Oz Seeks Information on Equinor's Bight Drilling Plans

Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) said June 27 it has requested further information from Equinor on its environment plan for proposed exploration drilling activity in the Great Australian Bight - a region of open bay off the southern Australian coast.

“The assessment will now pause and recommence when Equinor submits the additional information,” NOPSEMA said. The Norwegian oil and gas company has been provided with 60 days to submit the requested information.

“The request for information was made in order to clarify matters raised in the plan and to address information gaps identified by NOPSEMA’s specialist team assessing the plan,” NOPSEMA said.

Under Australia’s objective-based regulatory regime, a request for further information is a normal step in the assessment process. To ensure a fair and unbiased process, NOPSEMA does not comment on the specifics of environment plans under assessment, it said.

In February, Equinor published for consultation its environmental management plans for proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight.