Page 164 - test2

Submit the following forms to the District Manager: (1) An original and
two complete copies of Form MMS‐123, Application for a Permit to Drill
(“APD”), and Form MMS‐123S, Supplemental APD Information Sheet; (2)
A separate public information copy of forms MMS‐123 and MMS‐123S
that meets the requirements of 250.186; and (3) payment of the service fee
listed in § 250.125.
400

Upon receipt of the APD, MMS personnel reviewed it to determine
whether it was complete, satisfied the relevant regulatory requirements and
contained no errors. MMS personnel also assessed whether the applicant’s oil
spill financial responsibility coverage was current.

MMS used a secure, electronic filing system called e‐Well to process and
review APDs. MMS district engineers were responsible for reviewing APDs
submitted through the e‐Well system. Review by a drilling engineer was done
on a prioritized basis, depending on rig status and other factors.

MMS staff checked the proposed drilling rig’s maximum operating limits
for drilling depth and water depth to ensure appropriateness for the proposed
well program. The review included, but was not limited to, the proposed
procedure, well location and directional program, geological and geophysical
hazards, subsurface environment for pore pressure and fracture gradient,
wellbore design and schematic, design calculations for pressure containment
during drilling and completion, cement volumes, and testing pressures for the
well control equipment, casing and casing shoe. This review was performed for
shallow and deepwater drilling operations, and a hurricane risk assessment was
performed during hurricane season.

MMS personnel reviewed APDs to determine whether the proposed
operation satisfied 30 CFR § 250.420 by meeting the objective of safely reaching a
targeted depth. This review included an assessment of: well casing setting
depths determined by formation strength; predicted formation fluid pressure;
drilling mud weight limits; any anticipated subsurface hazards; effectiveness of
well casing strength for pressure containment at its specified depth; effectiveness
of cementing the well casing after successfully securing and isolating the
hydrocarbon zones or any encountered subsurface hazards; and maintaining

400 30 CFR § 250.410.

159