Petroleum Regulations 2021

For the purposes of section 161(1)(d) of the Act, an operation plan—

must set out—

a comprehensive description of the equipment and facilities to be used in the petroleum operation; and

a comprehensive description of the petroleum operation, including details of each of the proposed stages of the petroleum operation that must include, if appropriate, the following stages—

construction;

operation;

decommissioning;

rehabilitation; and

details of the proposed process to ensure that the Minister is notified prior to commencement of each stage of the petroleum operation; and

an environment management plan; and

if the petroleum operation involves petroleum exploration, a statement of the activities referred to in section 7 of the Act that are proposed to be carried out; and

if the petroleum operation includes the making of a new well, carrying out activities on an existing well or decommissioning a well, a well operation management plan in accordance with Division 3; and

must provide for—

a review of the operation plan by the holder of the authority before the holder commences each stage of the petroleum operation; and

a review by the holder of the authority of the risks identified in the operation plan whenever there is a significant change in the risks that the petroleum operation may pose; and

a review of the operation plan by the holder of the authority at least once every 5 years; and

the submission of a report by the holder of the authority, within 7 days of each review being finalised, to the Minister setting out the findings of that review; and

must include, in relation to any facility proposed to be used in connection with the petroleum operation—

a map of the location of the facility, and

a description of the location; and

details of all the sites related to the petroleum operation (including, but not limited to, accommodation camps), the activities to be undertaken at those sites and their location on the map referred to in subparagraph (i); and

details of the proposed design, construction, installation and maintenance of the facility; and

if the facility is to be modified, details of the proposed modifications; and

details of the proposals for the decommissioning of the facility.

The details provided under subregulation (1)(a)(ii) must enable the Minister to assess whether the facility is adequate for the proposed petroleum operation.

The operation plan must—

be appropriate for the nature and scale of the activities to be carried out during the petroleum operation; and

include a rehabilitation plan.

If an operation plan has been submitted by the holder of an authority, the Minister may, by notice in writing, require the holder to provide any additional information that the Minister considers to be relevant to acceptance of the plan.

The Minister may, by notice in writing, require the holder to submit a revised operation plan incorporating the additional information referred to in subregulation (4).