# C_2005060EN.01000701.xml

| 10.3.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 60/7 |
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10.3.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 60/7

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United Kingdom Government notice concerning European Parliament and Council Directive 94/22/EEC of 30 May 1994 on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(2005/C 60/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNITED KINGDOM 23rd OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LICENSING ROUND

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DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

THE PETROLEUM (PRODUCTION) (SEAWARD AREAS) REGULATIONS 1988

OFFSHORE (SEAWARD)

| 1.) | The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry invites interested persons, in accordance with the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 No 1213), as amended (‘the 1988 Regulations’), and the Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995 No. 1434), to apply for Seaward Production Licences (‘Traditional Licences’), Promote Seaward Production Licences ( ‘Promote Licences’), and Frontier Seaward Production Licences ( ‘Frontier Licences’). In particular the Secretary of State invites applications for ‘Frontier’ and ‘Traditional’ Licences in the areas coming within SEA 1 and SEA 4, and applications for ‘Traditional’ and ‘Promote’ Seaward Production Licences in the areas of SEA 2, SEA 3 and SEA 5. Details of these Licence types are available on DTI's Oil & Gas website at http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/upstream/licensing/lictypevar.htm. |
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1.)

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry invites interested persons, in accordance with the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 No 1213), as amended (‘the 1988 Regulations’), and the Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995 No. 1434), to apply for Seaward Production Licences (‘Traditional Licences’), Promote Seaward Production Licences ( ‘Promote Licences’), and Frontier Seaward Production Licences ( ‘Frontier Licences’). In particular the Secretary of State invites applications for ‘Frontier’ and ‘Traditional’ Licences in the areas coming within SEA 1 and SEA 4, and applications for ‘Traditional’ and ‘Promote’ Seaward Production Licences in the areas of SEA 2, SEA 3 and SEA 5. Details of these Licence types are available on DTI's Oil & Gas website at http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/upstream/licensing/lictypevar.htm.

| 2.) | This invitation is in respect of those blocks and parts of blocks that are not subject to an existing petroleum production licence on the date of this Notice in the areas shown on maps deposited at the Department of Trade and Industry, where they can be viewed by prior appointment (see below for contact details) between 0915 and 1645, Monday to Friday, until 8 June 2005. The maps and a list of the blocks and part blocks comprising this offer, and the SEA areas into which they fall, are also available on the DTI's Oil & Gas site at www.og.dti.gov.uk. This is the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) 23rd Round of Licensing. |
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2.)

This invitation is in respect of those blocks and parts of blocks that are not subject to an existing petroleum production licence on the date of this Notice in the areas shown on maps deposited at the Department of Trade and Industry, where they can be viewed by prior appointment (see below for contact details) between 0915 and 1645, Monday to Friday, until 8 June 2005. The maps and a list of the blocks and part blocks comprising this offer, and the SEA areas into which they fall, are also available on the DTI's Oil & Gas site at www.og.dti.gov.uk. This is the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) 23rd Round of Licensing.

| 3.) | Licences issued pursuant to this invitation will incorporate clauses based substantially on the Model Clauses set out in Schedules 2 to 5 of The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/352). |
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3.)

Licences issued pursuant to this invitation will incorporate clauses based substantially on the Model Clauses set out in Schedules 2 to 5 of The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/352).

| 4.) | A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the area to be offered (‘SEA 5’ has been conducted and the findings of the assessment can be found at the website below, (Previous SEA's for the areas SEA 1-4 can also be found at the same site): http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/sea/index.php |
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4.)

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the area to be offered (‘SEA 5’ has been conducted and the findings of the assessment can be found at the website below, (Previous SEA's for the areas SEA 1-4 can also be found at the same site): http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/sea/index.php

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES

| 5.) | Applicants should consult the DTI's Oil & Gas website (www.og.dti.gov.uk) for guidance about the procedures and fees for submitting applications for this 23rd Oil and Gas Licensing Round. |
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5.)

Applicants should consult the DTI's Oil & Gas website (www.og.dti.gov.uk) for guidance about the procedures and fees for submitting applications for this 23rd Oil and Gas Licensing Round.

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| 6.) | All applications must be submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry, in accordance with those procedures by 1300 hrs on the 9th June 2005. |
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6.)

All applications must be submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry, in accordance with those procedures by 1300 hrs on the 9th June 2005.

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| 7.) | Applications will be judged on the basis of criteria followed for the previous UK Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round, as set out in the Official Journal of the European Union (2004/C 56/03) of 4.3.2004, Paragraphs 9, 11, and 13. |
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7.)

Applications will be judged on the basis of criteria followed for the previous UK Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round, as set out in the Official Journal of the European Union (2004/C 56/03) of 4.3.2004, Paragraphs 9, 11, and 13.

Official Journal of the European Union

| 8.) | Following consideration of all applications, the Secretary of State will notify all applicants in writing of her decisions. They will be notified as soon as possible after decisions have been made but no later than one year after the application date. |
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8.)

Following consideration of all applications, the Secretary of State will notify all applicants in writing of her decisions. They will be notified as soon as possible after decisions have been made but no later than one year after the application date.

LICENCE RENTAL PAYMENTS

| 9.) | Any licence granted as a result of this invitation will be subject to payment of consideration according to provisions set out in the Model Clauses and in Schedules to the Licence. The guidance on the Oil & Gas website specifies these payments. |
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9.)

Any licence granted as a result of this invitation will be subject to payment of consideration according to provisions set out in the Model Clauses and in Schedules to the Licence. The guidance on the Oil & Gas website specifies these payments.

CONFIDENTIALITY

| 10.) | Material supplied in support of applications will be treated as supplied in confidence and as commercially sensitive information. |
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10.)

Material supplied in support of applications will be treated as supplied in confidence and as commercially sensitive information.

| 11.) | Note that, as a result of consultation with industry representatives, DTI intends to publish the overall marks awarded to all applicants. |
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11.)

Note that, as a result of consultation with industry representatives, DTI intends to publish the overall marks awarded to all applicants.

EXCEPTIONS

| 12.) | The terms, provisions, payments and other details relating to each licence will normally be as set out above, but the Secretary of State reserves the right to amend them in some cases to fit particular circumstances (e.g. licences that cover decommissioned fields). |
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12.)

The terms, provisions, payments and other details relating to each licence will normally be as set out above, but the Secretary of State reserves the right to amend them in some cases to fit particular circumstances (e.g. licences that cover decommissioned fields).

CONTACT DETAILS

13.)   Licence Administration:

Licensing, Exploration and Development Branch, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET (tel: +(0)20 7215 5032, fax: +(0)20 7215 5070).

14.)   Energy Resources Development Unit (ERDU) website:

www.og.dti.gov.uk

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