Regulating exploration
To evaluate the existing legal and extra-legal measures used in regulating exploration and production of crude oil in Nigeria, examining the impact of such statutory provisions like the Land Use Act of 1978 and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act of 2010 on the industry and discussing their merits and demerits. To find out what current reforms are being planned in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, for example, The petroleum Industrial Bill (BIB) What are your research questions?
What are the applicable laws concerning Oil & Gas production/management in Nigeria? Specifically, what is the rationale behind the enactment of some statutes like the Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 by the Nigerian Government and how far are public policies biased in favor of “Indigestion and Negotiations” in the oil & gas sector in Nigeria? What are the current proposals for reforms and what are the future trends for the regulation of Oil and Gas management/production in Nigeria? What is the rationale for your study? 200 – 300 words) Include in your rationale how the research will impact on the organization I have chosen to study this particular research topic of ‘Public Policy and Regulation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector’ because it would give me a first-hand understanding of the applicable local laws and regulations pertinent to the Nigerian IL and Gas industry as well as demonstrating a good knowledge of the historical perspectives of state regulation and policies generated by governmental/public interests within the Nigerian petroleum industry.
This Study will enable me to explore some of the challenges facing the Nigerian Oil Production like Kidnapping of oil industrial workers/ investors and theft of Crude oil and examine how the State is responding through its public policy and legal frameworks. It is crucial to know if those responses in legal sense are actually working to the benefit of the people or there are loop-holes.
This research will have great impartation on the Nigerian oil and Gas sector because if the study shows any gap or weakness in the applicable laws on this sector, further steps would need to be taken by the Nigerian government to enact new laws or review the existing ones in the interest of the public to bring stability and enhance the economy of Nigeria in the Oil and Gas Industry. Brief review of relevant literature (500 – 600 words) with a minimum of 6 key publications cited. Books 1 . Recuperation. S. (2009) The Political Economy of Oil and Gas in Africa-The case of Nigeria London: Rutledge.
This book focuses on the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry. It critically examines the role of Africa in the contribution of Oil and Gas resources to the global energy market and provides an overview of Oil and Gas management activities in some African developing countries. Apart from Nigeria, the book also explores the petroleum production activities in Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Angola and extends its evaluation to the Gulf of Guiana to show its significance as a prolific hydrocarbon bearing zone. 2. Daniels, N Y. (2011) Nigerian Laws, Cases & Materials on Oil & Gas Loosely Baja: Institute for Oil & Gas Law.
The book contains detailed Insignia’s oil and gas legal system including upstream and downstream petroleum and gas operations. The work is a single compendium comprising all current Laws, Regulations, Cases and commentaries relating to the whole oil & gas industry in Nigeria. 3. Gordon, G. Paterson, J. And Assumes, E. (2011) Oil and Gas Law: Current Practice and Emerging Trends, 2nd edition, Dundee: Dundee University Press. This book widely covers a lot of issues surrounding the general management of oil and gas and its legal frame works.
It includes security of petroleum resources, allocation of risks in the oil and gas industry. It details many challenges facing the exploration, production and transportation of petroleum resources including trans-national pipelines. 4. Goad, M. (1999) Petroleum Development Contracts with Multinational Oil Firms: The Nigerian experience, Maturing: El-Lincoln Services This book specifically focuses on forms and structures of oil and gas management contracts between Nigeria and multinational oil corporations (Moons).
It deeply looks into the negotiations which is characterized by contractual obligations between Nigeria seems to be at a disadvantage in comparison with the multinational oil corporations in regards to genealogy, risk capital and management skills in preparation of any legal document. The author critically explore on those significant matters such as oil and gas management control, ownership, technology transfer and issues of indigestion. He also examines the country foreign investment and its oil and gas management policies. The book principally draws on political economy writings in Economics, Politics and Law.
It focuses on the question as to whether the petroleum contracts strike a balance between foreign exploitation and national policy objectives. Journal Articles 5. Heron, J. 2013) ‘Shell Recommits to Nigeria’, Energy Journal, June. 24. The article gives an insight to the recent declaration given by Shell that it intends to remain in Nigeria. Despite several criticisms with accusations of its involvement in human- rights violations and environmental pollution coupled with the kidnapping of its employees in its 77 years of operation in Nigeria, a new investment from its Joint venture totaling $3. Billion was announced. 6. Doable, F. (2013) ‘Implications of new Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010’, International Law Office This study looks at the provisions of he 2010 Act and its effect on the operations of oil and gas management in Nigeria. The research focuses on the weaknesses and strength of the statutes, its criticisms and the weight of public policy in it by the government. Outline of research methodology, including Justification for choices The following are the methods I hope to employ in my research.
Literature Review: This will involve reading books and relevant Journals on the subject of regulation in the Nigerian Petroleum industry. This will give me an insight into the historical perspective of state control and public policy decisions in the country and allow me o sample the opinions of other scholars on the topic. It will also generally allow me to compare my research work with the works of other people and make my own valuable contributions to complement existing studies.
Online Research: This will involve going onto the internet to read pertinent news and articles and also extract information from the official websites of companies and government agencies operating within the oil sector in Nigeria. It will also involve an exchange of e-mails with other oil and gas law scholars/researchers. This will give me access to a large vault of useful information for my study/research. Data Collection Methods. Please provide a detailed description of the data collection method(s), study sample, covering selection, number, and if appropriate, inclusion and exclusion criteria.
The participants involved in the study and the data collection methods to be used are as follows: Participant Data Collection Method Reason for choice of method Population Size Sample Size Sample Criteria Data Collection Date Former Oil & Gas law colleagues Via e-mail We’ve previously done many group works together in Aberdeen, Scotland 44 individuals approve 4 individuals Knowledge of Oil & Gas Law September 29th-2nd October 2013 Niger Delta community people Via-e-mail and post Reliable first-hand information can be thus obtained. 0% of the Nigerian population 10 individuals Living in the Nigerian oil-producing regions continuous Oil-Management Executives Telephone Expert information can be thus obtained from those directly involved in the oil industry 55,000 approve. 12-1 people Working in the Nigerian Oil Sector Chapter Outlines – what is going to be in each of your Dissertation chapters Chapter 1 Introduction (Note: the word counts are guidelines only) Chapter 2 Literature Review (2000 – 3000 words) Chapter 3 Methodology (1500-2000 words)
