908 Offshore Oil and Gas Safety I
Glossary
A
- Accreditation Body (AB). An independent third-party organization approved by BSEE to assess and accredit Audit Service Providers (ASPs) for conducting SEMS audits.
- Act. Refers to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), which provides the statutory framework for regulating oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
- Affected State. Any state directly impacted by oil and gas operations on the OCS due to geographic proximity, transportation infrastructure, or potential environmental consequences. BOEM defines specific criteria for determining affected states.
- American Petroleum Institute (API). A leading trade association for the oil and gas industry that develops industry standards for safety, equipment, and operations. Many API standards are incorporated by reference into BSEE regulations.
- Ancillary Activities. Activities conducted on the OCS to obtain data and information to ensure proper exploration and development of oil and gas resources, such as geological and geophysical surveys, without the need for a permit or plan.
- Audit. A systematic examination of operations, facilities, or processes to verify compliance with SEMS requirements and other regulatory standards.
- Audit Service Provider (ASP). An independent third-party organization accredited by an Accreditation Body (AB) to perform SEMS audits and ensure compliance with BSEE regulations.
B
- Best Available and Safest Technology (BAST). A regulatory requirement under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) that mandates the use of the most effective and safest technology, as determined by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), for offshore oil and gas operations. BAST is applied when equipment failure could significantly impact safety, health, or the environment, and is considered economically feasible. Operators must regularly evaluate and incorporate advancements in technology to comply with BAST requirements.
- BOEMRE. means the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Note: On October 1, 2011, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), formerly the Minerals Management Service (MMS), was replaced by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) as part of a major reorganization.
- BSEE (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement). A U.S. Department of the Interior agency responsible for overseeing the safe and environmentally responsible exploration and development of oil and gas resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
- BSEE Safety Alert. A communication issued by BSEE to highlight lessons learned from incidents, near misses, or inspections, providing recommendations to improve safety and prevent future incidents.
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). responsible for managing environmentally and economically responsible development of the nation's offshore resources. BOEM functions include leasing, plan administration, environmental studies, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, resource evaluation, economic analysis and the renewable energy program.
C
- Center for Offshore Safety (COS). An industry-led organization that promotes the implementation of SEMS and provides guidance for safety and environmental performance in offshore operations.
- Contractor. An individual or entity hired to perform work or provide services at offshore facilities, often integrated into the operator's SEMS program to ensure safety compliance.
- Corrective Action Plan (CAP). A structured plan created to address and rectify deficiencies or noncompliance issues identified during SEMS audits or inspections. It includes actions, responsibilities, and timelines for implementation.
D
- DART Injury Rate. The Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred rate, a safety metric indicating the frequency of workplace injuries severe enough to result in lost or restricted workdays or job transfers.
- Deepwater Operations. Activities conducted in water depths greater than 1,000 feet, requiring specialized equipment and technologies for drilling, production, and safety management.
- Department of the Interior (DOI). The U.S. federal agency overseeing natural resource management, including BSEE’s regulation of offshore oil and gas operations on the OCS.
- Development and Production Plan (DPP). A required submission to BOEM that details proposed development and production activities for a lease or unit, including well designs, safety measures, and environmental safeguards. Approval of a DPP is mandatory before commencing operations.
E
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP). A detailed plan outlining immediate steps to take during an emergency, including evacuation procedures, communication protocols, and initial response measures.
- Emergency Response Plan (ERP). A comprehensive plan that details response procedures for various emergency scenarios, including oil spills, blowouts, and natural disasters. It ensures coordination with BSEE and other regulatory agencies.
- Employee Participation Plan (EPP). A SEMS component outlining how employees contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety and environmental management practices.
- Exploration Plan (EP). A plan required by BOEM for exploring oil and gas resources on the OCS, detailing proposed exploration activities, schedules, and measures for safety and environmental protection.
F
- Facility-Level Hazard Analysis. A systematic assessment of potential hazards at a facility, including operational, environmental, and safety risks, to mitigate potential incidents.
G
- Gas Hydrates. Solid ice-like structures composed of water and natural gas, typically methane, found in deepwater or permafrost regions. These can pose risks during drilling operations.
