30 CFR § 250.1751 - How do I decommission a pipeline in place?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s250.1751"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 250.1751 - How do I decommission a pipeline in place?"
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "250.1751"
section_name: "How do I decommission a pipeline in place?"
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"
---


# 250.1751 How do I decommission a pipeline in place?

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;

(c) Flush the pipeline;

(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.