{"id":"C1964L00119","name":"Petroleum Search Subsidy Regulations","slug":"c1964l00119","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"119 of 1964","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":380705,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1964L00119-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-09","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Petroleum Search Subsidy Regulations","content":"Statutory Rules 1964, No. 119.(b)\n\n![](image.002.png)![](image.001.png)Citation.\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the Petroleum Search Subsidy Regulations.\n\nRepeal.\n\n2. The Petroleum Search Subsidy Regulations (comprising Statutory Rules 1961, No. 140 and Statutory Rules 1964, No. 63) are repealed.\n\nDefinition.\n\n3. In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1964.\n\nPrescribed part of costs of prescribed operations.\n\n4. For the purposes of section 9 of the Act—\n\n(a) a class of operations specified in column 1 of the table in the First Schedule to these Regulations is a prescribed class of operations; and\n\n(b) the part specified in column 2 of that table opposite to a prescribed class of operations in column 1 is prescribed in relation to that class.\n\nPrescribed scales of rates of subsidy on footage basis.\n\n5. For the purposes of section 9a of the Act—\n\n(a) the scale of rates set out in the Second Schedule to these Regulations is the prescribed scale with respect to stratigraphic drilling; and\n\n(b) the scale of rates set out in the Third Schedule to these Regulations is the prescribed scale with respect to test drilling.\n\nManner of application of the Second and Third Schedules.\n\n6.—(1.) The amounts set out in the Second and Third Schedules to these Regulations under the heading “Drilled” are applicable in relation to a method of drilling not involving the extraction of a core, and the amounts set out in those Schedules under the heading “Drilled and Cored” are applicable in relation to a method of drilling involving the extraction of a core.\n\n(2.) Each amount set out in the Second and Third Schedules to these Regulations is the amount of subsidy per foot that is applicable to so much of the footage of a hole in relation to which the relevant Schedule applies as—\n\n(a) has been drilled by a method in relation to which that amount is applicable; and\n\n(b) is included in the portion of the hole that commences at the depth specified in the first column of the relevant Schedule opposite to that amount and extends—\n\n(i) to the depth specified in the second column of the relevant Schedule opposite to that amount; or\n\n![](image.003.png)(ii) where the depth of the hole is less than the depth so specified in that second column, or where no depth is so specified in that second column—to the depth to which the hole has been drilled.\n\n(b) Made under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1964 on 3 September, 1964; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 4 September, 1964.\n\n \nReferences to depth.\n\n7. For the purposes of the Second and Third Schedules to these Regulations, the depth at any point in a hole shall be taken to be the footage of the hole between the surface of the ground and that point.\n\n![](image.004.png)THE SCHEDULES.\n\nFIRST SCHEDULE.\n\nRegulation 4.\n\nRelation of Subsidy to Costs.\n\n| | Column 1. | Column 2. |\n| --- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |\n| | Class of operations. | Part. |\n| | Geophysical survey....................................ot | Three-tenths |\n| | Test drilling........................................ | Three-tenths |\n| | Stratigraphic drilling................................... | Four-tenths |\n\nSECOND SCHEDULE.\n\nRegulation 5 (a).\n\nSubsidy for\n\nStratigraphic Drilling.\n\n```html\n

Depths.

Rate of subsidy per foot.

From.

To.

Drilled.

Drilled and Cored.

Feet.

Feet.

£

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

0

1,000

1

10

0

3

0

0

1,000

2,000

1

12

0

3

4

0

2,000

3,000

1

16

0

3

12

0

3,000

4,000

2

2

0

4

4

0

4,000

5,000

2

12

0

5

4

0

5,000

6,000

3

6

0

6

12

0

6,000

7,000

4

2

0

8

4

0

7,000

8,000

5

2

0

10

4

0

8,000

9,000

6

4

0

12

8

0

9,000

10,000

7

8

0

14

16

0

10,000

11,000

8

14

0

17

8

0

11,000

12,000

10

2

0

20

4

0

12,000

13,000

11

12

0

23

4

0

13,000

14,000

13

4

0

26

8

0

14,000

..

14

18

0

29

16

0

\n```\n\n \nTHIRD SCHEDULE.\n\nRegulation 5 (b).\n\nSubsidy for\n\nTest Drilling.\n\n```html\n

Depths.

Rate of subsidy per foot.

From.

To.

Drilled.

Drilled and Cored.

Feet.

Feet.

£

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

0

1,000

18

0

1

16

0

1,000

2,000

1

0

0

2

0

0

2,000

3,000

1

2

0

2

4

0

3,000

4,000

1

6

0

2

12

0

4,000

5,000

1

14

0

3

8

0

5,000

6,000

2

4

0

4

8

0

6,000

7,000

2

16

0

5

12

0

7,000

8,000

3

12

0

7

4

0

8,000

9,000

4

10

0

9

0

0

9,000

10,000

5

10

0

11

0

0

10,000

11,000

6

12

0

13

4

0

11,000

12,000

7

16

0

15

12

0

12,000

13,000

9

2

0

18

4

0

13,000

14,000

10

10

0

21

0

0

14,000

..

12

0

0

24

0

0

\n```\n\n![](image.005.png)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2615},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain focused on prescribing subsidy rates and operational classes as originally intended under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act, consolidating and replacing earlier 1961 and 1964 regulations without expanding beyond the subsidy calculation framework."},"complexity_factors":["Pre-decimal currency denominations (£ s d) requiring historical conversion context","Tiered depth-based calculation tables with 14 distinct depth brackets per schedule","Dual subsidy structure combining percentage-based cost rebates and per-foot rates","Methodological distinction between standard drilling and 'drilled and cored' operations with 2x multiplier","Cross-references to parent Act for operational definitions and authority"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations implement the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act, directing government payments to companies exploring for oil and gas. Payments come as percentage rebates (30% for geophysical surveys and test drilling; 40% for stratigraphic drilling) or as per‑foot drilling subsidies that rise with depth and are doubled when coring (rock sampling) is done. Amounts are expressed in pre‑decimal currency."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the prior Petroleum Search Subsidy Regulations and replaces them with new prescribed classes, proportions of costs and detailed per‑foot subsidy scales tied to depth and drilling method (Regs 2–6; First–Third Schedules). That updates the operational detail and practical reach of subsidy payments (rates and calculation rules) while leaving statutory eligibility criteria in the Act unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Interplay with the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act via references to section 9 and section 9a (Regs 4–5)","Tiered, depth‑based per‑foot rates set out as large numeric tables in the Second and Third Schedules","Distinction between 'drilled' and 'drilled and cored' methods and corresponding rate application (Reg 6(1))","Calculation rules for applying rates to portions of a hole and partial footage (Reg 6(2)(a)–(b)(ii))","Repeal and replacement of prior regulations (Reg 2) requiring administrators to switch to new rates and parts","Concrete rule on how depth is measured for subsidy purposes (Reg 7) affecting computations"],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations replace earlier rules and set which petroleum‑exploration activities qualify for the search subsidy and exactly how much is paid. They prescribe the share of eligible costs for geophysical surveys, test drilling and stratigraphic drilling, and give detailed per‑foot subsidy rates by depth and by drilling method (with different rates if a core is taken). They affect exploration companies (who receive payments) and the government official who administers the Act; payments are computed from footage, depth and method using the schedules."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/c1964l00119","history":"/api/acts/c1964l00119/history","analysis":"/api/acts/c1964l00119/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/c1964l00119/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/c1964l00119/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/c1964l00119/documents"}}