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30 U.S.C. 1751, 31 U.S.C. 9701, 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(1)(C), 43 U.S.C. 1334.
76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, unless otherwise noted.
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Subscribe to: 30 CFR Part 250 Subpart I - General Requirements for Platforms
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Nomenclature changes to part 250 appear at 77 FR 50891, Aug. 22, 2012.
(a) You must design, fabricate, install, use, maintain, inspect, and assess all platforms and related structures on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) so as to ensure their structural integrity for the safe conduct of drilling, workover, and production operations. In doing this, you must consider the specific environmental conditions at the platform location.
(b) You must also submit an application under § 250.905 of this subpart and obtain the approval of the Regional Supervisor before performing any of the activities described in the following table:
| Activity requiring application and approval | Conditions for conducting the activity |
|---|---|
| (1) Install a platform. This includes placing a newly constructed platform at a location or moving an existing platform to a new site | (i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart, including the industry standards in § 250.901. (ii) If you are installing a floating platform, you must also adhere to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulations for the fabrication, installation, and inspection of floating OCS facilities. |
| (2) Major modification to any platform. This includes any structural changes that materially alter the approved plan or cause a major deviation from approved operations and any modification that increases loading on a platform by 10 percent or more | (i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart, including the industry standards in § 250.901. (ii) Before you make a major modification to a floating platform, you must obtain approval from both the BSEE and the USCG for the modification. |
| (3) Major repair of damage to any platform. This includes any corrective operations involving structural members affecting the structural integrity of a portion or all of the platform | (i) You must adhere to the requirements of this subpart, including the industry standards in § 250.901. (ii) Before you make a major repair to a floating platform, you must obtain approval from both the BSEE and the USCG for the repair. |
| (4) Convert an existing platform at the current location for a new purpose | (i) The Regional Supervisor will determine on a case-by-case basis the requirements for an application for conversion of an existing platform at the current location. (ii) At a minimum, your application must include: the converted platform's intended use; and a demonstration of the adequacy of the design and structural condition of the converted platform. (iii) If a floating platform, you must also adhere to USCG regulations for the fabrication, installation, and inspection of floating OCS facilities. |
| (5) Convert an existing mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) for a new purpose | (i) The Regional Supervisor will determine on a case-by-case basis the requirements for an application for conversion of an existing MODU. (ii) At a minimum, your application must include: the converted MODU's intended location and use; a demonstration of the adequacy of the design and structural condition of the converted MODU; and a demonstration that the level of safety for the converted MODU is at least equal to that of re-used platforms. (iii) You must also adhere to USCG regulations for the fabrication, installation, and inspection of floating OCS facilities. |
(c) Under emergency conditions, you may make repairs to primary structural elements to restore an existing permitted condition without submitting an application or receiving prior BSEE approval for up to 120-calendar days following an event. You must notify the Regional Supervisor of the damage that occurred within 24 hours of its discovery, and you must provide a written completion report to the Regional Supervisor of the repairs that were made within 1 week after completing the repairs. If you make emergency repairs on a floating platform, you must also notify the USCG.
(d) You must determine if your new platform or major modification to an existing platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program (PVP). Section 250.910 of this subpart fully describes the facilities that are subject to the PVP. If you determine that your platform is subject to the PVP, you must follow the requirements of §§ 250.909 through 250.918 of this subpart.
(e) You must submit notification of the platform installation date and the final as-built location data to the Regional Supervisor within 45-calendar days of completion of platform installation.
(1) For platforms not subject to the Platform Verification Program (PVP), BSEE will cancel the approved platform application 1 year after the approval has been granted if the platform has not been installed. If BSEE cancels the approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive BSEE approval if you still plan to install the platform.
(2) For platforms subject to the PVP, cancellation of an approval will be on an individual platform basis. For these platforms, BSEE will identify the date when the installation approval will be cancelled (if installation has not occurred) during the application and approval process. If BSEE cancels your installation approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive BSEE approval if you still plan to install the platform.
