Gulf Coast Lease Management Inspection Program
Authors: Krahl Richard B. , Moody David W. 
Published: October 2008

Since December 1970 the U. S. Geological Survey has modified its OCS Lease Management Program in the Gulf of Mexico to include periodic, systematic, inspections based on statistical sampling theory. To insure a consistent interpretation and enforcement of OCS Orders and Regulations, the substance of these requirements has been expressed as a list of specific items of safety equipment and procedures. The items reflect the existence of potentially hazardous conditions if the specified equipment is missing (or not operable) or the specified procedures are not followed. Although Geological Survey technicians are inspecting operations daily, special inspections or randomly selected operations are conducted periodically. The special inspection results provide management with an indication of the degree of compliance with the regulations and identify operating problem areas where inspection efforts should be concentrated, based on the items found most frequently in non-compliance. Specific enforcement action is taken when an item is found not to be in compliance.

Incidences of non-compliance (INC's) have decreased since the initiation of the program in late 1970, and it is expected that increased industry initiative in the installation and maintenance of platform safety equipment and the development of new equipment and procedures will further reduce the incidences of non-compliance and the inherent danger thereof.

INTRODUCTION

A number of blowouts, fires, and pollution spills during the past few years has focused public attention on offshore oil and gas operations and their potential impact on the environment. Oil spills can degrade marine life, destroy wildlife, and damage coastal beaches and marshlands where oil floats ashore. In most cases industry efforts to clean up spills have been successful, and the disruptions of the ocean's ecosystems have apparently been temporary. There still exists, however, the possibility of long term cumulative effects that have not been yet identified. Even if ecological studies eventually reveal that oil spills do not permanently degrade the environment, they do present a very real safety hazard to the men working offshore. Any uncontrolled discharge of oil or gas may initiate a disaster.

At the same time that public consciousness of environmental quality has been increasing, the petroleum industry's activities on the Outer Continental Shelf has also been increasing. Recognizing that increases in exploration and production operations will increase the probability of accidents unless the risks associated with these operations are reduced, the Department of the Interior has sought to improve regulatory procedures to assure safe, pollution-free operations while still providing for the production of much needed oil and gas resources from Outer Continental Shelf lands. This paper describes some of the modifications of the U. S. Geological Survey's OCS Lease Management Program which have been taken to promote improvement in safety of offshore drilling and production operations.

OCS LEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 250, covers oil, gas and sulphur operations on Outer Continental Shelf lands.