Australia’s offshore oil and gas authority has asked BP to provide more information about its hotly disputed plans to drill off the country’s south coast.
Nopsema was expected to rule on BP’s third environmental plan by the end of this month, the previous two having been rejected.
But the regulator will now wait for BP to supply it with more details by October 28 before resuming its assessment.
BP can request an extension if required, Nopsema said in an online statement.
Nopsema did not specify which information it is looking for.
BP’s intention to drill in the Great Australian Bight has been widely questioned.
The Bight is home to nature reserves and supports a large fishing industry.
Environmentalists and academics are concerned by the threat of oil leaks and have criticised BP’s planned response to a blowout.