These Regulations specify the time at, or after which, protected material (as defined in section 62(1) of the Energy Act 2016 (c. 20)) which has been obtained by the Oil and Gas Authority under Chapter 3 of Part 2 of that Act (offshore petroleum-related information and samples) may be published (or otherwise made available) by it or a subsequent holder. Regulations 2 and 3 set out how the Regulations apply. Material falling within regulations 5 to 7 is only subject to the Regulations if the end of the calendar year in which the information was acquired or created (by or on behalf of an offshore licensee, as defined in section 18(1) of the Energy Act 2016) occurs after the commencement of the Regulations (regulation 2(a)). Material falling within regulations 8 to 21 is subject to the Regulations where the event which under the Regulations determines the time at, or after which, the material may be published occurs after the commencement of the Regulations (regulation 2(b)). Where the determination of an offshore licence (as defined in section 18(1) of the Energy Act 2016) determines when protected material may be published under these Regulations and the determination relates to only part of the area in respect of which the licence was granted, only material relating to that part may be published unless that is the only area in respect of which the licence continued to have effect (regulation 3).
Link: The Oil and Gas Authority (Offshore Petroleum) (Disclosure of Protected Material after Specified Period) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
