Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) are formal documents that provide clarification, description, or interpretation of a regulation or OCS standard; provide guidelines on the implementation of a special lease stipulation or regional requirement; provide a better understanding of the scope and meaning of a regulation by explaining BSEE interpretation of a requirement; or transmit administrative information such as current telephone listings and a change in BSEE personnel or office address. Letters to Lessees and Operators (LTLs) and Information to Lessees and Operators (ITLs) are also formal documents that provide additional information and clarification, or interpretation of a regulation, OCS standard, or regional requirement, or provide a better understanding of the scope and meaning of a regulation by explaining BSEE interpretation of a requirement.
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This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supersedes NTL 93-04 dated September 30, 1993. Since that NTL was issued, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has made many changes to the regulations governing OCS operations. These changes include a total redesignation (renumbering) of the 30 CFR 250 regulations and the addition of two new Parts, 30 CFR 253 and 30 CFR 254. Also, final regulations have just been published that reorganize Subpart A of 30 CFR 250 (64 FR 72756, December 28, 1999). This NTL updates the regulatory citations and functional responsibilities in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) and adds a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act.
The 1999 Minerals Management Service (MMS) Industry Awards Program and Luncheon are scheduled for Friday, April 14, 2000, at the Hotel Sofitel in Houston, Texas. This is the second year that MMS will honor the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas industry for exemplary safety records and diligence in royalty payments. It is being expanded to include the Secretary of the Interior’s Minerals Revenue Stewardship Award. A variety of awards recognize the many facets of offshore oil and gas leasing, operations, and royalty management.
The purpose of this notice is to provide information on changes to the MMS Offshore Minerals Management appeals process. On May 13, 1999, the U. S. Department of the Interior= s MMS and Office of Hearings and Appeals published in the Federal Register, Volume 64, Number 92, Page Nos. 26240-26262, a final rule that amends certain parts of the rules governing the appeal of orders or decisions from the MMS Offshore Minerals Management and Royalty Management Programs.
On April 13, 1999, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NAADC) and the United States Space Command (USSC) jointly issued a news release. The news release discusses the Global Positioning System and two upcoming events that may affect its performance--the GPS EOW rollover and Y2K issues. Of these two events, the EOW rollover occurs sooner. On August 22, 1999, any non-compliant GPS receiver will fail to operate.
This NTL supersedes NTL 98-17N and amends the guidelines for applying for royalty relief. As we stated in earlier NTLs on royalty relief, we expect to periodically update these guidelines to reflect our experience in processing applications. Under 30 CFR Part 203, certain lessees may apply to MMS for a suspension of royalty payments or a reduced royalty rate by submitting a complete application. We describe the specific data elements, parameters, reports and computer model or spreadsheets in a complete application in two separate Appendices to this NTL. These guidelines are Appendix I: GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION, REVIEW, APPROVAL, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEEP WATER ROYALTY RELIEF PROGRAM and Appendix II: GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION, REVIEW, APPROVAL, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ROYALTY RELIEF FOR END-OF-LIFE LEASES. They also explain the procedures we will follow for evaluating applications and implementing royalty relief.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE NTL No. 99-N03 Effective Date: March 1, 1999 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Performance Measures for OCS Operators and Form MMS-131 This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL
Invitation to MMS Industry Awards Program and Luncheon As you know, MMS has presented its Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) annually, often in conjunction with other industry-or association-sponsored events. This year, however, we are changing substantially both the format of the awards presentations as well as the criteria and number of awards presented.
This notice supersedes NTL 93-1N, dated April 16, 1993. On August 11, 1998, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) published its final rule (see Federal Register, Vol. 63, No. 154, pages 42699-42719) governing Oil Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore Facilities (OSFR) and related requirements for certain crude oil wells, production platforms, and pipelines located in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and certain State waters. The regulations implement the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) requirement for responsible parties to demonstrate they can pay for cleanup and damages caused by facility oil spills. These new regulations became effective on October 13, 1998. This notice provides clarification, guidance, and information to operators/owners of facilities and leases on our policies and procedures for submitting OSFR documents to the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR). The GOMR will serve as the national program manager for all OSFR applications.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 99-G23, dated December 6, 1999. It provides an updated and corrected Y2K Operations Coordinators List and makes minor editorial changes. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is concerned about the effects Y2K may have on Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations. It is possible that certain equipment will malfunction or otherwise fail to operate when Y2K begins. However, the potential effects are not known.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is concerned about the effects Y2K may have on Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations. It is possible that certain equipment will malfunction or otherwise fail to operate when Y2K begins. However, the potential effects are not known.
