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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:

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

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Last Updated: 08/14/2008, 09:57 AM