250.900—What general requirements apply to all platforms?
(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 MMS 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 MMS 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 MMS 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 §§ 250.909-250.918 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), MMS will cancel the approved platform application 1 year after the approval has been granted if the platform has not been installed. If MMS cancels the approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive MMS 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, MMS will identify the date when the installation approval will be cancelled (if installation has not occurred) during the application and approval process. If MMS cancels your installation approval, you must resubmit your platform application and receive MMS approval if you still plan to install the platform.