Section 356J | “Authorisation of development”: drilling and extraction sites

(1)References in this Chapter to authorisation of development of a site are to be interpreted as follows in relation to a drilling and extraction site that is situated in, or used in connection with, a licensed area.

(2)The references are to be read as references to a national authority—

(a)granting a licensee consent for development of the licensed area,

(b)serving on a licensee a programme of development for the licensed area, or

(c)approving a programme of development for the licensed area.

(3)References in subsection (2) to a “licensee” are to a licensee in the licensed area mentioned in subsection (1).

(4)In this section—

“consent for development”, in relation to a licensed area, does not include consent which is limited to the purpose of testing the characteristics of an oil-bearing area;

“development”, in relation to a licensed area, means winning oil from the licensed area otherwise than in the course of searching for oil or drilling wells;

“national authority” means—

(a)the OGA, ...

(aza)the Scottish Ministers,

(aa)the Welsh Ministers, or

(b)a Northern Ireland Department.