General – Fines
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has issued fines totaling $350,000 to two North Sea operators (NEO and CNR) as it continues to enforce strict penalties for violations of emissions limits and well decommissioning rules.
CNR International’s £250,000 penalty is for exceeding venting limits twice in the same year on the same fields, while NEO has been fined £100,000 for attempting to fully abandon a well without the required consent to undertake the work.
The NSTA said the sanctions underlined the importance of complying with regulations to show that the industry is well run and takes its responsibilities seriously – and that all licensees are on a level playing field.
Jane de Lozey, NSTA Director of Regulation, said: “When operators accept a licence, they are agreeing to adhere to the same rules as everybody else. In both these cases, a lack of familiarity with their obligations contributed to shortcomings, which is disappointing. Investors and the public rightly expect that this industry is held to high standards and there is no excuse for operators not complying with their regulatory responsibilities.”
