Loading (50 kb)...'

(continued)
at a location or moving an existing including the industry
platform to a new site. standards in § 250.901.
(ii) If you are installing a
floating platform, you must
also adhere to U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) regulations for the
fabrication, installation, and
inspection of floating OCS
facilities.
(2) Major modification to any (i) You must adhere to the
platform. This includes any requirements of this subpart,
structural changes that materially including the industry
alter the approved plan or cause a standards in § 250.901.
major deviation from approved (ii) Before you make a major
operations and any modification that modification to a floating
increases loading on a platform by 10 platform, you must obtain
percent or more. approval from both the MMS and
the USCG for the modification.
(3) Major repair of damage to any (i) You must adhere to the
platform. This includes any requirements of this subpart,
corrective operations involving including the industry
structural members affecting the standards in § 250.901.
structural integrity of a portion or (ii) Before you make a major
all of the platform. repair to a floating platform,
you must obtain approval from
both the MMS and the USCG for
the repair.
(4) Convert an existing platform at (i) The Regional Supervisor will
the current location for a new determine on a case-by-case
purpose. basis the requirements for an
application for conversion of
an existing platform at the
current location.
(ii) At a minimum, your
application must include: the
converted platform's intended
use; and a demonstration of the
adequacy of the design and
structural condition of the
converted platform.
(iii) If a floating platform,
you must also adhere to USCG
regulations for the
fabrication, installation, and
inspection of floating OCS
facilities.
(5) Convert an existing mobile (i) The Regional Supervisor will
offshore drilling unit (MODU) for a determine on a case-by-case
new purpose. basis the requirements for an
application for conversion of
an existing MODU.
(ii) At a minimum, your
application must include: the
converted MODU's intended
location and use; a
demonstration of the adequacy
of the design and structural
condition of the converted
MODU; and a demonstration that
the level of safety for the
converted MODU is at least
equal to that of re-used
platforms.
(iii) You must also adhere to
USCG regulations for the
fabrication, installation, and
inspection of floating OCS
facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(c) Under emergency conditions, you may make repairs to primary structural elements to restore an existing permitted condition without an application or prior approval. You must notify the Regional Supervisor of the damage that occurred within 24 hours, and you must notify the Regional Supervisor of the repairs that were made within 24 hours of completing the repairs. If you make emergency repairs on a floating platform, you must also notify the USCG.

(d) You must determine if your new platform or major modification to an existing platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program (PVP). Section 250.910 of this subpart fully describes the facilities that are subject to the PVP. If you determine that your platform is subject to the PVP, you must follow the requirements of §§250.909–250.918 of this subpart.

(e) MMS will cancel your approved platform installation permits one year after the approval is granted if the platform is not installed. If MMS cancels your permit approval, you must resubmit your application.

[70 FR 41575, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 16859, Apr. 4, 2006]

§ 250.901 What industry standards must your platform meet?
top
(a) In addition to the other requirements of this subpart, your plans for platform design, analysis, fabrication, installation, use, maintenance, inspection and assessment must, as appropriate, conform to:

(1) American Concrete Institute (ACI) Standard 318, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, plus Commentary, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(2) ACI 357R, Guide for the Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore Concrete Structures, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(3) American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Standard Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, Allowable Stress Design and Plastic Design, with Commentary, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(4) American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 2A—WSD, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms-Working Stress Design, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(5) API RP 2FPS, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing, and Constructing Floating Production Systems, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(6) API RP 2RD, Design of Risers for Floating Production Systems (FPSs) and Tension-Leg Platforms (TLPs), (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(7) API RP 2SK, Recommended Practice for Design and Analysis of Station Keeping Systems for Floating Structures, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(8) API RP 2SM, Recommended Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore Mooring, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(9) API RP 2T, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Tension Leg Platforms, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(10) API RP 14J, Recommended Practice for Design and Hazards Analysis for Offshore Production Facilities, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(11) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard C 33–99a, Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(12) ASTM Standard C 94/C 94M–99, Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(13) ASTM Standard C 150–99, Standard Specification for Portland Cement, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(14) ASTM Standard C 330–99, Standard Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(15) ASTM Standard C 595–98, Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(16) AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code—Steel, including Commentary, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(17) AWS D1.4, Structural Welding Code—Reinforcing Steel, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(18) AWS D3.6M, Specification for Underwater Welding, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(19) NACE Standard MR0175, Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for Oilfield Equipment, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198);

