Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)

Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)

Notices

Pages 68079-68082

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2013-27074

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Docket ID BSEE-2013-0004; OMB Number 1014-0004; 134E1700D2 EEEE500000 ET1SF0000.DAQ000

Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well Completion Operations. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: You must submit comments by December 13, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or email (OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1014-0004). Please provide a copy of your comments to Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) by any of the means below.

Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter BSEE-2013-0004 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. We will post all comments.

Email nicole.mason@bsee.govmailto:cheryl.blundon@mms.gov, fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or hand-carry comments to: Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; Attention: Nicole Mason; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 1014-

0004 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Mason, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 787-1605, to request additional information about this ICR. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently Under Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations.

OMB Control Number: 1014-0004.

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions of that Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources in the OCS in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; balance orderly energy resources development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environment; ensure the public a fair and equitable return on OCS resources; and preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.

In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43 U.S.C. 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants authority to the Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some provisions apply to offshore operations. For example, section 108 of FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants the Secretary broad authority to inspect lease sites for the purpose of determining whether there is compliance with the mineral leasing laws. Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or other information. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as additional authority for these requirements.

These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart E, concern oil and gas well-completion operations and are the subject of this collection. This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, or provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.

The BSEE analyzes and evaluates the information and data collected to ensure that planned well-completion operations will protect personnel and natural resources. They use the analysis and evaluation results in the decision to approve, disapprove, or require modification to the proposed well-completion operations. Specifically, BSEE uses the information to ensure (a) compliance with personnel safety training requirements; (b) crown block safety device is operating and can be expected to function to avoid accidents; (c) proposed operation of the annular preventer is technically correct and provides adequate protection for personnel, property, and natural resources; (d) well-

completion operations are conducted on well casings that are structurally competent; and (e) sustained casing pressures are within acceptable limits.

Most responses are mandatory; while others are to obtain or retain benefits. The BSEE will protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection; and 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.

Frequency: Weekly, monthly, biennially, and vary by section.

Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators, and holders of pipeline rights-of-way.

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 40,183 hours. The following chart details the individual components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be

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usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.

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Reporting and Annual burden

Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart E recordkeeping Hour burden Average number of hours

requirements annual responses (rounded)

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Requests

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502.............................. Request an 5.5................ 35 exceptions...... 193

exception to

shutting in

producible wells

before moving a

well-completion

rig or related

equipment.

512.............................. Request 11................. 28 field rules..... 308

establishment,

amendment, or

cancellation of

well-completion

field rules.

500-531.......................... General departure 3.5................ 165 requests....... 578

and alternative

compliance

requests not

specifically

covered elsewhere

in Subpart E

regulations.

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Subtotal..................... ................... ................... 228 responses...... 1,079

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Records

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506.............................. Record dates and 1.................. 360 completions x 2 720

times of well- meetings = 720.

completion

operations safety

meetings.

511.............................. Record results 1.5................ 360 completions x 2 1,080

weekly of recordings = 720.

traveling-block

safety device in

operations log.

514(d)........................... Request approval 3.75............... 106 requests....... 398

from the District

Manager to

displace kill-

weight fluids to

an underbalanced

state; submit

detailed written

procedures with

your APM.

515(e)(2)(ii).................... Allow BSEE access 1.15............... 21 notifications... 24

to witness

testing,

inspections, and

information

verification.

Notify District

Manager at least

72 hours prior to

shearing ram tests.

517(a)........................... Record all your BOP 1.25............... 360 completions x 4 1,800

test pressures. recordings = 1,440.

517(c), (i)...................... Record time, date, 6.................. 360 completions x 4 8,640

and results of all recordings = 1,440.

pressure tests,

crew drills,

actuations, and

inspections of the

BOP in driller's

report.

517(d)(8)........................ Function test ROV 10................. 17 wells........... 170

interventions on

your subsea BOP

stack; document

all test results;

make available to

BSEE upon request.

517(d)(8)(ii) & (iii)............ Notify District 0.75............... 17 notifications... 13

Manager at least

72 hours prior to

stump/initial test

on seafloor;

document all test

results and make

them available to

BSEE upon request.

517(d)(9)........................ Function test 0.75............... 17 completions..... 13

autoshear and

deadman on your

subsea BOP stack

during stump test;

document all test

results; make

available to BSEE

upon request.

