Types of Licences

Exploration Licence (PEL or GEL)

A petroleum or geothermal exploration licence (PEL or GEL) authorises the licensee to carry out in the licence area exploratory operations for regulated resources, and operations to establish the nature and extent of a discovery and the feasibility of production.


Retention Licence (PRL or GRL)

A petroleum or geothermal retention licence (PRL or GRL ) provides an exploration licensee with security of title over currently non-commercial discoveries for a reasonable period of time until they become commercial.


Production Licence (PPL or GPL)

When a discovery is made that warrants production in an area of an exploration licence, the licensee is entitled to a petroleum or geothermal production licence (PPL or GPL) over the discovery area.


Pipeline Licence (PL)

The Petroleum Act 2000 provides for the granting of pipeline licences (PLs) for the purpose of constructing and operating a transmission pipeline for carrying petroleum or another regulated substance (as defined in the Act). A PL can be held for a term of up to 21 years with rights of renewal.


Preliminary and Speculative Survey Licences (PSL and SSL)

A preliminary survey licence (PSL) authorises the licensee to carry out a survey, environmental evaluation or other form of assessment preparatory to the carrying out of regulated activities on land, for example for the purpose of surveying the proposed route of an onshore transmission pipeline prior to applying for a PL. A speculative survey licence (SSL) authorises the licensee to carry out exploratory operations of the kind specified in the licence.


Associated Facilities Licence (AFL)

An associated facilities licence (AFL) authorises the licensee to establish and operate associated facilities on land outside the area of the primary licence. An associated facility is anything that is reasonably necessary for, or incidental to, carrying on regulated activities in the area of, or the vicinity of, the primary licence area.


For further information please contact the Petroleum & Geothermal Group.

Holders of current licences are included on the Licence Register.