This Notice to Lessees (NTL) provides standardized guidelines and instructions for the subseabed disposal and offshore storage of solid wastes generated from oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR). This NTL applies only to such solid wastes that are classified as exempt exploration and production (E&P) wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (see 40 CFR 261.4(b)(5)). These exempt E&P wastes include drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or sulphur on the OCS.
According to 30 CFR 250.913(a), you must obtain approval from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the methods you will use to remove OCS structures. You must obtain this approval before you may proceed with removal operations. The use of explosives to remove platforms in the Gulf of Mexico could have an adverse impact on threatened and endangered sea turtles protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In fact, these explosions have the potential to injure or kill these sea turtles, depending on the strength of the blast and proximity of the animals. Accordingly, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued recommendations and regulations regarding the use of explosives to remove OCS platforms. To comply with these ESA requirements, the MMS must consider the nature of each platform removal, determine the potential impacts to the threatened or endangered species, and develop mitigating measures to protect the threatened or endangered species.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators dated August 24, 1994, on this subject. It updates the regulatory citation, makes minor technical amendments, and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is concerned about the effects Y2K may have on Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations. It is possible that certain equipment will malfunction or otherwise fail to operate when Y2K begins. However, the potential effects are not known.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators dated April 15, 1993, on this subject. It includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. As published in the Federal Register on May 1, 1991 (56 FR 20020), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prescribed an implementation plan for the conversion of the North American Datum (NAD) 27 to NAD 83. This NTL summarizes the phases for this conversion in the Gulf of Mexico.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators dated January 31, 1989, on this subject. It makes minor technical amendments and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Certain leases in the northeastern Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area are located in areas characterized by the existence of live bottoms. Livebottom areas are defined as seagrass communities; those areas (Pinnacle Trend) that contain biological assemblages consisting of sessile invertebrates living upon and attached to naturally occurring hard or rocky formations with rough, broken, or smooth topography; and areas where the lithotope favors the accumulation of turtles, fishes, or other fauna. These leases contain a LiveBottom (Pinnacle Trend) Stipulation to ensure that impacts from nearby oil and gas activities on these live-bottom areas are mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 99-G14 Effective Date: June 30, 1999 Expiration Date: January 31, 2001 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Production Activ
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) in June 1998 implemented the gas production verification program. Currently, the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) will continue to focus only on verifying production for the sales (royalty) meters.
Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.912(a), underwater structural inspections (Level II surveys) of all platforms in the Gulf of Mexico OCS are required every five years unless the Regional Supervisor, Field Operations, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) approves the use of an inspection interval that exceeds five years. The purpose of this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is to describe the GOMR policy for approving such increased inspection intervals.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators, dated November 19, 1993, on this subject. It updates regulatory citations and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulation at 30 CFR 250.601 lists the well-workover operations conducted with the tree installed and that are defined as routine. According to 30 CFR 250.613, these routine well-workover operations can be conducted without MMS approval. On the other hand, any well-workover operation that is not routine cannot be conducted without MMS approval. Since it is not listed at 30 CFR 250.601, acidizing is one of those well-workover operations that requires prior MMS approval of Form MMS-124.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators, dated January 25, 1995, on this subject. It updates regulatory citations and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this NTL is to inform you of the current policy of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) regarding designated safe welding and burning areas on rigs according to the provisions of 30 CFR 250.402(c), 250.507, and 250.607. This policy, which is intended to streamline procedures and reduce burdensome paperwork concerning submittal of requests for approval of designated safe welding and burning areas on rigs.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators, dated June 27, 1990, on this subject. It updates regulatory citations and includes a statement on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes our guideline letter on U. S. Air Force communication towers, dated November 21, 1990.
