Interior Department updates offshore oil and gas technical standards

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has finalized a rule that incorporates 23 new industry standards into federal regulations for oil, gas, and sulfur operations on the Outer Continental Shelf. It also updates references to 40 existing standards by pointing to newer editions or amendments. These documents were developed by groups like the American Petroleum Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Why it matters: This update ensures that safety and measurement requirements reflect current technology rather than outdated practices. The agency states that because industry is already using these standards, the change should not impose new costs on operators. It primarily serves to clarify regulatory text and maintain alignment with voluntary consensus standards bodies as required by federal law.

Who it affects

• Offshore oil and gas operators and lessees in U.S. federal waters

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This final rule was issued by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; you should check the original Federal Register document for the full list of incorporated standards before relying on this summary.

Agency: Interior Department, Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau
Source: Federal Register — read the official document