The framework regulations § 27

§ 27 Matters relating to health, safety and the environment in the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) of petroleum deposits and the Plan for Installation and Operation (PIO) of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum

1.Joint provisions
Plans that the licensee is required to prepare pursuant to Sections 4-2 and 4-3 of the Petroleum Act, shall contain an overall account of aspects of the chosen production strategy and development concept. The plans shall be submitted to the Ministry of Energy with copies to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate and the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority.
The documentation mentioned in the first subsection shall be adapted to the scope of the development or project. The account contained in the development section shall include:
  1. the health, safety and environment objectives and the acceptance criteria for risk,
  2. the project's organisation and management systems,
  3. the operator's handling of the interfaces between the participants in the development, coordination and follow-up of the participants' activities,
  4. matters of importance for health, safety and the environment in the event of coordination of petroleum activities,
  5. progress in the project,
  6. programme for qualification of new technology,
  7. a plan for carrying out and following up analyses,
  8. an overview of technical or area-specific documents that can elaborate the description in the plans,
  9. an overview of standards and specifications applicable to the development,
  10. operation and maintenance requirements,
  11. plans for a health service, including preventive health services and curative services, hygiene and health-related preparedness,
  12. other matters of importance for health, safety and the environment.


2.Onshore petroleum activities
In addition to the documentation mentioned in number 1, the account contained in the development section of the PDO and PIO, shall include:
  1. description of location and area use/overall layout plan,
  2. proposed area with restrictions in the right of disposal and evaluation of the need for an area development plan or amendment to an existing area development plan,
  3. information regarding other permits, etc. applied for pursuant to other applicable legislation.


3.Offshore petroleum activities
In addition to the documentation mentioned in number 1, the account contained in the development section of the PDO and PIO shall include:
  1. the main plan for drilling and well activities as regards development wells,
  2. an evaluation of development concept as regards the use of manned underwater operations during all phases of the petroleum activities,
  3. the safety zones during development and operation of the petroleum deposits,
  4. disposal alternatives when petroleum activities cease.
If, pursuant to Section 4-2 or Section 4-3 of the Petroleum Act, an application is made for exemption from the requirements for plans as mentioned in the first subsection, then the main plan for drilling and well activities, as mentioned in number 3, litera a, shall be enclosed.
Section last changed: 01 January 2024

1.Joint provisions
The provision applies to onshore facilities covered by the Petroleum Act, cf. these guidelines, No. 2 regarding onshore petroleum activities. The terminology of the Petroleum Act is continued in this provision, so that facilities also includes onshore facilities covered by the Act. As regards the management of the external environment at the onshore facilities, the section will, in general, not replace provisions in the pollution regulations.
The provision clarifies the Petroleum Act, Section 4-2 regarding Plans for Development and Operation (PDO) of petroleum deposits and Section 4-3 regarding permission for, and Plans for Installation and Operation (PIO) of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum, by setting supplementary requirements for the documents related to health, safety and environment that shall accompany the plans. The provision is coordinated with corresponding documentation provisions in the Regulations relating to the Petroleum Act, cf. Sections 21 (in Norwegian only) and 29. For example, it is also expressly stated in this section, cf. second subsection, that the documentation shall be adapted to the scope of the development or project. Reference is also made to the Guidelines for Plans for Development and Operation of a petroleum deposit (PDO) and Plans for Installation and Operation of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum (PIO) , which are available from the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority.

For second subsection litera a
The account should include a description of the risk reduction processes that have been used.

For second subsection litera c
The interfaces mentioned in the second subsection litera c, are interfaces between the operator and the contractors and between the various contractors.

For second subsection litera d
Coordination of the petroleum activities as mentioned in the second subsection litera d, can mean plans to recover the deposits from, or in some other manner directly attach the deposits to, an existing facility that is owned or operated by others. The requirement in litera d entails e.g. that where the plan entails such use of other facilities, matters of significance for health, safety and environment in connection with any modifications to such facilities, shall be described in the plan. In general, reference can be made to an already approved Plan for Development and Operation for the facility. It can also be relevant to require an amended Plan for Development and Operation for the facility in question, cf. Section 4-2, seventh subsection of the Petroleum Act.

