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Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law Volume 9, 1991 - Issue 4
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Original Articles

The United Kingdom Offshore Safety Regime: Before and After Piper Alpha

R.W. Bentham Emeritus Professor of Petroleum and Mineral Law, Centre for Petroleum and Mineral Law Studies, University of Dundee.
Pages 273-280 | Published online: 08 Jun 2015

  • See the UN Convention on the Continental Shelf (1958) Article 1 and Article 5 and the Continental Shelf Act 1964 s. 1 and s. 3.
  • The Continental Shelf Act 1964 s. 3, now replaced by 22 and 23 of the Oil and Gas Enterprise Act 1982.
  • The principal relevant provisions are: Continental Shelf Act 1964, s. 3 as replaced by ss. 22 and 23 of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 and applied by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act (Commencement No. 4) Order 1987, S.I. No. 2272 of 1987, the Criminal Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987, S.I. No. 2198 of 1987, and the Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987, S.I. No. 2197.
  • Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations, S.I. No. 1213 of 1988, Model Clause 19. But it should be noted that each licence is governed by the relevant Regulations in force at the time of its grant.
  • Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulation, S.I. No. 1213 of 1988, Model Clause 21.
  • Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulation, S.I. No. 1213 of 1988, Model Clause 27.
  • Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulation, S.I. No. 1213 of 1988, Model Clauses 35 and 36.
  • Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulation, S.I. No. 1213 of 1988, Model Clause 42.
  • Cmnd. 3409 of 1967.
  • Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act, 1971 ss. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10.
  • S.I. No. 703 of 1972.
  • S.I. No. 289 of 1974.
  • S.I. No. 1542 of 1972.
  • S.I. No. 338 of 1974. Lord Cullen's enquiry as to Piper Alpha was held in accordance with these regulations.
  • S.I. No. 1299 of 1974.
  • S.I. No. 1289 of 1975.
  • S.I. No. 1019 of 1976.
  • Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975, in particular s. 44, and also now the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982.
  • Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order S.I. No. 1232 of 1977. This Order applied ss. 1 to 59 and 80 to 82 of the Act to “premises and activities” offshore UK.
  • Cmnd. 7866 of 1980, Offshore Safety.
  • The Technical Investigation Interim Report (September 1988). See in particular para. 10.1.1.
  • The Public Inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster. Cm.1310 (Nov. 1990) (“the Cullen Report”).
  • Supra, note 22. For a detailed description of the accident see Chapters 4 to 10 in the Cullen Report.
  • As to the non-replacement of the valve and the events surrounding it see in particular Chapter 6 of the Cullen Report.
  • See p. iv of the Cullen Report.
  • See Cmnd. 3409 of 1967 (the Sea Gem Report) at p. 17, 18.
  • Ibid., at p. 24.
  • S.I. No. 971 of 1989.
  • S.I. No. 1029 of 1989.
  • Supra, note 20.
  • The Cullen Report at p. 387, 388 (para. 1.2). As to the CIMAH Regulations see note 33 and related text infra.
  • Ibid., at p. 390, 391 (para 17.1).
  • S.I. No. 1902 of 1984; see in particular Regulation 7.
  • The Cullen Report at p. 267–272; in particular 269. See Kaasen. “Post Piper Alpha: Some reflections on offshore safety regimes from a Norwegian perspective, infra, pp. 281–289.
  • Ibid., at p. 391, 392 (para. 23–26).
  • Ibid., at p. 392 (para. 32–38).
  • Ibid., at p. 393 (para. 39).
  • Ibid., at p. 394 (para. 49–54).
  • Ibid., at p. 394 (para. 55–83).
  • Ibid., at p. 397 (para. 85).
  • Ibid., at p. 399 (para. 97–99).
  • Ibid., at p. 399 (para. 100–106).

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