79Unit development

79 Unit development

(1) This section applies if a petroleum pool extends over a number of areas in a way that legally entitles more than one holder of a production licence or other person to carry out operations for the extraction of petroleum from the pool.

(2) The Minister may require the people who are entitled to extract petroleum from the pool to enter into a co-operative arrangement for the extraction of petroleum from the pool for one or more of the following purposes—

(a) to extract the petroleum as effectively as possible;

(b) to keep disruptions to the environment to a minimum.

(3) In making such a requirement, the Minister must ensure—

(a) that written notice of the requirement is given to each person on whom the requirement is made; and

(b) that the notice specifies by when the requirement must be complied with; and

(c) that the notice specifies how any dispute concerning the terms of the required co‑operative arrangement is to be resolved; and

(d) that the notice specifies what action the Minister may take if the requirement is not complied with.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b), the Minister must allow a period of at least 90 days from the date the notice is given.