Commencement and abandonment and plugging of wells
- Obtain Minister's consent before drilling, abandoning or plugging any well
UK Statutory Instrument
1991
United Kingdom
The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991
At a glance
What's here
68 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
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.
Schedules
Further controls on wells
- Comply with Minister's controls on well drilling, suspension and completion work
Provision of storage tanks, pipes, pipelines or other receptacles
- Use good oilfield practice to confine petroleum in proper receptacles
Avoidance of harmful methods of working
- Operate in line with good oilfield practice and avoid harmful working methods
Fishing and navigation
- Do not unjustifiably interfere with navigation, fishing or conservation of living resources
Appointment of operators
- Only use approved operators for organising or supervising petroleum operations
Training
- Comply with Minister's training instructions and provide training information
Licensee to keep records
- Keep accurate records of drilling and well operations
Returns
- Submit half-yearly returns on operations to the Minister
Licensee to keep samples
- Keep and preserve samples of strata and petroleum for 5 years
Inspection of records etc.
- Allow inspection of records by Crown-appointed inspectors
Indemnity against third party claims
- Keep the Minister indemnified against third party claims
Advertisements, prospectuses etc.
- Do not claim government endorses your petroleum licence area
Agreement not to assign
- Do not assign or share your petroleum licence without written consent
Payment of consideration for licence
- Pay the licence consideration specified in Schedule 2
Working obligations
- Carry out agreed petroleum exploration with due diligence and notify surveys
Short term and extended testing
- Do not extract petroleum except for short-term testing
Indemnity against third party claims
- Indemnify the Minister against third-party claims
Agreement not to assign
- Do not assign or transfer your licence rights without written consent
Payment of consideration for licence
- Pay the licence consideration amount to the Minister
Seismic surveys
- Notify Minister and planning authorities before seismic surveys
Licensee to keep records
- Keep geological records and deliver copies to the Minister as required
Returns
- Submit progress returns to the Minister and provide requested information
Measurement of petroleum obtained from the licensed area
- Measure all petroleum won from the licensed area using approved methods
Keeping of accounts
- Keep accurate accounts of petroleum won, saved and supplied
Working obligations
- Perform working obligations: appraise discoveries and notify seismic surveys on land
Appraisal production
- Do not get petroleum for appraisal without Minister's written consent
Commencement and abandonment and plugging of wells
- Obtain written consent for drilling and abandonment; plug wells correctly
Further controls on wells
- Do not suspend drilling or alter well equipment without Minister's written consent
Provision of storage tanks, pipes, pipelines or other receptacles
- Use good oilfield practice to contain extracted petroleum
Avoidance of harmful methods of working
- Maintain wells, prevent pollution, and follow good oilfield practice
Appointment of Operators
- Appoint only Minister-approved operators to supervise petroleum operations
Fishing and navigation
- Do not unjustifiably interfere with navigation or fishing near your licensed area
Training
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Comply with Minister's written training instructions and provide training information Crown / Minister / Government department
Licensee to keep records
- Keep accurate well drilling records and geological maps for your licensed area
Returns
- Submit half-yearly operations returns to the Oil and Gas Authority
Licensee to keep samples
- Preserve and label samples of strata, petroleum, and water for five years
Inspection of records etc.
- Allow Crown-appointed inspectors to access records and provide assistance
Indemnity against third party claims
- Indemnify the Minister against third party claims
Advertisements, prospectuses etc.
- Do not claim government endorsement of petroleum prospects
Restrictions on assignments etc.
- Obtain Minister's consent before transferring petroleum licence rights or entering into certain agreements
Payment of consideration for licence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Pay the required royalty and lump-sum consideration for the licence Crown / Minister / Government department
Royalty payments
- Pay royalty on petroleum won and saved to the Minister
Provisions supplementary to clause 8
- Submit production statements and pay royalty on account
Deliveries of petroleum in place of royalties
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Minister may require delivery of petroleum in place of royalties Crown / Minister / Government department
Measurement of petroleum obtained from the licensed area.
- Measure petroleum from your licensed area using approved methods
Keeping of accounts
- Keep accurate petroleum production accounts and submit half-yearly abstracts
Development and production programmes
- Submit and follow development and production programmes
Provisions supplementary to clause 13
- Comply with conditions attached to Minister's consents and approvals
Commencement and abandonment and plugging of wells
- Manage drilling, abandonment and plugging of wells with Minister's consent
Control of development wells
- Obtain consent for drilling suspension and comply with completion work requirements
Provision of storage tanks, pipes, pipelines or other receptacles
- Use good oilfield practices to confine petroleum in proper receptacles
Avoidance of harmful methods of working
- Maintain equipment and wells properly and prevent petroleum waste or escape
Appointment of operators
- Get written approval for anyone managing your petroleum operations
Fishing and navigation
- Do not unjustifiably interfere with navigation, fishing, or conservation of living resources
Training
- Comply with Minister's written training instructions and provide training information
Unit development
- Cooperate in unit development scheme when required by the Minister
Licensee to keep records
- Keep accurate records of wells and deliver copies to the Minister
Returns
- Submit half-yearly returns and provide additional information to the Minister
Licensee to keep samples
- Preserve and manage samples of strata and petroleum from wells
Inspection of records etc.
- Allow inspection of records and provide assistance to Crown inspectors
Indemnity against third party claims
- Indemnify the Minister against third party claims
Advertisements, prospectuses etc.
- Do not claim or suggest government endorsement of petroleum prospects
Restrictions on assignments etc.
- Restrictions on assigning licence rights or transferring petroleum
Arbitration
- Continue performing development scheme during arbitration
Payment of consideration for licence
- Pay royalty, deliver petroleum, and pay Schedule 2 sums under licence
Royalty payments
- Pay royalty on petroleum won and saved each half year
Provisions supplementary to clause 8
- Deliver petroleum statement and make royalty payment on account
Browse 54 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Except as provided by the four next following paragraphs, the...
The lines dividing landward areas from seaward areas at the...
The lines dividing landward areas from seaward areas between Cape...
The lines dividing landward areas from seaward areas in the...
Subject to the provisions of the last three foregoing paragraphs,...
The line dividing the Shetland Islands and the waters adjacent...
In this Schedule the expression “low water line” means the...
Interpretation
Distance of wells from boundaries of licensed area
Right to search and bore for petroleum and get petroleum in the course of exploration
Reports to be treated as confidential
Rights of access
Power to execute works
Power of revocation
Arbitration
Term of licence
Right of Licensee to determine licence or surrender part of licensed area
Consequences of determination or surrender by Licensee
Automatic termination of licence
Interpretation
Power to inspect records
Power of revocation
Arbitration
Right to search for petroleum by undertaking seismic surveys
Term of licence
Automatic termination of licence
Reports to be treated as confidential
Interpretation
Distance of wells from boundaries of licensed area
Right to search and bore for petroleum and get petroleum in the course of appraisal
Reports to be treated as confidential
Rights of access
Power to execute works
Right of distress
If and whenever any of the payments mentioned in clause...
Term of licence
Power of revocation
Arbitration
Extension or further extension of term
Right of Licensee to determine licence or surrender part of licensed area
Consequences of determination or surrender by Licensee
Interpretation
Distance of wells from boundaries of licensed area
Right to search and bore for and get petroleum
Reports to be treated as confidential
Rights of access
Term of licence
Power to execute works
Right of distress
If and whenever any of the payments mentioned in clause...
Power of revocation
Extension or further extension of term
Right of Licensee to determine licence or surrender part of licensed area
Consequences of determination or surrender by Licensee
Browse 11 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Commencement and Citation
Interpretation
Application of the Regulations
Applicants for licences
Applications for licences
Applications for exploration licences
Applications for supplementary seismic survey licences
Applications for appraisal and development licences
Form of licences
Fees
Plurality of licences
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