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.
To view expired or superseded NTLs, select a different NTL status and select submit.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 97-04 January 31, 1997 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO REGION Addition of Blocks to the Thirty-fifth Drilling Window By Letter to
Pursuant to the authority of 30 CFR 250.45(k) and 30 CFR 250.46(g), lessees and operators of each production facility located within 100 kilometers of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge/Wilderness Area were directed by Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) No. 96-04, dated August 14, 1996, to collect and report on a monthly basis air pollutant emissions information for each facility from December 1, 1996, to December 31, 1997. off
The purpose of this notice is to provide information on the OCS Civil Penalties Program. Changes have occurred both in the law governing the civil penalties program and in the Minerals Management Service (MMS) policy concerning civil penalty assessments
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL 96-10 December 5, 1996 NOTICE TO PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY HOLDERS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Air Emissions Information for Applications for Accessory Platforms to Pipeline Rights-of-way This Not
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 96-08 Effective Date: November 25, 1996 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Time Allowed for the Correction of Incidents of Noncompli
Rate Control Section Address, Office Hours, & Telephone Procedures This supersedes our Notice to Lessees and Operators No. 95-02 dated June 12, 1995, on the above subject
New Orleans District Office Hours and Phone Call Procedures This supersedes our Notice of Lessees and Operators No. 95-07, dated November 27, 1995, on the above subject.
In early April 1996, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) began granting departures for testing BOP equipment on a 14-day interval. The purpose for these departures was to gather data on BOP performance. The MMS and five oil and gas trade organizations hired a contractor to analyze these data and prepare a report on BOP performance. The MMS will use the study to determine if a 14-day test interval provides an equal or better degree of protection, safety, and performance when compared to the current requirement for a 7-day test interval.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 96-04 August 15, 1996 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Air Pollutant Emissions Reporting Requirements Concerns have been
Operators on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) must obtain approval from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) for the storage or sub-seabed disposal of wastes generated from oil and gas development on the OCS. (30 CFR 250 Subpart G). This Notice to Lessees (NTL) provides standardized guidelines for all applications for the offshore storage and sub-seabed disposal of solid wastes generated from oil and gas development on the OCS in the Gulf of Mexico Region. This NTL applies only to OCS oil and gas wastes which are exempt exploration and production wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Additionally it outlines specific guidelines for wastes which contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) above background levels.
Lake Jackson District Address, Office Hours, and Phone Call Procedures This supersedes our Notice to Lessees and Operators No. 93-03, dated August 3, 1993, on the above subject.
The provisions of 30 CFR 250.41(a) require that lessees inspect drilling and production facilities daily for the occurrence of pollution. Alternatively, lessees may conduct these required inspections at intervals approved or prescribed by the District Supervisor. In determining the pollution inspection frequency, the District Supervisor takes into account the facility's performance history, the type and volume of production, operating pressures, processing systems, the potential for hydrogen sulphide gas releases, the effectiveness of the operator's safety management program, and other risk and performance information.
This notice supersedes Paragraph No. 17 of our clarification letter dated April 18, 1991, concerning Pipeline Unit notification procedures. The notifications required by 30 CFR 250.158 paragraphs (a), (c), (d), and (e) shall be made by calling the Pipeline Unit, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at (504) 736-2545, FAX (504) 736-2426. If a serious accident, death or serious injury, fire, explosion, oil spill, or gas leak involves a lease term or right-of-way grant pipeline, notification shall be made immediately by calling the Pipeline Unit during office hours at (504) 736-2545
The provisions of 30 CFR 250.126 (b) (2) require that lessees notify the Deputy Associate Director for Offshore Operations when a subsurface safety valve is removed from service for a failure or malfunction, or when an underwater safety valve or surface safety valve is removed from service for remanufacture. Once notified, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) removes the affected valve from the master inventory list of safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE) provided by each lessee.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 94-02 February 24, 1994 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Air Emissions Reporting Requirements In accordance with the req
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is provided pursuant to the authority prescribed in 30 CFR §§ 250.4, Jurisdiction, and 256.1, Purpose. This NTL is also based upon the provisions of 30 CFR § 250.8, Designation of operator; 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart G, Abandonment of Wells, particularly provisions of §§ 250.110, General requirements, 250.112, Permanent abandonment, 250.114, Site clearance verification, and 250.143, Platform removal and location clearance; 30 CFR § 256.62, Assignment of leases or interests therein; and section 22 of the lease agreement which pertains to removal of property on termination of the lease.
The final rule published in the Federal Register, Vol. 58, No. 184, dated September 24, 1993, describes the newly revised Minerals Management Service (MMS) reporting forms and associated regulation changes which are effective October 25, 1993. Among these newly approved forms is the Form MMS-128, "Semiannual Well Test Report," which is replacing the previous Forms MMS-1869, "Quarterly Oil Well Test Report," and MMS-1870, "Semiannual Gas Well Test Report."
