Paragraph 19 Commencement and abandonment and plugging of WellsI1
United Kingdom
The Licensee shall not commence or recommence the drilling of any Well without the consent in writing of the F1OGA.
Subject to paragraph (6), the Licensee shall not abandon any Well without the consent in writing of the F2OGA.
The Licensee shall ensure compliance with any conditions subject to which any consent under either of the foregoing paragraphs is given.
If any such condition under paragraph (1) of this clause 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) of this clause relates to any plugging or abandoning of the Well, the F3OGA may from time to time direct that the Well and all records relating thereto shall be examined in such manner, upon such occasions or at such intervals and by such person as may be specified by the F4OGA’s direction and the Licensee shall pay to any such person or to the OGA such fees and expenses for such examination as the OGA may specify.
The plugging of any Well shall be done in accordance with a specification approved by the F5OGA 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.
The F6OGA 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)).
The Licensee shall comply with any notice under paragraph (6).
A notice under paragraph (6) may not be given less than one month before the expiry or determination of the Licensee’s rights under this licence in relation to the area, or the part of the area, in which the well is drilled.
A notice under paragraph (6) may be given only in relation to a well from which the Licensee has not extracted any petroleum within the period of one month ending with the day on which the notice is given.
Subject to paragraphs (6) to (7) and (11) and (12) of this clause, any Well drilled by the Licensee pursuant to this licence shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this clause, not less than one month before the expiry or determination of the Licensee’s rights in respect of the area or part thereof in which that Well is drilled.
A direction by the F7OGA may be given by notice in writing to the Licensee not less than one month before the Licensee’s rights in respect of the area or part thereof in which the Well is situate expire or determine so as to relieve the Licensee of the obligation imposed by paragraph (10) of this clause to plug and abandon the Well.
Where the F8OGA revokes this licence, any Well drilled by the Licensee pursuant to this licence shall—
be plugged and abandoned in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this clause, as soon as reasonably practicable; or
if the OGA 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 whereof would cause damage to such Wells.
Any well that, pursuant to a direction by the F9OGA under paragraph (11) of this clause, 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 whereof would cause damage to such wells.
All casings and fixtures forming part of a Well and left in position at the expiry or determination (whether by revocation or otherwise) of the Licensee’s rights in respect of the area or part thereof in which that Well is drilled, or at the completion of any works required of the Licensee under paragraph (12) of this clause (whichever is the later), shall be the property of the F10OGA.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Word in Sch. clause 19(1) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(a)
- F2
Word in Sch. clause 19(2) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(b)
- F3
Word in Sch. clause 19(4) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(c)(i)
- F4
Word in Sch. clause 19(4) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(c)(ii)
- F5
Word in Sch. clause 19(5) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(d)
- F6
Word in Sch. clause 19(6) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(e)
- F7
Word in Sch. clause 19(11) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(f)
- F8
Word in Sch. clause 19(12) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(g)
- F9
Word in Sch. clause 19(13) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(h)
- F10
Word in Sch. clause 19(14) substituted (1.10.2016) by The Energy (Transfer of Functions, Consequential Amendments and Revocation) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/912), regs. 1(1), 13(21)(i)
Commencement
- I1
Sch. clause 19 in force at 6.4.2008, see reg. 1(1)