The Phillips group, which holds licences 4, 5 and 6/98, is allocating resources to research and job training throughout the licence period. In this connection, the group supported the following research projects in 1999:
Gravity and magnetic interpretation of North Sea structure with emphasis on the Central Graben.Performed by the University of Copenhagen.
R E S E A R C H
Fault geometry, fault overlap zones and the growth history of faults. Performed by the University of Aarhus.
Upper Jurassic shelf-slope systems of the Danish Central Graben: Sequence stratigraphy and controls on emplacement of deltaic and deep marine reservoir sandstones in an active rift setting.
Performed by the University of Copenhagen.
Study of Jurassic reservoir quality and diagenesis in the Danish Central Graben, licences 4/98, 5/98 and 6/98. Performed by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
In 2000, several new executive orders and amendments to statutes relating to oil and gas activities were introduced. The majority of these orders and amendments are described below.
Payment for Use of the Oil Pipeline to Shore
Executive Order No. 212 of 21 March 2000 on Payment for the Transportation of Crude Oil and Condensate.
In March, a revised executive order was issued regarding the payment for trans-porting crude oil and condensate through DONG Olierør A/S’ pipeline from the Gorm Field to Fredericia. This revision was made because more parties are using the pipeline after the holders of the Lulita share of licences 7/86 and 1/90 began transporting their share of oil from the Lulita Field through the pipeline. The Executive Order lays down rules on budgeting and accounting for the costs of using the pipeline, as well as rules regulating the fees payable by the users of the pipeline.
Specifications for Pressure Equipment and Construction Plant Equipment Executive Order No. 298 of 22 April 2000 on Aerosols, Pressure Vessels, Simple Pressure Vessels, Pressure-Bearing Equipment and Construction Plant Equipment on Offshore Installations.
This Executive Order contains the EU design requirements for equipment of this type used on offshore installations. As a result of this Executive Order, new rules have been introduced and existing rules updated. The requirements are identical to those applicable to equipment used on shore.
Implementation of the Aarhus Convention
(Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters)
The "Aarhus Act". Act No. 447 of 31 May 2000 on the Amendment of Certain Environmental Acts.
Executive Order No. 884 of 21 September 2000 on the Environmental Impact Assessment of Projects for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons and for the Establishment of Pipelines in Danish Sea Territory and the Danish Continental Shelf.
In passing this statute, the Danish Parliament implemented the Aarhus
Convention in Denmark. The Convention was signed on 25 June 1998 at the Pan-European Conference of Environment Ministers, Environment for Europe, which was held in Aarhus under the auspices of the UN and hosted by the Danish Minister for Environment and Energy. In addition to Denmark, 34 other European countries, including the EU Member States, signed the Convention.
The Convention addresses citizens’ access to information, their right to take part in decision-making processes, to lodge complaints and have decisions reviewed in matters related to the environment.
In the offshore area, the implementation of this Convention has resulted in amendments to the Subsoil Act, the Continental Shelf Act and the Executive Order on Environmental Impact Assessments.
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8. STATUTES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS
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With these amendments, new provisions on complaint procedures were incorpo-rated in the two above-mentioned statutes, extending the right to file complaints with the Energy Complaints Board against any project permits and approvals granted by the Danish Energy Agency that are assumed to have a major impact on the environment. Consequently, a permit may not be utilized until the four-week time limit for lodging complaints has expired. The projects in question are set out in the Executive Order on the Environmental Impact Assessment of Projects for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons and for the Establishment of Pipelines in Danish Sea Territory and the Danish Continental Shelf.
The other two elements in the Convention, viz. public participation in mental decision-making and the access of citizens to information on the environ-ment, were implemented by an amendment to the Executive Order on Environ-mental Impact Assessments and an amendment to the Act on Freedom of Access to Environmental Information.
A new provision was inserted in the Executive Order on Environmental Impact Assessments according to which the Danish Energy Agency must also state which permits are to be obtained from other public authorities for a given project when informing the public about its receipt of an application for a permit or approval of a project comprised by the provisions of the Executive Order.
The definition of environmental information now encompasses more types of information than before, and more public authorities than previously are required to provide public access to their files in accordance with the Act on Freedom of Access to Environmental Information. Thus, the obligation to give the public access to information on the environment now also applies to bodies that have public responsibility for the environment and are subject to public control.
Accordingly, a publicly owned company such as DONG will be comprised by the new provisions on freedom of access to environmental information.
Health and Safety Training of Safety Representatives, etc.
Executive Order No. 907 of 25 September 2000 on Health and Safety Training of Safety Representatives, etc. on Offshore Installations.
As from 15 October 2000, new rules were introduced on an employer’s duty to ensure that the members of a safety group receive the necessary training in health and safety issues. The members of the group are required to participate in courses on these subjects. The Danish Energy Agency must make sure that the content of such courses is satisfactory. This Executive Order replaces the previous rules on safety training.
Third-Party Access to Upstream Pipelines
Executive Order No. 1090 of 6 December 2000 on Access to Upstream Pipeline Networks.
Following the adoption by the Danish Parliament of the Natural Gas Supply Act in 2000, rules regarding third-party access to using upstream pipelines for the transportation of natural gas were issued. These rules were introduced as part of Denmark’s implementation of the EU Directive on the liberalization of the natural gas market.
The rules entitle third parties to transport natural gas in upstream pipelines against payment. A party desiring access to upstream pipelines will have to nego-tiate with the owner or operator of the pipeline. The Energy Regulatory Authority supervises the reasonableness of prices and conditions and may mediate or make decisions in case of disagreement.
New Rules on Paintwork
Executive Order No. 1181 of 15 December 2000 on Paintwork, etc. on Offshore Installations.
As from 1 January 2001, new rules regulating paintwork on offshore installations entered into force. The Executive Order sets down rules on the labelling and storing of paints and related products, including epoxy resins and isocyanates, and on the precautionary measures to be taken when using these products. At the same time, the existing rules on polyurethane and epoxy products and code-numbered products on fixed offshore installations have been abolished.
Safety Training and Drills
Executive Order No. 1208 of 17 December 2000 on Safety Training, Drills, etc. on Certain Offshore Installations.
Effective 1 January 2001, new rules on safety training and drills on certain off-shore installations were introduced. They replace the previous rules from 1988.
The most important change is that safety training refresher courses are now to be held every fourth year, as compared to every third year. As from the same date, persons paying regular visits to offshore installations may participate in a one-day refresher course. All other personnel are required to complete a two-day course.
With this amendment, the rules have been adapted to the practice existing in the other North Sea countries.
Permits for Laying Power Cables
Act No. 1276 of 20 December 2000 to Amend the Continental Shelf Act.
As a result of this amendment, the laying of power cables over the Danish conti-nental shelf was made subject to the granting of a permit, in the same way as for pipelines. The public authorities may charge payment by the hour for their work on processing applications for permission to lay pipelines and power cables and the associated supervisory work. Finally, strict liability to compensate for any damage or loss caused by pipelines and power cables has been introduced.
Revised Executive Order on the Filing of Data
A new draft Executive Order on the submission of samples and other information about the Danish subsoil in pursuance of section 34 of the Subsoil Act has been prepared in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
The purpose of the new Executive Order is to update the existing rules due to advances in technology, particularly in the IT area, which have changed the way of acquiring and transmitting data.
The two sides of industry have been consulted on the draft Executive Order, which is expected to be introduced in the course of 2001.
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