Notice to Lessees (NTLs)

This NTL is issued to clarify the timing for submitting a request tor a lease or unit suspension. Authority and Background Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.171, "You must submit your request tor a suspension to the Regional Supervisor, and MMS must receive the request before the end of the lease tenn (i.e., end of primary term, end of the 180-day period following the last leaseholding operation, and end of a current suspension)."

Archaeological resources are any material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years of age and that are of archaeological interest. Material remains include physical evidence of human habitation, occupation, use or activity including the site, location, or context in which such evidence is situated. Items of archaeological interest are those that may provide scientific or humanistic understanding of past human behavior, cultural adaptation, and related topics through the application of scientific or scholarly techniques.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It makes provisions for you to conduct certain platform operations before you receive approval from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR).

The purpose of this notice is to provide updated information on the OCS Civil Penalties Program. This NTL supersedes the assessment matrix provided in NTL No. 97-5N. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) requires the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the maximum civil penalty to reflect any increase in the Consumer Price Index. 

This NTL is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides guidance for submitting OCS plans required by 30 CFR 250, subpart B, to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) GOMR. This NTL, along with NTL No. 2006-G14, “Information Requirements for Exploration Plans and Development Operations Coordination Documents,” supersedes NTL No. 2003-G17. This NTL provides guidance on changing approved or pending Exploration Plans (EP’s) and Development Operations Coordination Documents (DOCD’s), the number of copies required, electronic submission, and the submittal address.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes the Letters to Lessees (LTL) dated November 8, 1990, and June 21, 1991, regarding preliminary activities. It provides guidance and clarification on conducting ancillary activities in the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR).

This NTL is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides guidance on the information requirements for OCS plans required by 30 CFR 250, subpart B. This NTL, along with NTL No. 2006-G15, “Guidance for Submitting Exploration Plans and Development Operations Coordination Documents,” supersedes NTL No. 2003-G17.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It makes provisions for you to conduct certain platform operations before you receive approval from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR). Similar guidance was given in superseded NTL No. 2005-G18, effective October 7, 2005, as a result of the workloads incurred by the MMS GOMR because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since these workloads have not yet subsided, the MMS GOMR believes it necessary to reissue this guidance.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2005-G15, effective September 21, 2005, on this subject. It modifies Form MMS-132, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Evacuation and Production Curtailment Statistics, to provide for statistics regarding the number of platforms and drilling rigs not evacuated, and provides an electronic means of submitting Form MMS-132 and the facility shut-in report.

This Notice to Lessees (NTL), Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. This NTL supersedes NTL 2006-N02 effective March 8, 2006. Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.125 and 256.63, you must pay non-refundable filing fees to the Minerals Management Service (MMS). Payments must accompany MMS applications that require cost recovery fees.

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 2006 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, Interim Guidance for Gulf of Mexico MODU Mooring Practice – 2006 Hurricane Season (API RP 95F), to guide our review and evaluation of the information and data that demonstrate the moored rig’s capability to perform at the proposed location.

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 2006 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 (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 Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2005-G22, issued November 02, 2005. It is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and notifies you to resume the submission of Well Records as described in NTL No. 2004 G-07 and NTL No. 2004
G-07 Addendum beginning April 01, 2006 to the following address:

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It supersedes NTL No. 2005-G23, effective November 8, 2005. It provides a description and information regarding the status of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) subsequent to closing the temporary offices in Houston and Covington. This NTL is designed to assist you and provide guidance on the conduct of operations with the MMS GOMR.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 2006-G07 Issue Date: March 16, 2006 Effective Date: March 16, 2006 Expiration Date: until superseded NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS (NTL) OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES AND PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW) HOLDERS ON THE O

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2004-G22, effective December 1, 2004. It provides a new schedule for the drilling window program. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) 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) supersedes NTL No. 2001-G09 on this subject. It changes the provision under “Automatic Approvals” to allow for the use of a U.S. Coast Guard type and size rating “B-II” portable dry chemical unit (with a minimum UL Rating (US) of 60- B:C) or a 30-pound portable dry chemical unit, in lieu of a water system, on all platforms that are both minor and unmanned.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 2006-G03 Effective Date: February 10, 2006 Expiration Date: March 31, 2007 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Lease Term Extensions

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 and to implement 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.

