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Activities to explore for or produce oil and gas in the EEZ usually involve a number of steps.
Oil and gas operations take a lot of planning to understand the environment, map the geological formation, determine the size of the reservoir, and develop a way to extract the hydrocarbons.
Here you'll find information about some of the activities involved in oil and gas operations that may be permitted or require a marine consent.
Initial exploration activity could involve seabed sampling which is a permitted activity. The activity should be notified to the EPA using forms available on our website – the first one is required at least 40 working days before activity begins. Further notification to affected iwi may be required as well as a description of your activity and contingency plan should a sensitive environment be encountered. We will put your initial notification form on our website prior to your activity commencing. Once underway, keep the EPA informed, and then send us a summary of your activity once it is complete.
For more information see the section on marine scientific research, prospecting and exploration
Seismic surveys are undertaken to obtain subsurface information about the geology. This is a permitted activity in the EEZ or waters of the Continental Shelf provided that you follow Department of Conservation (DOC)'s 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations (the Code). DOC should be contacted if you are planning a seismic survey. You need to follow the procedures for pre-activity notification as described for seabed sampling. We monitor compliance with requirements in the Code of Conduct.
For more information see the section on marine seismic surveys
Non-notified consent is required for exploration and appraisal drilling. Development drilling follows a notified consent process which has a longer time frame.
Drilling is regulated by a number of different agencies. However environmental effects such as the disturbance of the seabed, or removal of non-living material, are restricted by the EEZ Act.
No matter what type of drilling is planned, an application should address:
It should also include an impact assessment as specified under s 39 of the EEZ Act.
Any discharge of harmful substances during exploration or production activity must either comply with the Discharge and Dumping Regulations 2015 or may be controlled through conditions in a marine consent. The applicable consent decision-making process depends on the discharge activity, with some needing a fully-notified consent.
Discretionary discharges of harmful substances considered during a consent application may include:
All offshore installations require an emergency spill response plan (ESRP) for spills of harmful substances. The ESRP excludes oil, which is covered under Maritime New Zealand's requirement that operators have an oil spill contingency plan (OSCP). ESRPs must be approved by the EPA.
Emergency Spill Response Plan application form (docx 365KB)
We monitor compliance with the general conditions imposed through marine consents.
To undertake a permitted discharge, you must comply with the conditions set out in the Regulations. The following discharges are permitted:
You can find more information on this under the Process for marine consents section and under the Discharges of harmful substances sections.
The EPA monitors compliance with regulations and conditions imposed through marine consents. Under the Discharge and Dumping Regulations, operators of an offshore installation are required to:
Find out about the applications and permits that can be used in the EEZ.
Contact the team to discuss your activities and application requirements.
Link to the Exclusive Economic Zone Act and Regulations.
How to request a ruling to continue activities that began prior to the EEZ Act.