(20) NACE Standard RP 01–76–94, Standard RP, Corrosion Control of Steel Fixed Offshore Platforms Associated with Petroleum Production, (incorporated by reference as specified in §250.198).

(b) You must follow the requirements contained in the documents listed under paragraph (a) of this section insofar as they do not conflict with other provisions of 30 CFR Part 250. You may use applicable provisions of these documents, as approved by the Regional Supervisor, for the design, fabrication, and installation of platforms such as spars, since standards specifically written for such structures do not exist. You may also use alternative codes, rules, or standards, as approved by the Regional Supervisor, under the conditions enumerated in §250.141.

(c) For information on the standards mentioned in this section, and where they may be obtained, see §250.198 of this part.

(d) The following chart summarizes the applicability of the industry standards listed in this section for fixed and floating platforms:



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry standard Applicable to . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACI Standard 318, Building Code Fixed and floating platform,
Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, as appropriate.
Plus Commentary;.
AISC Standard Specification for
Structural Steel Buildings, Allowable
Stress Design and Plastic Design;.
ASTM Standard C33-99a, Standard
Specification for Concrete Aggregates;.
ASTM Standard C94/C94M-99, Standard
Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete;.
ASTM Standard C150-99, Standard
Specification for Portland Cement;.
ASTM Standard C330-99, Standard
Specification for Lightweight Aggregates
for Structural Concrete;.
ASTM Standard C 595-98, Standard
Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cements;.
AWS D1.1, Structural Welding Code_Steel;.
AWS D1.4, Structural Welding
Code_Reinforcing Steel;.
AWS D3.6M, Specification for Underwater
Welding;.
NACE Standard RP 01-76-94, Standard
Recommended Practice (RP), Corrosion
Control of Steel Fixed Offshore
Platforms Associated with Petroleum
Production;.
API RP 2A_WSD, RP for Planning,
Designing, and Constructing Fixed
Offshore Platforms_Working Stress
Design;.
ACI357R, Guide for the Design and Fixed platforms.
Construction of Fixed Offshore Concrete
Structures;.
API RP 14J, RP for Design and Hazards Floating platforms.
Analysis for Offshore Production
Facilities;.
API RP 2FPS, RP for Planning, Designing,
and Constructing, Floating Production
Systems;.
API RP 2RD, Design of Risers for Floating
Production Systems (FPSs) and Tension-
Leg Platforms (TLPs);.
API RP 2SK, RP for Design and Analysis of
Station Keeping Systems for Floating
Structures;.
API RP 2T, RP for Planning, Designing,
and Constructing Tension Leg Platforms;.
API RP 2SM, RP for Design, Manufacture,
Installation, and Maintenance of
Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore
Mooring.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


§ 250.902 What are the requirements for platform removal and location clearance?
top
You must remove all structures according to §§250.1725 through 250.1730 of Subpart Q—Decommissioning Activities of this part.

§ 250.903 What records must I keep?
top
(a) You must compile, retain, and make available to MMS representatives for the functional life of all platforms:

(1) The as-built drawings;

(2) The design assumptions and analyses;

(3) A summary of the fabrication and installation nondestructive examination records;

(4) The inspection results from the inspections required by §250.919 of this subpart; and

(5) Records of repairs not covered in the inspection report submitted under §250.919(b).

(b) You must record and retain the original material test results of all primary structural materials during all stages of construction. Primary material is material that, should it fail, would lead to a significant reduction in platform safety, structural reliability, or operating capabilities. Items such as steel brackets, deck stiffeners and secondary braces or beams would not generally be considered primary structural members (or materials).

(c) You must provide MMS with the location of these records in the certification statement of your application for platform approval as required in §250.905(j).

Platform Approval Program
top
§ 250.904 What is the Platform Approval Program?
top
(a) The Platform Approval Program is the MMS basic approval process for platforms on the OCS. The requirements of the Platform Approval Program are described in §§250.904 through 250.908 of this subpart. Completing these requirements will satisfy MMS criteria for approval of fixed platforms of a proven design that will be placed in the shallow water areas (= 400 ft.) of the Gulf of Mexico OCS.

(b) The requirements of the Platform Approval Program must be met by all platforms on the OCS. Additionally, if you want approval for a floating platform; a platform of unique design; or a platform being installed in deepwater (> 400 ft.) or a frontier area, you must also meet the requirements of the Platform Verification Program. The requirements of the Platform Verification Program are described in §§250.909 through 250.918 of this subpart.

§ 250.905 How do I get approval for the installation, modification, or repair of my platform?
top
The Platform Approval Program requires that you submit the environmental and structural information in the following table for your proposed project.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Required documents Required contents Other requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Application cover letter.... Proposed structure You must submit
designation, three copies. If,
lease number, your facility is
area, name, and subject to the
block number, and Platform
the type of Verficiation
facility your Program (PVP),
facility (e.g., you must submit
drilling, four copies.
production,
quarters). The
structure
designation must
be unique for the
field (some
fields are made
up of several
blocks); i.e.
once a platform
``A'' has been
used in the field
there should
never be another
platform ``A''
even if the old
platform ``A''
has been removed.
Single well free
standing caissons
should be given
the same
designation as
the well. All
other structures
are to be
designated by
letter
designations.
(b) Location plat............... Latitude and Your plat must be
longitude drawn to a scale
coordinates, of 1 inch equals
Universal 2,000 feet and
Mercator grid- include the
system coordinates of
coordinates, the lease block
state plane boundary lines.
coordinates in You must submit
the Lambert or three
Transverse
Mercator
Projection
System, and
distances in feet
from the nearest
block lines.
These coordinates
must be based on
the NAD (North
American Datum)
27 datum plane
coordinate system.
(c) Front, Side, and Plan View Platform Your drawing sizes
drawings. dimensions and must not exceed
orientation, 11[sec] x
elevations 17[sec]. You must
relative to submit three
M.L.L.W. (Mean copies (four
Lower Low Water), copies for PVP
and pile sizes applications).
and penetration.
(d) Complete set of structural The approved for Your drawing sizes
drawings. construction must not exceed
fabrication 11[sec] x
drawings should 17[sec]. You must
be submitted submit one copy.
including; e.g.,
cathodic
protection
systems; jacket
design; pile
foundations;
drilling,
production, and
pipeline risers
and riser
tensioning
systems; turrets
and turret-and-
hull interfaces;
mooring and
tethering
systems;
foundations and
anchoring systems.
(e) Summary of environmental A summary of the You must submit
data. environmental one copy.
data described in
the applicable
standards
referenced under
§ 250.901(a)
of this subpart
and in §
250.198 of
Subpart A, where
the data is used
in the design or
analysis of the
platform.
Examples of
relevant data
include
information on
waves, wind,
current, tides,
temperature, snow
and ice effects,
marine growth,
and water depth.
(f) Summary of the engineering Loading You must submit
design data. information one copy.
(e.g., live,
dead,
environmental),
structural
information
(e.g., design-
life; material
types; cathodic
protection
systems; design
criteria; fatigue
life; jacket
design; deck
design;
production
component design;
pile foundations;
drilling,
production, and
pipeline risers
and riser
tensioning
systems; turrets
and turret-and-
hull interfaces;
foundations,
foundation
pilings and
templates, and
anchoring
systems; mooring
or tethering
systems;
fabrication and
installation
guidelines), and
foundation
information
(e.g., soil
stability, design
criteria).
(g) Project-specific studies All studies You must submit
used in the platform design or pertinent to one copy of each
installation. platform design study.
or installation,
e.g.,
oceanographic and/
or soil reports
including the
overall site
investigative
report required
in section
250.906.
(h) Description of the loads Loads imposed by You must submit
imposed on the facility. jacket; decks; one copy.
production
components;
drilling,
production, and
pipeline risers,
and riser
tensioning
systems; turrets
and turret-and-
hull interfaces;
foundations,
foundation
pilings and
templates, and
anchoring
systems; and
mooring or
tethering systems.
(i) A copy of the in-service This plan is You must submit
inspection plan. described in one copy.
§ 250.919..
(j) Certification statement..... The following An authorized
statement: ``The company
design of this representative
structure has must sign the
been certified by statement. You
a recognized must submit one
classification copy.
society, or a
registered civil
or structural
engineer or
equivalent, or a
naval architect
or marine
engineer or
equivalent,
specializing in
the design of
offshore
structures. The
certified design
and as-built
plans and
specifications
will be on file
at (give
location)''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