Minerals Management Service (MMS) is offering a royalty relief program for hurricane projects in the Gulf of Mexico OCS pursuant to 30 CFR 203.1. To expedite the application review process, MMS will assume the pre-qualification requirements stated at 30 CFR 203.80 are met by applicants making requests under this initiative. Applications will be considered if the approval of royalty relief would meet the objective of the endof-life program (see 30 CFR 203.51, 203.83 and 203.84). End-of-life program guidelines for processing applications have been modified to accommodate characteristics unique to hurricane projects. This NTL provides guidance for preparing a complete application. "Hurricane project" is defined as a proposal to correct damage caused by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. A project may consist of wells, platforms, pipelines, or other structures which were producing or capable of producing before the hurricane from one or more oil and gas reservoirs, located on one or more leases. The incentive is intended to encourage the production of marginal oil and gas reserves that are shut in due to hurricane damage, and for which resumption of production would not be economical in the absence of royalty relief.

 2006 Industry Awards Program and Luncheon - January 1, 2006

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2005 G-13, issued September 15, 2005. It is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and notifies you to resume the submission of Well Records as described in NTL No. 2004 G-07 and NTL No. 2004 G-07

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 2005-G21 Issue Date: October 25, 2005 Effective Date: October 25, 2005 Expiration Date: December 1, 2005 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES AND PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY HOLDERS IN THE

This NTL supersedes NTL 2005-G16. 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 Katrina when it struck land on August 29, 2005, and Hurricane Rita when it struck land on September 24, 2005.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 2005-G19 Effective Date: October 18, 2005 Issue Date: October 18, 2005 Expiration Date: December 1, 2005 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR LEASES AND PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY HOLDERS IN THE

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It supersedes NTL No. 2005-G12 issued September 15, 2005. It provides a description and information regarding the status of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Regional Office subsequent to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many phone numbers have been changed.
The Regional Office has resumed most operations under its Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). MMS is committed to conducting operations in as normal a manner as possible.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2005-G06, effective May 26, 2005 on this subject.  It provides for the submittal of a report of more detailed information regarding production shut-ins.  Due to the approach of Hurricane Rita, the GOMR temporary office located in Houston Texas will be closed starting Thursday September 22, 2005.  This office will reopen Monday September 26, 2005 depending on suitability of occupancy.  Phone and fax numbers for reporting statistics have been changed below to the MMS Herndon office

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 Katrina when it struck land on August 29, 2005.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and rescinds NTL No. 2005-G11. It provides a description and information regarding the status of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Regional and New Orleans District Offices subsequent to Hurricane Katrina.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and notifies you of a change in address of the contractor receiving certain well records on behalf of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) subsequent to Hurricane Katrina. Effective as of September 15, 2005, well records should be sent to A2D Technologies at the following address until further notice:

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to regulations at 30 CFR 250. 194; 30 CFR 250.201; 30 CFR 250.203;30 CFR 250.204: 30 CFR 250.1007(a)(5) and 30 CFR 250. 1010(c) and supersedes NTL OO-A03, dated February 7, 2000.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulations at 30 CFR 250.194, 250.203(b)(15), 250.203(o), 250.204(b)(8)(v)(A), 250.204(s), and 250.1007(a)(5) require Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lessees and operators and pipeline right-of-way 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.

According to the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for ensuring that archaeological resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) are not damaged or destroyed by oil, gas, and sulphur operations. Archaeological resources are any material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years of age and that are of archaeological interest (see 30 CFR 250.105). This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Holders (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2002-G01, dated March 15, 2002.

