Notice to Lessees (NTLs)

This Notice to Lessees and Operators is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It supersedes NTL No. 96-10, dated December 5, 1996. It provides contact and Paperwork Reduction Act information, updates regulatory citations, adds a definition, and makes minor technical amendments.

Explains regulations for electronically submitting semiannual well test results for each producing completion using Form MMS-128.

Provides notice of inspection results and discovery of bypass around natural gas royalty meter, and need to make lessees aware of policies regarding proving/calibration and site security requirements of various meter/tank status classifications such as active, inactive, terminated.

Notifies lessees and operators that BOEM and BSEE may be required, in a writing, to conduct Notifies POCS lessees and operators of policy allowing for limited suspension of certain testing requirements for standby flaring equipment and pressure safety relief values when such tests coincide with an emergency health event that activates local air emission abatement measures. These measures include shutdown or suspension of industrial sources as identified by the state of California.  MMs authorizes pre-approval of suspensions of testing standby equipment and safety relief valves during or in anticipation of 2nd or 3rd stage episodes to reduce air pollution.

Clarifies the definitions of sidetrack and bypass wells, and provides guidance for naming subsea well completions; makes minor formatting changes and includes guidance document statement.

Describes inspections to conduct and reports to prepare to address known and potential damages to OCS facilities including platforms, subsea production safety systems, and pipelines caused by Hurricane Isaac before striking land on Aug. 29, 2012.

Offers guidance on procedures to follow when required to install flare/vent meters at your facility.  Clarifies that current regulations do not mandate metering of lease use gas and that estimates of lease gas volumes may be reported as such.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes BOEM NTL No. 2012-GOl on this
subject. It provides a new schedule for the drilling window program, and a website address for
a map that shows the areas covered by the drilling window program.

Describes process for regulated entities to use electronic methods for responding to INCs, request Describes new schedule and drilling window program for eastern Gulf of Mexico, with website address for maps showing lease sales in affected areas of the drilling windows program approved after consultation with the U.S. Air Force.

This NTL provides new addresses for the New Orleans and Houma District offices (Office of District Field Operations) as well as the address and contact information for the recently formed Measurement Inspection Office (Office of Production and Development).

Provides new address and telephone information for the Houma and New Orleans District Offices, and the Measurement Inspection Unit.

This NTL supersedes NTL No. 2007-G15, effective May 14, 2007. This NTL updates the information and guidance about obtaining access to the eWell Permitting and Reporting System (eWell) and attaches and updated eWell Permitting and Reporting System Application Manual. (See NTL No. 2014-N03A for the manual).

Updates for e-Well Permitting and Reporting System and Manual, with availability of e-Well access for Alaskan and Pacific regions with secure website applications in lieu of paper forms.

This national NTL eliminates the expiration dates on certain existing NTLs published on the BSEE website.  This NTL also clarifies that, until BSEE revises, reissues, or withdraws the published NTLs, they will continue to apply regardless of any stated expiration dates.

Clarifies policy that prior NTLs will not automatically expire until BSEE issues a superseding NTL, or the NTL is expressly revised or withdrawn.  Existing NTLs will continue in effect regardless of their expiration date.

This NTL provides a new address and contact information for the Lake Charles District office.

This NTL supersedes NTL 2008-G22, effective November 19, 2008 and provides schedules for release of well data and information that is submitted to BSEE as described in NTL 2010-G02, effective March 3, 2010.

Announces release of well geological data and interpreted geological and geophysical information as provided at 30 CFR 250.197(b) for current leases and those no longer in effect.

This NTL provides a new address and contact information for the Lake Jackson District office.

This NTL is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and superseded NTL No. 2007-G12, Contact with District Offices and Pipeline Section Outside Regular Work Hours, effective April 4, 2007.  It updates the New Orleans, Houma, Lake Charles, and Lake Jackson District Offices addresses and also the Pipeline Section Address for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR).  Lastly, it also restates the after-hours flaring/venting contact information for the Resource Conservation Section (previously named the Rate Control Section) contained in NTL No. 2012-N04, Flaring and Venting Requests, in order to consolidate the BSEE GOMR after-hours contacts into a single NTL.

Updates contact information at district offices and pipeline section, and how to contact BSEE with after hours request for venting and flaring of gas.

This NTL provides guidance on BSEE's interpretation of 30 CFR 250.132(a)(2), which requires lessees and operators to provide helicopter landing sites and refueling facilities to helicopters BSEE uses to regulate offshore operations.

