The Petroleum Licensing (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 2008

Interpretation, etc.

1.—(1) In this licence, the following expressions have the following meanings—

“the Act” means the Petroleum Act 1998;

“Block” means an area comprised in this licence which is delineated on the reference map deposited at the principal office of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and to which a reference number was assigned at the date of this licence;

“Development Scheme” has the meaning given by clause 27;

“Drill-or-Drop Period” means the period (if any) specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Early Surrender Area” means the area (if any) specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Early Surrender Period” means the period (if any) specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Fragmented Licensed Area” means a Licensed Area consisting in two or more areas any one or more of which is separated from the others;

“Half Year” means the period from 1st January to 30th June in any year and the period from 1st July to 31st December in any year;

“Initial Licensed Area” means the area described in Schedule 1 to this licence on the date it was granted;

“Initial Term” means the period specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Licensed Area” means the area for the time being in which the Licensee may exercise the rights granted by this licence;

“the Licensee” means the person or persons to whom this licence is granted, his personal representatives and any person or persons to whom the rights conferred by this licence may lawfully have been assigned;

“Mandatory Surrender Area” means the area specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“the Minister” means the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform;

“Oil Field” has the meaning given in clause 27;

“Petroleum” includes any mineral oil or relative hydrocarbon and natural gas existing in its natural condition in strata but does not include coal or bituminous shales or other stratified deposits from which oil can be extracted by destructive distillation;

“Promote Period” means the period (if any) specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Second Term” means the period specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Section” means a part of a Block comprising an area bounded by minute lines of latitude and longitude one minute apart respectively;

“Start Date” means the date specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Third Term” means the period specified as such in Schedule 5 to this licence;

“Well” includes borehole;

“Work Programme” means the programme set out in Schedule 3 to this licence.

(2) Any obligations which are to be observed and performed by the Licensee shall at any time at which the Licensee is more than one person be joint and several obligations.