517(e)........................... Record reason for 0.75............... 34 recordings...... 26

postponing BOP

test in driller's

report.

517(g)(l)........................ Document the 7 days x 12 hrs/day 99 rigs/once every 2,772

procedures used = 84. 3 years = 33 per

for BOP year.

inspections;

record results;

maintain records

for 2 years; make

available to BSEE

upon request.

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517(g)(2)........................ Request alternative Burden covered under 1014-0022 0

method to inspect

a marine riser.

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517(h)........................... Document the 1.5................ 99 rigs............ 149

procedures used

for BOP

maintenance;

record results;

maintain records

for 2 years; make

available to BSEE

upon request.

517(i)(1)-(3).................... Record BOP test 3.................. 362 completions x 4 4,344

pressure on recordings = 1,448.

pressure charts;

onsite rep certify

and sign/date

reports; document

sequential order

of BOP/auxiliary

testing, pressure,

and duration of

each test.

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Subtotal..................... ................... ................... 6,112 responses.... 20,149

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Page 68081

Submittals

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505; 513; 516(a); 526............ Submit Forms BSEE- Burden included under 1014-0018. 0

0123, BSEE-0123S,

BSEE-0124, and

BSEE-0125 and all

accompanying

information to

conduct well-

completion

operations;

request written

approval.

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515.............................. Submit a 17................. 292 submittals..... 4,964

description of

your BOP and its

components;

schematic

drawings;

independent third-

party verification

and all supporting

information

(evidence showing

appropriate

licenses, has

expertise/

experience

necessary to

perform required

verifications,

etc.) with your

APM.

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517(d)(8), (9)................... Submit test Burden covered under 1014-0018. 0

procedures with

your APM for

approval and

relevant

supporting data.

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518(b)........................... Submit results of 4.75............... 25 results......... 119

casing pressure

testing,

calipering, and

other evaluations

(every 30 days

during prolonged

operations);

notify BSEE if

sustained casing

pressure is

observed on a well.

526(a); 527...................... Submit notification 2.................. 68 actions......... 136

of corrective

action.

526(a); 530(a)................... Submit a corrective 14................. 68 plans........... 952

action plan;

notify BSEE after

completion of

corrected action

within 30 days.

526(b); 528...................... Submit a casing 9.................. 484 requests....... 4,356

pressure request;

any additional

information as

needed.

530(b)........................... Submit the casing 2.5................ 54 submittals...... 135

pressure

diagnostic test

data within 14

days.

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Subtotal..................... ................... ................... 991 responses...... 10,662

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Post/Retain

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514(c)........................... Post the number of 1.5................ 741 postings....... 1,112

stands of drill

pipe/collars that

may be pulled and

equivalent well-

control fluid

volume.

517(i)(6)........................ Retain all records 2.5................ 362 records........ 905

including pressure

charts, driller's

report, referenced

documents

pertaining to BOP

tests, actuations,

and inspections at

the facility for

duration of the

activity.

517(i)(7)........................ After completion of 2.75............... 362 records........ 996

well, retain all

records for 2

years at location

conveniently

available to BSEE.

524.............................. Retain records of 1.75............... 3,017 records...... 5,280

casing pressure

and diagnostic

tests for 2 years

or until the well

is abandoned.

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Subtotal..................... ................... ................... 4,482 responses.... 8,293

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Total Hour Burden............ ................... ................... 11,813 Responses... 40,183

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Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have identified no paperwork non-hour cost burdens associated with the collection of information.

Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.

Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) requires each agency ``. . . to provide notice . . . and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of information . . .'' Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of technology.

To comply with the public consultation process, on August 12, 2013, we published a Federal Register notice (78 FR 48893) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. Also, 30 CFR 250.199 explains that BSEE will accept comments at any time on the information collection requirements and burdens of our 30 CFR 250 regulations.

Page 68082

We display the OMB control number and provide the address to which they should send comments. We have received one comment in response to these efforts; however, it was not germane to the paperwork burdens of this ICR.

Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--

including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

BSSE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon (703) 787-1607.

Dated: October 24, 2013.

Robert W. Middleton,

Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.

FR Doc. 2013-27074 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P

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