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The NSTA regulates and influences the UK’s oil, gas and carbon storage industries to ensure the economic recovery of oil and gas and meet the 2050 net zero emissions target set by the Secretary of State.

The North Sea Transition Authority is the competent authority for all onshore and offshore well activity including well decommissioning.

Companies have a legal duty to decommission platforms and pipelines in a safe and cost-efficient manner once production operations have permanently stopped at their oil and gas fields. 

Through effective asset stewardship we aim to optimise efficiency and ensure economic recovery and support the drive to net zero carbon by 2050, while maintaining high standards of safety and environmental management.

We will continue to undertake pro-active, structured and prioritised stewardship reviews with operators and licensees based on intelligence gathered, prioritising those with the greatest impact on economic recovery and support the drive to net zero carbon by 2050.

The NSTA charges fees for a range of services to specific licence holders, including consents issued under petroleum licences, offshore methane gas and carbon dioxide storage licences and for pipeline works authorisations issued under Part III of the Petroleum Act 1998. 

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.