Exploration and
Development Plans Tracking Information
The Minerals Management Service requires that all exploration, development, and
production activities except for preliminary activities be conducted in accordance with an
approved Exploration Plan or a Development and Production Plan. A
proposed plan may apply to one or more leases held by an individual lessee or may be
submitted by a group of lessees. The Regional Supervisor, Field Operations, may authorize
lessees to jointly submit environmental information for leases that are in the same
planning area and have similar environmental conditions. In the mature western Gulf of
Mexico, a streamlined version of a Development and Production Plan called a Development
Operations Coordination Document can be used.