Energy Act 2016 (c. 20)

PART 2 Further functions of the OGA relating to offshore petroleum

CHAPTER 1 Introduction

17 Overview of Part 2

(1) This Part contains provision about functions of the OGA relating to offshore petroleum.

(2) Chapter 2 makes provision for the OGA to consider disputes and make recommendations for resolving them.

(3) Chapter 3 makes provision about—

(a) the retention of information and samples by relevant persons,

(b) the preparation of plans for dealing with information and samples held by an offshore licensee when rights under a licence are terminated, and

(c) powers of the OGA to require information and samples.

(4) Chapter 4 makes provision—

(a) for the OGA to be informed of meetings,

(b) for persons authorised by the OGA to be entitled to participate in meetings, and

(c) for the OGA to be provided with information relating to meetings in which such persons do not participate.

(5) Chapter 5 makes provision about sanctions which may be imposed on persons for failures to comply with requirements.

(6) Chapter 6 makes provision about the disclosure of information and samples which have been obtained by the OGA under this Part.

18 Interpretation of Part 2

(1) In this Part—

• “items subject to legal privilege”—

  (a)

  in England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (see section 10 of that Act);

  (b)

  in Scotland, has the meaning given by section 412 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002;

  (c)

  in Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as in the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (NI 12));

• “licensee” means a person holding a petroleum licence;

• “offshore licence” means a petroleum licence which confers on the holder of that licence rights in respect of offshore waters;

• “offshore licensee” means a person holding an offshore licence;

• “offshore waters” means—

  (a)

  the waters comprising the territorial sea of the United Kingdom, and

  (b)

  the sea in any area for the time being designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964;

• “petroleum licence” means a licence granted under—

  (a)

  section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (searching for, boring for and getting petroleum), or

  (b)

  section 2 of the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934 (licences to search for and get petroleum);

• “the principal objective” means the objective set out in section 9A(1) of the Petroleum Act 1998;

• “relevant person” means a person listed in section 9A(1)(b) of the Petroleum Act 1998;

• “statutory function” means a function conferred or imposed by or under any Act;

• “Tribunal” means the First-tier tribunal.

(2) In this Part a reference to a term or condition of a petroleum licence includes a reference to a condition imposed under a petroleum licence.