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.
Part of DESNZ (formerly BEIS). Works alongside NSTA and HSE offshore.
Contact OPRED
Official guidance from OPRED
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
OSPAR Convention 1992 (opens in a new tab)
Detailed Guidance
Oil and gas: previous fee charging regulations (opens in a new tab)
Detailed Guidance
Legal framework
Legislation that OPRED directly enforces.
Primary legislation
Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971
Food and Environment Protection Act 1985
Petroleum Act 1987
Merchant Shipping Act 1995
Petroleum Act 1998
Energy Act 2008
Energy Act 2023
Secondary legislation
The Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc.) Regulations 1996
Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999
The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999
The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001
Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002
Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002
The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005
Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, ) Regulations 2007
The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Business Improvement Districts Levy) Order 2007
… and 7 more statutory instruments.
Related legislation
Legislation connected to OPRED’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.