Oz Asks Equinor to Modify, Resubmit Bight Project Plan

Australia’s offshore regulator National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) November 8 issued a notice to Equinor requiring them to modify and resubmit their environment plan for proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight, NOPSEMA said November 11.

“Equinor must provide NOPSEMA with further information about matters relating to consultation, source control, oil spill risk, and matters protected under Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,” the regulator said in a statement.

NOPSEMA said the opportunity to modify and resubmit does not represent a refusal or rejection of the environment plan. “This is a normal part of NOPSEMA’s environment plan assessment process. NOPSEMA is required by law to provide titleholders a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit their plan if it doesn’t meet the regulatory requirements for acceptance,” it said.

In February, Equinor published for consultation its environmental management plans for proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight - a region of open bay off the southern Australian coast. In September, the regulator requested further information from Equinor to input into its environment plan.

Equinor has 21 days to respond to NOPSEMA’s request to modify and resubmit its environment plan. However, Equinor may request an extension to this timeline, NOPSEMA said.