§ 250.906 What must I do to obtain approval for the proposed site of my platform?
top
(a) Shallow hazards surveys. You must perform a high-resolution or acoustic-profiling survey to obtain information on the conditions existing at and near the surface of the seafloor. You must collect information through this survey sufficient to determine the presence of the following features and their likely effects on your proposed platform:

(1) Shallow faults;

(2) Gas seeps or shallow gas;

(3) Slump blocks or slump sediments;

(4) Shallow water flows;

(5) Hydrates; or

(6) Ice scour of seafloor sediments.

(b) Geologic surveys. You must perform a geological survey relevant to the design and siting of your platform. Your geological survey must assess:

(1) Seismic activity at your proposed site;

(2) Fault zones, the extent and geometry of faulting, and attenuation effects of geologic conditions near your site; and

(3) For platforms located in producing areas, the possibility and effects of seafloor subsidence.

(c) Subsurface surveys. Depending upon the design and location of your proposed platform and the results of the shallow hazard and geologic surveys, the Regional Supervisor may require you to perform a subsurface survey. This survey will include a testing program for investigating the stratigraphic and engineering properties of the soil that may affect the foundations or anchoring systems for your facility. The testing program must include adequate in situ testing, boring, and sampling to examine all important soil and rock strata to determine its strength classification, deformation properties, and dynamic characteristics. If required to perform a subsurface survey, you must prepare and submit to the Regional Supervisor a summary report to briefly describe the results of your soil testing program, the various field and laboratory test methods employed, and the applicability of these methods as they pertain to the quality of the samples, the type of soil, and the anticipated design application. You must explain how the engineering properties of each soil stratum affect the design of your platform. In your explanation you must describe the uncertainties inherent in your overall testing program, and the reliability and applicability of each test method.

(d) Overall site investigation report. You must prepare and submit to the Regional Supervisor an overall site investigation report for your platform that integrates the findings of your shallow hazards surveys and geologic surveys, and, if required, your subsurface surveys. Your overall site investigation report must include analyses of the potential for:

(1) Scouring of the seafloor;

(2) Hydraulic instability;

(3) The occurrence of sand waves;

(4) Instability of slopes at the platform location;

(5) Liquifaction, or possible reduction of soil strength due to increased pore pressures;

(6) Degradation of subsea permafrost layers;

(7) Cyclic loading;

(8) Lateral loading;

(9) Dynamic loading;

(10) Settlements and displacements;

(11) Plastic deformation and formation collapse mechanisms; and

(12) Soil reactions on the platform foundations or anchoring systems.

§ 250.907 Where must I locate foundation boreholes?
top
(a) For fixed or bottom-founded platforms and tension leg platforms, your maximum distance from any foundation pile to a soil boring must not exceed 500 feet.

(b) For deepwater floating platforms which utilize catenary or taut-leg moorings, you must take borings at the most heavily loaded anchor location, at the anchor points approximately 120 and 240 degrees around the anchor pattern from that boring, and, as necessary, other points throughout the anchor pattern to establish the soil profile suitable for foundation design purposes.

