Petroleum Act 1984

An exploration permit, while it remains in force, gives the permittee, subject to this Act and in accordance with the conditions to which the permit is subject and the directions, if any, lawfully given by the Minister, the exclusive right to explore for petroleum, and to carry on such operations and execute such works as are necessary for that purpose, in the exploration permit area.

Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) but subject to this Act and any condition or direction referred to in that subsection, a permittee or, if there is more than one, the permittees jointly and their agents and employees may:

at any time, enter and remain in the exploration permit area with such vehicles, vessels, machinery and equipment as are necessary or convenient for carrying out the technical works programme or other exploration of the permit area; and

carry out the technical works programme and other exploration for petroleum in the exploration permit area; and

extract, remove or allow the release from the exploration permit area for sampling and testing, an amount of material reasonably necessary for the purpose of establishing the presence of petroleum, or such greater amount as is approved; and

if approved by the Minister – recover petroleum on an appraisal basis from the permit area; and

subject to the Water Act 1992, any prior lawful activity and to the directions, if any, of the Minister, use the water resources of the exploration permit area for the permittee's domestic use and for any purpose in connection with the permittee's approved technical works programme and other exploration.

The Minister must, subject to Division 4 and to the conditions the Minister thinks fit, grant a production licence to a permittee if the permittee has:

complied with the conditions to which the permittee's exploration permit is subject, the directions, if any, given to the permittee by the Minister and with this Act; and

discovered a commercially exploitable accumulation of petroleum within the permittee's exploration permit area; and

applied under section 45 for a production licence in relation to the blocks where the accumulation occurs.