For second subsection litera j
The requirements in the second subsection litera j, will also include solutions to prevent and minimise emissions/discharges and plans for how environmental monitoring can be carried out in the area.

2.Onshore petroleum activities
The scope of the Petroleum Act is regulated in Section 1-4 of the Act, cf. Section 1-6. Here it is stated that the Petroleum Act applies to petroleum activities, including production and utilisation, related to subsea petroleum deposits subject to Norwegian jurisdiction. Utilisation of recovered petroleum that takes place on Norwegian land territory, is only included when such utilisation is necessary for or amounts to an integrated part of production or transport of petroleum. Necessary means both what is necessary based on physical conditions, and what is necessary based on how the activity is organised. This is discussed in more detail in Odelsting Proposition No. 46 (2002-2003) regarding the Act relating to changes in the Act of 29 November 1996 No. 72 relating to petroleum activities. Examples of facilities for utilisation of petroleum that are not necessary for production or transport of petroleum and which fall outside the scope of the Petroleum Act and thus this section, include gas power plants whose only purpose is to deliver energy to the grid or to land-based industrial activities and crude oil refineries, where recovered petroleum can be delivered for processing to this or to another refinery. Thus, the crude oil refinery at Mongstad does not fall under the Petroleum Act, and neither under this section. Where the requirement for PDO/PIO does not apply, Section 28 of these regulations applies. The Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) has a practice whereby the PDO can be used as a basis in connection with applications for primary permits.
As regards pipeline systems, this provision means that only one application is submitted for the entire system up to the onshore facility. The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority will submit applications to those municipalities affected by the transport.
The third subsection sets requirements for submission of information on conditions of particular safety-related importance for onshore petroleum facilities or pipeline systems, and which are not evident from requirements for information in connection with the PDO and PIO in offshore petroleum regulations. This applies e.g. to information regarding safety-related matters in relation to neighbours and third parties, as well as other considerations that are separate from the offshore petroleum activities.

For third subsection litera a
The requirement applies to a description of the area where the facility will be built, and of the immediate surroundings, with information regarding settlement and the activities that take place there, including a description of the pipeline system with a plan for route classification. The land-use plan/overall layout plan shows the use of the areas within the construction area applied for.

For third subsection litera b
The requirement entails ensuring that the area the applicant has at its disposal, is sufficient for the planned activities.

For third subsection litera c
The requirement entails that information should be provided on the relationship with other authorities, including a short statement of which local and regional authorities are involved in connection with the facility, and any applications submitted to these authorities.

Furthermore, as regards matters of significance for health, safety and working environment for onshore petroleum facilities or pipeline systems, a brief description should be provided of planned fire preparedness and protective gear at the enterprise and municipal or regional public fire preparedness.

3.Offshore petroleum activities
For fourth subsection litera a
Guidelines for the content in the master plan as mentioned in the fourth subsection litera a, are provided in Guidelines for Plans for Development and Operation of a petroleum deposit (PDO) and Plans for Installation and Operation of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum (PIO), Chapter 5.13.

For fourth subsection litera b
The requirement in the fourth subsection litera b, is a continuation of Section 13 of the previous Regulations relating to manned underwater operations, etc.

The fifth subsection clarifies Section 4-2, sixth subsection and Section 4-3, fourth subsection of the Petroleum Act, and continues the current practice. The authority to waive the requirement for a Plan for Development and Operation of petroleum deposits and the requirement for a Plan for Installation and Operation of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum has been given to the Ministry of Energy. Criteria for exemption and content of the application for exemption are discussed in more detail in Odelsting Proposition No. 43 (1995-1996), pages 43 and 44, respectively.
Reference is made to the provisions regarding regional impact analyses in the Petroleum Act and in the Regulations relating to the Petroleum Act (in Norwegian only). The rules regarding regional impact assessments pursuant to the Petroleum Act and the Petroleum Regulations (in Norwegian only) are commented on in more detail in the Guidelines for Plans for Development and Operation of a petroleum deposit (PDO) and Plans for Installation and Operation of facilities for transport and utilisation of petroleum (PIO), .