Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts(1) An exploration permit, while it remains in force, gives the permittee, subject to this Act and in accordance with the conditions to which the permit is subject and the directions, if any, lawfully given by the Minister, the exclusive right to explore for petroleum, and to carry on such operations and execute such works as are necessary for that purpose, in the exploration permit area.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) but subject to this Act and any condition or direction referred to in that subsection, a permittee or, if there is more than one, the permittees jointly and his agents and employees may:
(a) at any time, enter and remain in the exploration permit area with such vehicles, vessels, machinery and equipment as are necessary or convenient for carrying out the technical works programme or other exploration of the permit area;
(b) carry out the technical works programme and other exploration for petroleum in the exploration permit area;
(c) extract, remove or allow the release from the exploration permit area for sampling and testing, an amount of material reasonably necessary for the purpose of establishing the presence of petroleum, or such greater amount as is approved; and
(d) subject to any prior lawful activity and to the directions, if any, of the Minister, use the water resources of the exploration permit area for his domestic use and for any purpose in connection with his approved technical works programme and other exploration.
(3) Where a permittee has:
(a) complied with the conditions to which the permittee's exploration permit is subject, the directions, if any, lawfully given to him by the Minister and with this Act;
(b) discovered a commercially exploitable accumulation of petroleum within the permittee's exploration permit area; and
(c) under section 45, applied for a production licence in relation to the blocks where the accumulation occurs,
the Minister shall, subject to Division 4, to Parts IIA and IIB (as applicable) and to such conditions as the Minister may think fit, grant to him a production licence.