Operations

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Oil and Gas Operations Regulations (43 CFR 3160) These regulations govern operations associated with the exploration, development and production of oil and gas on federal and Indian lands.

Indices of Federal Oil and Gas Regulations

• Index of Federal Oil and Gas Regulations by Subject, i.e. General Requirements
  This link allows you to search for oil and gas regulations by a specific subject. These subjects are identified in alphabetical order. If there are subjects you are not able to locate, please contact use and we'll add them to the list.
• Index of Federal Oil and Gas Regulations by Citation, i.e. 43 CFR 3162.1 (General Requirements)  This link allows you to search for oil and gas regulations by a specific regulatory citation. These citations are identified in numerical order. If there are citations you are not able to locate, please contact use and we'll add them to the list.

Onshore Oil and Gas Orders  Onshore Oil and Gas Orders implement and supplement the regulations found at 43 CFR 3160 for conducting oil and gas operations on Federal or Indian lands.

Notice-To-Lessees (NTL) Notice-to-Lessee(s) implement and supplement the regulations found at 43 CFR Part 3160 for conducting oil and gas operations.

Drilling Operations on Federal and Indian Lands

• Drilling on Federal and Indian Lands 
  Instructions on obtaining approval to drill for oil and gas.
• Best Management Practices for Oil and Gas Development on the Public Lands
  Best Management Practices (BMPs) demonstrate practical ideas which may eliminate or minimize adverse impacts from oil and gas development to public health and the environment, landowners, and natural resources; enhances the value of natural and landowner resources; and reduces conflict.
• Surface Operating Standards for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
  Provides a link to the Gold Book on surface operating standards for oil and gas exploration and development, Standard Environmental Colors Chart, Road Standards, and Migratory Bird Guidance.
• Coal Bed Natural Gas Drilling on Federal and Indian Lands
  Miles City Field Office Guidance Document for Coal Bed Natural Gas APDs and Project Plans of Development (POD) on federal and Indian lands for the northern portion of the Powder River Basin located in Montana.
  • Coal Bed Natural Gas APD and Project POD Guidance Manual
  • Appendix A-F
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Coal Bed Natural Gas
  Provides a link to the Western Governors' Association (WGA) Best Management Practices (BMPs) Handbook for Coal Bed Natural Gas. These BMPs demonstrate practical ideas of conducting Coal Bed Natural Gas operations, which may eliminate or minimize adverse impacts from CBNG development to public health and the environment, landowners, and natural resources; enhances the value of natural and landowner resources; and reduces conflict.

Production and Abandonment
The following links contain Onshore Oil and Gas Orders (OOGOs), Notice-to-Lessees (NTLs), and BLM Manual Guidance that outlines the procedures needed to file applications for operations.

• Disposal of Produced Water (OOGO No. 7) - PDF Format
  Methods and approvals necessary to dispose of produced water associated with oil and gas operations.
• Spills and Reporting of Undesirable Events
  Reporting requirements and notification regarding spills.
• Flaring and Venting of Gas (NTL-4A)
  Reporting requirements and approval necessary for flaring and/or venting associated gas.
• Site Security, Measurement of Oil and Gas(OOGO Nos. 3, 4, and 5)
  Requirements and standards for site security, and measurement of oil and gas.
• Hydrogen Sulfide Operations and Contingency Plan (OOGO No. 6)
  Requirements for conducting oil and gas operations in an environment known to or expected to contain Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas.
• Well Abandonment and Reclamation (OOGO Nos. 1 and 2, Gold Book)
  Requirements and guidelines for abandoning Federal and Indian wells, and surface reclamation.

Operations on Private (Fee) and State Lands
For operations on private (fee), and state lands in the Montana/Dakotas, the state oil and gas regulatory agencies should be contacted. The following are the websites link to these regulatory agencies:

Montana - Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation

North Dakota - North Dakota Industrial Commission

South Dakota - South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment