Catalogue description Continental Shelf Policy Division

The Continental Shelf Policy Division was established in 1975 and had responsibility for policy matters relating to the development of North Sea oil resources from the UK continental shelf. This included the establishment of the British National Oil Corporation, oilfield finance and participation negotiations with oil companies, developing policy on oil depletion, oil refineries and oil sharing, international policy discussions and consideration of North Sea aspects of the UK's energy policy. It was also concerned with the department's interest in the taxation of continental shelf profits and the continental shelf policy aspects of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975. In 1977 the Division was renamed the Continental Shelf (Participation) Division as its attention focussed more on oilfield financing and participation policy and financing and participation negotiations with banks and oil companies. In 1979 the Division's responsibilities were transferred to the Petroleum Production Division.