Petroleum Act 1998

The holder of an authority must, unless permitted to do otherwise under this Act—

control the flow and prevent the waste or escape in the authority area of petroleum or water; and

prevent the escape in the authority area of any mixture of water or drilling fluid with petroleum or any other matter; and

prevent petroleum operations in the authority area from damaging petroleum-bearing strata in areas outside the authority area; and

keep separate—

each petroleum pool discovered in the authority area; and

any sources of water discovered in that area that the Minister directs the holder in writing to keep separate; and

prevent water or any other matter entering any petroleum pool through wells in the authority area except when required by, and in accordance with, good oil-field practice.

In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1), it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove that it took all reasonable steps to comply with that subsection.