New Strategies in the Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico lnspection and Enforcement Program
Authors: Bourgeois D.J. 
Published: October 2008

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region's Inspection and Enforcement Program has been expanded and modified to keep abreast of new legislative authorities, increasedenvironmentalconcerns and restrictions, as well as advancing technology. More systematic supervision and more comprehensive inspection procedures are in place with innovations for more effective utilization of resources being considered. The consolidation of all MMS regulatory requirements in 1988 into a revised 30 CFR 250, Offshore Operating Regulations, has set the stage for the recent updating of our basic system whi1e other factors have added to our field inspection activities. This paper will discuss several aspects of the present program which, with the cooperation of all lessees to conduct their oil and gas operations in accordance with the regulations, will result in improved safety and environmental protection.

INTRODUCTION

The Offshore Inspection and Enforcement Program in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region is in the process of being expanded and revised. There are several reasons for this adjustment, not the least of which is efficient utilization of resources. In the past few years, alargenumber of OCSoil and gas leases have been issued in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico that are located in very deepwater with some over 150 miles from shore. In that same time, many wells have been drilled on these leases and the total number of production platforms has increased to 3814. In the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, we have established a field inspection policy of complete annual scheduled inspections for each production facility, pre-spud scheduled inspection of all exploratory wells, unannounced monthly inspections of all drilling operations, and periodic inspectionsof workover, completion, abandonment, pipeline and measurement operations and facilities. We have basically been able to maintain that inspection frequency, but new strategies, additional inspection requirements, and budget constraints have fueled the fire for change in our inspection activities. This paper describes several relatively new and evolving modifications to our inspection program in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region that have been or will be taken to promote improvement in the safety and environmental protection of offshore operations.

We have been operating under a system of documenting compliance/noncompliance with regulatory requirements by means ofPINCs and INCSfor approximately 21 years. The basis of this system was described in an earlier paper, OTC 1714, presented at the May 1972 Conference, with afollow-up paper, OTC 1754, in May 1973. We are still utilizing that INC/PINC system with refinements and revisions to incorporate new regulations and programs that have come about over the years. The field inspection program is conducted at present by MMS personnel located in four district offices (New Orleans, Houma, Lafayette, Louisiana, and Lake Jackson, Texas) and the regional office (New Orleans, Louisiana). Approximately 80 employees are involved in this activity utilizing 12 helicopters to travel to offshore facilities daily, weather permitting. Our regulatory responsibilities are based on the OCS Lands Act and more specificallydescribed in30CFR Part 250 (the Operating Regulations).