OpenLegislation

Petroleum Act 1998

1998 c. 17 · Enacted 11 June 1998 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 4A(5) tablewords insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 317(a)
s. 4A(5) tablewords insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 317(b)
s. 17H(1)words repealedEnergy Act 2004 Sch. 23 Pt. 1
s. 17H(4)words repealedEnergy Act 2004 Sch. 23 Pt. 1
s. 27(1A)words repealedEnergy Act 2004 Sch. 23 Pt. 1
s. 28(1)words repealedEnergy Act 2004 Sch. 23 Pt. 1
An Act to consolidate certain enactments about petroleum, offshore installations and submarine pipelines.[11th June 1998]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: power to modify conferred (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 189(1), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Contents

  1. Part I: Petroleum
  2. 1Meaning of “petroleum”.
  3. 2Rights to petroleum vested in Her Majesty.
  4. 3Licences to search and bore for and get petroleum.
  5. 4Licences: further provisions.
  6. 4AOnshore hydraulic fracturing: safeguards
  7. 4BSection 4A: supplementary provision
  8. 5Existing licences.
  9. 5ARights transferred without the consent of appropriate authority
  10. 5BInformation
  11. 5COffences under section 5B: supplemental
  12. 5DOGA’s power to require information about change in control of licensee
  13. 6Repayments for development.
  14. 7Ancillary rights.
  15. 8Power to inspect plans of mines.
  16. 8AInterpretation of Part 1
  17. 9Supplementary.
  18. Part 1A: Maximising economic recovery of UK petroleum
  19. 9AThe principal objective and the strategy
  20. 9BExercise of certain functions of the OGA
  21. 9BAExercise of certain functions of the Secretary of State
  22. 9CCarrying out of certain petroleum industry activities
  23. 9DReports by the Secretary of State Repealed
  24. 9EOGA's security and resilience functions
  25. 9FProducing and revising a strategy
  26. 9GProcedure for producing and revising a strategy
  27. 9H“Upstream petroleum infrastructure” and its owners
  28. 9HA“Relevant offshore installations” and their owners
  29. 9IOther interpretation
  30. Part II: Offshore activities
  31. 10Application of criminal law etc.
  32. 11Application of civil law.
  33. 12Prosecutions.
  34. 13Interpretation of Part II.
  35. Part III: Submarine pipelines
  36. 14Construction and use of pipelines.
  37. 15Authorisations.
  38. 16Compulsory modifications of pipelines.
  39. 17Acquisition of rights to use pipelines.
  40. 17AApplication of section 17B to certain downstream gas pipelines. Repealed
  41. 17BAdditional provisions relating to certain downstream gas pipelines. Repealed
  42. 17CApplication of section 17D to certain offshore gas storage facilities.
  43. 17DProvisions relating to certain offshore gas storage facilities.
  44. 17ESection 17D: supplemental.
  45. 17FAcquisition of rights to use controlled petroleum pipelines.
  46. 17GSection 17F: supplemental.
  47. 17GAControlled petroleum pipeline subject to Norwegian access system
  48. 17GBSection 17GA: supplemental
  49. 17HEnforcement of certain duties in sections 17B, 17D and 17E.Enforcement of duty in section 17GA
  50. 18Termination of authorisations.
  51. 19Vesting of pipelines on termination or subsequent issue of authorisations.
  52. 20Inspectors etc.
  53. 21Enforcement.
  54. 22Criminal proceedings.
  55. 23Civil liability for breach of statutory duty.
  56. 24Application of Part III.
  57. 25Orders and regulations.
  58. 26Meaning of “pipeline”.
  59. 27Meaning of “owner”.
  60. 28Interpretation of Part III.
  61. Part IV: Abandonment of offshore installations
  62. 28ARestriction on abandonment
  63. 29Preparation of programmes.
  64. 30Persons who may be required to submit programmes.
  65. 31Section 29 notices: supplementary provisions.
  66. 32Approval of programmes.
  67. 33Failure to submit programmes.
  68. 34Revision of programmes.
  69. 34AAmendment of programmes
  70. 35Withdrawal of approval.
  71. 36Duty to carry out programmes.
  72. 36AReduction of costs of carrying out programmes
  73. 37Default in carrying out programmes.
  74. 38Financial resources.
  75. 38AProtection of funds set aside for the purposes of abandonment programme
  76. 38BDirections to provide information about protected assets
  77. 38CCharges in connection with exercise of functions under Part 4
  78. 39Regulations.
  79. 40Offences: penalties.
  80. 41Offences: general.
  81. 42Validity of Secretary of State’s acts.
  82. 43Notices.
  83. 44Meaning of “offshore installation”.
  84. 45Interpretation of Part IV.
  85. 45AAbandoned wells
  86. Part V: Miscellaneous and General
  87. 46Northern Ireland and Isle of Man shares of petroleum revenue.
  88. 47Loans for development.
  89. 47AFactors for the OGA to take into account
  90. 48Interpretation.
  91. 49Transitional provisions and savings.
  92. 50Consequential amendments.
  93. 51Repeals and revocations.
  94. 52Commencement.
  95. 53Short title and extent.
  96. Schedule 1: Model clauses incorporated in licences when granted
  97. 1Paragraph 1
  98. 2Paragraph 2
  99. 3Paragraph 3
  100. 4Paragraph 4
  101. 5Paragraph 5
  102. 6Paragraph 6
  103. 7Paragraph 7
  104. 8Paragraph 8
  105. 9Paragraph 9
  106. 10Paragraph 10
  107. 11Paragraph 11
  108. 12Paragraph 12
  109. 13Paragraph 13
