Section 45A of the Petroleum Act 1998, Scotland

2.—(1) Section 45A (abandoned wells) of the Petroleum Act 1998(1) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsections (2), (4)(b), (5) and (6), for “OGA” substitute “appropriate authority”.

(3) In subsection (10)—

(a) before the definition of “petroleum licence” insert—

““appropriate authority” means—

(a)

in relation to a person who has drilled, or commenced drilling, a well in the Scottish onshore area in pursuance of a petroleum licence, the Scottish Ministers;

(b)

otherwise, the OGA;”; and

(b) after the definition of “petroleum licence” insert—

““Scottish onshore area” has the meaning given in section 8A(3);”.

(1)

1998 c. 17. Section 45A was inserted by section 75(1) of the Energy Act 2008 (c. 32) and amended by section 2 of, and paragraph 28 of Schedule 1 to, the Energy Act 2016 (c. 20).