§ 250.908 What are the minimum structural fatigue design requirements?
top
(a) API RP 2A-WSD, Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms (incorporated by reference as specified in 30 CFR 250.198), requires that the design fatigue life of each joint and member be twice the intended service life of the structure. When designing your platform, the following table provides minimum fatigue life safety factors for critical structural members and joints.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
If . . . Then . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) There is sufficient structural The results of the analysis must
redundancy to prevent catastrophic indicate a maximum calculated life
failure of the platform or of twice the design life of the
structure under consideration. platform.
(2) There is not sufficient The results of a fatigue analysis
structural redundancy to prevent must indicate a minimum calculated
catastrophic failure of the life or three times the design
platform or structure. life of the platform.
(3) The desirable degree of The results of a fatigue analysis
redundancy is significantly must indicate a minimum calculated
reduced as a result of fatigue life of three times the design
damage. life of the platform.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(b) The documents incorporated by reference in §250.901 may require larger safety factors than indicated in paragraph (a) of this section for some key components. When the documents incorporated by reference require a larger safety factor than the chart in paragraph (a) of this section, the requirements of the incorporated document will prevail.

Platform Verification Program
top
§ 250.909 What is the Platform Verification Program?
top
The Platform Verification Program is the MMS approval process for ensuring that floating platforms; platforms of a new or unique design; platforms in seismic areas; or platforms located in deepwater or frontier areas meet stringent requirements for design and construction. The program is applied during construction of new platforms and major modifications of, or repairs to, existing platforms. These requirements are in addition to the requirements of the Platform Approval Program described in §§250.904 through 250.908 of this subpart.

§ 250.910 Which of my facilities are subject to the Platform Verification Program?
top
(a) All new fixed or bottom-founded platforms that meet any of the following five conditions are subject to the Platform Verification Program:

(1) Platforms installed in water depths exceeding 400 feet (122 meters);

(2) Platforms having natural periods in excess of 3 seconds;

(3) Platforms installed in areas of unstable bottom conditions;

(4) Platforms having configurations and designs which have not previously been used or proven for use in the area; or

(5) Platforms installed in seismically active areas.

(b) All new floating platforms are subject to the Platform Verification Program to the extent indicated in the following table:



------------------------------------------------------------------------
If . . . Then . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Your new floating platform is a The entire platform is subject to
buoyant offshore facility that the Platform Verification Program
does not have a ship-shaped hull. including the following associated
structures:
(i) Drilling, production, and
pipeline risers, and riser
tensioning systems (each platform
must be designed to accommodate
all the loads imposed by all
risers and riser does not have
tensioning systems);
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull
interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation
pilings and templates, and
anchoring systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.
(2) Your new floating platform is a Only the following structures that
buoyant offshore facility with a may be associated with a floating
ship-shaped hull. platform are subject to the
Platform Verification Program:
(i) Drilling, production, and
pipeline risers, and riser
tensioning systems (each platform
must be designed to accommodate
all the loads imposed by all
risers and riser a ship-shaped
tensioning systems);
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull
interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation
pilings and templates, and
anchoring systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(c) If a platform is originally subject to the Platform Verification Program, then the conversion of that platform at that same site for a new purpose, or making a major modification of, or major repair to, that platform, is also subject to the Platform Verification Program. A major modification includes any modification that increases loading on a platform by 10 percent or more. A major repair is a corrective operation involving structural members affecting the structural integrity of a portion or all of the platform. Before you make a major modification or repair to a floating platform, you must obtain approval from both the MMS and the USCG.

(d) The applicability of Platform Verification Program requirements to other types of facilities will be determined by MMS on a case-by-case basis.

§ 250.911 If my platform is subject to the Platform Verification Program, what must I do?
top
If your platform, conversion, or major modification or repair meets the criteria in §250.910, you must:

(a) Design, fabricate, install, use, maintain and inspect your platform, conversion, or major modification or repair to your platform according to the requirements of this subpart, and the applicable documents listed in §250.901(a) of this subpart;

(b) Comply with all the requirements of the Platform Approval Program found in §§250.904 through 250.908 of this subpart.

