Safety of offshore oil and gas operations

The majority of oil and gas production in Europe takes place offshore. In 2021, the EU countries reported 347 installations in European waters. Given the EU's high energy demand, these operations help ensure a secure supply of energy.

Accidents, such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, illustrate the need for comprehensive safety measures for offshore operations. While safety is the primary responsibility of operators and individual countries, EU rules are important as an accident in one country can also cause environmental and economic damage to its neighbours.

Under the Directive on Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations (2013/30/EU), the EU  put in place a set of rules to help prevent accidents, as well as respond promptly and efficiently should one occur.

Before offshore gas or oil exploration or production begins, companies must prepare a "Report on Major Hazards" for their offshore installation. It must contain a risk assessment and an emergency response plan and companies must keep resources at hand in order to put them into operation when necessary.

When granting licenses, EU countries must ensure that companies are well-financed and have the necessary technical expertise and technical solutions, to ensure the safety of installations. This must be independently verified and done prior to the installation going into operation.

The Directive also requires that national authorities verify safety provisions, environmental protection measures and the emergency preparedness of rigs and platforms. If companies do not respect the minimum standards, EU countries can impose sanctions, including halting production.

Information on how companies and EU countries keep installations safe must be made available to citizens and companies will be fully liable for environmental damages caused to protected marine species and natural habitats. For damage to marine habitats, the geographical zone will cover all EU marine waters, including exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.

Under the Directive, citizens can express opinions and comments on the environmental effects of planned offshore oil and gas exploration operations and must be duly informed by the authorities of their respective EU country.

In 2015, the European Commission published a report and staff working document (SWD/2015/167) on liability and compensation in the case of offshore accidents in Europe. These documents look at how bodily injury, property damage and economic losses are handled, as well as the financial security instruments that would cover such damage. They build on the findings of a study carried out for the Commission that was published in 2014.

The competent authorities of EU countries work together through the European Union Offshore Oil and Gas Authorities Group (EUOAG) to share best practices and improve standards.

To further promote offshore safety, the Commission works with its international partners on the implementation of the highest safety standards worldwide.

Since 2016, the Commission publishes annual reports on the safety of EU offshore oil and gas operations, the latest of which covers 2021.

The Directive on Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations (2013/30/EU) entered into force in 2013. EU countries had to transpose the Directive into national rules and regulations by 19 July 2015 and transitional periods for the industry applied until 19 July 2018.

The Commission assessed whether the Directive, as implemented by the countries, has achieved the objective of ensuring safe operations by

• avoiding major accidents
• limiting the number of incidents
• mitigating the effects of any unintended releases of hydrocarbons or other hazardous substances

In 2020 the Commission provided a report assessing the implementation of the Directive, along with a Staff Working Document with additional background information.

• Study: Decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations (February 2022)
• Report assessing the implementation of directive 2013/30/EU COM(2020) 732 final | Accompanying Staff Working Document SWD(2020) 269 final
• Report on liability, compensation and financial security for offshore oil and gas operations pursuant to Article 39 of Directive 2013/30/EU | Staff working document SWD(2015) 167 final
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1112/2014
• Study: Civil liability, financial security and compensation claims for offshore oil and gas activities in the European Economic Area (August 2014)
• Directive 2013/30/EU on safety of offshore Oil and gas operations