Office of Field Operations

• Approves Exploration Plans, Development and Production Plans (and revisions to such plans), decommissioning plans/proposals, pipeline rights-of-way applications, alternative energy/marine mining project plans, and alternative use of OCS facilities after coordinating with Federal, State, and local agencies and with regional offices.
• Oversees the Region’s inspection program to ensure compliance with safety and environmental protection requirements and policy.
• Oversees pipeline operations and coordinates platform-related structural issues with structural engineering staff.
• Coordinates and responds to the evaluation of the inspection procedures and practices to ensure optimal program performance.  Monitors enforcement and compliance consistency, both internally and across the program, on operational issues.
• Provides advice and expertise on safety and operational issues to regional program offices and HQ.   Directs reviews of new and revised operating regulations, operational standards, and various forms of noticing lessees.
• Provides direction on operational issues including the investigation of accidents/incidents, specifically in the area of applicable policy, legal aspects, and preparation of the resulting public reports.
• Oversees the Civil/Criminal Penalties Program implementation and assists the Inspector General’s Office in criminal investigations.
• Conducts and monitors status of Annual Performance Reviews with operators; monitors and evaluates operators’ implementation of SEMP progress; analyzes safety data and develops long- and mid-term approaches to improving performance.
• Approves gas flaring or venting requests.
• Oversees Region’s Platform Protection/Security & Anti-Terrorism Program.
• Represents the Bureau at hearings and task forces; consults with oil industry personnel, manufacturers and contractors, State and local officials, military personnel, fishermen, and representatives of public interest groups.
• Reviews proposed legislation, regulations, and other proposals to evaluate the effect of these proposals on the field operations, inspection, and enforcement functions.  Prepares NTL’s and other notices to provide lessees/operators with clarifications and interpretations of regulations as appropriate.
• Manages the technical documents, information, and databases resulting from programs covered by OFO.  Participates in preparing responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and public and other information requests relating to subjects covered by OFO.
• Coordinates and assists with appeals and legal challenges brought before the Interior Board of Land Appeals or the courts related to subjects covered by OFO.
  
  

• Makes completeness determinations and coordinates review and approval of EP’s (including deep stratigraphic tests) and DPP’s and their modifications and amendments, and decommissioning plans both internally and with other government agencies and affected States.  Prepares plans for final action.
• Coordinates review and approval of proposed plans for marine mining, alternative energy, and alternate use of OCS facilities on the Pacific Region.  Provides technical review of marine mineral extraction, alternative energy, and alternate use proposals and activities to ensure safety.
• Coordinates the post-lease operations management responsibilities of the Bureau with the activities of other Federal Agencies (e.g., the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation), and with appropriate affected State and local government agencies.
• Ensures compliance with Coastal Zone Management Act implementation regulations for all Bureau-permitted industry activities.
• Reviews and makes recommendations for Suspensions of Production (SOP) and Suspensions of Operations (SOO) on an individual lease and unit basis.
• Participates in the reviews and evaluation of all unit and field Annual Plans of Operation to assure prudent development and production of Pacific OCS leases.
• Coordinates Region’s review and approval of pollution prevention programs and responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) for OCS oil and gas operations.  Coordinates Oil Spill Response Plan reviews with other appropriate Federal, State and local agencies to ensure consistency with established joint-review and approval processes and to ensure appropriate pollution prevention safeguards for the protection of the environment.
• Develops and maintains the Region’s pollution prevention and response strategies and guidelines to ensure an effective and comprehensive program.  Reviews new pollution prevention and response technologies for incorporation into the Region’s prevention and response strategies and guidelines.
• Coordinates review and approval of platforms or structures with the Platform Verification Program, including the design, fabrication, installation, and modification of these platforms or structures.  Coordinates review of the annual reports for platform topsides and jackets in regard to periodic inspection and maintenance programs.
• Coordinates review and approval of operator applications for design, installation, maintenance, inspection and repair of OCS pipelines, including issuance of rights-of-way, inspection waivers, and decommissioning plans.
• Coordinates regional implementation of the OCS Civil/Criminal Penalty Program in the Region.  Reviews regulations, guidelines, and proposed changes for the OCS Civil/Criminal Penalties Program.
• Reviews and coordinates POCSR response on proposed legislation, regulations, etc. to ensure they are appropriate to management of offshore operations in the Region.  Prepares NTL’s and Safety Alerts to provide lessee/operators with regulatory interpretations and safety recommendations.
• Coordinates POCSR administration of 30 CFR 250 Subpart O requirements on lessee performance/training.
• Conducts and/or participates in investigation of pipelines or structure accidents, fires, blowouts, and pollution incidents, and prepares public reports.
• Monitors and analyzes the Region’s accident/event/spill data reporting procedures, and makes appropriate recommendations for improvements.
• Coordinates Pacific OCS Regional Operations Technology Assessment Committee (ROTAC) activities.  The activities include detailed review of drilling and production operations and formulation of recommended policies and procedures for inspections, equipment requirements, and research and development needs.
• Coordinates with the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources and the California State Lands Commission on technology, equipment, procedures, accidents and well information.
• Manages the technical documents, information, and databases resulting from programs covered by OSES.  Participates in preparing responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and public and other information requests relating to subjects covered by OSES.
• Coordinates and assists with appeals and legal challenges brought before the Interior Board of Land Appeals or the courts related to subjects covered by OSES.

