721Regulations about data management

721 Regulations about data management

(1) The regulations may make provision for and in relation to—

(a) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with operations in the offshore area under—

(ii) a petroleum retention lease; or

(iii) a petroleum production licence; or

(iv) an infrastructure licence; or

(v) a pipeline licence; or

(vi) a petroleum special prospecting authority; or

(vii) a petroleum access authority; or

(viii) a petroleum scientific investigation consent; and

(b) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and

(c) the giving to the Minister, or a specified person, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations.

(2) In particular, the regulations may establish a scheme that—

(a) applies in relation to operations in the offshore area under—

(ii) a petroleum retention lease; or

(iii) a petroleum production licence; or

(iv) an infrastructure licence; or

(v) a pipeline licence; or

(vi) a petroleum special prospecting authority; or

(vii) a petroleum access authority; or

(viii) a petroleum scientific investigation consent—

held by a person (the holder); and

(b) requires the holder to prepare and submit a plan (a data management plan) that deals with any or all of the following—

(i) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with those operations;

(ii) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations;

(iii) the giving to the Minister, or to a person specified in the data management plan, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and

(c) empowers the Minister to make decisions about the approval of—

(i) a data management plan; and

(ii) variations of a data management plan; and

(d) requires the holder to comply with an approved data management plan submitted by the holder.

(3) A scheme referred to in subsection (2) may provide that the holder must not commence the relevant operations unless—

(a) an approved data management plan is in force; or

(b) the Minister gives consent to the commencement of those operations.