-up procedures, the use of a minimum sound source, airgun testing and protected species observation and reporting. The measures contained herein apply to all onlease/ancillary activity surveys you conduct under 30 CFR 550 and all off-lease surveys you conduct under 30 CFR 551.

The purpose of this NTL is to clarify the definitions of the maximum anticipated surface pressure for the completion case (MASPcc), expected surface pressure for the completion case (ESPcc), and the estimated shut-in tubing pressure (SITP) prior to actual production.  This NTL also establishes the conditions when you may use an oil gradient and when you must use a gas gradient to calculate the MASPcc, ESPcc, and the estimated SITP.

Provides guidance and information on preparing and submitting regional Oil Spill Response Plans for owners and operators of oil handling, storage, or transportation facilities located seaward of the coast line.

This NTL is intented to provide clarification about the type of information you may provide for compliance with written follow-up report requirements in 30 CFR 254.46(b)(2).

Clarifies what types of information should be provided to BSEE in in written, follow up reports for oil spills or releases from platforms, vessels, or pipelines, schedules for submitting information.

For the purposes of this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL), the term MODU or MODUs are referring to Jack-Up and Moored Semi-submersible rigs. This NTL, which supersedes NTL No. 2009 G-16

This NTL supersedes NTL 201 O-G03 to continue the task of cleaning up our historical data for wells in the GO MR. BSEE must have industry's cooperation in accomplishing this goal. Goal of the Legacy Data Verification Process The Legacy Data Verification Process (LDVP) is the continuation of the data quality focus and improvements initiated in the Historical Well Data Cleanup (HWDC) project. The primary objective of the LDVP is to obtain missing data for wellbores that have not been assigned API numbers by BSEE. The LDVP specifically targets information that operators are required to submit now but were not required to submit prior to 2000.

This NTL supersedes NTL No. 2008-G03, dated April 14, 2008.  It clarifies current policy by describing how Distric Managers will determine the appropriate intervals for the pollution inspection you conduct for unmanned facilities and by explained that you may conduct some of these inspections "visually" instead of by physically boarding the facility.

Clarifies how BSEE will determine appropriate intervals for inspecting unmanned facilities and in what circumstances 'visual' inspection may be  substituted for physically  boarding the facility.

This NTL provides you with specific instructions for requesting reimbursement when you provide meals, quarters, and transportation to BSEE representatives inspecting your lease facilities and operations.

Describes how lessees and operators may request reimbursement for meals, lodging, and transportation provided to BSEE inspectors and enforcement personnel.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-Way Holders (NTL) is intended
for owners or operators of oil handling, storage, or transportation facilities located seaward of
the coast line. It clarifies what the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
considers a significant change in your Oil Spill Response Plan (OSRP) worst case discharge
(WCD) scenario that requires you to submit a revised OSRP for BSEE approval.

Clarifies what BSEE considers a significant change in Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRPs) and worst case discharge (WCD) scenario that requires lessees and operators to submit a revised OSRP.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has scheduled a half-day public workshop to review the status of the 30 CFR 250 Subpart O - Well Control and Production Safety Training testing program.

The purpose of this Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) is to inform you that the Minerals Management Service will be collecting inspection fees from you for fiscal year 2010 as required by Title 1, Section 115 of the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Clarifies policies and procedures for requesting and receiving refunds of service fees paid by operators, lessees, and pipeline right-of-way holders.

Defines data exchange format for submitting directional surveys in digital form via compact disc, including use of 12-digit API number and appropriate MMS contact information, as required by 30 CFR 250 Subpart D

This NTL provides contact information for requesting approval to flare or vent natural gas or to burn liquid hydrocarbons.  It updates and supersedes NTL No. 2006-N06.

This NTL offers guidance on the procedures to follow if flare/vent meters are required at your facility under 30 CFR 250, Subpart K, Oil and Gass Production Requirements.  This final rule became effective May 19, 2010.

The MMS will present the National SAFE Awards at an OTC luncheon on May 6, 2010.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes expired NTL No. 2009-G12, effective
June 1, 2009, on this subject. It provides guidance on using either e-mail or the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report hurricane and tropical storm effects information, specifies the information included in the various hurricane and tropical storm reports, updates contact information, and makes minor administrative amendments.

This NTL supersedes NTL 2006-G18 to continue the task of cleaning up our historical data for wells in the GOMR. In doing so, every effort has been made to minimize the burden on industry in accomplishing this goal. The primary objective of Historical Well Data Cleanup (HWDC) is to obtain missing data for wellbores that have not been assigned API numbers by the MMS.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes expired NTL No. 2008-G08, effective May 19, 2008, on this subject. It provides guidance on using either e-mail or the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report hurricane and tropical storm effects information, specifies the information included in the various hurricane and tropical storm reports, updates contact information, and makes minor administrative amendments.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides guidance and requirements for:
1. Outfitting all mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) that are moored, including jackup rigs, with multiple global positioning system (GPS) transponders that are installed and operational by July 01, 2009; and
2. Providing the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) with access to real-time GPS location data; and
3. Contacting the MMS GOMR Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) office when a MODU moves off location during a storm event.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2008-G15 and extends the terms of that NTL until March 31, 2009. Due to force majeure events, such as hurricanes, which cause disruption to OCS operations, we are implementing a temporary measure related to the requirements for meter provings, gas meter calibrations, and well testing.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued to implement a temporary policy for granting lease extensions in cases where you cannot complete the necessary assessment work in order to commit to the restoration of production from your lease or unit prior to lease expiration. In cases where the assessment has been completed and there is a firm commitment to restore production in paying quantities, a Suspension of Production (SOP) should be requested.

Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.1014, a pipeline right-of-way (ROW) will expire if the associated pipeline is not properly maintained or is not being used for the purpose for which the grant was made. However, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) recognizes that many ROW pipelines sustained damage from Hurricanes Gustav and/or Ike and, for that reason, cannot at this time be properly maintained or used for the purposes for which the respective grants were made.

Accordingly, any pipeline ROW associated with a pipeline that cannot be properly maintained or used for the purpose for which the grant was made due to damage caused by either Hurricane Gustav or Hurricane Ike will not expire for either of those reasons during the one-year period beginning November 20, 2008.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supplements NTL No. 2008-G18, effective September 25, 2008. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this NTL pursuant to the regulatory standards set forth in 30 CFR 250.106(b) and (c) to elaborate on the reports you need to prepare and the meetings you need to conduct with the MMS GOMR because of known and potential damage to OCS platforms caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

This NTL is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulations at 30 CFR 250.194, 250.207(b), and 250.1007(a)(5) require OCS lessees and operators and pipeline ROW holders to conduct surveys within areas of high archaeological potential and to submit the results to MMS. This NTL constitutes the written notice referenced in these regulations.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2008-G16, effective September 11, 2008. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this NTL pursuant to 30 CFR 250.106(b) and (c) to elaborate on the inspections you need to conduct and the plans and reports you need to prepare because of known and potential damage to OCS facilities caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike before they struck land on September 1, 2008, and September 13, 2008, respectively.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2008-G14, effective September 8, 2008. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this NTL pursuant to 30 CFR 250.106(b) and (c) to elaborate on the inspections you need to conduct and the plans and reports you need to prepare because of known and potential damage to OCS facilities caused by Hurricane Gustav before it struck land on September 1, 2008.

Due to force majeure events, such as hurricanes, which cause disruption to OCS operations, we are implementing a temporary measure related to the requirements for meter provings, gas meter calibrations, and well testing. Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.142, departures are granted to the requirements contained in 30 CFR 250.1202(d)(3), 1202(k)(3), 1202(k)(4), 1203(c)(1), and 1204(b)(1) subject to the following stipulations:

• When a force majeure event precludes the required meter proving/calibration in accordance with 30 CFR 250.1202(d)(3), 1202(k)(3), 1202(k)(4), or 1203(c)(1), meters must be proved/calibrated within 15 days after being returned to service.
• When a force majeure event precludes the required bimonthly well test (or other testing frequency approved by the Regional Supervisor) in accordance with CFR 250.1204(b)(1), well tests must be conducted within 15 days after production is restored.

Please note that you are not required to contact this office to obtain departure approvals under this NTL.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and 30 CFR 250.106(b) and (c) to describe the inspections you need to conduct and the plans and reports you need to prepare because of the known and potential damage to OCS facilities caused by Hurricane Gustav before it struck land on September 1, 2008.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides guidance on the evaluation of tie-downs that you will use on your OCS production platforms to secure drilling and workover rigs and permanent equipment and facilities during the 2008 hurricane season. As required by 30 CFR 250.900(a), you must design, fabricate, install, use, maintain, inspect, and assess all platforms and related structures on the OCS to ensure their structural integrity for the safe conduct of drilling, workover, and production operations, considering the specific environmental conditions at the platform location. Accordingly, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) endorses the guidelines in the American Petroleum Institute’s Bulletin 2TD, Guidelines for Tie-downs on Offshore Production Facilities for Hurricane Season, First Edition (API Bulletin 2TD), to assist you in your review and evaluation of the information and data that demonstrate the ability of the tie-downs to perform during a hurricane. The MMS GOMR highly recommends that you follow the guidelines in API Bulletin 2TD as you prepare for operations during the 2008 hurricane season.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2007-G16, effective May 14, 2007, on this subject. It provides guidance on using either e-mail or the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report hurricane and tropical storm effects information, specifies the information included in the various hurricane and tropical storm reports, updates contact information, and makes minor administrative amendments.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides clarification on the types of incidents to be reported to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR), provides information on using the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report incidents, oil spills, and pipeline damage information, and specifies the information to be included in the various required oral and written reports

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and 30 CFR 250.175(a) to provide guidance to our existing authority for approving requests for lease or unit Suspensions of Operations (SOO’s) based on rig delays. This NTL also implements a temporary policy for granting SOO’s based on a lack of rig availability and for unanticipated time frames needed to secure long lead equipment such as high pressure/temperature tubulars and wellheads.

