Oil and Gas
| Module title | Oil and Gas |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAWM714 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
The petroleum industry brings together public (i.e. states) & private (i.e. international corporations) players. Oil and gas law regulates the parties’ relationships and offers the framework for the better protection and service of the interests of each side. In this module you will examine a number of specific types of oil and gas operations and transactions mainly in the upstream sector and beyond. The focus is on various public (state) as well as private (commercial) contracts, used in the course of petroleum upstream operations, on the financing of oil and gas upstream operations, as well as on the transportation and the sale of oil and gas. In accordance with what the scope of the international operation of this module dictates, the module will not be strictly confined to English law but will strive to be comparative in examining various other legal systems, as this will also be dictated by / in accordance with the case law examined in the course of its delivery. The module links to the LLM module on international arbitration as a follow-up and can be taken in parallel with the LLM module on international investment arbitration. It is also well-placed so as to define itself as the basis for the better understanding of, as well as to serve as a follow-up for modules on construction and/or oil and gas arbitration.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of some of the key commercial and related legal issues arising from the international oil and gas industry. More specifically, the module aims to provide an overall overview and general understanding of oil and gas and of its operation, of issues relating to exploration and production, of the various contracts and phases involved in exploration and production, of the environmental protection challenges entails in such operations of exploration and production. . The module convenor will assess the various topics to be presented on the basis of legal current trends and developments in oil and gas law as well as by drawing from the results of research in oil and gas and arbitration law.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate deep and systematic knowledge and understanding of the law relating to oil and gas and of the structure, purpose and complexity of arrangements used by the contracting parties in the course of oil and gas exploration and production operations;
- 2. Undertake complex critical evaluation of main legal rules, institutions and procedures relevant to oil and gas, using specialist literature and current research; demonstrate knowledge of the oil and gas related case law, of the key elements of related substantive and procedural matters and of a wide range of social and contextual implications of the area of oil and gas;
- 3. Understand the types of transactions used in upstream operations and beyond and the relationships between various aspects of oil and gas law and commercial practices;
- 4. Identify those types of commercial arrangements which are unique to the oil and gas sector and understand the relationship between legal rules, principles, arrangements and structures which are highly specific to the oil and gas sector;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Select and explain relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources and understand the methods and rationales for studying oil and gas law in context;
- 6. Identify the central legal issues and problems surrounding and arising from the petroleum operations covered in this modules and the range of approaches taken by various legal systems;
- 7. Demonstrate flexible and innovative ability to analyse complex legal problems, and to select a
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Manage relevant learning resources/ information/ learning strategies confidently and independently, and to develop own arguments and opinions at a very high/ professional level
- 9. Communicate knowledge and results effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline and as per the current trends and needs of the legal job market;
- 10. Work independently and to manage time well in preparing for scheduled learning activities, exercises and assessments;
- 11. Communicate with and engage in debate effectively, confidently and autonomously, orally and in writing, in manner appropriate to the discipline/ in a range of complex and specialised contexts in relation to oil and gas
- 12. Clarify, plan and undertake tasks which may be allocated by tutor, confidently and independently, individually and with others, to reflect critically on the learning process and to make use of feedback effectively;
- 13. Identify, retrieve and use the full range of library-based and electronic resources efficiently and autonomously;
- 14. Work independently and effectively, and to manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities and all assessments;
- 15. Demonstrate confident, independent and comprehensive learning ability required for continuing professional development, managing own requirements and contributing to the learning of others
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics:
-Introduction to the basic concepts of oil and gas;
-Legal ownership and valuation of reserves and opportunities for exploration and production
-Introduction to the basic contractual issues; operation; assignment
-Discussion of methods to balance the interests of the parties involved
-Upstream activities
-Pre-authorisation phase
-Confidentiality agreements
-Authorisation phase; discussion of Exploration and Production Licences and Sharing Agreements
-Financing/funding of oil and gas projects
-Decommissioning
-Impact of new technologies and the international protection of new technologies
-Oil and gas operations and legal liability issues
-Pollution & environmental protection challenges
-Aspects of downstream activities
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 33 | 11 x 3 hour seminars involving lectures with discussion activities, individual and group presentations |
| Guided independent study | 110 | Individual research, reading and seminar preparation |
| Guided independent study | 63 | Assessment preparation (presentation) |
| Guided independent study | 94 | Assessment preparation (essay) |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2000 words | 1-15 | Written/ oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 80 | 7500 words | 1-15 | Written/ oral |
| Small group presentations on previously assigned topics | 20 | 15 minutes for each group presentation | 1-15 | Written/ oral |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (7500 words) | 1-15 | August / September re-assessment period |
| Small group presentations on previously assigned topics | Individual presentations (7 minutes each) | 1-15 | Summer Term |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Z. Gao, International petroleum contracts: current trends and new directions Graham & Trotman/Martinus Nijhoff, London 1994.
- K.W. Blinn & Claude Duval, International petroleum exploration and exploitation agreements: legal, economic and policy aspects, Barrows, NY, 2009
- G. Gordon, J. Paterson, E. Usenmeze, Oil and Gas Law: Current Practice and Emerging Trends. (2nd edn, Dundee University Press 2011
- B. Taverne, Petroleum, Industry and Government: A Study of the Involvement of Industry and Government in the Production and Use of Petroleum (Kluwer Law International 2008)
- J. Wills, E. Neilson (Eds), The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry (Aberlour Press Ltd 2007))
- D. Yergin, The Prize – the epic quest for oil, money and power (Free Press 2003)
- Oil and gas law journals including: OGEL; JWELB; IELR; Tul L R; Tex J Oil Gas & Energy Law; J Energy Nat. Resources Law
- E.E. Smith, Materials on international petroleum transactions, 3rd Ed., Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Westminster Colorado, 2010
- C.P. Andrews-Speed, International competition for resources: the role of law, the state and of markets, University of Dundee - Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, Dundee Univ. Press, Dundee, 2008.
- D. Helm, The new energy paradigm, OUP, Oxford 2007
- A. Jennings, Oil and gas production contracts, S&M, London, 2006
- B. Barton, Regulating energy and natural resources, International Bar Association. Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law. Academic Advisory Group, OUP, Oxford, 2006.
- K. Hossain,Law and policy in petroleum development: changing relations between transnationals and governments: a comparative study sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Secretariat, Nichols, Pinter, London- NY,USA, 1979
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 06/06/2016 |
| Last revision date | 06/06/2016 |