Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) In this section—
unit development—
(a) applies in relation to a petroleum pool that is partly in a particular licence area of a licensee and partly in a licence area of another licensee or in an area that is not within the adjacent area but in which a person other than the first mentioned licensee is lawfully entitled to carry on operations for the recovery of petroleum from the pool; and
(b) means the carrying on of operations for the recovery of petroleum from that pool under cooperative arrangements between the persons entitled to carry on such operations in each of those areas.
(2) A licensee may from time to time enter into an agreement in writing for or in relation to the unit development of a petroleum pool, but such an agreement does not have any force or effect unless it has been approved by the Minister.
(3) The Minister of the Minister's own motion or on application made to the Minister in writing by—
(a) a licensee in whose licence area there is a part of a particular petroleum pool; or
(b) a person who is lawfully entitled to carry on operations for the recovery of petroleum in an area outside the adjacent area that includes part of a particular petroleum pool that extends into the adjacent area;
may, for the purpose of securing the more effective recovery of petroleum from the petroleum pool, direct any licensee whose licence area includes part of the petroleum pool to enter into an agreement in writing, within the period specified in the instrument, for or in relation to the unit development of the petroleum pool and to lodge the agreement with the Minister forthwith in accordance with section 81.
(4) Where—
(a) a licensee who is directed, under subsection (3), to enter into an agreement for or in relation to the unit development of a petroleum pool does not enter into such an agreement within the specified period; or
(b) a licensee enters into such an agreement but the agreement is not lodged with the Minister in accordance with subsection (3) or, if so lodged, is not approved under section 81;
the Minister may, by instrument in writing served on the licensee, direct the licensee to submit to the Minister, within the period specified in the instrument, a scheme for or in relation to the unit development of the petroleum pool.
(5) At any time after the expiration of the period within which a scheme for or in relation to the unit development of a petroleum pool is to be submitted by a licensee under subsection (4), the Minister may, by instrument in writing served on the licensee, give to the licensee such directions as the Minister thinks necessary for the purpose of securing the more effective recovery of petroleum from the petroleum pool.
(6) Where a person is the licensee in respect of 2 or more licence areas in each of which there is part of a particular petroleum pool, the Minister may, by instrument in writing served on the licensee, give to the licensee such directions as the Minister thinks necessary for the purpose of securing the more effective recovery of petroleum from the petroleum pool.
(7) Where an agreement under this section is in force or the Minister has given directions under subsection (5) or (6), the Minister may, having regard to additional information that has become available, by instrument in writing served on the licensee or licensees concerned give to the licensee or licensees such directions, or further directions, as the case may be, as the Minister thinks necessary for the purpose of securing the more effective recovery of petroleum from the petroleum pool.
(8) The Minister shall not give a direction under subsection (6) or (7) unless the Minister has given to the licensee or licensees concerned an opportunity to confer with the Minister concerning the proposed direction.
(9) Directions under subsection (5), (6) or (7) may include directions as to the rate at which petroleum is to be recovered.
(10) An agreement under this section is an instrument to which section 81 applies.
(11) The Minister shall—
(a) if a petroleum pool extends, or is reasonably believed by the Minister to extend, from the adjacent area into lands to which the laws of another State or of the Northern Territory relating to the exploitation of petroleum resources apply—consult with the appropriate authority of that State or of the Northern Territory concerning the exploitation of the petroleum pool; or
(b) if a petroleum pool extends, or is reasonably believed by the Minister to extend, from the adjacent area into the Commonwealth offshore area for a State, other than Queensland, or for the Northern Territory—consult with the Designated Authority under the Commonwealth Act in respect of that State or the Northern Territory concerning the exploitation of the petroleum pool; or
(c) if both paragraphs (a) and (b) apply—comply with both of those paragraphs.
(12) Where subsection (11) applies in relation to a petroleum pool, the Minister shall not approve an agreement under this section, or give a direction under this section, in relation to that petroleum pool except with the approval of any other authority or Designated Authority required by that subsection to be consulted.