The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Notification of well operations

21.—(1) The well operator shall ensure that no well operation is commenced from a production installation in external waters unless—

(a) in the case of a well operation that does not involve drilling, but involves—

(i) insertion of a hollow pipe in a well; or

(ii) altering the construction of a well,

the well operator has sent a notification containing the particulars specified in Schedule 10 to the competent authority at least ten days (or such shorter period as the competent authority may specify) before commencing that operation; or

(b) in any other case, the well operator has sent a notification containing the particulars specified in Schedule 10 to the competent authority at least 21 days (or such shorter period as the competent authority may specify) before commencing that operation.

(2) The well operator shall ensure that no well operation is commenced in external waters (other than a well operation falling within paragraph (1)) unless the well operator has sent a notification containing the particulars specified in Schedule 10 to the competent authority at least 21 days (or such shorter period as the competent authority may specify) before commencing that operation.

(3) The well operator shall include with the notification sent to the competent authority a statement, made after considering reports by the well examiner under regulation 11(2)(b), that the risk management relating to well design and its barriers to loss of control are suitable for all anticipated conditions and circumstances.

(4) Where the well operator plans or prepares a material change to any of the particulars notified pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), the well operator shall consult the well examiner under the well examination scheme about the planned or prepared material change.

(5) Where there is a material change in any of the particulars notified pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) prior to completion of the relevant well operation, the well operator shall notify the competent authority of that change as soon as practicable.

(6) A notification of a material change under paragraph (5) shall contain sufficient details fully to update the previously submitted notification and be accompanied by the report of the well examiner following the consultation under paragraph (4), addressing in particular the matters in paragraph 6(c) to (e) of Schedule 10.

(7) The well operator shall not commence a well operation (of any description) where the competent authority expresses objections to the content of the notification sent in respect of the well operation or to any change to that content notified to the competent authority pursuant to paragraph (5).

(8) Subject to paragraph (9), the well operator shall include a copy of the corporate major accident prevention policy with a notification sent to the competent authority pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2).

(9) Paragraph (8) does not apply where the well operator has previously sent its corporate major accident prevention policy to the competent authority or where it is not required to have one.