Control
Environmental Monitoring and Quality Assurance
Environmental baselines, monitoring design, analytical quality and verification.
Documents
- 202631 Mar
Oil pollution risk management guidance note
Guidance for petroleum titleholders on evaluating oil pollution risks and preparing emergency response arrangements under environmental regulations. It addresses worst-case releases, oil fate and trajectory modelling, ALARP demonstrations, response resources and jurisdictional interfaces, alongside environmental monitoring, personnel competence, exercises and continuing assurance of response readiness.
- 202631 Mar
Planning for proactive decommissioning
This information paper explains lifecycle planning for petroleum decommissioning, including progressive removal, permanent well abandonment and increasingly detailed permissioning submissions. It outlines regulatory expectations, alternative end states, long-lead procurement, continued maintenance and changing risk profiles, alongside environmental monitoring and completion reporting to demonstrate that obligations have been met.
- 2026Mar
Wild Birds (Nesting) Advice Note v1 March 2026
Advice for UKCS oil and gas operators protecting nesting birds during installation decommissioning. It explains licensing routes and tests, bird management plans, survey timing and competence, and limitations of deterrent methods. An appended case describes combined deterrents at a Southern North Sea installation without establishing which measure chiefly prevented nesting.
- 2026Feb
Pollution PINCs
This regulatory inspection guide presents pollution compliance questions with cited authorities and enforcement codes. It covers offshore discharges, well solids disposal, contaminant collection, sump operation and pollution inspections. Further checks address spill response equipment testing and monthly inspection, record keeping, and spill containment and drainage on artificial islands.
- 202622 Jan
Preparing an environmental performance report
Guidance for titleholders preparing environmental performance reports under Australian offshore petroleum regulations. It explains submission intervals, supporting records and recommended reporting structure, including performance outcomes and standards, emissions and discharges, monitoring, incidents and changes to environment plans. Decommissioning reporting and example compliance tables are also covered.
- 202510 Dec
Application of oil spill modelling in Environment Plans
Information paper on applying stochastic and deterministic oil spill modelling in offshore petroleum Environment Plans. It discusses input quality, non-mandatory exposure values for four oil phases, environmental consequence evaluation, response resources and monitoring preparedness. It distinguishes combined stochastic boundaries from individual spill footprints and addresses uncertainty and presentation of results.
- 20251 Sep
Acoustic impact evaluation and management information paper
This information paper advises on assessing and managing marine seismic survey effects on environmental receptors. It addresses acoustic source descriptions, sound propagation modelling, biological thresholds, cumulative effects and uncertainty. Guidance covers receptor-specific acceptability, alternative survey methods, fauna detection, model validation and adaptive management, while distinguishing encouraged advice from regulatory requirements.
- 202528 Jul
Environment plan content requirements guidance note
Guidance on preparing environment plans for petroleum and greenhouse gas activities submitted to NOPSEMA. It explains environmental descriptions, impact and risk evaluation, acceptable levels and ALARP demonstrations, performance outcomes and standards, implementation systems, monitoring, oil pollution response testing, consultation and incident reporting.
- 202512 Jun
Environmental Alert 001/2025
This alert reminds offshore chemical permit holders that assessed usage and injection concentrations are binding limits. Inspections identified exceedances during abnormal operations and inadequate monitoring by well section during drilling. Operators must establish compliance-tracking mechanisms; these should be available offshore to chemical users.
- 2025Apr
JNCC Advice Note – Seabird Survey Methods for Offshore Installations (Black-legged kittiwakes) updated April 2025
Advice on surveying black-legged kittiwakes nesting or roosting on offshore installations. It explains seasonal survey timing, apparently occupied nest counts, optical observation, photography and repeat recording. Guidance addresses hidden nests, chick ageing and completion of fledging, alongside wild birds licensing and limitations of UAV surveys.
- 2025
SAC Underwater Noise Regulators Working Group Progress Report 2025
Annual review of regulators’ management of impulsive underwater noise in harbour porpoise protected areas during 2025. It describes the shared noise tracker, pre-season predictions, development coordination and twice-weekly scheduling calls. Southern North Sea summer disturbance remained within thresholds; registry improvements, deterrent-range revisions and international initiatives are also covered.
