Regulator profile

NSTA

North Sea Transition Authority

Enforcement Regulator

3 areas of regulation · 2 official guidance documents · 7 laws enforced · UK-wide

What NSTA does

Licenses and regulates the UK oil and gas, offshore hydrogen, and carbon storage industries. Issues petroleum production licences and CO2 storage licences. Formerly the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

Additional information

Key licences: Petroleum Production Licence, CO2 Storage Licence. Energy Portal for applications.

Contact NSTA

Website Visit official website

Carbon Storage Licensing Petroleum

Official guidance from NSTA

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

Oil and Gas Authority (Dispute Resolution) Procedure Rules 2016
Code of Practice
The Maximising Economic Recovery (MER UK) Strategy
Publication

Legal framework

Legislation that NSTA directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Secondary legislation

The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 UK Statutory Instrument 1999
The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005 UK Statutory Instrument 2005
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Amendment of the Energy Act 2008 ) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
The Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015 UK Statutory Instrument 2015

Legislation connected to NSTA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Establishing / enabling

The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Directions in the Interests of National Security) Order 2002

UK Statutory Instrument 2002
The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004

UK Statutory Instrument 2004
The Petroleum Licensing (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 2008

UK Statutory Instrument 2008
The Offshore Exploration (Petroleum, and Gas Storage and Unloading) (Model Clauses) Regulations 2009

UK Statutory Instrument 2009
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing ) Regulations 2010

UK Statutory Instrument 2010
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Termination of Licences) Regulations 2011

UK Statutory Instrument 2011
The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 2014

UK Statutory Instrument 2014
Infrastructure Act 2015

UK Act of Parliament 2015
The Petroleum Licensing (Applications) Regulations 2015

UK Statutory Instrument 2015
Energy Act 2016

UK Act of Parliament 2016
Oil and Gas Authority (Offshore Petroleum) (Fees) Regulations 2016

UK Statutory Instrument 2016
The Oil and Gas Authority (Levy) Regulations 2016

UK Statutory Instrument 2016
The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm (Amendment) Order 2016

UK Statutory Instrument 2016
The Oil and Gas Authority (Fees and Petroleum Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

UK Statutory Instrument 2017
The Petroleum and Offshore Gas Storage and Unloading Licensing (Amendment) Regulations 2017

UK Statutory Instrument 2017
… and 6 more

Referenced in enforcement

Pipelines Act 1962

UK Act of Parliament 1962
Continental Shelf Act 1964

UK Act of Parliament 1964
Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966

UK Act of Parliament 1966
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

UK Act of Parliament 1974
Electricity Act 1989

UK Act of Parliament 1989
The Diving Operations at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1992

UK Statutory Instrument 1992
Environment Act 1995

UK Act of Parliament 1995
The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001

UK Statutory Instrument 2001
Energy Act 2004

UK Act of Parliament 2004
Climate Change Act 2008

UK Act of Parliament 2008
Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case ) Regulations 2015

UK Statutory Instrument 2015
Petroleum (Production) Act 1934 (opens in a new tab)

UK Act of Parliament

Coverage area

UK-wide