NOFO is a membership organization for operating companies on the Norwegian continental shelf, and our primary task is to ensure that our members have an effective and reliable oil spill response.
We continuously improve oil spill preparedness through the development and implementation of new technology. We also carry out regular verifications, exercises and courses to ensure that the preparedness is of high quality at all levels.
Purpose and tasks
Our purpose and tasks include administration and maintenance of oil spill response on the Norwegian continental shelf on behalf of our member companies. This involves managing personnel, equipment and vessels.
NOFO has significant oil spill response resources available to limit environmental damage in the event of an oil spill from the petroleum industry.
Our goals are to:
- Meet members’ needs for an efficient and reliable oil spill response.
- Continuously improve oil spill preparedness through technology development.
- Increase the level of knowledge and expertise in coastal and beach zone preparedness. Strengthen local efforts for environmental protection and oil spill response through active cooperation with inter-municipal committees against acute pollution (IUA).
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with state, municipal and private oil spill response organizations.
Our strategy and vision is to be recognized as a leading, efficient and reliable oil spill response organization at all times. Our overarching strategic goal is to ensure that oil spill response is in line with operators’ needs and contingency plans.
NOFO strategy 2021-2025
Through NOFO, the operating companies on the Norwegian continental shelf have a common strategy for oil spill preparedness.
The main points of the strategy up to 2025 are about maintaining and further developing effective and robust oil spill response, focusing on cooperation both nationally and internationally. The focus is also on further developing oil spill preparedness in general and further developing NOFO as an organization.
The strategy has been prepared by a working group appointed by NOFO’s Board of Directors. The group has consisted of representatives from the member companies, the board and NOFO administration.
NOFO's annual report
NOFO’s tasks, responsibilities and priorities are governed by the strategy that covers the period 2021-2025 and is focused on the further development of effective and robust oil spill response, national cooperation and development.
According to the strategy, NOFO shall deliver oil spill preparedness in accordance with its members’ needs at all times. In 2023, this included 94 producing fields and 28 exploration wells on the Norwegian shelf.
Emergency preparedness status is reported in a monthly KPI to the Board of Directors, which includes availability of necessary emergency preparedness materials, trained resources, emergency preparedness expertise, HSE statistics, sick leave and finances.
In 2023, the emergency response consisted of an ocean-going fleet of 25 vessels with associated oil spill response equipment, and more than 50 vessels in coastal emergency response in addition to extensive cooperation with state and municipal resources.
NOFO’s main activities include contingency planning and contingency building according to needs, exercise and training of all necessary contingency resources, and base operations, logistics and procurement and maintenance of oil spill response equipment and further development of corporate governance.
NOFO employs 46.7 full-time equivalents (FTEs), consisting of 44 full-time employees and 103 employees in low position fractions related to emergency response tasks.
Members
- Aker BP ASA
- A/S Norske Shell
- ConocoPhilips Norge AS
- DNO Norge AS
- Equinor Energy AS
- Harbour Energy AS
- OKEA ASA
- OMV Norway AS
- Orlen Upstream Norway
- Repsol Norge AS
- Sval Energi AS
- Total E&P Norge AS
- Vår Energi ASA
- Wellesley Petroleum AS
NOFO's board of directors
The NOFO General Meeting elects the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors consists of the following representatives:
Hilde Ådland
Chairman of the Board
Vår Energi
Asle Jøssang
Deputy Chairman
Equinor
John Gunnar Vedøy
Board member
Aker BP
Åshild Tandberg Skjærseth
Board member
OMV
Sara Zurawska Johannessen
Board member
Repsol
Jan Petter Wølstad
Employee representative
NOFO
Professional Forum, NOFO's expert forum
NOFO’s Professional Forum is a network of contact persons in NOFO’s member companies. Its task is to promote new ideas, suggestions for improvement and advice on the operator companies’ needs in terms of oil spill response. The Professional Forum is thus an advisory body for the CEO of NOFO.
The network’s input ensures that NOFO’s administration and management are updated on the members’ needs, while at the same time the participants’ knowledge contributes to creating better oil spill response on the Norwegian continental shelf.
International cooperation - Global Response Network
NOFO is a member of the Global Response Network (GRN), a global forum for sharing information and experiences related to operational oil spill preparedness. GRN itself is not a response organization for oil spill incidents.
NOFO participates with a representative on the Executive Committee, as well as with relevant personnel in the various operational teams.
For the period 2017 to 2021, NOFO’s CEO, Leif J. Kvamme, also serves as Chairman of the network.
Following the Macondo incident, several Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) were established to learn from the event and identify recommended focus areas. Some key areas have been highlighted, and a majority of NOFO’s members have internationally endorsed these as important principles.
Inter-municipal committees against acute pollution (IUA)
National oil spill preparedness
- NOFO is part of the established national emergency response model that combines public and private oil spill response resources.
- This unique organizational relationship between public and private emergency response organizations ensures that responsibilities and lines of command are clearly defined, and that Norway’s total emergency response resources are available at all times.
NOFO agreement partners
NOFO has agreements with IUAs in the areas that may be affected by acute pollution from the Norwegian shelf.
The agreement ensures that NOFO can make use of the IUA’s resources if acute pollution threatens the coastal and beach zone along the entire coast.
The IUA provides personnel for both response management and management in the sector and area. IUA also has equipment and personnel for shielding, management, remobilization and beach cleaning of oil emulsion.