Part 2: Further functions of the OGA relating to offshore petroleum Chapter 2: Disputes Section 23: Procedure for consideration of disputes
This section requires that where the OGA accepts a reference of a dispute by a relevant party or decides to consider a dispute on its own initiative, it must draw up a timetable for consideration of the dispute and for making a recommendation for resolving it. The OGA may issue directions to relevant parties, but not to other persons, breach of which may result in the application of sanctions, for which provision is made in Chapter 5.
	The OGA's recommendation must be one that it considers will resolve the dispute in the way which best contributes to the fulfilment of the principal objective, whilst being one that is economically viable to the parties to the dispute. This is only a recommendation and is not binding, even on relevant parties.
	Subsection (6) allows for the OGA to publish all or part of its recommendation but before any publication the OGA must give the relevant parties an opportunity to be heard.
	Subsection (8) requires that the OGA issue guidance setting out the matters it will have regard to when considering a dispute and in reaching its recommendation.