5. c. 52) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates the exploration and production of petroleum from underground strata.

In the early the twentieth century, Britain imported most of its petroleum from the Middle East and America.

[1] The First World War reduced access to some of these sources and increased the demand and use of petroleum.

Its long title is 'An Act to make provision with respect to the searching and boring for and getting Petroleum, and for purposes connected therewith'.

5. c. 36) which vested in the Crown the property in petroleum and natural gas within Great Britain.