Permitting Support

Orbis excels in providing high quality permitting and regulatory support, often under tight timescales, to operators working on the UKCS.  We have a good working relationship with OPRED and statutory consultees, including JNCC, Cefas and Marine Scotland.

 

In 2013, OPRED introduced the Portal Environmental Tracking System (PETS), accessed via the UK Energy Portal, which integrates the old style PON15 applications under one centralised Master Application Template (MAT).  Each MAT is linked to one of the following activity types:

 

• Drilling Operation (DRA)
• Well Intervention Operation (WIA)
• Pipeline Operation (PLA)
• Production Operation (PRA)
• Decommissioning Operation (DCA)
• Standalone Application (SA)

 

Within each MAT, various Subsidiary Application Templates (SATs) can be submitted to obtain the directions/consents/permits/licences that are required for the operation.  These SAT applications include:

 

• Direction(s) under the EIA Regulations
• Chemical Permit
• Consent to Locate
• Oil Discharge Permit (OPPC)
• Marine Licence
• Geological Survey

• European Protected Species Disturbance Licence

 

Since the commencement of PETS, Orbis has completed numerous MAT and SAT applications for various operators including Perenco UK Limited, RWE Dea UK, Alpha Petroleum Resources Limited, EOG Resources, MPX North Sea Limited and Faroe Petroleum.

 

Regulatory Compliance

Orbis has developed an excel based Chemical Tracker to help operators monitor compliance with their Chemical Permit.  The tracker provides an auditable system (including a history of data entry) for offshore personnel to track chemical use and discharge against permitted quantities.  It provides visual alerts to show when a chemical is within 20% of, or has exceed, its permitted use/discharge amount and when the permit is due to expire.  The data entered into the tracker can then be used to help compile (Environmental Emissions Monitoring System) EEMS reports.

 

Statutory Emissions Reporting

All UKCS operators are required to report their environmental emissions to DECC via EEMS.  This includes data on the following:

 

• Atmospheric emissions
• Chemicals
• Drill fluids
• OPPC returns
• Radioactivity
• Waste

 

Orbis can help operators co-ordinate collection of this data, review it for accuracy and compliance, and then submit it, on behalf of the operator, to EEMS via the UK Energy Portal.

 

Orbis can also help UKCS operators prepare their annual OSPAR reporting relating to chemical use and discharge, which must be submitted to OPRED by the end of February each year, and the associated Technical Justification Report for the continued use and/or discharge of all chemicals identified as Chemicals for Priority Action or Candidates for Substitution.