- 202410 Jan
Considerations for five-year environment plan revisions
This information paper advises petroleum titleholders preparing five-year environment plan revisions for long-term offshore activities. It addresses legislative changes, activity scope, subsea maintenance and decommissioning, spill prevention and response, emissions reduction, consultation and environmental monitoring. It explains expectations for demonstrating ALARP, acceptable impacts and measurable environmental performance.
- 202410 Jan
Environment plan decision making guideline
This guideline explains how NOPSEMA assesses environment plans against statutory acceptance criteria. It addresses proportionate environmental assessment, supported arguments for reducing impacts and risks, acceptable levels, performance monitoring, implementation strategies and consultation. It also outlines administrative decision-making principles and restrictions concerning protected places and threatened species.
- 202410 Jan
Offshore project proposal content requirements guidance note
NOPSEMA guidance explains content requirements for offshore petroleum project proposals, including project descriptions, alternatives analysis, cumulative environmental effects and acceptable impact levels. It addresses decommissioning, environmental performance outcomes, mandatory public comment and acceptance criteria, linking whole-project authorisation to subsequent activity environment plans and their monitoring requirements.
- 202410 Jan
Operational and scientific monitoring programs information paper
Information paper on designing and implementing monitoring after offshore petroleum spills, with emphasis on scientific assessment and environmental baselines. It addresses impact and reference sites, indicator selection, contaminant bioavailability, statistical design, analytical quality assurance, mobilisation readiness and monitoring triggers. Appendices examine ecological receptors, toxicity testing and source fingerprinting.
- 2024
SAC Noise Management Regulators Working Group Progress Report 2024
Reviews regulators’ work during 2024 to manage impulsive underwater noise in harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation. It describes developer coordination, Marine Noise Registry upgrades, quieter unexploded ordnance clearance, piling noise reduction and proposed limits. Summer analysis for the Southern North Sea indicates disturbance remained below daily and seasonal thresholds.
- 202319 Dec
NOPSEMA and OIR Research Strategy 2024-2027
This strategy identifies collaborative research priorities for environmental management of offshore energy projects. It addresses cumulative impacts, underwater noise, fauna detection, emissions, decommissioning and geological carbon storage. Priorities include seabed remediation, standardised bird monitoring and renewable-energy mitigation research, while distinguishing the regulator’s research end-user role from conducting or funding research.
- 202317 Aug
Offshore Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Guidance
Explains pollution prevention and control requirements for offshore combustion installations, distinguishing installation and plant classifications, aggregation rules and exemptions. Covers permit applications and variations, best available techniques, emission limits, dispersion modelling, monitoring and annual reporting. Appendices provide assessment flowcharts and methods for analysing combustion plant loads and thermal efficiency.
- 2023May
SAC Noise Management Working Group Communications (May 2023)
A regulator update on managing underwater noise in harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation. It describes low-order unexploded ordnance disposal, licensing coordination, offshore wind piling standards and improvements to the Marine Noise Registry. Workshop proposals and voluntary activity forecasts seek to improve disturbance assessments and coordination between developers.
- 2022Aug
PPC Offshore Emissions Monitoring Guidance Rev4
Guidance for managing offshore combustion emissions monitoring under PPC regulations. It explains plant-specific monitoring requirements, baseline surveys, periodic and continuous measurement, reference-condition corrections, certification and reporting. Predictive emissions monitoring requires specific permit approval for compliance use. Direct flare monitoring and combustion carbon dioxide reporting are outside its scope.
- 202031 Dec
The Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020 – A Guide
Explains environmental assessment and consent procedures under the 2020 offshore EIA regulations. Covers screening, environmental statements, baseline surveys, alternatives, cumulative effects, mitigation and public consultation. Provides application requirements for drilling, pipelines and production changes, including PETS submissions, approval variations, reporting and enforcement.
