Onshore Oil and Gas Operations; Federal and Indian Oil and Gas Leases; Measurement of Gas

This proposed rule would revise and replace Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 5 (Order 5) with a new regulation that would be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. This proposed rule would establish the minimum standards for accurate measurement and proper reporting of all gas removed or sold from Federal and Indian leases (except the Osage Tribe), units, unit participating areas, and areas subject to communitization agreements, by providing a system for production accountability by operators, lessees, purchasers, and transporters. This proposed rule would include requirements for the hardware and software related to approved metering equipment, overall measurement performance standards, and reporting and record keeping. The proposed rule would identify certain specific acts of noncompliance that would result in an immediate assessment and would provide a process for the BLM to consider variances from the requirements of this proposed rule.