Concerning current regulations, 30 CFR 250, "Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations"; 30 CFR 251, "Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf"; 30 CFR 256, "OCS Minerals and Right-of-Way Management"; and 30 CFR 260, "OCS Oil and Gas Leasing," this notice is provided to delineate the appropriate portion of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region organization that is responsible for the various functions and requirements contained therein.
This NTL sets forth interim procedures for applying for certification of oil spill financial responsibility for OCS offshore facilities. New superseding regulations, when finalized, will implement the requirement for proof of the higher amount of financial responsibility required by section 1016(c)(1) of OPA 90.
Submittal of Electric, Radioactive, and Other Well Bore Surveys This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 85-06 and is provided pursuant to the authority prescribed in 30 CFR 250.66(d) which requires the lessee to submit duplicate copies of final composites of multiple runs of all well bore surveys (1" and 5" scales) within 30 days after completion of any well. Well bore velocity and directional surveys are submitted pursuant to Letter to Lessees and Operators dated October 1, 1990, which is not affected by this NTL.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION 90-09 November 8, 1990 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Temporary Abandonment of Wells and Maintenance, Protection and Removal of Underwater C
Supplemental bonds may be deemed necessary, under the provisions of 30 CFR 256.61 after operations or production have begun, prior to approval of: assignments of interests in leases, designations of operator, exploration plans, development and production plans or development operations coordination documents, or at any other time, where the Minerals Management Service infers that the obligee may not have the financial wherewithal or expertise to carry out the obligations of the lease. Such an inference may be drawn when the obligee has demonstrated a failure to comply with royalty or rental payments, failed to comply with OCS operating regulations, or otherwise indicated a potential inability to carry out the obligations of the lease.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) implements the Director's authority pursuant to 30 CFR 250.13(b) to approve time periods between operations not to exceed 180 days from the date of the last exploratory drilling operations.
There will be a reorganization of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Field Operations Office which will result in the establishment of four districts with two subdistrict offices.
Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.17, a "Public Information" copy of reports submitted on forms is required. Subpart A of the rule stipulates the information to be made available to the public and identifies the information not available for inspection without the consent of the lessee for certain specified periods on Forms MMS-330 (Well (Re) Completion Report), MMS-331 (Sundry Notice and Reports on Wells), and MMS-331C (Application for Permit to Drill). However, the rule does not specifically address similar data and information submitted pursuant to Subpart K, i.e., on Forms MMS-1866 (Request for Reservoir MER), MMS-1867 (Request for Well MPR), MMS-1868 (Well Potential Test Report), MMS-1869 (Quarterly Oil Well Test Report), and MMS-1870 (Semiannual Gas Well Test Report).
Regulatory consolidation rules were published in Federal Register, Vol. 53, No. 63, Friday, April 1, 1988, pp 10596-10777, effective May 31, 1988. Subpart H, "Production Safety Systems, 30 CFR 250.126(b)(1), "Quality Assurance and Performance of Safety and Pollution Prevention Equipment," requires lessee submittal of a list of all certified and noncertified equipment in inventory (installed and in storage) as of April 1, 1988, to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Deputy Associate Director for Offshore Operations by August 29, 1988.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL 80-6 and Letters to Lessees dated November 20, 1980 and February 4, 1985 and is provided pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act Amendments of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1801, et seq), and 30 CFR 250.34 regarding Environmental Report/Environmental Information requirements for plans submitted in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
Lessees and Operators, please note that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has a new form for Designating an Operator. The new form, copies enclosed, is designated Form MMS-1123 (September 1985). The old form, 9-1123 (Rev. December 1957) will no longer be acceptable.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is provided pursuant to Stipulation No. 5 made a part of certain leases issued pursuant to the January 5, 1984, lease offering in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, to 30 CFR 250.12(a)(1)(iii) concerning suspensions of operations, to 30 CFR 250.12(d) concerning lease extensions, and to 30 CFR 218.154(a) and (c) concerning payment of rentals and lease anniversary date.
In accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR 250.11(a), 250.34-1(k), 250.34-2(n), and 250.34-3, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has established a shallow hazards program to ensure that exploratory, development, and production operations are conducted with a minimum risk to human life and the environment. This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) specifies the requirements necessary to meet this objective in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
Certain potential adverse environmental effects have been recognized in the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) in liquid heat transfer units. Until recently, the impact of the introduction of PCB's to the environment has gone unnoticed. However, present research on PCB's has indicated them to be chronically toxic to the ecosystem.
A flash fire occurred in the production facilities of a producing platform in OCS waters directly resulting from the ignition of fluid from the heat transfer unit. The liquid phase heat transfer system was being used for heating oil to separate water through a chemical-electric treater. It was also to be used as the heating medium for the glycol system to separate water from gas but that system was not in operation.