(a) In addition to the other requirements of this subpart, your plans for platform design, analysis, fabrication, installation, use, maintenance, inspection and assessment must, as appropriate, conform to:
(1) ACI Standard 318-95, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-95) and Commentary (ACI 318R-95) (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(2) ACI 357R-84, Guide for the Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore Concrete Structures, 1984; reapproved 1997 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(3) ANSI/AISC 360-05, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(4) API Recommended Practice 2A-WSD (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(5) API Recommended Practice 2FPS (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(6) API Recommended Practice 2I (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(7) API Recommended Practice 2RD (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(8) API Recommended Practice 2SK (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(9) API Recommended Practice 2SM (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(10) API Recommended Practice 2T (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(11) API Recommended Practice 14J (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(12) ASTM C33-07 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(13) ASTM C94/C 94M-07 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(14) ASTM C150-07 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(15) ASTM C330-05 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(16) ASTM C595-08 (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(17) AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code—Steel, including Commentary, (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(18) AWS D1.4, Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel, (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(19) AWS D3.6M, Specification for Underwater Welding, (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(20) NACE Standard MR0175, Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for Oilfield Equipment, (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(21) NACE Standard RP0176-2003, Item No. 21018, Standard Recommended Practice, Corrosion Control of Steel Fixed Offshore Structures Associated with Petroleum Production (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198).
(22) API Recommended Practice 2FSIM (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(23) ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2GEO (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(24) ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2MET (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(25) API Recommended Practice 2MIM (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198);
(26) API Recommended Practice 2RIM (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198); and
(27) API Recommended Practice 2SIM (incorporated by reference, see § 250.198).
(b) You must follow the requirements contained in the documents listed under paragraph (a) of this section insofar as they do not conflict with other provisions of 30 CFR part 250. You may use applicable provisions of these documents, as approved by the Regional Supervisor, for the design, fabrication, and installation of platforms such as spars, since standards specifically written for such structures do not exist. You may also use alternative codes, rules, or standards, as approved by the Regional Supervisor, under the conditions enumerated in § 250.141.
(c) For information on the standards mentioned in this section, and where they may be obtained, see § 250.198 of this part.
(d) The following chart summarizes the applicability of the industry standards listed in this section for fixed and floating platforms:
| Industry standard | Applicable to . . . |
|---|---|
| (1) ACI Standard 318-95 and ACI 318R-95; | Fixed and floating platform, as appropriate. |
| (2) ANSI/AISC 360-05; | |
| (3) API Recommended Practice 2A-WSD; | |
| (4) ASTM C33-07; | |
| (5) ASTM C94/C 94M-07; | |
| (6) ASTM C150-07; | |
| (7) ASTM C330-05; | |
| (8) ASTM C595-08; | |
| (9) AWS D1.1:2000; | |
| (10) AWS D1.4-98; | |
| (11) AWS D3.6M:1999; | |
| (12) NACE Standard RP0176-2003; | |
| (13) ACI 357R-84; | Fixed platforms. |
| (14) API Recommended Practice 14J; | Floating platforms. |
| (15) API Recommended Practice 2FPS; | |
| (16) API Recommended Practice 2RD; | |
| (17) API Recommended Practice 2SK; | |
| (18) API Recommended Practice 2T; | |
| (19) API Recommended Practice 2SM; | |
| (20) API Recommended Practice 2I; | |
| (21) API Recommended Practice 2FSIM; | |
| (22) ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2GEO; | |
| (23) ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2MET; | |
| (24) API Recommended Practice 2SIM; | |
| (25) API Recommended Practice 2MIM; | |
| (26) API Recommended Practice 2RIM; |
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 36150, June 6, 2016; 91 FR 35358, June 10, 2026]
You must remove all structures according to §§ 250.1725 through 250.1730 of Subpart Q—Decommissioning Activities of this part.
(a) You must compile, retain, and make available to BSEE representatives for the functional life of all platforms:
(1) The as-built drawings;
(2) The design assumptions and analyses;
(3) A summary of the fabrication and installation nondestructive examination records;
(4) The inspection results from the inspections required by § 250.919 of this subpart; and
(5) Records of repairs not covered in the inspection report submitted under § 250.919(b).
(b) You must record and retain the original material test results of all primary structural materials during all stages of construction. Primary material is material that, should it fail, would lead to a significant reduction in platform safety, structural reliability, or operating capabilities. Items such as steel brackets, deck stiffeners and secondary braces or beams would not generally be considered primary structural members (or materials).
(c) You must provide BSEE with the location of these records in the certification statement of your application for platform approval as required in § 250.905(j).