Oil Spill Contingency Plans

All offshore oil and gas installations, including exploration drilling and production facilities, must have an oil spill contingency plan (OSCP). This is required under Marine Protection Rules Part 131.

Maritime New Zealand reviews each OSCP.

The environmental risk is assessed based on the oil or gas product that is going to be produced. This risk assessment helps to pre-plan the best possible response options in case there is an accidental spill.

An approved OSCP shows that the operator of the oil or gas facility has:

minimised the risk of an accidental oil spill and
detailed emergency response plans in place in case a spill does occur

Marine Protection Rules Part 131: Offshore Installations

Well Control Contingency Plans (WCCP)

Operators of offshore installations involved in drilling exploration wells are required to provide a WCCP as part of their oil spill contingency plan.

MNZ has produced the following guidance material that will assist operators with what should be included in their WCCP.

Well Control Contingency Plan Guidance Note [PDF: 285kB, 10 pages]

Guidelines for owners subject to Marine Protection Rules Part 131 can be found here:

Offshore Installations – Oil Spill Contingency Plans and Oil Pollution Prevention Certification [PDF: 384kB, 11 pages]

This guidance about oil spill contingency plans for offshore installations should be read with the guidance for Marine Protection Rules Part 102 Certificates of Insurance for Regulated Offshore Installations.

Application forms for approval of oil spill contingency plans (Form A) and approval of modifications to approved oil spill contingency plans (Form B) can be found here:

Offshore installations OSCP approval application form (Form A) [PDF: 281kB, 11 pages] Offshore installations modification to approved OSCP application form (Form B) [PDF: 251kB, 10 pages]