Energy: Offshore infrastructure
The existing framework of licensing controls enable companies to explore for and produce the nation’s oil and gas resources, and develop and run offshore renewable infrastructure – whilst minimising the impact of these activities on the environment. We aim to ensure that the overall regulatory framework of the UK and its designated Continental Shelf has the flexibility and measures in place to enable both existing and new players to maximise exploration and production.
These measures also regulate the laying of pipelines to provide the import routes for oil and gas and electricity when produced from the offshore area. Regulatory frameworks have also been put in place for methane storage offshore (which is an important option for increasing energy security), and storage of carbon dioxide in the offshore area (which is a real possibility in the coming years).
You can find the regulations that relate to Offshore Infrastructure below to the left.
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/2055, as amended by the: These Regulations are made under sections 2 and 7(9) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They provide for the phasing out of the system of exemptions under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001, as amended by the: These Regulations apply the Habitats Directive (Article 6) and the Birds Directive in relation to oil and gas plans and projects wholly or partly in the United Kingdoms Continental Shelf (the UKCS). Under the Regulations it is the responsibility of the SoS for Energy to ensure that UKCS oil and gas activities are carried out in line with the requirements of the Directives Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 This Order divides the UK’s Territorial Waters and its designated Continental Shelf into areas for which the high Courts of England, Scotland and Northern Irleand will have juristiction. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Energy Act 2008 (Consequential Modifications) (Offshore Environmental Protection) Order 2010, SI 2010/1513 Amends various environmental legislation used to regulate the offshore oil and gas industry so that they now apply to the new and emerging offshore gas storage and carbon dioxide stoare industry. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gas Importation and Storage Zone (Designation of Area) Order 2009, SI 2009/223 This Order declares for the UK’s exlusive rights under the United Nations Law of the Sea’s for the imporation and unloading of methane gas and subsea storage of gas in an area beyond our Territorial Seas. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum Act 1998 (Specified Pipelines) Order 2011 This Order specifies which pipelines will be consented to under Part 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (those conveying hydrocarbons, methane and carbon dioxide). All other types pipeline will fall under Part 4 of the Marine and Costal Access Act 2009. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2221: Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Termination of Licences) Regulations 2011, SI 2011/1483 These Regulations for part of the UK’s transposition of Directive 2009/31 EC on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and provide detailed provisions for developers to apply and receive consent to carbon storage projects and release developers from their storage licence and for the transfer of responsibility for a closed storage site to the state. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum Act 1998 (Decommissioning) The Act gives the Secretary of State the power to require persons involved in offshore oil and gas activities from an installation or pipeline to submit a decommissioning programme for that installation or pipeline. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gas Act 1965 An Act to confer additional functions on the Gas Council and to make further provision as to the rating of the Gas Council and Area Gas Boards; to increase the number of members of the Gas Council; to regulate and facilitate the storage of gas. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Submarine Pipe-lines (Electricity Generating Stations) Regulations 1981, SI 1981/750 These Regulations excluded from the scope of Part 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998 pipelines conveying water to and from electricity generating stations. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Submarine Pipelines (Designated Owners) Order 2010 This Order designated the owners of a cetain offshore pipeline for the purposes of determining third party access disputes. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Submarine Pipe-lines (Exemption) Regulations 1985 These Regulations exempt an applicant for a consent under Part 3 from the duty to publish a notice in such a manner as directed by the Secretary of State, to make available to the public, a map for inspection, and to serve a copy of the notice on such persons as directed by the Secretary of State, in respect of a pipeline which is five hundred metres or less in length or which lies wholly within a safety zone Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) (Consolidation) Order 2000 The Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) (Consolidation) Order 2000 consolidates the various Orders made under the Continental Shelf Act 1964 which have designated the areas of the continental shelf within which the rights of the United Kingdom with respect to the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources are exercisable. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2001 The Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2001 designates a further such area of continental shelf in the Irish Sea. The Order also corrects an error in the Schedule to the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) (Consolidation) Order 2000 Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Continental Shelf Act 1964 The Act confers on Her Majesty the right to designate areas of the Uk’s continental shelf as areas within which rights mentioned in the Act are exercisable Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Criminal Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 This Order applies English, Scottish and Northern Irish criminal law to relevant activities taking place on, under or above, or within 500 metres of, offshore installations situated in United Kingdom territorial waters and in waters and its desgnated continental shelf Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Combustion Installations (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Regulations 2001, SI 2001/1091, as amended by the: These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a pollution control regime for the purpose of implementing the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (Council Directive 96/61 EC) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999, as amended by the: These Regulations implement Council Directive 85/337/EEC as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999; Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 ; Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 ; Petroleum Licensing (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 2008 These Regulations prescribe the model clauses which, unless the Secretary of State thinks fit to modify or exclude them in any particular case, will be incorporated into Petroleum Licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002, SI 2002/1355, as amended by the: These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a regime for the purpose of implementing the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive Regulations 1995, SI 1995/1434 Amending the Principal Seaward Regulations, the Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1995 partially implement Council Directive 94/22/EEC (the Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive) by introducing procedures for applications for production licences as required by the Directive. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Gas Storage and Unloading (Licensing) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2813 ; Offshore Exploration (Petroleum, and Gas Storage and Unloading) (Model Clauses) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2814 Provide Model clauses for methane exploration and storage licences offshore under the 2008 Act (as well as under the Petroleum Act 1998). Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972 An Act to authorise the giving of financial assistance in connection with mineral exploration, and to clarify or extend certain exceptions from the abolition of investment grants Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002, SI 2002/1861 Powers to prevent and reduce pollution and the risk of pollution following an accident involving an offshore installation. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988, as amended by the: Set out the application process for Petroleum Licences and in part transpose the requirments of the Hydrocabons licesing directive Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum Act 1998 An Act to consolidate certain enactments about petroleum licences, offshore installations and submarine pipelines. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Petroleum Act 1998 (Third Party Access) Order 2007 the Framework Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway concerning cross-boundary petroleum co-operation Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Energy Act 2008 (Consequential Modifications) (Offshore Environmental Protection) Order 2010, SI 2010/1513 This consequential instrument applies to the new licensing regime provided by the Energy Act 2008 so that the environmental regime also applies to new types of licensed activities. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002, SI 2002/1355 These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a regime for the purpose of implementing the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Chemicals (Amendment) Regulations 2011 These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a regime for the purpose of implementing the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Combustion Installations (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Regulations 2001, SI 2001/1091 These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a pollution control regime for the purpose of implementing the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (Council Directive 96/61 EC) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Combustion Installations (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/938 These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They establish a pollution control regime for the purpose of implementing the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (Council Directive 96/61 EC) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002, SI 2002/1861 Powers to prevent and reduce pollution and the risk of pollution following an accident involving an offshore installation. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 These Regulations apply the Habitats Directive (Article 6) and the Birds Directive in relation to oil and gas plans and projects. the regulations introduce a requirement that geological surveys and drilling of shallow boreholes must have prior written consent of the SoS. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 These Regulations apply the Habitats Directive (Article 6) and the Birds Directive in relation to oil and gas plans and projects. Under the Regulations it is the responsibility of the SoS for Energy to ensure that UKCS oil and gas activities are carried out in line with the requirements of the Directives which afford the protection of the marine species and habitats e.g. species of birds, dolphins, seals, reefs, sandbanks etc. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/2055 These Regulations are made under sections 2 and 7(9) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They provide for the phasing out of the system of exemptions under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 (permitting certain discharges of oil into the sea) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 These Regulations are made under sections 2 and 7(9) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They provide for the phasing out of the system of exemptions under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 (permitting certain discharges of oil into the sea) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 These Regulations implement EUl Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment of offshore oil and gas projects. They revoke the Offshore Petroleum and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/968) subject to savings in respect of applications for consent. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 These Regulations amend the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999. They provide for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amends, with regard to public participation and access to justice, Council Directives. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Deep Sea Mining (Exploration Licences) (Applications) Regulations 1982 These Regulations provide for the form and content of applications for exploration licences which the Secretary of State may grant under the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981. They also prescribe the fee payable on grant of the licence Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Deep Sea Mining (Exploration Licences) Regulations 1984 These regulations prescribe a set of model clauses to be incorporated in deep sea mining exploration licences. The model clauses govern, in particular, the scope and duration of the licence and the responsibilities of the Licensee, including requirements as to the safety, health and welfare of employees and others, the protection of the environment and respect for the rights of third parties. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Deep Sea Mining (Reciprocating Countries) Order 1985 This Order designates France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, the United States of America and Italy as reciprocating countries for the purposes of the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981. The effect of the designation is that the Secretary of State will refrain from granting a licence for deep sea mining operations over areas already subject to a licence or other authorisation by any of those countries Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981 Regulations state that exploration for the hard mineral resources of any part of the deep sea bed can only be acrried out by holding an exploration licence granted in respect of that part of the deep sea bed or is the agent or employee of the holder of that licence Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Please tell us what you think should happen to these regulations and why, being specific where possible:
- Should we scrap them altogether?
- Could their purpose be achieved in a non-regulatory way (eg through a voluntary code?) How?
- Could they be reformed, simplified or merged? How?
- Can we reduce their bureaucracy through better implementation? How?
- Can we make their enforcement less burdensome? How?
- Should they be left as they are?
