REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE EXPLOITATIONOF OFFSHORE PETROLEUM RESOURCES IN COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN ENTERPRISES
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document (法规全文)
REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE EXPLOITATION
OF OFFSHORE PETROLEUM RESOURCES IN COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN ENTERPRISES
(Promulgated by the State Council on January 30, 1982)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
In the interest of developing the national economy and expanding
international economic and technological cooperation, these Regulations
are formulated, on the premise of maintaining national sovereignty and
economic interests, to permit foreign enterprises to participate in the
cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum resources of the People's
Republic of China.
Article 2
All petroleum resources in the internal waters, territorial sea and
continental shelf of the People's Republic of China and in all sea areas
within the limits of national jurisdiction over the maritime resources of
the People's Republic of China are owned by the People's Republic of
China.
In the sea areas referred to in the preceding paragraph, all buildings and
structures set up and vessels operating to exploit petroleum, as well as
the corresponding onshore oil (gas) terminals and bases, shall be under
the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China.
Article 3
The Government of the People's Republic of China shall protect, in
accordance with the law, the investments of foreign enterprises
participating in the cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum
resources, the profits due to them and their other legitimate rights and
interests, and shall protect, in accordance with the law, the cooperative
exploitation activities of foreign enterprises.
All activities for the cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum
resources within the scope of these Regulations shall be subject to the
laws and decrees of the People's Republic of China and relevant provisions
of the State; all persons and enterprises taking part in petroleum
operations shall be subject to the laws of China and shall accept
inspection and supervision by the competent authorities concerned of the
Chinese Government.
Article 4
The Ministry of Petroleum Industry of the People's Republic of China shall
be the competent authority in charge of the exploitation of offshore
petroleum resources in cooperation with foreign enterprises, and shall
determine the forms of cooperation and demarcate areas of cooperation in
accordance with the zones and the surface areas of cooperation designated
by the State; it shall work out a plan for the exploitation of offshore
petroleum resources in cooperation with the foreign enterprises in
accordance with long-term state economic plans, formulate operation and
management policies for the cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum
resources and examine and approve the overall development program for
offshore oil (gas) fields.
Article 5
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) shall have exclusive
and overall responsibility for the work of exploiting offshore petroleum
resources in the People's Republic of China in cooperation with foreign
enterprises.
CNOOC is a state corporation with the status of a legal person and has the
exclusive right to prospect for, develop, produce and market the petroleum
within the zones of cooperation with foreign enterprises.
CNOOC may, as the work requires, establish regional corporations,
specialized corporations and overseas representative offices to carry out
the tasks delegated by the head office.
Article 6
CNOOC shall, by means of calling for bids and signing petroleum contracts,
cooperate with foreign enterprises to exploit petroleum resources in
accordance with the zones, surface areas and areas of cooperation with
foreign enterprises for the exploitation of petroleum resources.
The petroleum contracts referred to in the preceding paragraph shall come
into force upon approval by the Foreign Investment Commission of the
People's Republic of China. All the documents signed by CNOOC for other
forms of cooperative exploitation of petroleum resources utilizing
technology and funds provided by foreign enterprises shall also be subject
to approval by Foreign Investment Commission of the People's Republic of
China.
Chapter II Rights and Obligations of the Parties to Petroleum Contracts
Article 7
CNOOC shall cooperate with foreign enterprises to exploit offshore
petroleum resources by means of entering into petroleum contracts, and,
unless otherwise specified by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry or in a
petroleum contract, the foreign enterprise party to the petroleum contract
(hereafter "foreign contractor") shall provide the investment to carry out
prospecting, be responsible for prospecting operations and bear all
prospecting risks; after a commercial oil (gas) field is discovered, both
the foreign contractor and CNOOC shall provide the investment for its
cooperative development, and the foreign contractor shall be responsible
for the development operations and production operations until CNOOC takes
over the production operations when conditions permit as provided in the
petroleum contract. The foreign contractor, in accordance with the
provisions of the petroleum contract, recovers its investment and expenses
and receives remuneration out of the petroleum produced.
Article 8
The foreign contractor may export the petroleum due to it and the
petroleum it purchases, and may also, in accordance with the law, remit
abroad the investment it recovers, its profits and its other legitimate
income.