- 2020Jun
Final Consultation Report June 2020
Consultation report examining the evidence behind underwater-noise management guidance for harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation. It addresses seasonal disturbance thresholds, effective deterrent ranges, seismic surveys, piling, noise abatement and monitoring. Appended stakeholder submissions dispute assumptions and implementation arrangements, while the authors explain revised advice and remaining scientific uncertainties.
- 202018 May
Recording and reporting MMO data
This bulletin clarifies Australian requirements for recording and submitting marine mammal observer data from seismic surveys. It promotes consistent sightings, observation effort and weather records using the Cetacean Sightings Application or its schema, explains submission arrangements, and encourages reporting of other fauna to support conservation and environmental management.
- 201817 Aug
Oil spill response strategies at a glance - July 2018
This information sheet outlines oil spill response options for petroleum companies, including source control, surveillance, chemical dispersants, containment and recovery, and in-situ burning. It also covers shoreline and inland-water response, waste planning, wildlife rehabilitation, environmental monitoring and remediation, emphasising that techniques are not suitable for every spill scenario.
- 2018Jun
Methodology for the Sampling and Analysis of Produced Water and other Hydrocarbon Discharges
Technical guidance for sampling and analysing produced water and other offshore hydrocarbon discharges. It describes BEIS infrared and Triple Peak methods, the OSPAR GC-FID reference method, sample preservation, calibration and correlation requirements. Separate procedures cover oil on solids, bi-annual component analysis, online monitor validation and environmental reporting.
- 20177 Dec
Environmental Alert 003/2017
An environmental alert describes a chemical release to sea during storage-tank commissioning. A design–construction discrepancy left the overflow lower than expected; filling above it and subsequent syphoning caused the release. Duty holders should verify overflow positions and may prudently consider water first fills with robust monitoring where possible.
- 20179 May
Oil spill sampling and source identification
An environmental alert examines unsuccessful sampling of an oil sheen near a titleholder’s facilities, which hindered source identification. It highlights representative sampling, sample integrity and recorded custody, personnel competence, timely equipment deployment and reference characterisation of produced hydrocarbons, alongside petroleum environmental requirements for pollution monitoring and response.
- 2015
Hydraulic Fracturing Primer 2015
An American Petroleum Institute overview presents hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling alongside their claimed energy and economic benefits. It explains well construction and stimulation, state and federal regulation, groundwater protection, water reuse, methane emissions and seismic monitoring, with examples of technologies intended to reduce environmental impacts.
- 201410 Nov
Environmental Alert 005/2014
DECC warns that misinterpreting the calibration solution volume in oil-on-sand calculations can halve reported concentrations, potentially understating marine oil discharges and breaching permitted limits. The alert requires clear analytical procedures, personnel awareness, recalculation of affected 2014 discharges and non-compliance notifications where permitted concentrations were exceeded.
- 2014
Monitoring Guidance for Underwater Noise in European Seas
Guidance for Member States developing underwater sound monitoring under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It covers regional impulsive-sound registers and ambient-noise measurement combined with validated modelling. Specifications address hydrophone deployment, recorder performance, traceable calibration, data retention and arithmetic averaging, while acknowledging uncertainty in ecological interpretation and population-level effects.
- 201318 Nov
Final Study Report - November 2013
Research examines cetacean distribution and responses to seismic exploration in the Moray Firth using passive acoustics, visual surveys, photo-identification and habitat modelling. Air-gun measurements test propagation predictions. Porpoise responses declined during the survey, while dolphin abundance estimates remained similar across years despite evidence of short-term behavioural responses.
- 201329 Jul
Environmental Alert 004/2013
This environmental alert addresses unreliable oil samples associated with offshore oil and gas operations. It outlines sea-surface spill sampling precautions, including clean glassware, direct collection with jars or sorbent pads, traceable handling and storage, prompt laboratory transport and accurate labelling. Metal and plastic receptacles are strongly discouraged because they can interfere with analysis.
