Offshore Safety Directive
The Offshore Safety Directive of 2013 (‘OSD’) was implemented in the UK by the Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015 (‘the 2015 Regs’) and other regulations. The 2015 Regs impose obligations and liabilities on offshore licensees and NSTA strongly recommends that all such licensees should read and consider them carefully.
Guidance from the Offshore Major Accident Regulator (‘OMAR’)
Licence awards and assignments
Among other things, the 2015 Regs require the NSTA, as the ‘Licensing Authority’ for OSD purposes, to take certain things into account when considering the award or assignment of a Seaward Production Licence. The NSTA will consult the Offshore Major Accident Regulator (‘OMAR’) as necessary, and while applicants may have to submit additional information to satisfy the OSD, they need not make separate applications.
Well Operators and/or Installation Operators
The OSD introduced the concept of well operator and installation operator and the provisions governing their appointment. These operator provisions are separate from those in the Model Clauses attached to Petroleum Act licences, and the role of a well operator and/or installation operator under the OSD is separate and different from that in a licence. In many cases, though, the same company will be considered against the well operator and/or installation operator provisions and against the licence’s operator provisions.
Licensees are reminded that OSD well and / or installation appointments remain in place until terminated. A transfer between licensees of subarea operatorship, beneficial interest, or any other interest, does not transfer OSD well and / or installation operatorship.
Well and Installation Operator Service
Licensees can nominate well and / or installation operators via The Well and Installation Operator Service (WIOS) for which you will need a UK Energy Portal account.
The WIOS System of Record provides details of well and installation operators’ appointments in place, since the introduction of the Offshore Safety Directive in July 2015.
Recordings of the WIOS Phase 2 Go-Live presentation to ISCs held on 16 October 2024, and WIOS Phase 2 WONS User group workshop held on 4 November 2024 are provided below: