Where an application is made to the F3OGA under section 17F(5) in respect of a pipeline which is situated partly in, under or over F2the territorial sea adjacent to Northern Ireland and partly in a foreign sector of the continental shelf, the F3OGA shall consult the relevant authorities in the other country with respect to the application before considering it F4itself.

For the purpose of considering an application under section 17F(5), the F5OGA may by notice require the owner or the applicant to provide F6it with such information relevant to the application as may be specified or described in the notice.

The information mentioned in subsection (2) may, in particular, include financial information relevant to the owner’s or the applicant’s activities with respect to petroleum production projects and controlled petroleum pipelines.

The F7OGA shall not disclose to any person any information obtained under subsection (2) without the consent of the person by or on behalf of whom it was provided, unless F8it is required to do so by virtue of any obligation imposed on F9it by or under any enactment.

In section 17F(9), “permitted substances” means the things which may be conveyed by the pipeline in accordance with an authorisation (or, if no authorisation for the use of the pipeline is required by section 14(1), means the things which the pipeline is designed to convey).

Before serving a notice under section 15(6) on a person other than the holder of the relevant authorisation, the F10OGA shall give that person an opportunity to make applications under section 17F in respect of the proposed pipeline to which the authorisation relates; and section 17F and subsections (1) to (5) above shall have effect for this purpose as if references to a pipeline and the owner of it were references to the proposed pipeline and the proposed owner of it.

Before serving a notice under section 16(1) on a person other than the owner of the relevant pipeline, the F11OGA shall give that person particulars of the modifications which F12it proposes to specify in the notice and an opportunity to make applications under section 17F in respect of the pipeline; and section 17F and subsections (1) to (5) above shall have effect for this purpose as if references to a pipeline were references to the pipeline as it would be with those modifications.

The use of a pipeline by any person in accordance with a right secured to him by the F13OGA by virtue of section 17F is not a contravention of section 14(1); but a person to whom a right is so secured may not assign the right to any other person.