Obama admin releases draft offshore well control regulations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has unveiled proposed regulations for offshore well control. The measures include more stringent design requirements and operational procedures for critical well control equipment used in offshore operations.

“Both industry and government have taken important strides to better protect human lives and the environment from oil spills, and these proposed measures are designed to further build on critical lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and to ensure that offshore operations are safe,” said Secretary Jewell. “This rule builds on enhanced industry standards for blowout preventers (BOPs) to comprehensively address well design, well control and overall drilling safety.”

The proposed rule, which will be open for public comments, addresses the range of systems and equipment related to well control operations. The measures are designed to improve equipment reliability, building upon enhanced industry standards for BOPs and blowout prevention technologies. The rule also includes reforms in well design, well control, casing, cementing, real-time well monitoring and subsea containment.

The well control measures would implement multiple recommendations from various investigations and reports of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) analyzed the results of the investigations, including nearly 370 specific recommendations, and conducted outreach to derive further enhancements from stakeholder input, academia, and industry best practices, standards and specifications.

The BOP was a point of failure in the Deepwater Horizon event, but several other barriers failed as well. The cascade of multiple failures resulted in the loss of well control, an explosion, fire and subsequent months-long spill. In connection with this rulemaking, BSEE worked with a wide array of stakeholders to address well control measures and equipment.

“We worked to collect the best ideas on the prevention of well control incidents and blowouts to develop this proposed rule—including knowledge and skillsets from industry and equipment managers,” said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider. “This rule proposes both prescriptive and performance-based standards that are based on this extensive engagement and analysis.”

In May 2012, BSEE’s offshore energy safety forum brought together federal policy makers, industry, academia, and others to discuss additional steps the Bureau and the industry could take to continue to improve the reliability and safety of BOPs. Following the forum, BSEE received significant input and specific recommendations from industry groups, operators, equipment manufacturers and environmental organizations.

“In addition to more stringent design requirements, the proposed rule requires improved controls of all repair and maintenance activities through the lifecycle of the BOP and other well control equipment,” said BSEE Director Brian Salerno. “It would provide verification of the performance of equipment designs through third party verification, enhanced oversight of operations through real-time monitoring viewed onshore, and require operators to, during operations, utilize recognized engineering best standards that reduce risk.”

Monday's announcement is another step in the most ambitious reform agenda in the Department’s history to strengthen, update and modernize offshore energy regulations. 

The public may submit comments on the proposed regulations during the 60-day comment period that begins April 15, when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.