- 201129 Mar
Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002 (as amended): Guidance (March 2011)
Guidance explains offshore chemical permitting, registration, environmental assessment and reporting under the amended Regulations. It distinguishes authorised use and discharge from unintentional releases, describes CHARM and OCNS assessment methods, and covers permit variations, monitoring, enforcement and substitution. Annexes explain chemical screening, phase-out planning and annual reporting.
- 200816 Apr
EQ Hazardous Waste Plant Explosions and Fire — EQ Hazardous Waste Plant Final Report
This case study analyses the Apex hazardous waste facility fire and subsequent community evacuation. It examines limited fire protection, emergency information sharing and regulatory gaps. Unspent aircraft oxygen generators most likely accelerated fire spread, but the initial cause remained undetermined. Recommendations address emergency planning, fire protection standards and waste handling guidance.
- 2007Dec
Quality review of environmental statements for offshore petroleum production and pipeline developments
Research evaluates 35 offshore petroleum environmental statements submitted during 2002–2005 using a modified Lee & Colley review package, alongside interviews and document scrutiny. It examines non-pollution effects, alternatives and mitigation, finding weaknesses in impact prediction, monitoring and residual-impact coverage, and reviews BERR’s assessment procedures.
- 2000Jan
A Review of Environmental Statements Produced for Offshore Oil and Gas Developments
Reviews ten offshore oil and gas environmental statements using the European Commission’s review checklist. Finds weaknesses in alternatives, baseline information, impact prediction and monitoring, comparing findings with regulatory requirements and good practice. Recommends earlier integration of assessment into project planning, dedicated surveys and public reporting of post-auditing results.
- Undated
Supply Vessel Collision with Unmanned Platform Followed by Fire
An offshore supply vessel struck an unmanned South Timbalier production platform, with collision and subsequent fire destroying ninety percent of the structure. The report records vessel-assisted firefighting, aerial monitoring of minor sheening and gas bubbling, and subsequent plug and abandonment operations. Causes and recurrence recommendations remained pending US Coast Guard findings.
- Undated
Oil Discharge Through Produced-Water Outlet During Emulsion-Breaker Trial
BSEE investigates pollution at Na Kika during an emulsion-breaker trial. Foaming disrupted separation and level readings, allowing oil discharge through the submerged produced-water outlet. Estimates put the release at approximately 89 barrels of oil and grease. Findings address inadequate training and delayed detection; reverting to the original chemical ended the sheening.
- Undated
Oil Release from Shut-In Subsea Well
BSEE investigates an oil release from Shell’s shut-in subsea VA007 well at Mississippi Canyon 940. ROV diagnostics and valve closures stopped the leak; subsequent e-line work identified parted production tubing at a coupling. The spill was estimated at seven barrels over several days. The reason for tubing failure remained unknown.
- Undated
Condensate Release Through Corroded Storage-Tank Bottom
An investigation of condensate pollution at West Delta 34 A identifies corrosion through a storage-tank bottom and a disabled sump system following Hurricane Katrina damage. The report describes evacuation, source control and spill-response mobilisation. The release was estimated at four barrels on a worst-case basis; responders found no recoverable oil.
- Undated
Hydrocarbons Discharged Through Produced Water System During Well Restart
BSEE investigated a Thunder Horse pollution event during restart of the long-shut-in S5 well. Float-cell capacity was exceeded during ramp-up, and an estimated four barrels of hydrocarbons entered the Gulf of Mexico through produced-water discharge over four days. Sampling supported the estimate; BP planned a slower initial liquid-rate ramp-up.
- Undated
Oil Discharge Through Platform Produced-Water System
BSEE investigates an estimated three-barrel oil discharge through Thunder Horse’s produced-water system on 13 July 2020. The report links water-quality problems to inadequate flushing of subsea well workover fluids, discusses possible emulsion and foaming, examines delayed pollution notifications, and records corrective communication training and recommendations for agency coordination.
