Europe wants to change compensation rules to make offshore companies liable for environmental damage they cause at sea.
According to the European Commission, the environmental liability directive (ELD) applies only to businesses and operations onshore and up to 13.6 miles out to sea.
The commission is now looking into extending the area covered by up to 217 miles offshore.
Industry body Oil and Gas UK said last night it was urgently seeking more details of the proposals. The extension would cover 99% of the oil and gas platforms in the North Sea, if implemented, according to a spokeswoman for EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger.