The Oil and Gas Authority (Offshore Petroleum) (Retention of Information and Samples) Regulations 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations set out requirements for the retention of petroleum-related information and samples (as defined in section 27(1) of the Energy Act 2016 (c.17) (“the Act”)) by certain relevant persons (as defined in section 18(1) of that Act). The Regulations apply to information or samples which are held on the date the Regulations commence or which are acquired or created on or after that date (regulation 2).

Part 2 of the Regulations specifies the relevant persons who must retain petroleum-related information, the information they must retain and the duration of the obligation. The relevant persons who must retain specified information are offshore licensees (as defined in section 18(1) of the Act), owners of upstream petroleum infrastructure (as defined in section 9H of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c.17) and 82(1) of the Energy Act 2011 (c.16)) or those planning and carrying out the commissioning of such infrastructure, and owners of relevant offshore installations (as defined in sections 9HA-9I and 44 of the Petroleum Act 1998). The obligation to retain information under this Part terminates once the information is provided to the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) under section 34 of the Act (regulation 7).

Part 3 of the Regulations requires holders of an offshore licence to search and bore for, and get, petroleum to retain any petroleum-related sample of strata or petroleum acquired during the drilling of a well and specifies the maximum quantities to be retained and the duration of retention.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.