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Status of Exploration and Development Plans Subject to Enhanced Safety and Environmental Requirements in the Gulf of Mexico

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has put in place significant new safeguards to protect the environment beyond what has ever existed before. For more information on new applicable regulations and standards for both shallow and deepwater drilling operations, see Offshore Drilling Safety Reforms.

When an exploration or development plan is received by the bureau, a determination is made as to whether or not a site-specific environmental assessment (SEA) is needed. This determination is based upon the identification of an Extraordinary Circumstance (EC) as set out in federal regulations 43CFR46.215(d). In an August 16, 2010, Categorical Exclusion Restriction Memorandum BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich directed that any activity having "highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or involve unique or unknown environmental risks," would be considered an EC and require the completion of a SEA.

Stronger regulations were implemented on June 8, 2010. Since then, 23 Exploration Plans and 1 Development Operations and Coordination Documents have been approved following completion of a SEA to date. The tables below include both those plans that require an SEA and those that do not.

Information on approved plans and documents available for download can be found at: Exploration and Development Plans Online Query.

Scroll over type of plan in the tables below for a definition of the plan.

Shallow and Deepwater Exploration and Development Plans Data last updated on 06/29/2011 11:00 AM (CST) and will be updated each business day.
Status of Exploration Plans and DOCDs for New Wells Only	Received prior to June 8, 2010	Received since June 8, 2010	Modification Requested¹	Withdrawn²	Pending³	Deemed Submitted⁴	Approved since June 8, 2010⁵
Water Depth Less than or equal to 500 feet
A Supplemental DOCD describes proposed activities on a lease(s) that were not included in a previously approved DOCD and will require approval of additional permit(s). A Supplemental DOCD describes proposed activities on a lease(s) that were not included in a previously approved DOCD and will require approval of additional permit(s). A Revised DOCD describes changes to the proposed activities included in a previously approved DOCD, but will not require the approval of additional permit(s). A Revised DOCD describes changes to the proposed activities included in a previously approved DOCD, but will not require the approval of additional permit(s). A Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) is a plan that describes development and production activities proposed by an operator for a lease or group of leases. The description includes the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each proposed well or production platform or other structure, and an analysis of both offshore and onshore impacts that may occur as a result of the plan’s implementation. A Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) is a plan that describes development and production activities proposed by an operator for a lease or group of leases. The description includes the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each proposed well or production platform or other structure, and an analysis of both offshore and onshore impacts that may occur as a result of the plan’s implementation. A Supplemental Exploration Plan includes a description of proposed activities on a lease(s) that were not included an original Exploration Plan for that lease(s). A Supplemental Exploration Plan includes a description of proposed activities on a lease(s) that were not included an original Exploration Plan for that lease(s). A Revised Exploration Plan describes changes to proposed activities already included in a previously approved Exploration Plan. A Revised Exploration Plan describes changes to proposed activities already included in a previously approved Exploration Plan. An Initial Exploration Plan describes all exploration activities planned by an operator for a specific lease(s), the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each well, and an analysis of both offshore and onshore impacts that may occur as a result of the plan’s implementation. An Initial Exploration Plan describes all exploration activities planned by an operator for a specific lease(s), the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each well, and an analysis of both offshore and onshore impacts that may occur as a result of the plan’s implementation. Initial Exploration Plans	1	17	3	2	3	4	6
Revised Exploration Plans		8		1	1		6
Supplemental Exploration Plans	4	8			4		8
Initial Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCDs)	9	11	1	1	3	5	10
Revised DOCDs		40		1	4	2	33
Supplemental DOCDs	13	27	3		12	4	21
Water Depth Greater than 500 feet
Status of Exploration Plans and DOCDs for New Wells Only	Received prior to Oct 12, 2010	Received since Oct 12, 2010	Modification Requested¹	Withdrawn²	Pending⁶	Deemed Submitted⁴	Approved since Oct 12, 2010⁷
Initial Exploration Plans	9	9			8	5	5
Revised Exploration Plans	5	44	1	4	14	5	25
Supplemental Exploration Plans	4	7			7		4
Initial Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCDs)	6	6			3	3	6
Revised DOCDs	5	19	1	8	3	2	10
Supplemental DOCDs	4	8	1		5	3	3

A modification may be requested if further information or clarification is needed for submitted exploration plans and DOCDs. These exploration plans and DOCDs are not counted as pending.
Applications may be withdrawn by an operator at any time in the application process.
Pending exploration plan and DOCD figures in this table include applications submitted before and after June 8, 2010. They do not include applications where there has been a modification requested.
Consistent with federal regulations, a plan is deemed "submitted" once all supporting materials and documentation has been provided. Once a plan is deemed submitted, BOEMRE has 30 calendar days to analyze and evaluate Exploration Plans and 120 calendar days to analyze and evaluate DOCD.
Approved exploration plan and DOCD figures in this table include exploration plans and DOCDs submitted before and after June 8, 2010.
Pending exploration plan and DOCD figures in this table include applications submitted before and after October 12, 2010. They do not include applications where there has been a modification requested.
Approved exploration plan and DOCD figures in this table include exploration plans and DOCDs submitted before and after October 12, 2010.

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Last Updated: 06/29/2011