Under international law, Australia has sovereignty over the territorial sea and sovereign rights for exploring and developing mineral and hydrocarbon resources over the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf. This jurisdiction extends from the territorial sea baseline to the outer edge of the Continental Shelf.
For petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) titles administration purposes, NOPTA regulates all offshore areas in Commonwealth waters, which comprise those areas beyond the first three nautical miles of the territorial sea.
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is Australia's independent expert regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity and environmental management for all offshore oil and gas operations and greenhouse gas storage activities in Commonwealth waters, and in coastal waters where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred. For further information on NOPSEMA see www.nopsema.gov.au
