The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is seeking views from the UK oil and gas and carbon storage industries on information and sample related matters in Carbon Dioxide Appraisal and Storage and Petroleum Licences, and the principle of new data powers in support of energy security and the transition to net zero.
The consultation opened on 18 January 2023 and will run until 1 March 2023.
At present, the NSTA has powers to require petroleum licensees to retain and report information related to their oil and gas projects and operations, for example, well data, which the NSTA can disclose after a period of confidentiality.
The NSTA has opened this consultation to gather feedback on whether it should be given similar data retention, reporting and disclosure powers in respect to carbon storage licensees’ activities.
The consultation also covers the principle of requiring the appointment of Information and Samples Coordinators, requiring information and samples plans for carbon storage licences (similar to those for petroleum licences), and also the principle of the NSTA gaining a general information gathering power.