Oil and Gas
Members of the Energy team advise and act in litigation, arbitration and mediation across the oil and gas sector and offer particular expertise in matters with multi-national elements. Members of Chambers have experience in a wide range of matters both upstream and downstream including the licensing, exploitation and development of oil fields, long term Production Sharing Contracts and Farm-In Agreements, the financing, provision and leasing of field development infrastructure, the financing, insurance, construction and operation of oil platforms, refineries, pipelines and power stations, and issues arising from gas storage. We also offer specialist advocacy and advice in relation to compliance with environmental regulation, insurance, health and safety, pollution, waste disposal and public and private international law. Members act for all sides of the industry: for engineering firms, oil and gas companies and for and against national and state governments.
Significant matters include:
• Advising and acting in the litigation arising out of the fire at Buncefield oil storage depot
• Advising and acting in the first disputes to arise out of the post-war oil and gas exploration of Iraq
• Advising and acting in disputes arising from the conversion of North Sea oil platforms
• Advising and acting in the leading cases on long term oil and gas supply contracts from the North Sea
• Advising and acting in disputes over the future exploration and development of the North Sea
• Chairing a dispute board appointed for a major international FPSO conversion project
• Acting and advising in relation to a number of significant underground gas storage inquiries including Saltfleetby and Star Energy
• Dana Petroleum v Woodside Kenya Ltd: Advising and acting in a multi-million US dollar claim over the development of oil and gas fields in East Africa
• Advising in a UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of an oil and gas joint venture agreement in Indonesia
• Acting and advising in a US$29m UNCITRAL arbitration over the development of oil and gas fields in Egypt
• Acting and advising in an UNCITRAL arbitration over the construction of oil facilities in the Middle East
• Acting for an oil and gas company in an arbitration in Trinidad in relation to disputes over payment for changes and for delay and disruption
• Acting for an Indian petrochemical corporation in an arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules relating to the construction of a major oil refinery in India
• Acting for a process plant manufacturer in an ICC arbitration relating to the operation and performance of a petrochemical plant
• Acting in a dispute between parties to a shareholders agreement relating to the development and expansion of an LNG plant in Europe, in relation to their joint response to delay and disruption by a contractor
• Advising an oil and gas major on the interpretation and application of exclusion and limitation of liability provisions to extensive delay and disruption to an LNG plant in North Africa
• Acting for a State petroleum corporation in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising from the failure of civil engineering works at an LNG Plant in the Gulf
• R (Maile and Hardy) v Pembrokeshire County Council (Court of Appeal) [2005] EWHC 1872 LNG Terminal and EIA
• Acting for a State petroleum corporation in a dispute arising from the dredging of deep water port facilities for an LNG plant in the Gulf
• Acting in TCC litigation for a compressor manufacturer in relation to compressor failures on an FPSO in the North Sea
• Acting for an oil corporation in relation to the proper construction of a ‘Carry’ agreement for investments in the UKCS
• Acting for a deep-water drilling contractor in an LCIA arbitration arising from the sale of part of its drilling barge fleet
• Acting for a deep water drill ship owner in relation to disputes arising from the sub-charter of the ship for drilling operations off East Africa
• Acting for an oil field services provider in relation to the termination of a long term agreement following the alleged payment of bribes by a local affiliate
• Advising in relation to an UNCITRAL arbitration with its seat in India, in relation to the provision of oil field and drilling services