مطالعه تطبیقی فورس ماژور در قراردادهای بالادستی صنعت نفت وگاز در نظام حقوقی ایران و کامن لا (مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)
درجه علمی: نشریه علمی (وزارت علوم)
آرشیو
چکیده
قراردادهای نفتی از مهم ترین قراردادهای تجاری بین المللی است که ویژگی هایی مانند استمرار و طولانی مدت بودن، بهره مندی از عدم قطعیت و پیچیدگی های زیاد، چندبعدی بودن مورد قرارداد (نفت، گاز و مواد مربوطه) و لزوم صرف سرمایه فراوان آن ها را در معرض ریسک های مختلف حقوقی، اقتصادی، زیست محیطی، سیاسی و مالی قرار می دهد. درج شروط قراردادی متناسب یکی از ابزارهای حقوقی مدیریت ریسک های مورد اشاره است. در این تحقیق با نگاهی تحلیلی و تطبیقی و با تکیه بر قراردادهای بالادستی نفتی دو نظام حقوقی ایران و کامن لا، شرط فورس ماژور را از لحاظ مفهوم و ماهیت، انواع و مصادیق، شرایط و آثار و ضمانت اجراها مورد بررسی قرار داده ایم. نتایج بررسی نشان می دهد درج شرط فورس ماژور در قراردادهای نفتی در هردو نظام حقوقی به عرفی قراردادی تبدیل شده است ولی با توجه به تفاوت هایی که درباره شرایط تحقق فورس ماژور، ازجمله شرط قابلیت پیش بینی بودن که به نظر می رسد در قراردادهای نفتی کامن لا ضروری نیست و سایر شرایط و آثار این شرط در دو نظام حقوقی وجود دارد، در قراردادهای بین المللی نفتی هردو نظام این تفاوت ها متبلور شده که به صورت دقیق و با بیان مصادیق قراردادی در این تحقیق ذکر شده است.Comparative Study of Force Majeure Clause in Upstream Oil and Gas Contracts in Iran and Common Law Legal System
IntroductionThe principle of the sanctity of contracts is a fundamental tenet respected by all legal systems worldwide. According to this principle, the agreement provisions are binding, and neither party can refuse to fulfill their contractual obligations. However, in certain contracts, particularly long-term or continuous ones, unforeseen circumstances may arise that make fulfilling these obligations difficult or costly, sometimes even rendering the contract’s performance impossible. Between contract formation and execution, economic shifts or risks such as natural disasters, legal obstacles, political events, and economic disruptions may complicate or impede the obligor's ability to fulfill contractual duties, even making the contract unachievable or defeating its purpose.In such contracts, the parties may foresee potential post-contract obstacles and include specific clauses, known as contractual excuses, which serve as exceptions to the general principle of contract necessity. This is particularly true in contracts within the oil and gas industry, especially in the upstream sector. The industry’s unique characteristics—its complexity, uncertainties, high capital requirements, long-term nature, and strategic significance—distinguish it from other types of international commercial contracts. The stages of exploration, development, production, and marketing in this sector are marked by instability, high risk, and a need for significant capital investment. The economic, political, environmental, and technological importance of these contracts has made it crucial to manage various risks by incorporating contractual excuses. Among the most important of these is the force majeure clause, widely recognized across legal systems worldwide.MethodologyThis research focuses specifically on upstream oil contracts, excluding general public (non-oil) contracts. Employing a library-based approach, the author examines upstream contracts from two legal systems, using an analytical, descriptive, and comparative methodology to assess the role of force majeure in these agreements.Sampling ProceduresIn this research, the subject of the study was upstream oil contracts from the two legal systems of Iran and the common law. The purpose of choosing these examples was to broaden and strengthen the comparative and comparative aspect of the subject. Since, the oil contracts have major differences from other contracts, on the one hand, and the common law legal system is based on judicial practice and the Iranian legal system is codified and written on the other hand, so the samples were chosen according to this actuality.Sample Size, Power, and PrecisionIn both legal systems, only oil contracts and only the upstream sector have been examined, and in order to prevent the expansion of the research topic, other sectors and contracts have not been analysed.Mixed methods researchThis research is not a mixed methods research. In mixed methods articles, authors report research combining qualitative and quantitative empirical approaches.ResultsA legal review and analysis of numerous upstream oil and gas contracts in the Iranian and Common Law legal systems reveal differences due to the acceptance of private ownership of oil and gas resources in some Common Law jurisdictions. In Iran’s legal system, oil contracts generally stipulate that if force majeure leads to contract termination, incurred costs are depreciated up to a specified amount after developing the oil or gas field in question. Internationally, in cases of force majeure, the contract may be suspended for the duration of the event or a specific period. If force majeure persists or becomes permanent, the affected party has the right to terminate the contract. If the force majeure ceases before the end of this period, the contract is reactivated. The effects of force majeure can, therefore, include contract suspension, extension, or even dissolution. Beyond these, renegotiation is often used as a risk management tool in upstream oil and gas contracts, ensuring the protection of both parties’ interests.ConclusionsThe primary research question is: What are the similarities and differences in the contractual excuse of force majeure regarding its concept, types, conditions, effects, and enforceability in these two legal systems, especially within the upstream oil and gas industry? A comparative analysis of force majeure in both legal systems reveals that, under English law, the doctrine encompasses not only the impossibility of performance but also other outcomes, such as preventing implementation or modifying obligations. Furthermore, in Common Law jurisdictions, unforeseeability is generally not required to invoke force majeure; it suffices for the claimant to demonstrate that the event was beyond their control and that they could not reasonably prevent or mitigate its effects. Additionally, the requirement for the obligor to notify the other party in writing of a force majeure event is contractual and may be necessary for exemption from liability or simply a procedural condition.In contrast to many domestic legal systems, which primarily view force majeure as grounds for contract dissolution, international oil and gas contracts assign force majeure broader implications, particularly concerning incurred costs. In sum, while the unpredictability criterion is emphasized in most countries, Common Law systems, such as English law, do not mandate it, reflecting a more flexible approach toward force majeure in international oil and gas contracts.
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