(c) Submit for the Regional Supervisor's approval three copies each of the design verification, fabrication verification, and installation verification plans required by §250.912;

(d) Include your nomination of a Certified Verification Agent (CVA) as a part of each verification plan required by §250.912;

(e) Follow the additional requirements in §§250.913 through 250.918;

(f) Obtain approval for modifications to approved plans and for major deviations from approved installation procedures from the Regional Supervisor; and

(g) Comply with applicable USCG regulations for floating OCS facilities.

§ 250.912 What plans must I submit under the Platform Verification Program?
top
If your platform, associated structure, or major modification meets the criteria in §250.910, you must submit the following plans to the Regional Supervisor for approval:

(a) Design verification plan. You may submit your design verification plan with or subsequent to the submittal of your Development and Production Plan (DPP) or Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD). Your design verification must be conducted by, or be under the direct supervision of, a registered professional civil or structural engineer or equivalent, or a naval architect or marine engineer or equivalent, with previous experience in directing the design of similar facilities, systems, structures, or equipment. For floating platforms, you must ensure that the requirements of the USCG for structural integrity and stability, e.g., verification of center of gravity, etc., have been met. Your design verification plan must include the following:

(1) All design documentation specified in §250.905 of this subpart;

(2) Abstracts of the computer programs used in the design process; and

(3) A summary of the major design considerations and the approach to be used to verify the validity of these design considerations.

(b) Fabrication verification plan. The Regional Supervisor must approve your fabrication verification plan before you may initiate any related operations. Your fabrication verification plan must include the following:

(1) Fabrication drawings and material specifications for artificial island structures and major members of concrete-gravity and steel-gravity structures;

(2) For jacket and floating structures, all the primary load-bearing members included in the space-frame analysis; and

(3) A summary description of the following:

(i) Structural tolerances;

(ii) Welding procedures;

(iii) Material (concrete, gravel, or silt) placement methods;

(iv) Fabrication standards;

(v) Material quality-control procedures;

(vi) Methods and extent of nondestructive examinations for welds and materials; and

(vii) Quality assurance procedures.

(c) Installation verification plan. The Regional Supervisor must approve your installation verification plan before you may initiate any related operations. Your installation verification plan must include:

(1) A summary description of the planned marine operations;

(2) Contingencies considered;

(3) Alternative courses of action; and

(4) An identification of the areas to be inspected. You must specify the acceptance and rejection criteria to be used for any inspections conducted during installation, and for the post-installation verification inspection.

(d) You must combine fabrication verification and installation verification plans for manmade islands or platforms fabricated and installed in place.

§ 250.913 When must I resubmit Platform Verification Program plans?
top
(a) You must resubmit any design verification, fabrication verification, or installation verification plan to the Regional Supervisor for approval if:

(1) The CVA changes;

(2) The CVA's or assigned personnel's qualifications change; or

(3) The level of work to be performed changes.

(b) If only part of a verification plan is affected by one of the changes described in paragraph (a) of this section, you can resubmit only the affected part. You do not have to resubmit the summary of technical details unless you make changes in the technical details.

§ 250.914 How do I nominate a CVA?
top
(a) As part of your design verification, fabrication verification, or installation verification plan, you must nominate a CVA for the Regional Supervisor's approval. You must specify whether the nomination is for the design, fabrication, or installation phase of verification, or for any combination of these phases.

(b) For each CVA, you must submit a list of documents to be forwarded to the CVA, and a qualification statement that includes the following:

(1) Previous experience in third-party verification or experience in the design, fabrication, installation, or major modification of offshore oil and gas platforms. This should include fixed platforms, floating platforms, manmade islands, other similar marine structures, and related systems and equipment;

(2) Technical capabilities of the individual or the primary staff for the specific project;

(3) Size and type of organization or corporation;

(4) In-house availability of, or access to, appropriate technology. This should include computer programs, hardware, and testing materials and equipment;

(5) Ability to perform the CVA functions for the specific project considering current commitments;

(6) Previous experience with MMS requirements and procedures;

(7) The level of work to be performed by the CVA.