Article 9
All Chinese enterprises and foreign enterprises participating in the
cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum resources shall pay taxes
in accordance with the law and shall pay mining royalties.
All the employees of the enterprises referred to in the preceding
paragraph shall pay individual income tax in accordance with the law.
Article 10
The equipment and materials imported for carrying out the petroleum
contract shall be subject to tax at a reduced rate, or be exempted from
tax, or be given other preferen-tax treatment in accordance with state
provisions.
Article 11
The foreign contractor shall open a bank account in accordance with the
provisions of the Interim Regulations on Foreign Exchange Control of the
People's Republic of China.
Article 12
In carrying out the petroleum contract, the foreign contractor shall use
appropriate and advanced technology and management experience and shall be
obligated to transfer the technology and pass on the experience to the
personnel of the Chinese side involved in carrying out the petroleum-
contract (hereafter "Chinese personnel"); in petroleum operations, the
foreign contractor must give preference in employment to Chinese
personnel, progressively increase the percentage of Chinese personnel and
train Chinese personnel in a planned way.
Article 13
In carrying out the petroleum contract, the foreign contractor must
promptly and accurately report to CNOOC on the situation of petroleum
operations; and it must acquire complete and accurate data, records,
samples, vouchers and other original data with respect to the various
aspects of the petroleum operations, and regularly submit to CNOOC the
required data and samples as well as various technological, economic,
financial and accounting, and administrative reports.
Article 14
In carrying out the petroleum contract, the foreign contractor shall
establish a branch or subsidiary or representative office within the
territory of the People's Republic of China and fulfil registration
formalities in accordance with the law.
The location of the offices referred to in the preceding paragraph shall
be determined through consultation with CNOOC.
Article 15
The provisions of Articles 3, 8, 9, 10 and 14 of these Regulations shall,
by analogy, apply to foreign subcontractors that render services in
connection with the petroleum operations.
Chapter III Petroleum Operations
Article 16
In order to achieve the highest possible oil recovery factor, the operator
must, in accordance with these Regulations and the relevant provisions
promulgated by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry on the exploitation of
petroleum resources and in the light of international practice, formulate
an overall development program for the oil (gas) field and carry on
production operations.
Article 17
In carrying out the petroleum contract, the foreign contractor shall use
the existing bases within the territory of the People's Republic of China,
and, if new bases are needed, they must be established within the
territory of the People's Republic of China. The specific locations of
the new bases referred to in the preceding paragraph, and other
arrangements that may be necessary in special circumstances, must all be
subject to the written approval of CNOOC.
Article 18
CNOOC shall have the right to send personnel to join the foreign operator
in making master designs and engineering designs for carrying out the
petroleum contract. Designing corporations within the territory of the
People's Republic of China shall enjoy priority in entering into
subcontracts for the master designs and engineering designs mentioned
above, provided that their terms are competitive.
Article 19
With respect to all facilities required to be built in carrying out the
petroleum contract, including artificial islands, platforms, buildings and
structures, when signing subcontracts, the operator must give preference
to manufacturing plants and engineering corporations within the territory
of the People's Republic of China, provided that they are competitive in
terms of quality, price, time of delivery and services.
Article 20
With respect to the equipment and materials required to carry out the
petroleum contract, the operator and subcontractors must give preference
to procuring and utilizing equipment and materials manufactured and
supplied by the People's Republic of China, provided that these are
competitive.
Article 21
With respect to services that are required to carry out the petroleum
contract, such as those for geophysical prospecting, well-drilling,
diving, aircraft, ships and bases, the operator and subcontractors must
enter into subcontracts and service contracts with relevant departments
within the territory of the People's Republic of China, provided that they
are competitive in terms of price, efficiency and services.
Article 22
The ownership of all assets purchased or built by the foreign contractor
to carry out the petroleum contract in accordance with the plan and
budget, excluding equipment leased from a third party, shall belong to
CNOOC after the foreign contractor's investment has been compensated as
provided for, and, within the term of the contract, the foreign contractor
may continue to use those assets in accordance with the provisions of the
contract.
Article 23
CNOOC shall have the ownership of all of the data, records, samples,
vouchers and other original data with respect to the petroleum operations
stipulated in Article 13 of these Regulations.
The utilization and transfer, donation, exchange, sale and publication of
the previously mentioned data, records, samples, vouchers and other
original data and their export and transmission from the People's Republic
of China must all be conducted in accordance with the "Provisions on the
Control of Data" formulated by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry.
Article 24
In the course of petroleum operations, the operator and subcontractors
shall comply with the relevant laws and provisions on environmental
protection and safety of the People's Republic of China, and shall, in the
light of international practice, protect fishery resources and other
natural resources and prevent the environment, including the air, seas,
rivers, lakes and land, from being polluted or damaged, when conducting
operations.
Article 25
The petroleum produced within the petroleum contract area shall be landed
in the People's Republic of China or may be exported from oil (gas)
metering points on offshore terminals. In case such petroleum has to be
landed at point outside the People's Republic of China, the approval of
the Ministry of Petroleum Industry must be obtained.
Article 26
In circumstances of war, the threat of war or other emergencies, the
Chinese Government shall have the right to compulsory purchase or
requisition of a portion or all of the petroleum due to it or purchased by
the foreign contractor.
Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions
Article 27
Any dispute arising between foreign and Chinese enterprises during the
cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum resources shall be settled
through friendly consultations. If it cannot be resolved through
consultation, mediation and arbitration may be conducted by an arbitration
body of the People's Republic of China, or the parties to the contract may
agree upon arbitration by another arbitration body.
Article 28
In case an operator or contractor violates the provisions of these
Regulations in conducting petroleum operations, the Ministry of Petroleum
Industry shall have the right to issue a warning and set a deadline for
correction. If no correction can be made prior to the specified deadline,
the Ministry of Petroleum Industry shall have the right to adopt necessary
measures, even up to the suspension of implementation of petroleum
operations. All economic losses arising therefrom shall be borne by the
party responsible. A party responsible for serious violations of these
Regulations may be fined by and/or even be subject to legal action filed
with the judicial organs by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry.
Article 29
The terms used in these Regulations are defined as follows:
(1) "Petroleum" means crude oil or natural gas deposited underground,
currently being extracted or already extracted.
(2) "Exploitation" means, in general, the exploration for and development,
production and marketing of petroleum, as well as other related
activities.
(3) "Petroleum contract" means a contract signed, in accordance with the
law, between CNOOC and foreign enterprises for the cooperative
exploitation of offshore petroleum resources of the People's Republic of
China, including the exploration for and development and production of
petroleum.
(4) "Contract area" means a surface area designated within a sea area
demarcated by geographical coordinates in the petroleum contract for the
cooperative exploitation of petroleum resources.
(5) "Petroleum operations" means all exploration, development and
production operations and other related activities conducted in carrying
out the petroleum contract.
(6) "Exploration operations" means all work done to locate the
petroleum-bearing traps by means of geological, geophysical and
geochemical methods and including drilling exploratory wells, etc., and
all work done to determine the commerciality of discovered petroleum
traps, including appraisal drilling, feasibility studies and preparation
of the overall development program for an oil
(gas) field.
(7) "Development operations" means projects, such as those for designing,
construction, installation and drilling, and corresponding research work,
conducted from the date of the approval of the overall development program
for an oil (gas) field by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry, in order to
bring about petroleum production, including production activities carried
out before the commencement of commercial production.
(8) "Production operations" means all operations for producing petroleum
conducted after the date of commencement of the commercial production of
an oil (gas)
field and related activities, such as extraction, injection, production
stimulation, processing, storage and transportation and lifting of
petroleum and other operations.
(9) "Foreign contractor" means a foreign enterprise that signs a petroleum
contract with CNOOC. The foreign enterprises may be a corporation or a
consortium of corporations.
(10) "Operator" means an entity that is responsible for implementing the
operations pursuant to the provisions of the petroleum contract.
(11) "Subcontractor" means an entity that renders services to the
operator.
Article 30
Rules for the implementation of these Regulations shall be formulated by
the Ministry of Petroleum Industry.
Article 31
These Regulations shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation.