| NTL No. 2000-N06 &
Attachment 1 |
Effective
Date: October 1, 2000
|
Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) of Federal Oil, Gas,
and Sulphur Leases in the Outer Continental Shelf
Deepwater Operations Plans (DWOP)
NOTE: NTL
2000-N06 is
available for download in Adobe's Portable Document Format.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL
98-8N. We have increased the number of copies of a DWOP that lessees/operators (you)
should submit but have made no other substantive changes. This NTL continues to address
all deepwater development projects (water depths greater than 1,000 feet) and all projects
utilizing subsea production technology. Projects that rely solely on the use of
conventional fixed-leg platforms for development do not need a DWOP. NTL 98-8N provided a
new set of guidelines that were structured to be more user friendly and to answer many of
your commonly asked questions. The intent and goal of the DWOP remain:
"The DWOP is designed to address industry and MMS
concerns by allowing an operator to know, well in advance of significant spending, that
their proposed methods of dealing with situations not specifically addressed in the
regulations are acceptable to MMS. The DWOP will provide MMS with information specific to
deepwater/ subsea equipment issues to demonstrate that a deepwater project is being
developed in an acceptable manner as mandated in the OCS Lands Act as amended and 30 CFR
250. The MMS will review deepwater development activities from a total system perspective,
emphasizing the operational safety, environmental protection, and conservation of natural
resources."
Attachment 1 provides general guidance on when it may be
appropriate for you to submit each part of the DWOP to MMS. Attachment 2 is the Deepwater
Operations Plan Guideline, which continues to specify a Conceptual Part for all
development projects in water depths greater than 1,000 feet and all projects utilizing
subsea production technology. For those subsea projects in less than 1,000 feet of
water that are similar to previously approved projects, MMS may waive the requirement for
a Preliminary Part. The Guideline further describes this approach.
Submit four copies of a DWOP to the Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Chief, Technical Assessment and
Operations Support Section (MS 5220). Once we determine that each part of the DWOP
contains all the necessary information, we will approve each part within the following
time schedule:
Conceptual Part -- 30 days
Preliminary Part -- 90 days
Final Part -- 60 days
The guidelines for the DWOP do not address resource
conservation information. You should refer to NTL 2000-N05 (October 1, 2000) for
guidelines on submitting conservation information.
MMS does not intend for the DWOP to replace other
submittals (plans, applications, permits, etc.) required by regulations. You may minimize
duplication by cross-referencing information whenever appropriate. Your plan, in
conjunction with the existing MMS regulations, will be the basis by which you operate the
deepwater project.
The MMS may require additional operations summaries for
deepwater projects, similar to the annual unit operations plan. You should provide
pertinent information regarding project milestones and achievements, expected operations
that could affect the development strategy, and updated reservoir and geologic information
obtained from the drilling or completion of additional wells.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Statement:
This Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) requires us to inform you that MMS
collects the information referred to in this NTL and the attachments to evaluate proposed
deepwater projects from a "total system" approach, emphasizing operational
safety and environmental protection. Responses are mandatory. Proprietary data are covered
under 30 CFR 250.196. We estimate the public reporting burden to average 580 hours,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and
completing and reviewing the information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB has approved
the collection of information for submitting DWOPs under OMB Control Number 1010-0049. You
may find the OMB control numbers listed in 30 CFR 250, subpart A, for the other
information collection requirements referred to in this NTL. Direct comments regarding the
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information to the Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Mail Stop 4230, Department of the Interior, Minerals
Management Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.
Contact: If you have any questions
or need additional information on this NTL, you may contact Mr. James Regg in the Gulf of
Mexico Regional Office at (504) 736-2843.
This NTL is also on the MMS worldwide website at http://www.mms.gov/ntls/.
| Date |
Carolita Kallaur
Associate Director for
Offshore Energy and Minerals Management
|
2 Attachments
-- General Timing for the Three Parts of the Deepwater Operations Plan
-- Deepwater Operations Plan Guideline
Attachment 1--NTL 2000-N06
General Timing for the Three Parts of the
Deepwater Operations Plan
Discovery
Conceptual Selection of Development Scenario
 |
Submit Conceptual Deepwater Operations Plan |
Preliminary Engineering
Project Design and Identification of Alternative Compliance
Measures Project
|
|
Submit Preliminary Deepwater Operations Plan |
Procurement of Long Lead-time Items
Detailed and Final Project Design
Project Approval by Operator
Fabrication and Integration
- factory acceptance testing
- site integration testing
- procuring activities
Installation and Commissioning
Startup and Operations
|
|
Submit Final Deepwater Operations Plan 90 Days Following
Production Startup |
The MMS believes that the above timing for submittal of the
three parts of the DWOP is appropriate. You may submit a plan at anytime; however, a
submittal that does not fit the generalized timing may affect the time for MMS to review
and approve the DWOP.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0049
Expiration Date: September 30, 2003
|