Explains regulations authorizing emergency landings and refueling requirements of BSEE helicopters at lessee platforms in GOM.

This NTL is being issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103, and 250.300, to provide information on the Offshore Operators Committee (OOC) marine trash and debris awareness training video and slide show. This NTL also provides the mailing and email addresses for submitting annual training reports. This NTL supersedes and replaces NTL No. 2012-GO1, effective January 1, 2012, on this subject and applies to all existing and future oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico OCS unless and until expressly superseded.

Provides BSEE email and physical address to submit annual training reports for prevention of marine debris discharge from platforms and vessels in ocean waters

This National Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides information and guidance about the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) electronic Production Facility Safety System Application submittal and tracking system.

Provides option to submit electronic records of production system safety compliance data to Gulf Region.

This NTL supersedes NTL No. 2011-G01.  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, and makes minor administrative amendments.

Guidance on how to submit records of evacuation results, production shut-in measures, facility damages, and pollution reports, both via email and electronically.

Effective June 1, 2015, the U.S. Treasury lowered the maximum dollar amount allowed for a credit card collection.  The maximum amount that can be charged to a credit cared in one day has been lowered from $49,999.99 to $24,999.99; this change affects Pay.gov credit card payments.  The ACH (electronic check) remittance is to be used for payments greater than $24,999.99.

Lowers amount that can charged on credit card transactions for purposes of paying fees to BSEE.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides notification of a change of address for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Headquarters Offices from Herndon, VA to Sterling, VA. Phone numbers for this office remain unchanged. This NTL also clarifies that, until BSEE revises, reissues, or withdraws published NTLs that reference the former BSEE Headquarters Offices at 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170, such references shall be deemed to apply to its office at 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA  20166.

Address change of BSEE Headquarters from 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170 to 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA  20166.

This NTL provides guidance and clarification of the regulations related to cementing requirements and the steps necessary to address indications or identification of an inadequate cement job.

Clarifies regulations for cementing requirements and the steps necessary to address indications of inadequate cement job.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides a new address for the Lafayette District office.

Describes process for regulated entities to use electronic methods for responding to INCs, request time extensions,  and rescissions with curative measures undertaken in lieu of submitting paper copies if INCS and letters.

Clarifies policies and procedures for submitting Oil Spill Financial Responsibility documents; adds new definitions to 30 CFR 253.3; provides guidance on how to determine if a facility is covered by the certificate of financial responsibility requirements. 

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. It provides guidance to ensure that the design of new OCS platforms and related structures fully considers the specific environmental conditions at the platform location as required by 30 CFR 250.900(a).

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 Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued to address certain safety concerns and questions recently brought to our attention with respect to cranes installed on fixed offshore platforms. Regulations at 30 CFR 250.108 address cranes and other material handling equipment on fixed offshore platforms. Section 250.108(a)(l) incorporates by reference the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes (API RP 2D), Fourth Edition, into the Minerals Mangement Service (MMS) regulations. Section 250.1 08(a)(2) requires that inspection, testing, and maintenance records must be kept at the OCS facility for at least 2 years.

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.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right-of-way Grant Holders (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103. This NTL is also issued pursuant to 30 CFR 251.3, to permitees that conduct geological and geophysical explorations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and pursuant to 30 CFR 280.3(c) to permitees that conduct operations other than oil, gas, and sulphur on the OCS.

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) clarifies current policy and procedures by specifying your responsibilities as a lessee in implementing MMS 's performance-based training regulation, 30 CFR 250 Subpart 0 Well Control and Production Safety Training. Since going into etiect October 15, 2002, MMS has monitored industry compliance with this rule by conducting numerous audits, interviews, and tests at both the company level and on an individual basis. The majority of agency efforts have focused on the use of audits. If, during an audit, the MMS audit team finds a deficiency in a lessee's training plan, an Incident of Noncompliance (INC) is issued.

Guidance on provision of synthetic mooring systems in DWOPs, considered a non-conventional technology regardless of water depth.  The design should conform to API Recommended Practice 2SM and operators must comply with 30 CFR 250.292(c) for design, fabrication, and installation information on the mooring system. 

Notice to operators and pipeline right-of-way holders regarding the goals of coastal restoration, beach nourishment, and levee construction to mitigate erosion, flooding, and land loss in coastal Louisiana.  Adopts safeguards of OCS sediment policy as authorized by Marine Minerals Program. States that future requests for decommissioning-in-place (DIP) of pipelines in such designated sediment reserves are discouraged.     

