Atlantic Coast offshore oil and gas development: the North Sea experience

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States)

OSTI ID:6266686

Pennell, M M

The legal framework for development of the United Kingdom's North Sea gas and oil resources dates from the 1964 Continental Shelf Act, which provides for licensing and extends the scope of a 1934 law separating petroleum from land and vesting it in the crown. The history of this development, traced through periods of both conservative and labor governments and through several rounds of licensing, indicates that the lack of any significant oil production on land has simplified the offshore operations. When yields were produced as early as 1967, policies were changed to require license applicants to join the Gas Council and the National Coal Board and to encourage cooperation. The extent of the U.K. Continental Shelf resources was verified by 1973 and laws forming the British National Oil Corporation were passed. While some legislation was later passed to control depletion and undersea pipelines, environmental legislation remains general and primarily aimed at license applicants. The industry has operated more on the basis of mutual understanding than law, with a voluntary industry association handling most environmental repair and compensaton. Both crude oil prices (set by te Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and taxes (set by the government) have increased.

• Research Organization: British Petroleum, Ltd., London, England
• OSTI ID: 6266686
• Journal Information: Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States), Journal Name: Nat. Resour. Lawyer; (United States) Vol. 11:4; ISSN NRLAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
021000 -- Petroleum-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294002* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Petroleum
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LEASING
LEGISLATION
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE SITES
PETROLEUM
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
UNITED KINGDOM