About us

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

We support the management of the offshore petroleum and GHG titles by:

• providing expert advice to industry and decision makers
• administering titles and monitoring compliance
• managing data submissions and release
• supporting the effective management of offshore resources.

We do this in line with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act).

Who we are

We are a branch within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR).

The General Manager of NOPTA holds the below statutory positions:

• Titles Administrator – under the OPGGS Act
• Offshore Infrastructure Registrar – under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021(OEI Act).

View our department’s organisation chart.

Our role

Our key functions relating to petroleum and GHG activity.

Advice and decision making

Our legislative functions include:

• provide information, assessments, analysis, reports, advice and recommendations to the relevant decision-makers under the OPGGS Act
• Act as decision-maker for the approval and registration of changes in company control, transfers and dealings, and for granting short-term petroleum and GHG titles
• 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.

Titles administration and compliance

We are responsible for:

• facilitating life-of-title administration, including compliance monitoring
• engaging with titleholders on their performance in meeting regulatory obligations and expectations
• maintaining the public registers of offshore petroleum and GHG titles, and offshore electricity licences.

Resource and storage management

We support the effective management of offshore resources by:

• ensuring petroleum resource management is undertaken in accordance with the principles of good oilfield practice
• working with NOPSEMA to ensure GHG storage facilitates permanent storage
• implementing effective field performance and plume monitoring strategies.

Data management and transparency

We are responsible for managing the data submissions and release.

Financial and corporate administration

NOPTA operates on a full cost recovery basis and is funded via industry fees and levies.

Our financial administration functions include:

• collecting fees and levies as per 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.

Our performance

Our performance measures relating to activity under the OPGGS Act are in our department’s Corporate plan (measure 16).

We also report on progress toward meeting our strategic goals for activity relating to the OPGGS and OEI acts are in our:

• NOPTA report of activities
• department's Annual report.

Work with us

Career opportunities with NOPTA are advertised on our department’s Careers portal and the APS Jobs website.

Contact us

• Email: cap@nopta.gov.au