LWMTOG-Legal Issues in Oil and Gas

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Jorge Guira
Email: j.m.guira@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will introduce students to the basics of oil and gas law in its modern energy transition context. The course will cover fundamental topics such as ownership of natural resources such as oil and gas, the licensing regime for oil and gas exploration and production, basic elements of oil and gas agreements, the rights and obligations of oil and gas companies, the institutional context of oil and gas exploration and production the tortious elements of oil and gas exploration and production, and including decommissioning. This includes relationship to geopolitics, energy security, energy access, and affordability and poverty, climate change and arbitration and dispute resolution.

Aims:
The module is designed:
- to promote an understanding of oil and gas law.
- to promote a critical awareness of key structures, legal and policy issues related to the oil and gas industry.
- to offer an understanding, and foster a critical appreciation, of the underlying legal concepts determining policy in the oil and gas sector

Assessable learning outcomes:
At successful completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of the key legal issues underpinning the oil and gas sector
- The ability to identify the relevant sources of oil and gas law
- A critical appreciation of ownership of natural resources such as oil and gas, the licensing regime for oil and gas exploration and production, basic elements of oil and gas agreements, the rights and obligations of oil and gas companies, the institutional con text of oil and gas exploration and production and the tortious elements of oil and gas exploration and production

Additional outcomes:
In addition to those listed in the School􀀒s 􀀑core skills statement􀀒, the module will encourage the development of:
􀀕 High-level oral communication skills through reflective, analytical class discussion;
􀀕 Advanced critical reading skills in relation to primary and/or secondary sources.

Outline content:

The module consists of the following main themes:

• legal norms of the oil and gas industry


• ownership of oil and gas resources


• licencing of oil and gas resources


• duties and rights of companies involved in the oil and gas sectors


• institutions related to the oil and gas industry


• relationship to the energy transition and climate change

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching will consist of 10 x 2-hour seminars. Students will be given the chance to submit a formative assessment which will be marked and returned with feedback.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
15 page essay (formatted in accordance with the School of Lawô€€’s Assessed Work Rules)

Formative assessment methods:
One formative assessment task which is an important component of studentsô€€’ progress towards the learning outcomes of the module.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: