Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975

25 Vesting of pipe-lines on termination or subsequent issue of authorisations

(1) When an authorisation ceases to be in force the controlled pipe-line to which it relates shall, by virtue of this subsection, be transferred to and vest in the Secretary of State free from encumbrances, except that nothing in this subsection prejudices—

(a) any interest belonging to the Crown Estate or to Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster or to the Duchy of Cornwall; or

(b) any right conferred by a notice served in respect of the pipe-line in pursuance of section 23 of this Act.

(2) Where the Secretary of State proposes to issue an authorisation to any person in respect of a pipe-line vested in the Secretary of State by virtue of the preceding subsection he may agree with that person, on terms which may include provision for the making of payments by that person to the Secretary of State, that the authorisation is to include a statement that this subsection applies to the authorisation ; and where an authorisation includes such a statement the pipe-line to which the authorisation relates shall, by virtue of this subsection and at the time specified in that behalf in the authorisation, be transferred to and vest in the holder of the authorisation subject to any interest or right then subsisting in respect of the pipeline by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) of the preceding subsection.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to pay into the National Oil Account any sums received by him by way of such payments as are mentioned in the preceding subsection.