DEPART MENT OF Mines and Energy
GUIDELINE
Process for Onshore Petroleum Geophysical and Geotechnical Survey Approvals
Applicable Legislation:
NT Petroleum Act 2011 &
NT Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 2012.
No.
STEP
1.
Operator sends in application*.
*NOTE:
1. All application letters*
must make direct reference
to the applicable legislation,
quoting appropriate clauses
and signed by the custodian
of the project.
2.
Allow maximum of 30 days
for processing of the
environment plan.
3.
Any changes in program
must be addressed to
Director of Energy and
Energy Operations Team
for approval before
commencement.
4.
No activity can commence
until approval has been
granted by the Director of
Energy
REQUIREMENTS
A. The application must be signed by custodian of
the project.
ACTION BY
Operator.
B. The application needs to include:
i. Survey Program
ii. Environment Plan
iii. Safety Management Plan
iv. Insurance Certificate(s)
v. Access Authority Request
vi. Emergency Response Plan
vii. Environment Security Calculation Form
viii. Letters from stakeholders
C. After Approval:
 Payment of Environment Security
 Environment Plan Summary to be
submitted within 7 days of approval
being granted.
NOTE:
Please send all documents to:
(a) directorenergy@nt.gov.au
(b) petroleum.operations@nt.gov.au
2.
Review of the application by
Department.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
3.
Request Access Authority
application (if required).
Access Authority is required if the survey goes over a
permit which the operator does not hold title.
NT Petroleum
Titles Team
4.
Input from other NT
Government Agencies.
Lands Planning and Environment, Natural Resources,
Business etc. as appropriate
NT Energy
Operations Team.
4.
Prepare an Application
Assessment Report and
Recommendation.
Focussing on assessment and review of the application
submission package, i.e. Program/Plans/Certificates.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
6.
Environment Security estimated
and agreed.
Suitable security confirmed.
7.
Approval recommendation for
Director of Energy to consider.
Operator /
NT Energy
Operations Team.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
8.
Operator notified of outcome
(resubmission of application
required if outcome not
favourable –i.e. back to Step 1)
Letter sent.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
Energy Division
October 2012
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9.
Survey commences.
Dissemination of daily/weekly seismic survey reports.
Operator.
10.
Survey completed.
Update Petroleum data spreadsheets with survey information
and data.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
11.
Site clean-up and demobilisation.
Complete clean up and demobilisation from survey site.
Operator.
12.
Monitor Environmental
Rehabilitation progress.
Ensure the environment is rehabilitated as per approved
environment plan.
NT Energy
Operations Team /
Operator.
13.
Periodic Reporting of
Environmental Rehabilitation.
Reports required for monitoring environment rehabilitation
progress.
Operator.
14.
Submission of Close-out
Environmental Rehabilitation
Report
Final confirmation that rehabilitation has been completed in
accordance with the approved environment plan – may
possibly involve third party validation)
Operator.
15.
Assessment of Close-out
Environmental Rehabilitation
Reports.
Assessment of final environment rehabilitation report before
release of Environment Security Deposit.
NT Energy
Operations Team /
Independent
Validator /
Director of
Energy.
16.
Release of Environment Security
Deposit.
Security deposit released on acceptance that environment
rehabilitation was undertaken as per approved environment
plan.
NT Energy
Operations Team.
17.
Survey Completion Report and
Data sets submission.
Survey Completion Report and Data sets to be submitted to
NTDME.
Custodian of the
Project / Operator.
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Energy Division
October 2012
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