30 CFR 250.174 : Mineral Resources (§ 1.1 To Parts 1291-1299) — (Parts 200-202 To Parts 591-599) — Bureau Of Safety And Environmental Enforcement, Department Of The Interior (Parts 200-202 To Parts 292-299) — Offshore (§ 250.101 To Part 285) — Oil And Gas And Sulphur Operations In The Outer Continental Shelf (§ 250.101 To § 250.1933) — General (§ 250.101 To § 250.199) — Suspensions (§ 250.168 To § 250.177) — When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?

The Regional Supervisor may grant or direct an SOP when the suspension is in the National interest, and it is necessary because the suspension will meet one of the following criteria:

(a) It will allow you to properly develop a lease, including time to construct and install production facilities;

(b) It will allow you time to obtain adequate transportation facilities;

(c) It will allow you time to enter a sales contract for oil, gas, or sulphur. You must show that you are making an effort to enter into the contract(s); or

(d) It will avoid continued operations that would result in premature abandonment of a producing well(s).