Policy for Training of Production Accountability Technicians

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

July 19, 2010

In Reply Refer To:  

3610 (310) P

EMS TRANMISSION 07/23/2010

Instruction Memorandum No. 2010-166

Expires: 09/30/2011

To:                   All Field Officials

From:               Acting Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management 

Subject:           Policy for Training of Production Accountability Technicians

Program Area:  Onshore Oil and Gas Program.

Purpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides guidance to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state offices, district offices, field offices and centers for training of Production Accountability Technicians (PAT).

Policy/Action:  All current PATs (except those who have been certified as a Petroleum Engineering Technician) who have not attended the National Training Center course 3100-17, “Oil and Gas Production Accountability for PATs,” must complete the course within the next 2 years.  PATs must complete the prerequisite, BLM-TC-3100-06, “Oil and Gas Agreements” that is available online prior to taking course 3100-17.

All PATs hired after the effective date of this IM must take the prerequisite after they have a minimum of 3 months on-the-job experience as a PAT.  They must register for course 3100-17 upon completion of the prerequisite and attend course 3100-17 at the first available opportunity after completing a minimum of 6 months work as a PAT.

Timeframe:  Effective immediately.

Budget Impact:  None.

Background:  On December 17, 2007, the Royalty Policy Committee’s Subcommittee on Royalty Management published a report entitled, “Mineral Revenue Collection from Federal and Indian Lands and the Outer Continental Shelf.”  This report includes over 100 recommendations to improve the way Federal and Indian mineral revenues are collected and verified.  Task 3-32.5 – Issue IM Implementing Guidance deals with issuing an IM implementing guidance for training of PATs and will allow us to close out the entire Recommendation 3-32 of the aforementioned report.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  None.

Coordination:  This IM was prepared in coordination with the National Training Center.

Contact:  If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact me at 202-208-4201, or your staff may contact Mike Wade, Oil & Gas Compliance Specialist, at 303-236-1930 or Michael_Wade@blm.gov.

Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated by:

Mitchell Leverette                                                       Robert M. Williams

Acting, Assistant Director                                          Division of IRM Governance,WO-560

Minerals and Realty Management