H
- Hazards Analysis. A systematic process to identify, evaluate, and manage potential hazards in offshore operations, required as part of SEMS.
I
- Incident Investigation. The process of examining an incident to determine its causes and develop measures to prevent recurrence. BSEE requires operators to document and report findings.
- Incident of Noncompliance (INC). A formal notification issued by BSEE to an operator for failure to comply with regulations, which may require corrective actions.
J
- Job Safety Analysis (JSA). A procedure that identifies potential hazards associated with specific tasks and outlines measures to mitigate risks, ensuring safe operations.
K
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Metrics used to measure the effectiveness of safety and environmental programs, such as incident rates or inspection compliance.
L
- Lease Term. The duration for which an operator is granted the rights to explore, develop, and produce oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf, as specified in their lease agreement.
- Lessee. The individual or entity that holds a lease issued by the Department of the Interior for exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons or sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The lessee has the legal and financial responsibility to comply with all terms of the lease and applicable regulations.
M
- Mechanical Integrity Program. A SEMS element that ensures critical equipment is properly designed, installed, inspected, and maintained to prevent failures that could result in incidents.
N
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). A formal document issued by BSEE or other regulatory agencies seeking public comment on proposed changes to offshore safety and environmental regulations.
- Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL). Documents issued by BOEM or BSEE to clarify or supplement regulatory requirements, outline submission information, or provide policy updates.
O
- Operator. The individual, company, or organization designated by the lessee and approved by BSEE to conduct operations on a lease. The operator is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and environmental regulations during exploration, development, and production activities.
- Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). All submerged lands lying seaward of state coastal waters (generally three miles offshore) under U.S. jurisdiction. The OCS is regulated by BOEM and BSEE for oil and gas exploration, development, and production to ensure safety and environmental protection.
P
- Pipeline Inspections. Evaluations conducted to ensure pipeline integrity and compliance with safety and environmental standards.
- Potential Incident of Noncompliance (PINC) List. A checklist used by BSEE inspectors during audits and inspections to identify possible regulatory violations.
- Pre-Startup Review. A required evaluation to confirm that new or modified facilities are safe and ready for operation, ensuring compliance with SEMS protocols.
- Production Inspections. Routine evaluations of production facilities to ensure compliance with operational safety and environmental regulations.
Q
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC). Processes used to ensure that systems, equipment, and procedures meet required safety and environmental standards during offshore operations.
R
- Reservoir Management. The process of monitoring and optimizing the extraction of hydrocarbons from a reservoir to maximize recovery while maintaining safety and environmental protections.
- Right-of-Use and Easement (RUE). Authorization granted by BOEM to use a portion of the OCS for activities related to oil and gas operations, such as installing pipelines or other facilities, without conferring ownership rights.
S
- SEMS Audit. A systematic evaluation of a facility's Safety and Environmental Management System to ensure compliance with BSEE regulations and industry standards.
T
- Turnkey Drilling Contract. A contract in which a contractor agrees to drill a well to a specified depth and condition for a fixed price, transferring risks from the operator to the contractor.
U
- Ultimate Recovery. The total quantity of oil or gas that is estimated to be recoverable from a reservoir over its productive lifetime, considering both primary and enhanced recovery methods.
- Unitization. The consolidation of multiple leases or interests to facilitate coordinated exploration, development, or production of a resource, ensuring efficient resource recovery and minimizing environmental impact.
V
- Venting. The controlled release of gas from a well or production system, typically used to prevent equipment damage or maintain operational safety.
W
- Warning. A formal notice issued by BSEE for minor regulatory violations that do not pose immediate safety or environmental risks, requiring prompt correction.
- Well Logging. The process of recording detailed information about the geological formations penetrated by a well, using physical and chemical measurements.
- Well Operations Inspections. Inspections to verify compliance with safety and environmental standards during drilling, completion, and abandonment activities.
X
- Xylene Recovery. A process used in offshore facilities to recover and reuse xylene, a chemical often used to clean pipelines and remove paraffin deposits.
Y
- Yield Strength. A measure of the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically, critical in assessing the structural integrity of offshore equipment.