Types of petroleum activities

Preliminary activities are a type of exploration activity. They have no impact, or low impact, on land.

Petroleum activities include:

• taking:
  • water samples
  • rock samples without using heavy machinery
  • soil samples to a depth of up to four metres
• carrying out surveys that do not involve:
  • clearing any vegetation
  • permanent installation of any infrastructure or equipment on land
• driving a vehicle on land, except a heavy vehicle, to carry out preliminary activities.

Preliminary activities don't impact or cause a risk to the environment. They are not a regulated activity under the law.

For a company to carry out regulated operations, it must have an exploration permit, a retention licence or a production licence.

Regulated operations include:

• aerial surveys
• ground-based seismic surveys
• drilling an exploration well
• drilling a development well to recover petroleum.

These activities require an approved environment management plan from the environment minister.