The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998

Requirements as to contents of licences; requirement as to consent for use of floating installations in connection with a development U.K.

3.—(1) Where the Secretary of State exercises the powers conferred on her under the 1934 Act to grant licences relating to the relevant area, she shall exercise those powers so as to ensure the carrying out (whether by virtue of these Regulations or otherwise) of an environmental assessment substantially of the kind and in the manner provided for by these Regulations in relation to proposals—

(a) to which paragraph (2) below applies; and

(b) which might be carried out in the relevant area by virtue of such licences.

(2) This paragraph applies to proposals—

(a) for a development which the Secretary of State is not satisfied will produce 500 tonnes or less of oil per day or 500,000 cubic metres or less of gas per day; or

(b) to the extent that they are not covered by sub-paragraph (a) above, which involve—

(i) the drilling of a well;

(ii) the erection of a structure; or

(iii) the getting of petroleum,

which are of such a nature as to prevent the Secretary of State from being satisfied, without more, that their execution would not be likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not exercise any power conferred on her to vary a licence unless she is satisfied that such a variation would not prevent the carrying out (whether by virtue of these Regulations or otherwise) of an environmental assessment substantially of the kind and in the manner provided for by these Regulations in relation to proposals—

(a) to which paragraph (2) above applies; and

(b) which might be carried out in the relevant area pursuant to such a licence.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision in any licence and subject to paragraph (5) below, an undertaker shall not use a floating installation in connection with a relevant project comprising a development without the prior written consent of the Secretary of State granted in accordance with these Regulations.

(5) Paragraph (4) above does not apply to the continued use of a floating installation in connection with a relevant project comprising a development where that use commenced before the coming into force of these Regulations.