About NOPTA

The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) administers titles and data management for petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) titles in Australian Commonwealth waters.

NOPTA supports the management of the offshore petroleum and GHG titles by providing expert advice, administration, compliance monitoring and data management in accordance with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act).

NOPTA is a Branch within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the department). The General Manager of NOPTA is the Titles Administrator, a statutory position under the OPGGS Act. NOPTA operates on a full cost recovery basis and is funded via industry fees and levies.

The responsible Commonwealth Minister for offshore petroleum and GHG storage activity is the Minister for Resources (the Minister), The Hon. Madeleine King MP .

In accordance with the department's corporate plan, NOPTA’s vision is to contribute to national prosperity by providing efficient and effective administration of Australia's offshore petroleum and GHG regimes, on transition to net zero. NOPTA’s approach to delivering this is outlined in our strategic plan and is based on 4 key pillars:

Resource Stewardship	Provide responsible administrative and regulatory oversight of Australia’s offshore petroleum and GHG projects.
Leveraging Information & Technology	Improve and integrate our systems to enhance security, information, accessibility, and evidence-based decision making.
Engagement	Enhance stakeholder engagement strategies to promote efficient and effective working relationships.
Regulatory Excellence	Foster and support a cost efficient, high performing workforce, focused on continuous improvement, best practice outcomes and a positive workplace culture.

NOPTA reports on its performance and progress toward meeting its strategic deliverables in its annual report of activities and the department’s annual report.

NOPTA regularly engages with relevant stakeholders through a range of activities including company meetings, government and industry consultation, and participation in domestic and international events. These activities inform NOPTA’s execution of its functions and assist in identifying opportunities to reduce the level of regulatory burden on industry while achieving desired outcomes.

NOPTA works collaboratively with the department to provide constructive input into regulatory processes and to implement changes to regulations and regulatory practices as they arise.

NOPTA’s offices are located in Perth and Melbourne.

Key Functions

NOPTA’s legislative functions are defined by the OPGGS Act. These include to:

• Provide information, assessments, analysis, reports, advice and recommendations to the relevant decision makers under the OPGGS Act.
• Facilitating life of title administration, including compliance monitoring.
• Engaging with titleholders on their performance in meeting regulatory obligations and expectations.
• Manage the submission and release of data.
• Decision maker for the approval and registration of a change in control of a company, transfers and dealings, and for granting of short-term petroleum and GHG titles.
• Maintain the public registers of offshore petroleum, greenhouse gas titles and offshore electricity licences.
• Cooperate with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) on matters relating to the administration and enforcement of the OPGGS Act and associated regulations.
• Ensuring petroleum resource management is undertaken in accordance with the principles of good oilfield practice.
• Work with NOPSEMA to ensure GHG storage is undertaken to facilitate permanent storage.
• Implementing effective field performance and plume monitoring strategies.
• Collect levies and fees in accordance with government policy and NOPTA’s approved Cost Recovery Implementation Statements.
• Maintaining special accounts consistent with the requirements of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013(PGPA Act).

On 16 December 2022, the General Manager of the NOPTA Branch was appointed as the Registrar under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 (OEI Act) by the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The Registrar is assisted by staff within NOPTA Branch. For further information visit https://www.nopta.gov.au/offshoreregistrar.html.

Background to the establishment of NOPTA

On 26 March 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced the Productivity Commission Review (PC) of regulatory burden on the upstream petroleum (oil & gas) sector. At the time, the states and Northern Territory carried out day-to-day offshore petroleum titles administration within Commonwealth waters (referred to as the Designated Authorities).

The PC was requested to consider Australia's framework for upstream petroleum regulation and consider opportunities for streamlining regulatory approvals, providing clear timeframes and removing duplication between jurisdictions.

The PC 'Review of Regulatory Burden on the Upstream Petroleum (Oil & Gas) Sector' (April 2009) made 30 recommendations including the establishment of a national offshore petroleum regulator in Commonwealth waters and the implementation of regulatory best practice.

The Varanus Island gas pipeline explosion in 2008 and the uncontrolled release of oil and gas from the Montara Wellhead Platform in 2009 also highlighted inadequacies in the offshore petroleum regulatory regime.

The June 2010 'Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry' recommended that the PC’s proposal to establish a national offshore petroleum regulator should be pursued at a minimum.

On 15 September 2011, the Parliament passed a package of amendment Acts to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act) and associated Acts to:

• Expand the functions of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) to become the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), the regulator of occupational health and safety, integrity of facilities and wells, environmental management and day to day operations relating to petroleum activities in Commonwealth waters.
• Create a National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA), within the then Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, to advise the Joint Authority on petroleum titles and to administer titles and data.
• Impose cost-recovery levies on holders of offshore petroleum titles in respect of environmental approvals and titles administration under the OPGGS Act to fund the new regulatory activities of NOPSEMA and NOPTA.

As a result of these amendments, from 1 January 2012, NOPTA and NOPSEMA commenced regulatory functions and powers under the OPGGS Act, and the former Designated Authorities were abolished.

Date	Activity
26 March 2008	The Council of Australian Governments announced the Productivity Commission Review into the regulatory burden of the upstream petroleum sector.
30 April 2009	Productivity Commission Report - Review of Regulatory Burden on the Upstream Petroleum (oil and gas) Sector was released.
5 August 2009	The then Minister for Resources and Energy announces his intention to form a national regulator by 1 January 2012.
21 August 2009	Uncontrolled hydrocarbon release from the Montara field.
5 November 2009	A Commission of Inquiry into the Montara incident was announced.
24 November 2010	The Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry was released.
25 May 2011	The Australian Government response to the Montara Commission of Inquiry was released.
25 May 2011	Australian Government response to the Productivity Commission Report - Review of Regulatory Burden on the Upstream Petroleum Sector was released.
1 January 2012	NOPTA and NOPSEMA commenced.
16 December 2022	General Manager of the NOPTA Branch appointed as Registrar under the OEI Act.