UK regulator streamlining offshore license transactions with set of guidelines

The UK’s regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), has published a guidance document to assist current and potential offshore license holders and investors with the application for and management of licenses on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Following consultations with industry stakeholders, the NSTA has finalized its ‘Guidance on the conduct of license assignments’ – a set of recommended principles and practices for buyers, sellers, and interested third parties to work together to ensure smooth transactions in the North Sea.

Since over 100 transactions a year take place on the North Sea, ranging from high-value field ownership transfers to smaller changes of joint venture (JV) partners, the document sets out the role each member can play in helping these deals run smoothly.

Jane de Lozey, NSTA Director of Regulation, noted: “The energy transition requires significant investment as well as collaborative working between the many companies operating in the North Sea. This Guidance will assist that important process.” 

As stated, the guidance is geared towards minimizing delays and obstacles in merger and acquisition transactions, with the ultimate objective of securing the maximum value of petroleum while meeting the energy transition’s net zero requirements by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The document sets out principles that relevant persons should apply when seeking to conclude assignments, focusing in particular on the expectations of buyers, sellers, and consenting parties, and financial and technical capability.

Some of the recommendations include agreeing on timelines with milestones, engaging in open, constructive negotiations, and making proportionate security arrangements to meet decommissioning liabilities. Furthermore, appointing a single point of contact responsible for communications is recommended for the buyer and seller.

As for the energy transition goals, judging from two reports published in September, the UK has made considerable progress on its energy transition journey, putting 2030 targets within reach.

One is the NSTA’s own ‘Emissions Monitoring Report,’ which states that Britain’s oil and gas industry delivered a 4% decrease in emissions for the fourth year in a row in 2023. This contributed to an overall reduction of 28% between 2018 and 2023, paired with a 49% reduction in flaring thanks to more efficient operations, stricter controls, and fines for unpermitted activity.

The second report – the ‘2024 Emissions Reduction Report’ by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) – echoes this sentiment, noting that the methane abatement aspirations were met seven years before the 2030 deadline and the reduction target for production emissions exceeded four years ahead of schedule.