Property Law: The Unsung Hero of North Sea Oil and Gas

Abstract

The present paper examines the key property law-related issues pertaining to the development of sub-sea mineral resources on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf: from their initial ‘capture’ (acquisition of ownership) to their transportation to downstream facilities via onshore pipelines. Additionally, the authors discuss the future property law implications of carbon storage in depleted oil reservoirs, with a particular focus on the potential effects of the recent Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) leases. The paper concludes that the practical property law implications of the development of offshore carbon storage could be detrimental to the government and ultimately the taxpayer; thus, more consideration should be afforded to it during the planning stage of projects and policy decision-making.

Keywords: Property Law, Oil and Gas, Continental Shelf, North Sea, CCS