UK Act of Parliament
1998
United Kingdom
Petroleum Act 1998
At a glance
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 13
- Landlord 2
- Director or Officer 2
- Occupier 1
Plus 7 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Landlords also bound by 216 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 2016 74 duties
- Housing Act 1985 1985 53 duties
- Housing Act 1996 1996 30 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003 2003 27 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2004 2004 26 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1A — Maximising economic recovery of UK petroleum
Exercise of certain functions of the OGA
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NSTA must act in accordance with current energy strategies Statutory regulator
Exercise of certain functions of the Secretary of State
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must follow strategy for offshore decommissioning costs Crown / Minister / Government department
Carrying out of certain petroleum industry activities
- Align petroleum activities with official government strategies Landlord
Producing and revising a strategy
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NSTA must review the UK petroleum strategy every four years Statutory regulator
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The principal objective and the strategy
Reports by the Secretary of State
OGA's security and resilience functions
Procedure for producing and revising a strategy
“Upstream petroleum infrastructure” and its owners
“Relevant offshore installations” and their owners
Other interpretation
Part I — Petroleum
Information
2 years imprisonment- Unauthorised disclosure of licence transfer information Any Person
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Meaning of “petroleum”.
Rights to petroleum vested in Her Majesty.
Licences to search and bore for and get petroleum.
Licences: further provisions.
Onshore hydraulic fracturing: safeguards
Section 4A: supplementary provision
Existing licences.
Rights transferred without the consent of appropriate authority
Offences under section 5B: supplemental
OGA’s power to require information about change in control of licensee
Repayments for development.
Ancillary rights.
Power to inspect plans of mines.
Interpretation of Part 1
Supplementary.
Part II — Offshore activities
Application of criminal law etc.
2 years imprisonment- Individual liability for corporate offshore offences Director or Officer
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part III — Submarine pipelines
Construction and use of pipelines.
Unlimited fine- Obtain written authorisation before constructing or using offshore pipelines Any Person
Provisions relating to certain offshore gas storage facilities.
- Publish commercial conditions for offshore gas storage Any Person
Section 17D: supplemental.
- Keep accounting records for offshore gas storage activities Occupier
Acquisition of rights to use controlled petroleum pipelines.
- Apply to the pipeline owner before seeking regulator intervention Landlord
Section 17F: supplemental.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NSTA may require information regarding pipeline use applications Statutory regulator
Controlled petroleum pipeline subject to Norwegian access system
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NSTA must determine disputes over Norwegian pipeline access terms Statutory regulator
Enforcement of certain duties in sections 17B, 17D and 17E. Enforcement of duty in section 17GA
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State may enforce petroleum pipeline duties via court order Crown / Minister / Government department
Criminal proceedings.
2 years imprisonment- Unauthorised pipeline works or breach of petroleum regulations Director or Officer
Civil liability for breach of statutory duty.
- You may be civilly liable for personal injury caused by safety breaches Any Person
Orders and regulations.
2 years imprisonmentOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult and consider law when making regulations Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Authorisations.
Compulsory modifications of pipelines.
Acquisition of rights to use pipelines.
Application of section 17B to certain downstream gas pipelines.
Additional provisions relating to certain downstream gas pipelines.
Application of section 17D to certain offshore gas storage facilities.
Section 17GA: supplemental
Termination of authorisations.
Vesting of pipelines on termination or subsequent issue of authorisations.
Inspectors etc.
Enforcement.
Application of Part III.
Meaning of “pipeline”.
Meaning of “owner”.
Interpretation of Part III.
Part IV — Abandonment of offshore installations
Restriction on abandonment
2 years imprisonment- Abandon offshore installation or pipeline without approved programme Any Person
Persons who may be required to submit programmes.
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with a notice to provide programme information Any Person
Failure to submit programmes.
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with information notice for abandonment programme Any Person
Amendment of programmes
- Keep decommissioning costs to a minimum when amending programs Any Person
Duty to carry out programmes.
- Carry out and comply with approved offshore abandonment programmes Any Person
Reduction of costs of carrying out programmes
- Fail to comply with notice to reduce abandonment programme costs Any Person
Default in carrying out programmes.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with an abandonment notice Any Person
Financial resources.
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with or give false information under a financial notice Any Person
Abandoned wells
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with notice to plug or abandon well Any Person
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Preparation of programmes.
