Postgraduate Module Descriptor


LAWM714: Oil and Gas

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of some of the key commercial and related legal issues arising from the international oil and gas industry. More specifically, the module aims to provide an overall overview and general understanding of oil and gas and of its operation, of issues relating to exploration and production, of the various contracts and phases involved in exploration and production, of the environmental protection challenges entails in such operations of exploration and production. . The module convenor will assess the various topics to be presented on the basis of legal current trends and developments in oil and gas law as well as by drawing from the results of research in oil and gas and arbitration law. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate deep and systematic knowledge and understanding of the law relating to oil and gas and of the structure, purpose and complexity of arrangements used by the contracting parties in the course of oil and gas exploration and production operations;
2. Undertake complex critical evaluation of main legal rules, institutions and procedures relevant to oil and gas, using specialist literature and current research; demonstrate knowledge of the oil and gas related case law, of the key elements of related substantive and procedural matters and of a wide range of social and contextual implications of the area of oil and gas;
3. Understand the types of transactions used in upstream operations and beyond and the relationships between various aspects of oil and gas law and commercial practices;
4. Identify those types of commercial arrangements which are unique to the oil and gas sector and understand the relationship between legal rules, principles, arrangements and structures which are highly specific to the oil and gas sector;
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Select and explain relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources and understand the methods and rationales for studying oil and gas law in context;
6. Identify the central legal issues and problems surrounding and arising from the petroleum operations covered in this modules and the range of approaches taken by various legal systems;
7. Demonstrate flexible and innovative ability to analyse complex legal problems, and to select a
Personal and Key Skills8. Manage relevant learning resources/ information/ learning strategies confidently and independently, and to develop own arguments and opinions at a very high/ professional level
9. Communicate knowledge and results effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline and as per the current trends and needs of the legal job market;
10. Work independently and to manage time well in preparing for scheduled learning activities, exercises and assessments;
11. Communicate with and engage in debate effectively, confidently and autonomously, orally and in writing, in manner appropriate to the discipline/ in a range of complex and specialised contexts in relation to oil and gas
12. Clarify, plan and undertake tasks which may be allocated by tutor, confidently and independently, individually and with others, to reflect critically on the learning process and to make use of feedback effectively;
13. Identify, retrieve and use the full range of library-based and electronic resources efficiently and autonomously;
14. Work independently and effectively, and to manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities and all assessments;
15. Demonstrate confident, independent and comprehensive learning ability required for continuing professional development, managing own requirements and contributing to the learning of others