Interior Releases Final Rule For Blowout Prevention Systems And Well Control In Offshore Drilling Operations

On April 14, 2016, the Department of the Interior (DOI), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), released a final rule establishing requirements for certain offshore oil and gas drilling, completion, workover, and decommissioning processes that are designed to enhance safety and minimize well-control incidents. The rule implements recommendations developed in part from investigations into the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident.

The final rule increases the regulatory requirements applicable to the use of blowout preventers (BOPs) and other well-control processes in offshore oil and gas operations. Key aspects of the final rule include:

• Adopting and requiring compliance with the latest industry standards for BOPs, which establish minimum baseline requirements for design, manufacture, performance, and maintenance.