- Undated
Pipeline Leak Released Hydrocarbons at Offshore Platform
BSEE investigated a pipeline leak at Grand Isle 76-A releasing an estimated 8.35 barrels of hydrocarbons. The report examines inadequate high-pressure trip and safety-valve settings as possible contributing causes, unauthorised conversion to bulk oil service, spill reporting and monitoring, and diver-observed pressure testing of a split-sleeve repair.
- Undated
Background to the advice on noise management within harbour porpoise SACs
Explains the rationale for managing underwater noise in harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation through temporary habitat loss rather than animal counts. Discusses seasonal area-time thresholds, empirically based deterrence ranges, noise abatement and alternative wind-farm foundations. Acknowledges uncertain evidence and describes adaptive management and differing approaches among conservation bodies.
- Undated
CO2 Venting Guidance
Guidance explains the inclusion of upstream carbon dioxide removal and venting in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme for installations already qualifying through combustion. It covers calculation, fallback and measurement methodologies, emission-factor sampling, uncertainty requirements, permit variations through METS, monitoring-plan updates and reporting obligations, including treatment of unlit flares.
- Undated
Environmental Regulation and Planning Conditions for Onshore Oil and Gas well sites in the UK
Presentation outlining environmental regulation and planning approval for UK onshore oil and gas wells. It addresses surface pollution, well design and hydraulic fracturing risks, extractive waste permits, waste management plans and monitoring after decommissioning. It also explains regulator coordination, protected areas and local planning conditions.
- Undated
Equinor – Gullfaks C - investigation of oil spill
Investigation of an oil discharge during Tordis production startup at Gullfaks C. Premature opening of a separator water outlet, combined with emulsion problems, allowed oil through the produced-water treatment system to sea. The report examines valve leakage, unavailable oil-in-water monitoring, shutdown overrides, deficient startup procedures and absent systematic risk assessment.
- Undated
FAQs – FA applicants
Frequently asked questions explain UK Emissions Trading Scheme free allocation applications during the April–June 2025 submission window. Guidance addresses verified baseline reports, site visits, monitoring methodology plans, small-emitter transitions and electricity-generator eligibility. It also clarifies treatment of installation changes, permit transfers, flaring and data gaps for the 2019–2023 baseline.
- Undated
FAQs – HSEs
Frequently asked questions explain Hospital and Small Emitter applications for the 2026–2030 UK emissions trading scheme period. Guidance covers Baseline Data Report completion, eligibility conditions, emissions verification and self-declaration, free allocation, and movement between schemes. It distinguishes hospital installations from other applicants and explains the April–June 2025 submission window.
- Undated
Guidance on decommissioning debris surveys and seabed clearance verification
Guidance distinguishes debris recovery from seabed clearance verification during oil and gas decommissioning. It explains when ROV recovery, geophysical surveys and over-trawl methods are appropriate, considering safety zones, seabed disturbance and protected habitats. It also addresses chain-mat remediation of snagging hazards, regulatory review and marine licensing requirements.
- Undated
OPPC Guidance Notes
Revised guidance explains offshore oil discharge permitting, distinguishing authorised discharges from prohibited releases. It covers applications, discharge limits, sampling and analysis, reporting, variations and transfers. Detailed appendices address produced water, drainage, contaminated cuttings, well-operation fluids, sand and scale, alongside exemptions and interfaces with merchant-shipping pollution requirements.
- Undated
PON1 Guidance - Consultation Supporting Document - Summary of Key Contents and Changes
Consultation support summarising changes to OPRED’s PON1 guidance for oil and offshore chemical emissions. It explains notification responsibilities, ongoing releases, withdrawn reporting categories and permit non-compliance reporting. Clarifications distinguish releases from discharges and address drainage systems, subsea chemicals, produced-water caissons, vessels and non-production installations.
- Undated
Role of the Oil & Gas Authority in Licensing, Consents and the Regulation of Induced Seismicity
This presentation explains the Oil & Gas Authority’s role in UK petroleum licensing and operational consents, particularly for hydraulic fracturing in England. It distinguishes exclusive licences from permission to operate and describes regulator coordination, hydraulic fracture plans, fault assessment, fracture monitoring and real-time traffic-light arrangements for induced seismicity.