Mineral Resources Development Act 1995

The area of land comprised in a petroleum production licence is to be, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient – to allow the activities set out in the field development plan in respect of the licence to be carried out; and to enable future petroleum production in relation to the petroleum field to which the field development plan relates; and to enable future storage in any petroleum reservoir to which the licence relates.

The area of land comprised in a geothermal production licence is to be, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient – to allow the activities set out in the development plan in respect of the licence to be carried out; and to enable future development of the geothermal resource; and to cover the extent of any geothermal reservoir that is specified in the application; and to enable future storage in the geothermal reservoir.

Land comprised in a licence may be either or both of the following:the same size as, or smaller than, the area of land in respect of which the licence was sought; different in shape from the area of land in respect of which the licence was sought.

An area of land comprised in a licence must not include an area which – is subject to a licence of any kind in respect of the same minerals or category of minerals; or is the subject of an application for a retention licence or a lease; or is the subject of a retention licence or a lease.