You must do the following to decommission a pipeline in place:
(a)
Submit a pipeline decommissioning application in triplicate to the Regional Supervisor for approval. Your application must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. Your application must include the following information:
(1)
Reason for the operation;
(2)
Proposed decommissioning procedures;
(3)
Length (feet) of segment to be decommissioned; and
(4)
Length (feet) of segment remaining.
(b)
Pig the pipeline, unless the Regional Supervisor determines that pigging is not practical;
(d)
Fill the pipeline with seawater;
(e)
Cut and plug each end of the pipeline;
(f)
Bury each end of the pipeline at least 3 feet below the seafloor or cover each end with protective concrete mats, if required by the Regional Supervisor; and
(g)
Remove all pipeline valves and other fittings that could unduly interfere with other uses of the OCS.
Code of Federal Regulations
[67 FR 35406, May 17, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 40913, July 19, 2006]