§ 250.915 What are the CVA's primary responsibilities?
top
(a) The CVA must conduct specified reviews according to §§250.916, 250.917, and 250.918 of this subpart.

(b) Individuals or organizations acting as CVAs must not function in any capacity that would create a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest.

(c) The CVA must consider the applicable provisions of the documents listed in §250.901(a); the alternative codes, rules, and standards approved under 250.901(b); and the requirements of this subpart.

(d) The CVA is the primary contact with the Regional Supervisor and is directly responsible for providing immediate reports of all incidents that affect the design, fabrication and installation of the platform.

§ 250.916 What are the CVA's primary duties during the design phase?
top
(a) The CVA must use good engineering judgement and practices in conducting an independent assessment of the design of the platform, major modification, or repair. The CVA must ensure that the platform, major modification, or repair is designed to withstand the environmental and functional load conditions appropriate for the intended service life at the proposed location.

(b) Primary duties of the CVA during the design phase include the following:



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of facility . . . The CVA must . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For fixed platforms and non- Conduct an independent assessment
ship-shaped floating facilities. of all proposed:
(i) Planning criteria;
(ii) Operational requirements;
(iii) Environmental loading data;
(iv) Load determinations;
(v) Stress analyses;
(vi) Material designations;
(vii) Soil and foundation
conditions;
(viii) Safety factors; and
(ix) Other pertinent parameters of
the proposed design.
(2)For all floating facilities..... Ensure that the requirements of the
U.S. Coast Guard for structural
integrity and stability, e.g.,
verification of center of gravity,
etc., have been met. The CVA must
also consider:
(i) Drilling, production, and
pipeline risers, and riser
tensioning systems;
(ii) Turrets and turret-and-hull
interfaces;
(iii) Foundations, foundation
pilings and templates, and
anchoring systems; and
(iv) Mooring or tethering systems.
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(c) The CVA must submit interim reports to the Regional Supervisor and to you, as appropriate. The CVA, upon completion of the design verification, must prepare a final report and submit one copy to the Regional Supervisor. The CVA must submit the final report within 90 days of the receipt of the design data, or within 90 days from the date the approval to act as a CVA was issued, whichever is later. The CVA must submit the final report to the Regional Supervisor before fabrication begins, and must include:

(1) A summary of the material reviewed and the CVA's findings;

(2) The CVA's recommendation that the Regional Supervisor either accept, request modifications, or reject the proposed design;

(3) The particulars of how, by whom, and when the independent review was conducted; and

(4) Any additional comments the CVA may deem necessary.

§ 250.917 What are the CVA's primary duties during the fabrication phase?
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(a) The CVA must use good engineering judgement and practices in conducting an independent assessment of the fabrication activities. The CVA must monitor the fabrication of the platform or major modification to ensure that it has been built according to the approved design and the fabrication plan. If the CVA finds that fabrication procedures are changed or design specifications are modified, the CVA must inform you. If you accept the modifications, then the CVA must so inform the Regional Supervisor.

(b) Primary duties of the CVA during the fabrication phase include the following:



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Type of facility . . . The CVA must . . .
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(1) For all fixed platforms and non- Make periodic onsite inspections
ship-shaped floating facilities. while fabrication is in progress
and must verify the following
fabrication items, as appropriate:
(i) Quality control by lessee and
builder;
(ii) Fabrication site facilities;
(iii) Material quality and
identification methods;
(iv) Fabrication procedures
specified in the approved plan,
and adherence to such procedures;
(v) Welder and welding procedure
qualification and identification;
(vi) Structural tolerences
specified and adherence to those
tolerances;
(vii) The nondestructive
examination requirements, and
evaluation results of the
specified examinations;(viii) Destructive testing (continued)