Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00818:section:20:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00818
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 20 (pt 1/3)
Character Range: 72866–75632

20  Combining of petroleum projects
 (1) Subject to this section, where the Resources Minister, in relation to a production licence in relation to a petroleum project, having regard to:
 (a) the respective operations, facilities and other things that comprise, have comprised or will comprise that project and any other petroleum project or projects existing at the time at which the production licence came into force; and
 (b) the persons by whom or on whose behalf the operations, facilities and other things referred to in paragraph (a) are being, have been or are proposed to be carried on or provided; and
 (d) the geological, geophysical and geochemical and other features of the production licence areas in relation to the projects;
considers that the projects are sufficiently related to be treated for the purposes of this Act as a single petroleum project, the Minister must issue a certificate under this subsection specifying the production licence or production licences in relation to each of the projects.
 (1A) Despite subsection (1), the Minister cannot specify, under that subsection, a production licence relating to the North West Shelf project.
 (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a):
 (a) a reference to operations, facilities and other things that have comprised a petroleum project includes, in the case of a combined project, a reference to operations, facilities and other things that have comprised the pre‑combination projects in relation to the project; and
 (b) a reference to operations, facilities and other things that will comprise a petroleum project is a reference to operations, facilities and other things that are proposed, by the registered holders of, and the holders of registered interests in, the production licence or licences in relation to the project, to comprise the project.
 (4) The Minister may only issue a certificate under subsection (1) in respect of petroleum projects if:
 (a) a person who is entitled to receive at least half of the receipts from the sale of petroleum or marketable petroleum commodities produced in relation to each of the projects applies, in writing, to the Minister for the certificate to be issued; or
 (b) 2 or more persons who together are entitled to receive at least half of those receipts apply, in writing, to the Minister for the certificate to be issued.
 (4A) An application under subsection (4) may only be made within:
 (a) the period of 90 days beginning on the day the most recent production licence in relation to any of the petroleum projects came into force; or
 (b) if the Minister allows a longer period—that longer period.
 (4B) If the Minister does not make a decision on an application under subsection (4) before the later of the following times:
 (a) the end