Section 29 notices: supplementary provisions.
Approval of programmes.
Revision of programmes.
Withdrawal of approval.
Protection of funds set aside for the purposes of abandonment programme
Directions to provide information about protected assets
Charges in connection with exercise of functions under Part 4
Regulations.
Offences: penalties.
Offences: general.
Validity of Secretary of State’s acts.
Notices.
Meaning of “offshore installation”.
Interpretation of Part IV.
Part V — Miscellaneous and General
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Northern Ireland and Isle of Man shares of petroleum revenue.
Loans for development.
Factors for the OGA to take into account
Interpretation.
Transitional provisions and savings.
Consequential amendments.
Repeals and revocations.
Commencement.
Short title and extent.
Schedules
Browse 90 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Authorisations under section 14
Repeals and revocations
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(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision...
Where the OGA issues an authorisation other than a works...
The OGA shall, on receiving an application for a works...
Where the OGA serves on an applicant notice under paragraph...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (1A), this paragraph applies where the...
(1) Where under paragraph 4 the OGA serves on the...
The purposes referred to in paragraph 4(1) are—
Where the OGA— (a) is satisfied that an applicant for...
(1) Where the OGA decides not to issue a works...
(1) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) apply where the OGA issues...
(1) The repeal (or revocation) and re-enactment of provisions in...
Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 2, the repeal...
(1) The substitution by this Act of paragraph (b) of...
Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, an authorisation...
The reference in section 23(2)(a) to the Fatal Accidents Act...
The repeal by this Act of an enactment previously repealed...
The repeal by this Act of section 1(1) of the...
Nothing in section 2 or 3 shall be taken to...
(1) Nothing in this Act affects the validity of the...
(1) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act—
Without prejudice to paragraph 1, any reference in any enactment...
(1) In relation to any time after the commencement of...
Any reference in— (a) section 20 to Part III of...
At the end of section 23 of the Mining Industry...
In section 49(3) of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act...
In the Race Relations Act 1976, in sections 8(5) (employment...
In section 9 of the Energy Act 1976 (liquefaction of...
In Article 13(5) of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order...
In section 132 of the Patents Act 1977 (application of...
In section 1 of the Gas Levy Act 1981 (gas...
In section 118 of the Finance Act 1981 (licence payments...
In the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982, in—
In section 1 of the Petroleum Royalties (Relief) Act 1983...
In section 107 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (application to...
(1) The Continental Shelf Act 1964 shall be amended as...
After section 7 of the Food and Environment Protection Act...
In section 6 of the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985...
In section 62 of the Gas Act 1986 (exclusion of...
In section 24 of the Petroleum Act 1987 (safety zones:...
In section 2 of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 (enactments...
In section 1 of the Petroleum Royalties (Relief) and Continental...
In section 58 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (territorial...
In section 14 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act...
In section 2 of the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1968...
In section 120 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits...
In section 166 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits...
(1) The Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 shall be...
(1) The Offshore Safety Act 1992 shall be amended as...
(1) Section 287 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations...
In Article 3 of the Offshore, and Pipelines, Safety (Northern...
In section 94A of the Finance Act 1993 (parts of...
In section 165 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (application...
(1) The Coal Industry Act 1994 shall be amended as...
In section 293 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (functions...
For section 23 of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act...
(1) Section 201 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 shall...
In Article 69(2) of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order...
In Schedule 15 to the Finance Act 1973 (territorial extension...
In section 20 of the Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act...
(1) The Oil Taxation Act 1975 shall be amended as...
In section 10 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (employment...
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 1 other section
Table of Derivations
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Licensing regime (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Charging regime and fees (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Operatorship (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Pipeline Works Authorisations (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Flaring and venting (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Consents (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- PON 9 (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Field determinations (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- Decommissioning programme consultation (opens in a new tab) from NSTA Detailed Guidance
- NSTA: licensing (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 7 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
NSTA
PrimaryNorth Sea Transition Authority
Licenses and regulates the UK oil and gas, offshore hydrogen, and carbon storage industries. Issues petroleum production licences and CO2 storage licences. …
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning
Regulates environmental aspects of offshore oil and gas, carbon storage, and gas unloading/storage. Issues environmental permits, approves oil spill response plans, and …
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Regulators
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