NSTA starts North Sea flaring consents process

The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has opened its Annual Consents Exercise, which is designed to set limits on flaring and venting from oil and gas operations in the North Sea.

The deadline for production consent applications is Aug. 16, with flaring and venting consent submissions to be accepted between Aug. 19 and Sept. 13. All consents should be issued by Dec. 13.

According to the NSTA, the consents establish minimum and maximum production limits for each field to ensure that reservoirs are appropriately managed. This year’s process is the first to use the NSTA's new all-digital system, and it includes the previously paper-based consents for terminals (facilities).

Improved data validation should reduce errors and lessen the need for back-and-forth communications between the applicant and the NSTA, and it will also make it easier for the NSTA to monitor flaring and venting volumes and enforce limits.  

In addition, legacy portal application and consent data will be migrated and presented in the new system.