In 1990, the U.S. Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base, notified the Minerals Management Service that seven communication towers had been constructed offshore Mobile, Alabama. These towers are approximately 100 to 150 feet tall and make up the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation System. A clear line of sight between the master tower and each remote tower, as well as freedom from electromagnetic interference, must be maintained to protect their utility.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes our guideline letter on surety bond requirements, dated November 5, 1993, and NTL No. 98-07, Procedures Regarding Activities Conducted Under an Approved Plan, dated August 10, 1998.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 98-25 and updates the economic assumptions published in NTL 98-25, effective November 1, 1998. These new economic assumptions update Section b of the Economic Viability and Relief Justification Report. We require the applicant (you) to use these assumptions when applying for deepwater royalty relief. Together with these new assumptions, you must use a new version of the economic model (RSVP 2.1) for applications submitted after the effective date of this NTL. We will update these assumptions within the next six months. Parameter Minimum M
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) addresses all oil, gas, or other well-related operations in water depths of 400 meters or greater, including all well-related operations conducted on a lease (drilling, production, workover, etc.) from the drilling of the first well through the permanent abandonment of all wells.
On June 1, 1998, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) 98-9N which announced a final rule that renumbers all of the sections in 30 CFR part 250 (referred to as the redesignation rule). NTL 98-9N also provided an additional 90 days after the June 30, 1998, effective date of the rule during which MMS will accept
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) amends Section 10 and Appendix H of the Attachment to NTL No. 98-30, titled “Guidelines for Preparing Regional Oil Spill Response Plans.” It makes minor technical amendments, establishes the Flower Garden Banks Oil Spill Planning Area and provides for obtaining real-time onsite meteorological information in the event of a spill there, and establishes two new types of worst case discharge scenarios.
On March 25, 1997, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) published its final rule (see Federal Register, Vol. 62, No. 57, pages 13991-14003) governing Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRP) and related requirements for facilities located seaward of the coast line, including those located in both State and Federal offshore waters. These new regulations became effective on June 23, 1997. In accordance with 30 CFR 254.3(d), the Regional Supervisor may specify how to address the elements of a regional OSRP. A regional OSRP is defined at 30 CFR 254.6 as a spill-response plan that Αcovers multiple facilities or leases of an owner or operator, including affiliates, which are located in the same MMS Region.
UThis notice announces that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is beginning a project to clean up its historical data for wells on offshore blocks in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR). We are requesting that you designate contacts for the project. We are providing some details on the initial phases of the clean-up project and also describing our concurrent effort to identify all wells drilled on Federal offshore blocks in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR), after consultation with the U.S. Air Force, established a drilling window program in 1991 for exploratory activities on oil and gas leases that were obtained through Lease Sales Nos. 79, 94, and 116 and that contain Lease Stipulation No. 5. In accordance with this lease stipulation, the drilling window program ensures that exploration activities can be conducted predictably, orderly, and safely without interfering with scheduled military activities or jeopardizing the national defense mission.
This Notice To Lessees and Operators (NTL) updates and supersedes NTL No. 98-14, dated August 10, 1998. Please contact the Plans Section at (504) 736-2419 if you have any questions regarding this NTL. Marine trash and debris pose a threat to fish and wildlife and, when they come ashore, detract from the aesthetic quality of recreational shore fronts and increase the cost of park and beach maintenance.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 98-25 Effective Date: November 1, 1998 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Economic Assumptions for RSVP Deepwater Royalty Relief Mod
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 96-07 dated November 4, 1996. It makes minor technical amendments, updates cited regulatory authorities, and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You should contact the Rate Control Section to conduct business concerning 30 CFR 250, Subpart K, and to make oral requests on routine short-term flaring and venting under 30 CFR 250.106(a).
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 95-01 dated April 25, 1995. It makes minor technical amendments, updates cited regulatory authorities, and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL's 88-07, dated September 15, 1988; 95-05, dated September 1, 1995; 96-02, dated February 1, 1996; 96-06, dated October 1, 1996; 97-14, dated May 19, 1997; 98-01, dated March 10, 1998; and 98-03, dated May 21, 1998. It updates cited regulatory authorities and reporting requirements, and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 86-09, dated October 13, 1986, and NTL 97-03, dated January 31, 1997, and makes minor technical amendments, updates cited regulatory authorities, and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) has begun a process that will result in substantial changes to the requirements of this NTL as hereby issued and plans to issue one or more replacement NTL’s in the future to reflect those changes. Please contact the Plans Section at (504) 736-2419 if you have any questions regarding this NTL.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) supersedes NTL 83-3, dated September 22, 1983, and makes minor technical amendments, updates cited regulatory authorities, deletes the Appendix, and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This NTL informs lessees how MMS will implement the requirements for supplemental bonds. The MMS may require additional security(s) in the form of a supplemental bond or bonds when the cost to meet all potential present and future lease obligations exceeds the amount of the general bond unless one of the current lessee(s) can demonstrate the financial capability to meet these obligations. These obligations include rents, royalties, and amount of plugging and abandonment costs necessary to ensure performance of regulatory requirements
This addendum to Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) No. 98-18, Change of Address for the Submittal of Certain Drilling Well Records in Accordance with 30 CFR 250.416, dated September 1, 1998, is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and notifies you of a change in the name and address of the agent receiving certain well records on behalf of the Minerals Management Service (MMS).
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is issuing this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) to provide a change of address for submitting certain required drilling well records described below. 30 CFR 250.416 requires lessees/operators (you) to submit complete drilling well records for each well and all well operations to the District Supervisor. This includes final composites of open-hole log surveys and directional surveys, velocity surveys, formation test data, paleontological reports, core analyses, Well Summary Reports (Form MMS-125), and/or other required information.
We issued final regulations (30 CFR Part 203) in January 1998 to implement the Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (Public Law 104-58 (DWRRA)). As part of that rule-making, we simplified and revised the way we implement authority the Secretary of the Interior has under 43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(A) to reduce or eliminate royalties. This authority applies to oil and gas leases anywhere in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Leaseholders who have inadequate revenues to sustain production qualify for royalty relief if we determine that a modification in the royalty arrangement will result in recovery of additional resources.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE NTL No. 98-17N Effective Date: November 1, 1998 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Revised Guidelines for Royalty Relief under 30 CFR Part 203 This NTL supercedes NTL 98-3N and amends the guide
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is implementing the gas production verification program. Currently, the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) will focus only on verifying production for the sales (royalty) meters. Under the requirements at 30 CFR 250.1203 (formerly 30 CFR 250.183), Gas Measurement, we request that you submit copies of the monthly gas volume statements for sales meters used to determine gas sold and/or transferred. The following guidance will apply in the GOMR.
We are concerned that allowable minimal leakage rates for metal-to-metal valve seats included in Supplements 1 and 2 might diminish the operational safety of OCS pipelines. Therefore, we will not adopt these supplements as documents incorporated by reference under 30 CFR Part 250.
This Notice To Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 97-09 and updates cited regulatory authorities and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice clarifies and offers guidance and information regarding the interpretation of certain provisions contained within the revised Minerals Management Service (MMS) H2S Requirements for Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Regulation 30 CFR 250.417. In addition, this notice identifies general areas of concern that the operator must satisfy in submitting an H2S Contingency Plan to the District Supervisor for approval.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE NTL No. 98-15N Effective Date: 8-24-98 Expiration Date: 11-13-98 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Invitation to Minerals Management Service (MMS)/Industry Performance Measures/Bes
This Notice To Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes and updates NTL No. 96-09 and cited regulatory authorities and includes a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.113, Minerals Management Service (MMS) has extended the time allowed between lease holding operations to 180 days. However, questions may arise concerning what qualify as lease holding operations. This Regulation states that a drilling or well-reworking program must be part of a plan that has as its objective continuous production of the lease. Therefore, MMS will closely monitor well workover activities in the light of continuous production objectives. Additionally, short-term production may not qualify as a lease holding operation. Simply putting a lease on production for a short duration, unless it is part of a plan that results in continuous production, may not extend the lease term by 180 days. Operators should seek clarification of their plan on a case-by-case basis rather than assume that producing a minimum quantity will constitute lease holding activity.
