What is Electronic Permitting?

Electronic permitting, or Electronic Commerce (EC), is a new method that an operator or permit agent can use to send oil and gas permit applications and reports directly to the BLM via the Internet.  This includes:

• Notice of Staking (NOS)

• Application for Permit to Drill (APD)

• Well Completion Report

• Sundry Notice

• Attachments (documents, maps, drawings, etc.) for a permit or report.
  

How does an operator get involved in EC?

There are two ways an operator can apply to use electronic permitting:

    1.  The operator can send a request over the Internet, or

    2.  Call Paul Brown, AFMSS/WIS Program Manager, at (303) 236-8586.

Internet Instructions

• Go to www.otshq.com   Scroll to "OTS Project Links" (lower left-hand side)

• Click on the "Well Information System" link under the BLM section

• Click on the "Request a User Account" button and fill in the information.

Under either option we will need to know:

• The company name and office address
  
• The name, telephone number and e-mail address of the person who will be the BLM point of contact for the Electronic Permitting in that office

After BLM receives a request, the operator will be sent a packet in the mail that will contain a Trading Partner Agreement which the operator must review and sign as well as additional information.  Once an operator request has been approved, a special ID and password will be issued that will confidentially identify them.  This user ID and password will allow the operator to start submitting permit applications and any related reports for their company electronically.

 

Operator Hardware/Software Requirements

To submit electronic permits the operator will need a Personal Computer (PC) with a reliable Internet connection.

Minimum PC Requirements:

    Windows 95, Windows 98, NT or Windows 2000

       - Either Netscape Communicator 4.5 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 (w/SP2) or higher

       - Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher

 
Operator Benefits

       - Permit/report is transmitted for free over the internet, a savings of fax, postage, and overnight mail costs.

       - Operators receive automatic confirmation that information was delivered, so they don't have to call the BLM office to check on the permit.

       - Operators can print a copy of the electronic permit/report in the approved BLM format to include in their files or send to other agencies.