30 CFR § 250.221 - When must I use the DWOP process?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s250.221"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 250.221 - When must I use the DWOP process?"
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "250.221"
section_name: "When must I use the DWOP process?"
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"
---


# 250.221 When must I use the DWOP process?

(a) You must use the DWOP process for any project that meets any of the following criteria:

(1) Is planned in water depths greater than 1000 ft;

(2) Will use subsea tieback development technology, regardless of water depth; or

(3) Will use any new or unusual technology for any drilling, completion, workover, intervention, injection, production, pipeline, platform, decommissioning, or abandonment project.

(b) If you are unsure if your project will use subsea tieback development technology or new or unusual technology, contact the Regional Supervisor for guidance.