CONTENTS

• Section 1 Scope
• Section 2 (Repealed by Royal Decree 24 May 2013)
• Section 3 Regulatory supervision of resource management
• Section 4 Reimbursement of expenses in connection with regulatory supervision
• Section 5 Reimbursement of expenses in connection with official travel
• Section 6 Documentation
• Section 7 Particular reimbursement etc.
• Section 8 Claims for reimbursement and sector fee, etc
• Section 9 Sector fee
• Section 10 Entry into force etc.

Section 1
Scope

These regulations are applicable to collection of the sector fee and to regulatory supervision of resource management in the petroleum activities in areas mentioned in Act 29 November 1996 no 72 relating to petroleum activities, section 1-4 and in activities pursuant to Regulation No. 1517 of 5 December 2014 relating to exploitation of subsea reservoirs on the continental shelf for storage of CO2 and relating to transportation of CO2 on the continental shelf, section 1-3.

Section 2
(Repealed by Royal Decree 24 May 2013)

Section 3
Regulatory supervision of resource management

Reimbursement may be claimed for regulatory supervision of resource management in the following cases: 
-    participation as observer in committee meetings in licences as mentioned in Act 29 November 1996 no 72 relating to petroleum activities,
-     other necessary meetings in connection with regulatory supervision of licences etc, 
-    metrological supervision, 
-    registration of new wells.

The Ministry of Energy may decide that reimbursement shall also be claimed in other cases for regulatory supervision of resource management.

Section 4

Reimbursement of expenses in connection with regulatory supervision

Regulatory supervision, including travelling time, which is carried out under these regulations, will be invoiced at a rate of NOK 1390 per hour(2025-NOK). The Norwegian Offshore Directorate may adjust the hourly rate on an annual basis in accordance with the index adjustments for wage and price inflation set out in the National Budget.

Section 5
Reimbursement of expenses in connection with official travel

Expenses in connection with official travel shall be invoiced according to the official scale for travel expenses.

Section 6
Documentation

Expenses claimed for reimbursement according to these regulations, shall be paid on the basis of lists of applied time.

When calculating applied time, working time up to 30 minutes or less shall be counted as half an hour, and time in excess of 30 minutes shall be counted as one full hour.

The party required to reimburse the expenses, may require the regulatory authority to submit lists of applied hours.

Section 7
Particular reimbursement etc

Should it prove impossible to carry out scheduled regulatory supervision outside regular work sites when the regulatory authority appears on site, and this is not caused by the regulatory authority itself, the licensee or the party subject to the regulatory supervision, shall pay an amount equivalent to twice the hourly rate, cf. Section 4 for each official present. This amount is in addition to the hourly rate and travel expenses. If the reason the regulatory supervision cannot be carried out is beyond the control of the licensee or the party subject to regulatory supervision, the regulatory authority may, nevertheless, decide  not to demand a refund.

The regulatory authority may make use of other public or private corporate bodies or natural persons to assist in the regulatory supervision of petroleum activities. If such corporate bodies or natural persons assist in the regulatory supervision, the regulatory authority shall stipulate the amount of the refunding due in each individual case.

In the case of regulatory expenses for which the fees stipulated by these regulations are unsuitable, the regulatory authority may stipulate specific fees according to the nature and extent of the work and other circumstances. The regulatory authority may stipulate fees for specific tasks if this is considered more appropriate.

Section 8
Claims for reimbursement etc

The sector fee and reimbursement for expenses in connection with regulatory supervision may be claimed from the licensee or from the party subject to or hosting the regulatory supervision in the individual case.
The regulatory authority may require a bank guarantee or similar to cover the supervision expenses and the sector fee.

In the event that the sector fee or supervision expenses are not paid when due, interest shall accrue on the amount pursuant to Act 17 December 1976 no 100 relating to interest on overdue payments etc.

Section 9
Sector fee

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate may collect a sector fee to cover costs in connection with follow-up tasks aimed at all or parts of the petroleum activities and which concern digital infrastructure and digitalisation, data management and -sharing, knowledge development and -sharing, storage and accessibility of geological sample materials.

The sector fee is an annual fee of up to NOK 175,000 per year (2025-NOK) which is the same for each production licence as of 1 January of the year covered by the fee. The maximum sector fee limit of NOK 175,000 will be index-adjusted on an annual basis by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate in accordance with index adjustments for wage and price inflation set out in the National Budget.

Each year, in connection with collecting the sector fee, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate will prepare a calculation basis for the sector fee based on costs as mentioned in the first paragraph over the course of the previous year. The Norwegian Offshore Directorate shall stipulate the sector fee based on the calculation basis. The calculation basis shall be published. The sector fee falls due for payment no later than 31 March of the year covered by the fee, from and including 2026.

In 2025, the sector fee will be up to NOK 87,500, the calculation basis will be prepared by 1 July and the fee will fall due for payment on 1 September.

The sector fee shall be paid to the State, represented by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate. The operator of the production licence is responsible for the payment.

The duty to pay the sector fee will end the year after a production licence is surrendered, lapses or expires.

Section 10
Entry into force etc.

These regulations enter into force 1 July 1997. As from the same date, the regulations of 26 March 1993 no 222 relating to collection of fees payable to the Treasury for supervision of the petroleum activities are repealed.

Important information

English version is not necessarily updated according to recent changes at any time.