The environmental watchdog for the UK offshore oil and gas industry has temporarily paused routine offshore inspections due to the worsening of the Covid-19 situation.
The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) said the decision followed the UK and Scottish governments’ tightening of restrictions to tackle the spread of the virus.
OPRED, which sits within the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, did say it would still send inspectors offshore “where it is deemed necessary” to provide assurance that hazards are being effectively managed.
It will do as much regulatory intervention work remotely as possible, including approvals for permits, consents and OPEPs, statutory activities such as safety case assessments, thorough reviews, wells notifications, and the review and approval of decommissioning programmes.
Recommended for you
