Regulator Profile

OPRED

Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning

Enforcement Regulator

3

Areas of regulation

22

Laws enforced

UK-wide

Quick links

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Decommissioning Offshore Environment Oil Spill

What OPRED does

Regulates environmental aspects of offshore oil and gas, carbon storage, and gas unloading/storage. Issues environmental permits, approves oil spill response plans, and oversees decommissioning programmes.

Additional information

Part of DESNZ (formerly BEIS). Works alongside NSTA and HSE offshore.

Legal framework

Legislation that OPRED enforces.

Primary legislation

• Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 Act 1971
• Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 Act 1985
• Petroleum Act 1987 Act 1987
• Merchant Shipping Act 1995 Act 1995
• Petroleum Act 1998 Act 1998
• Energy Act 2008 Act 2008
• Energy Act 2023 Act 2023

Secondary legislation

• UKSI 1996/913 UK Statutory Instrument 1996
• Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 UK Statutory Instrument 1999
• The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 UK Statutory Instrument 1999
• The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 UK Statutory Instrument 2001
• Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002 UK Statutory Instrument 2002
• Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002 UK Statutory Instrument 2002
• The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005 UK Statutory Instrument 2005
• Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, ) Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
• The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Business Improvement Districts Levy) Order 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
• Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
• ... and 5 more statutory instruments