The aim of the forum is to ensure continuous improvement in health, safety and the environment for petroleum activities in these waters. The NSOAF was founded in 1989.

The forum comprises government agencies from the following nations:

The members of the NSOAF meet for an annual working meeting in which activities are summarised and new tasks initiated and discussed.

The work primarily takes place through the following working groups and networks:

Health and safety working group (NSOAF-H&S WG)

The group’s work includes contributing to

  • continuous improvement of safety and the working environment
  • harmonisation of regulatory requirements/reduction in administrative burdens
  • transfer of experience between the regulators

The working group otherwise pursues topics where the regulators have common interests. 

In recent years, the working group has pursued common challenges facing the oil and gas industry in the respective countries. Challenges posed by the safe operation and maintenance of older facilities are of particular relevance.  The group has also worked on maintenance for the safe operation of mobile facilities.

This was the foundation for an audit series in 2020 on the subject of maintenance for safe operation, with a common basis and questions tailored to each country’s regulations and language. The audits were then carried out as part of the ordinary audit programme.

The joint report describes the audit series and summarises findings and lessons learned.  Findings from the audits are presented in a report which discusses good or poor practice in order to indicate improvement points and possible experience transfer.

Drilling and wells working group (NSOAF-WWG)

The group exchanges information and cooperates on safety and working environment issues relating to drilling and well operations, well integrity and blowout prevention.

The group’s activities are also intended to contribute to continuous improvement of safety and the working environment during drilling operations, well workovers and other well-related activities.

Network on regulations (NSOAF-LG WG)

Through this network, information and experience on relevant EU work are shared between the North Sea countries. This applies to planned, proposed and adopted framework conditions and the incorporation of EU/EEA regulations in the respective countries.

The network also exchanges information about the harmonised EU/EEA regulations in order to contribute to shared understanding and implementation of the regulations between the countries.

Network for offshore wind (NSOAF-WERG)

This network group has been put in abeyance for the time being, since a separate group has been established under the International Regulators Forum (IRF).

Carbon capture and storage working group (NSOAF-CCS)

The carbon capture and storage (CCS) working group consists of representatives from the agencies that regulate or supervise CCS in the North Sea.

This working group was created in 2023. The main focus is on sharing information and experiences related to CO2 storage and transport by pipeline.

Some of the member states are already working on regulations for CO2 storage.