Updates terminology and contact information, identifies permissible well-workover operations with tree installed that are defined as 'routine'.   Reiterates that all 'non-routine' well-workover operations may not be performed without MMS approval, including acidizing, while clarifying that acidizing operations using the 'bulkheading' method is considered routine where no change occurs in the wellbore configuration.  Acidizing operations using a Coiled Tubing unit are considered non-routine.

Notice to specify the location of the choke and kill lines serving blowout preventer (BOP) stacks. Only those regulations pertaining to Oil & Gas Drilling Operations currently specify the exact location of choke lines as above the bottom ram in the stack.  MMS reiterates that no approvals of APMs will be made for any type of oil and gas drilling or well operations.  States District offices may approve installations of kill lines only below the bottom ram, upon submission of schematic drawing of BOP stack and MMS design evaluation. 

Updates prior NTL to specify requirement to use a checklist of information regarding jack-up rig fitness using Form MMS-123 to assure the rig is capable of performing at the proposed location.   Clarifies the MMS form is based on information provided at API Recommended Practice 95J.

Updates regulatory citations pertaining to operations on floating drilling rigs, and the disconnect of marine risers during routine function test of blind-shear rams, based on recent 'near miss' event that could have threatened loss of well control.  Requires changes to control panel to ensure that LMRP disconnect process occurs only in response to deliberate acts.

Guidance on evaluation of tie-downs on OCS production platforms to secure drilling and workover rigs, permanent equipment, and facilities during Hurricane season.  This NTL is based on industry document API Recommended Practice 2TD, and efforts to reduce tie-down failures during heavy storms. 

Describes functional responsibility by District and Regional offices for all MMS regulations beginning with General Requirements

Updates prior NTL to specify requirement to submit pipeline location data on compact disks, and revokes aspects of NTL No. 98-09 that facilitated submission of "as-Built" location data before the construction report.

Clarifies the process for establishing a designated safe welding area for each particular rig as part of a written Welding Plan; updates terminology for "welding" and contact information for submitting welding plans to District Supervisors of MMS.

Provides guidance on how to install pressure safety high sensors or provide over-pressure and under-pressure  protection to vessels in accord with API Recommended Practice 14C.  Defines the term production train to include vessels not separated by pressure control valves or extensive piping that would cause a drop across a system of more than 10% or 50 psi, whichever is greater. 

Updates regulatory citations; adds guidance for level safety high (LSH) sensors on atmospheric vessels, including design and maintenance criteria for the sensor bridle to prevent fluids of different densities from impacting sensor functionality.

Guidance on how to avoid compromising the structural integrity of platforms prior to relocation; applies to both fixed and floating platform rigs.  If the platform rig trips any of the platform assessment initiators listed API RP 2A-WSD, the operator must perform a platform assessment in accordance with 30 CFR 250.920(s).

Provides guidance on use of SCADA systems for electronic monitoring of facilities and operating conditions, including wind speeds and downstream components (flowlines, pipelines, and separators located between the hydrocarbon sources and sensing points).  Sets forth approval conditions for when a SCADA system will be permitted to shut-in and restart essential operations.

Offers guidance for when you must shut-in producible wells during rig moves or move a skid or drilling unit between wells as supported by a platform.  The NTL describes various types of rigs and phases of rig movement, and specifies when wells must be shut in and how to delineate the documentation provided to MMS.

Notice to industry that USAF communication seven GOM towers require clear lines of sight from one to another, and be kept free of electromagnetic interference.  To accomplish these goals, no activities will be allowed within a 500-radius of towers sites, or within 100 feet of the centerline of a line of sight between the towers.

Clarifies policy for lessees and operators that revise EPs and DOCDs to change approved anchor patterns or anchor areas, and provides guidance for sidetrack wells.  Sets forth information to be submitted with change requests, including types of drilling rigs, vessels, or platforms, the surface location, whether the mineral is oil or gas, and emission of air pollutants during drilling and production.  Changes of anchor locations of 500 feet or more require advance approval of anchor array patterns.

Provides guidance on submitting alternate procedure and equipment departure requests from regulations at 30 CFR 250 Subpart J, focusing on pipeline pre-testing applications for valves,  pumps, and redundant pressure safety devices associated with  subsea tiebacks.