When it is necessary to conduct business after hours, you must call (805) 389-7775, and the answering service will connect you with the District Manager or the designated person on duty. The answering service will also take messages when appropriate. You must report all serious accidents; any death or serious injury; and all fires, explosions, and blowouts connected with any activities or operations on your lease or pipeline right-of-way immediately to the District Manager. If the incident involves an OCS pipeline, you must also notify the Office of Facilities, Safety and Enforcement at (805) 389-7550. All spills and sightings must be reported to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. You must report spills of 1 barrel or more immediately to the District Manager. Spills of 1 barrel or more must be confirmed in writing within 15 days.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION NTL No. 2005-G09 Effective Date: June 1, 2005 NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION Static Casing Pressures Less than 100 psig This Notice to L

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2003-G15, effective August 13, 2003. It replaces the emergency beeper numbers with cellular telephone numbers for all Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) District offices and the Pipeline Section; deletes one of the telephone numbers for the Houma District office; deletes references to the Corpus Christi Subdistrict office (both in the NTL and in the Attachment to the NTL), since that office was closed on October 1, 2003; and changes the procedures for notification of pipeline repairs.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and supersedes NTL No. 2004-G14, effective June 23, 2004, on this subject. It provides for the submittal of a report of more detailed information regarding production shut-ins.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2005-G02, issued January 6, 2005. It specifies that you will report ocean current data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) Internet website. The NDBC has agreed to receive, store, and redistribute the ocean current data for the Minerals Management Service (MMS). It provides information on obtaining a user ID and password for the NDBC Internet website and specifies the criteria for data submittal. It delays the implementation data of the NTL one month to April 30, 2005, and makes other technical changes.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2004-G21, issued November 24, 2004. It provides for the submittal of oceanographic data and current monitoring information to MMS via a single publicly available Internet website. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulation at 30 CFR 250.904(c) requires you to make a thorough assessment of all design and operating environmental conditions expected to occur at the platform site over the life of the platform. The regulations at 30 CFR 250.107(c) and (d) require you to use the best available and safest technology whenever practical during all exploration, development, and production operations to avoid the failure of equipment that would have a significant effect on safety, health, or the environment. The MMS regulation at 30 CFR 250.300(a) requires you to take measures to prevent unauthorized discharge of pollutants into the offshore waters.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators conveys and clarifies Minerals Management Service (MMS) policy regarding the continuous flaring or venting of small volumes of oil-well gas or gas-well gas.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued to provide a reminder of your obligations to maintain production in paying quantities or other operations on your lease beyond the primary term if such activity was affected by Hurricane Ivan, which struck land on September 16, 2004. Failure to maintain operations or receive a suspension may result in your lease terminating by operation of law.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 to provide clarification and guidance for monitoring of bypassed production and pipeline safety devices.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2003-G19, effective September 1, 2003. It provides a new schedule for the drilling window program.

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 provide further guidance on the inspections you need to conduct on OCS pipelines and related facilities because of the potential damage caused by Hurricane Ivan.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and 30 CFR 250.106(b) and (c) to describe the plans and reports you need to prepare because of the known and potential damage to OCS platforms and other structures caused by Hurricane Ivan.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) is issuing this Notice to 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 Ivan when it struck land on September 16, 2004.

Authority The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) hereby directs lessees and operators of each affected OCS lease in the Gulf of Mexico to collect and report facility, equipment, fuel usage, and other activity information during the period January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005. The authorities for these requirements include, but are not limited to, 30 CFR 250.303(k), 30 CFR 250.304(g), 30 CFR 250.203(o), and 30 CFR 250.204(s). Purpose and Need for NTL The MMS and Gulf Coast States need information for the year 2005 on OCS production activities in the Western Gulf of Mexico (that portion of the OCS west of 87o 30' West longitude), which will coincide with the 2005 State emission inventories, for input into ozone and regional haze models.

Authority – This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to regulations at 30 CFR 203.0 and §§ 203.40 through 203.48, which govern deep-gas royalty relief for Gulf of Mexico shallow-water leases. Purpose and Need for NTL – This NTL provides guidance and clarification to operators electing to exercise the option to replace the deep-gas provisions in the lease instrument (leases that were issued from 2001 through 2003) with the deep-gas royalty relief terms and conditions provided in the regulations mentioned above and effective May 3, 2004. Pursuant to 30 CFR 203.48 and NTL No. 2004-G13, you may exercise this option by providing a written notification of your decision to the Regional Supervisor for Production and Development before September 1, 2004.