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: 2022/3

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 context 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.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	20
Guided independent study:	180
Total hours by term	200
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

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

Formative assessment methods:
One formative assessment task which is an important component of students£ 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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
See School of Law PGT Programme Handbook

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022