Greenpeace to challenge BP North Sea drilling permit following judicial review

Climate activist group Greenpeace has been given the legal right to challenge oil giant BP over a North Sea drilling permit on the eve of the firm appointing its new chief executive.

The protest group said it will take the UK Government to task over its decision to grant BP a permit to drill in the Vorlich field.

BP’s new chief executive Bernard Looney is expected to take over tomorrow.

Regulator the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) granted BP a permit develop the Vorlich field in the central North Sea in September.

It is a two-well development 150 miles east of Aberdeen.

The £200 million project will target 30 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and is expected to produce 20,000 boe per day at peak.

BP declined to comment on the legal challenge.

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