  110. 14Paragraph 14
  111. 15Paragraph 15
  112. 16Paragraph 16
  113. 17Paragraph 17
  114. 18Paragraph 18
  115. 19Paragraph 19
  116. 20Paragraph 20
  117. 21Paragraph 21
  118. 22Paragraph 22
  119. 23Paragraph 23
  120. 24Paragraph 24
  121. 25Paragraph 25
  122. 26Paragraph 26
  123. 27Paragraph 27
  124. Schedule 2: Authorisations under section 14
  125. Part I: Works authorisations
  126. 1Paragraph 1
  127. 2Paragraph 2
  128. 3Paragraph 3
  129. 4Paragraph 4
  130. 5Paragraph 5
  131. 6Paragraph 6
  132. 7Paragraph 7
  133. 8Paragraph 8
  134. 9Paragraph 9
  135. Part II: Other authorisations
  136. 10Paragraph 10
  137. Schedule 3: Transitional provisions and savings
  138. Part I: General
  139. 1Paragraph 1
  140. 2Paragraph 2
  141. Part II: Specific provisions
  142. Property in petroleum
  143. 3Paragraph 3
  144. Existing licences
  145. 4Paragraph 4
  146. 5Paragraph 5
  147. 6Paragraph 6
  148. 7Paragraph 7
  149. 8Paragraph 8
  150. Submarine pipelines: safety regulations etc.
  151. 9Paragraph 9
  152. 10Paragraph 10
  153. 11Paragraph 11
  154. Submarine pipelines: authorisations granted before 1st October 1982
  155. 12Paragraph 12
  156. Fatal Accidents Act 1976: deaths before 1st September 1976
  157. 13Paragraph 13
  158. Schedule 4: Consequential amendments
  159. The Mining Industry Act 1926 (c. 28)
  160. 1Paragraph 1
  161. The Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c. 29)
  162. 2Paragraph 2
  163. The Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1968 (c. 75)
  164. 3Paragraph 3
  165. The Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 (c. 60)
  166. 4Paragraph 4
  167. The Finance Act 1973 (c. 51)
  168. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  169. The Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 8)
  170. 6Paragraph 6
  171. The Oil Taxation Act 1975 (c. 22)
  172. 7Paragraph 7
  173. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65) Not yet in force
  174. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  175. The Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 (c. 14)
  176. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  177. The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 (c. 25) Not yet in force
  178. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  179. The Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74) Not yet in force
  180. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  181. The Energy Act 1976 (c. 76)
  182. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  183. The Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1042 (N.I. 15)) Not yet in force
  184. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
  185. The Patents Act 1977 (c. 37)
  186. 14Paragraph 14
  187. The Gas Levy Act 1981 (c. 3)
  188. 15Paragraph 15
  189. The Finance Act 1981 (c. 35)
  190. 16Paragraph 16
  191. The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (c. 29)
  192. 17Paragraph 17
  193. The Petroleum Royalties (Relief) Act 1983 (c. 59)
  194. 18Paragraph 18
  195. The Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12)
  196. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  197. The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (c. 48)
  198. 20Paragraph 20
  199. The Oil and Pipelines Act 1985 (c. 62)
  200. 21Paragraph 21
  201. The Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
  202. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  203. The Petroleum Act 1987 (c. 12)
  204. 23Paragraph 23
  205. The Territorial Sea Act 1987 (c. 49)
  206. 24Paragraph 24
  207. The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c. 1)
  208. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  209. The Petroleum Royalties (Relief) and Continental Shelf Act 1989 (c. 1)
  210. 26Paragraph 26
  211. The Capital Allowances Act 1990 (c. 1)
  212. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  213. The Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16)
  214. 28Paragraph 28
  215. The Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)
  216. 29Paragraph 29
  217. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)
  218. 30Paragraph 30
  219. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7)
  220. 31Paragraph 31
  221. The Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12)
  222. 32Paragraph 32
  223. The Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15)
  224. 33Paragraph 33
  225. The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52) Not yet in force
  226. 34Paragraph 34 Not yet in force
  227. The Offshore, and Pipelines, Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17))
  228. 35Paragraph 35
  229. The Finance Act 1993 (c. 34)
  230. 36Paragraph 36
  231. The Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48)
  232. 37Paragraph 37
  233. The Coal Industry Act 1994 (c. 21)
  234. 38Paragraph 38
  235. The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21)
  236. 39Paragraph 39
  237. The Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18) Not yet in force
  238. 40Paragraph 40 Not yet in force
  239. The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/869 (N.I. 6))
  240. 41Paragraph 41
  241. Schedule 5: Repeals and revocations
  242. IRepeals
  243. IIRevocations
  244. Schedule: Table of Derivations Not yet in force