Analysis of the Legal Status of Offshore Drilling Units

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor of law, Farabi Cilledge, University of Tehran, Qom,Iran.

2 PhD Candidate of Oil and Gas Law Faculty of Law & Political Science, Farabi Cilledge, University of Tehran, Qom,Iran.

Abstract

Drilling unit is the main asset of upstream oil and gas industry which is utilized for the drilling or well work over in exploration, development and enhanced oil recovery operations. The issues concerning Offshore Drilling Units have more complexities due to their locations which are at sea and the requirements governing them; hence, from legal point of view, the status of the mentioned Units is a controversial issue which is ambiguous, not only in international law but also in the Iranian law. The legal status of Offshore Drilling Units may impact on the jurisdiction that States exercise over them. This issue emphasizes the importance of analysis of the legal status of Offshore Drilling Units. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the different developed theories whether Offshore Drilling Units can be regarded as ship or artificial island or whether they have dual status or specific and separate status (category) and then it determines the best legal status of Offshore Drilling Units that can be responsive to the needs of oil and gas industry.

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Main Subjects

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Comparative Law Review
Volume 8, Issue 2
Autumn & Winter
October 2018
Pages 607-636

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