30 CFR § 250.174 - When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s250.174"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 250.174 - When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?"
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "250.174"
section_name: "When may the Regional Supervisor grant or direct an SOP?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "OFFSHORE"
part_number: "250"
part_name: "OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "30 U.S.C. 1751, 31 U.S.C. 9701, 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(1)(C), 43 U.S.C. 1334."
regulatory_source: "76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "250"
---


# 250.174 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).