The Offshore Gas Storage and Unloading (Licensing) Regulations 2009

Commencement and abandonment and plugging of Wells

9.—(1) The Licensee shall not commence or recommence the drilling of any Well without the consent of the Minister.

(2) Subject to paragraph (6), the Licensee shall not abandon any Well without the consent of the Minister.

(3) The Licensee shall ensure compliance with any conditions subject to which any consent under either of the foregoing paragraphs is given.

(4) If any such condition under paragraph (1) relates to the position, depth or direction of the Well, or to any casing of the Well or if any condition under either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) relates to any plugging or abandoning of the Well, the Minister may from time to time direct that the Well and all records relating that Well shall be examined in such manner, upon such occasions or at such intervals and by such person as may be specified by the Minister’s direction.

(5) The plugging of any Well shall be done in accordance with a specification approved by the Minister applicable to that Well or to Wells generally or to a class of Wells to which that Well belongs and shall be carried out in an efficient and workmanlike manner.

(6) The Minister may at any time give the Licensee a notice requiring a Well drilled pursuant to this licence to be plugged and abandoned in accordance with paragraph (5) within the period specified in the notice (but this paragraph is subject to paragraphs (8) and (9)).

(7) The Licensee shall comply with any notice under paragraph (6).

(8) A notice under paragraph (6) may not be given less than one month before the expiry or determination of the Licensee’s authorisation under this licence in relation to the area in which the Well is drilled.

(9) A notice under paragraph (6) may be given only in relation to a Well which has not been used within the period of one year ending with the day on which the notice is given.

(10) Subject to paragraphs (6), (7), (11) and (12), any Well drilled by the Licensee pursuant to this licence shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5), not less than one month before the expiry or determination of the Licensee’s authorisation in respect of the area in which the Well is drilled.

(11) A direction by the Minister may be given by notice in writing to the Licensee not less than one month before the Licensee’s authorisation in respect of the area in which the Well is situated expires or determines so as to relieve the Licensee of the obligation imposed by paragraph (10) of this clause to plug and abandon the Well.

(12) Where the Minister revokes this licence, any Well drilled by the Licensee pursuant to this licence shall—

(a) be plugged and abandoned in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5), as soon as reasonably practicable; or

(b) if the Minister so directs at the time of revocation, be left in good order and fit for further working together with all casings and any Well head fixtures the removal of which would cause damage to such Wells.

(13) Any Well that, pursuant to a direction by the Minister under paragraph (11), has not been plugged and abandoned, shall be left in good order and fit for further working together with all casings and any Well head fixtures the removal of which would cause damage to such Wells.