This National NTL is intended to clarify the information to be included in the written follow-up discharge reports required by 30 CFR 254.46(b)(2).  Under this regulation, for all oil discharges of one barrel or more (whether or not the discharge was observed or reported), you must submit a Written follow-up report to the MMS Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Regional Supervisor (RS), Alaska OCS RS, or Pacific OCS Region (POCSR) District Manager (DM), as appropriate, within 15-calendar days after the discharge has been stopped or has ceased.

Due to fiscal year-end close, MMS will disable Pay.Gov forms for the last three days of the fiscal year.  Pay.Gov forms will he disabled from  12:0 I  a.m.,. Friday, September 28, 2007; to I I:59 p.m., Sunday, September 30, 2007.  This outage will effect Pay.Gov interactive payments made through eWell.

The purpose of this NTL is to provide updated information on the OCS Civil Penalties Program. This NTL replaces the assessment matrix provided in NTL No. 2004-N01. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) requires the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the maximum civil penalty to reflect any increases in the Consumer Price Index. In accordance with OPA 90 and the Office of Management and Budget guidelines, MMS has increased the maximum amount of the civil penalty to $35,000 per day per violation. The assessment matrix below, revised to reflect the increased maximum penalty, will apply to any violation occurring on or after March 30, 2007.

The 2007 Minerals Management Service (MMS) Industry Awards Program and Luncheon arc scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel, Houston, Texas. This is the 24th year that MMS has honored outstanding companies for their exemplary safety and poll ution prevention records, and the ninth year for our industry awards program. The following awards will be presented:

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It instructs lessees, lease operators, and pipeline right-of-way holders to collect production activities information (facility, equipment, fuel usage, etc.) for use in the 2008 Gulfwide Emissions Inventory. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) derives its authority for requiring emissions monitoring and reporting at 30 CFR 250.303(k), 30 CFR 250.304(a) and (g), and 30 CFR 250.282.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It provides guidance for and more detail about the requirements for submitting a change to the designated operator of an OCS lease. As part of this guidance, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is announcing that it will no longer approve Designations of Operator that involve designating an operator for individual wells or multiple wells.

Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) No. 2007-G10 was effective April 3, 2007, and was issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It made a temporary change to NTL No. 2006-G14, Information Requirements for Exploration Plans and Development Operations Coordination Documents, effective July 12, 2006. NTL No. 2007-G10 is hereby cancelled, effective August 31, 2007.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides guidance on the information you must submit with your Form MMS-123, Application for Permit to Drill (APD), to demonstrate the fitness of any moored drilling rig you will use to conduct operations in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) OCS during the 2007 hurricane season. As required by 30 CFR 250.417(a), this information must demonstrate that the associated moored drilling rig is capable of performing at the proposed drilling location. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) will use the recommendations in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) newly developed Recommended Practice 95F, 2nd Edition, Interim Guidance for Gulf of Mexico MODU Mooring Practices – 2007 Hurricane Season (API RP 95F, 2nd Edition), to guide our review and evaluation of the information and data that demonstrate the moored rig’s capability to perform at the proposed location. The MMS GOMR highly recommends that you follow the recommendations in API RP 95F, 2nd Edition as you prepare APD’s to conduct drilling operations during the 2007 hurricane season. Failure to follow the recommendations in API RP 95F, 2nd Edition, may delay the approval of an APD or result in disapproval. This guidance also applies to moored drilling rig operations you conduct under Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify (APM).

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides guidance on the evaluation of tie-downs that you will use on your OCS production platforms to secure drilling and workover rigs and permanent equipment and facilities during the 2007 hurricane season. As required by 30 CFR 250.900(a), you must design, fabricate, install, use, maintain, and inspect all platforms and related structures on the OCS to ensure their structural integrity for the safe conduct of drilling, workover, and production operations, considering the specific environmental conditions at the platform location.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2005-G05, issued April 21, 2005. It extends the expiration date one year to April 30, 2008, changes the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) contact information, updates regulatory citations, and makes other minor technical amendments.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2006-G19, effective October 25, 2006, on this subject. It provides clarification on using the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report hurricane and tropical storm effects information, specifies the information included in the various hurricane and tropical storm reports, updates contact information, and updates a regulatory citation.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides guidance on the information you must submit with your Form MMS-123, Application for Permit to Drill (APD), to demonstrate the fitness of any jack-up drilling rig you will use to conduct operations in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) OCS during the 2007 hurricane season. As required by 30 CFR 250.417(a), this information must demonstrate that the associated jack-up drilling rig is capable of performing at the proposed drilling location. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) will use the recommendations in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) newly developed Recommended Practice 95J, Gulf of Mexico Jackup Operations for Hurricane Season – Interim Recommendations, First Edition (API RP 95J), to guide our review and evaluation of the information and data that demonstrate the jack-up rig’s capability to perform at the proposed location.

This revised Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides guidance on cost recovery fees and State Coastal Zone Management review fees, and updates a regulatory citation. It is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2006-G15, effective July 12, 2006.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It provides guidance on information to include in your Application for Permit to Drill (APD) (Form MMS-123), Application for Permit to Modify (APM) (Form MMS-124), or Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP) when you request approval to conduct a high pressure and/or high temperature (HPHT) completion or workover project in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).