• Takes appropriate action on Applications for Permit to Drill, Applications for Permit to Modify, Well Activity report (s), and End of Operations Report(s) submitted by the operators.
• Provides technical and safety review of plans and permits submitted to the Region for exploration and development of energy and mineral resources as well as decommissioning or change of use of OCS facilities.
• Monitors and maintains records on operator compliance with plan/application conditions of approval, regulations, lease stipulations, etc., in cooperation with other Pacific OCS offices.
• Oversees activities associated with helicopters used in the Region.  Serves as the Regional Aviation Manager and the Contracting Officer’s Representative; monitors helicopter contract performance to ensure compliance with the provisions of the contracts.
• Coordinates input into Technical Information Management System (TIMS) database for the inspection, accidents/events/spills, and well modules and serves as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative for the inspection data entry contract.
• Monitors well testing procedures and results; coordinates with OPDRE to make determinations regarding well producibility for exploratory wells.
• Approves welding and burning and simultaneous operations plans. Approves all production facility applications. Approves departures to operating requirements, where necessary, to enhance safety and assure proper exploration or development.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations to the Regional Supervisor, Office of Field Operations, for appropriate action on requests for gas flaring or venting.  Monitors and implements appropriate action for the elimination or reduction of gas flaring and venting on the OCS from safety, technical feasibility, air quality, and conservation perspectives.  Coordinates with OPDRE on royalty issues due to flaring.
• Reviews operator exemption requests involving air emissions control technology requirements, agency-initiated equipment shutdowns, and related inspections to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
• Coordinates with military, outside agencies, and operator personnel on joint use of OCS areas with military involvement.  Coordinates evacuation and sheltering operations at offshore facilities in response to and in support of U.S. Air Force operations.
• Reviews contingency plans and other technical, safety, end environmental plans and requests and makes recommendations to OSE Section.
• Coordinates the “POCSR Platform Protection/Security and Anti-Terrorism Program”;  ensures compliance with “HQ Threat Advisory Guidelines”; activates the “Incident Reporting Network” as warranted; coordinate with development of the “Platform Protection Plan’ with the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC); coordinate and maintain liaison with USCG, FBI, DOD, CSLC, other Federal/State/local agencies, and operators on the Federal OCS and in State waters; and notifies and provides guidance to personnel when alert conditions change.
• Reviews proposed legislation, regulations, and other proposals to evaluate the effect of these proposals on the inspection and enforcement functions.  Prepares notices to provide lessees/operators with clarifications and interpretations of regulations as appropriate.
• Manages the technical documents, information, and databases resulting from programs covered by CDO.  Participates in preparing responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and public and other information requests relating to subjects covered by CDO.
• Assists with appeals and legal challenges brought before the Interior Board of Land Appeals or the courts related to subjects covered by CDO.

• Conducts inspections of all drilling, completion, workover, production, pipeline, measurement, site security, and abandonment operations. Witnesses oil and gas meter provings.
• Conducts oil spill response drills to evaluate operator’s preparedness for spill cleanup.   Initiates appropriate measures to assure that adequate corrective actions are taken (shut-in orders, citations, etc.)
• Conducts and/or participates in investigation of accidents, fires, blowouts, pollution incidents, and allegations of civil/criminal malfeasance.  Recommends that civil or criminal penalty procedures be initiated as appropriate.