Question Regarding Inflatable Packers And June NDIC Hearing Dockets -- North Dakota

In the June NDIC Hearing Dockets, OXY USA has several cases with regard to using inflatable packers:

OXY USA has eight (8) cases requesting "an exception to NDA 43-02-03-21 and any other applicable regulations to allow the use of inflatable packers in the casing string in connection with cementing operations for the isolation of oil, gas or water-bearing formations.

We are hoping a reader out there will provide a bit more background why these cases are required.

There are sites on the internet with some background/explanation but I'm not sure why this requires permission from the NDIC. Maybe I'm misreading the cases.

One source:

http://weatherford.com/Products/Drilling/InflatablePackers/index.htm

This has a bit more background/explanation:

http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms/p/packer.aspx

but again I don't know why it requires NDIC permission. I think this is the first time I've ever seen a case for inflatable packers, but early on I might have missed them, not knowing as much about the dockets.

Hopefully someone can provide a bit of background. Thank you.