2024-01281. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Oil and Gas Drilling Operations

AGENCY:

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Please provide a copy of your comments to Nikki Mason, BSEE ICCO, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1014–0018 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Nikki Mason by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at (703) 787–1607. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

A Federal Register notice (88 FR 39463) with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on June 16, 2023. No comments were received.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following:

(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. 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.

Abstract: The BSEE uses the information to ensure safe drilling operations and to protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. Among other things, BSEE specifically uses the information to ensure: the drilling unit is fit for the intended purpose; the lessee or operator will not encounter geologic conditions that present a hazard to operations; equipment is maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety standards; each drilling crew is properly trained and able to promptly perform well-control activities at any time during well operations; compliance with safety standards; and the current regulations will provide for safe and proper field or reservoir development, resource evaluation, conservation, protection of correlative rights, safety, and environmental protection. We also review well records to ascertain whether drilling operations have encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and to ensure that H2S detection equipment, personnel protective equipment, and training of the crew are adequate for safe operations in zones known to contain H2S and zones where the presence of H2S is unknown.

This ICR includes three forms. The forms use and information consist of the following:

End of Operations Report, BSEE–0125

This information is used to ensure that industry has accurate and up-to-date data and information on wells and leasehold activities under their jurisdiction and to ensure compliance with approved plans and any conditions placed upon a suspension or temporary probation. It is also used to evaluate the remedial action in the event of well equipment failure or well control loss. The Form BSEE–0125 is updated and resubmitted in the event the well status changes. In addition, except for proprietary data, BSEE is required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the public certain information submitted on BSEE–0125.

Information on the form:

Heading—ascertain the well name, status of completion/abandonment, and operator name.

Well at Total Depth—ascertain the lease No., area name, block No., and the latitude/longitude at total depth.

Well Status Information—ascertain well status data and measured/true vertical depth of the well.

Well at Producing Zone—ascertain the location and latitude/longitude of the producing zone.

Perforated Interval(s) This Completion—ascertain well measured/true vertical depth at the top and bottom of intervals perforated for production.

Hydrocarbon Bearing Intervals—identify the top and bottom of hydrocarbon bearing intervals penetrated by the well and the type hydrocarbon (oil/gas) present.

List of Significant Markers Penetrated—to make structural correlations, in conjunction with seismic data, with other wells drilled in the area. Anticipated marker areas not penetrated ( i.e., not present) also provide valuable reservoir information.

Subsea Completion—Identify wells that are completed with the wellhead (tree) at the ocean floor (mud line). This data is needed to ascertain that the wellhead is protected from being damaged and that the location is marked with a buoy.

Abandonment History of Well (Casing & Obstruction)—ensure that, upon permanent plugging, the casing is cut and removed to an elevation below the ocean floor (mud line) to eliminate any hazard to navigation (fishing, trawling) unless otherwise protected and/or the location marked with a buoy.

Well Activity Report, BSEE–0133 and –0133S

The BSEE uses this information to monitor the conditions of a well and status of drilling operations. We review the information to be aware of the well conditions and current drilling activity ( i.e., well depth, drilling fluid weight, casing types and setting depths, completed well logs, and recent safety equipment tests and drills). The engineer uses this information to determine how accurately the lessee anticipated well conditions and if the lessee or operator is following the other approved forms that were submitted. With the information collected on BSEE–0133 available, the reviewers can analyze the proposed revisions ( e.g., revised grade of casing or deeper casing setting depth) and make a quick and informed decision on the request.

In addition, except for proprietary data, BSEE is required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the public certain information submitted on Forms BSEE–0133 and –0133S.

BSEE–0133

General Information—Identifies the well name, lease operator, name of the contractor and rig or unit conducting drilling or remedial work, the water depth and the elevation.

Current Well Bore Information—This information is used to identify the well, surface location, and dates operations are initiated and concluded. Also identified is the bottom hole location, measured and true vertical depth of the well, drilling fluid (mud) weight, and blowout preventer test information needed to evaluate approval or modification applications to ensure safety and environmental protection.

Well Bore Historical Information—Identifies the dates drilling is initiated and completed or the well is abandoned, and final measured and true vertical depths reached. This information is needed to evaluate modification applications to ensure safety and protection of the environment.

Casing/Liner/Tubing Record—Identifies casing/liner/tubing hole size, pipe size, weight, grade, test pressures, setting depths, and cement volumes. This information is used to evaluate modification applications and to ascertain that operations are conducted in a safe manner as approved.

Well Activity Summary—This narrative summary provides the details of daily operations needed to confirm that operations are being conducted consistent with approved plans.

Open Hole Log Date—Serves to identify whether open hole logs, formation samples and surveys have been conducted so as to trigger the submittal of Form BSEE–0133S.

Significant Well Events—Serves to identify significant events, hazards or problems encountered during well operations and to provide narrative information detailing those events which occurred. BSEE needs this information in the assessment and approval of other well operations in the area that may encounter the same or similar hazards, risks or problems. Provides narrative information concerning any significant events. Attachments may be required, if necessary.

BSEE–0133S

General Information—Identifies the well number/name, operator name, sidetrack/bypass number, and contact name/telephone/email.

Open Hole Tools, Mud Logs, and Directional Surveys—Identifies the dates and types of open hole operations, logs, tests, or surveys conducted; the service company(s) conducting the operations; and the top and bottom of those formations logged or surveyed. Serves as an inventory to ensure that BSEE receives the data from all open hole logs/tests/surveys conducted. Open hole data is utilized in the determination of oil and gas recoverable reserves and production limits. As permitted by the regulations, the data is also made available to the public.

Identify Other Open Hole Data Collection—Identifies the conduct of other specific analyses, samples and surveys and requires the narrative description of any other surveys conducted.

Title of Collection:30 CFR 250, Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations.

OMB Control Number: 1014–0018.

Form Number: Forms BSEE–0125, End of Operations Report, BSEE–0133, Well Activity Report, and BSEE–0133S Supplemental.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents include Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and/or operators and holders of pipeline rights-of-way.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Currently there are approximately 555 Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and holders of pipeline rights-of-way. Not all the potential respondents will submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple times.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 63,744.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to 23 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 83,993.

Respondent's Obligation: Responses are mandatory.

Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, and varies by section.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $16,000.

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 OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Kirk Malstrom,

Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.