Commentary on Sections The power to issue a notice to plug and abandon a well
385.The Schedule also inserts clauses into relevant licences which give the Minister the power to issue a notice requiring the licensee to plug and abandon a well which has been suspended for a period of at least a month. The licensee will be required to plug and abandon the well within the period set out in the notice.
386.A notice requiring a licensee to plug and abandon a well under this section must be given more than one month before the natural expiry or termination of the licensee’s rights in relation to the licence.
387.Subsection (4) of section 77 provides that the power to require that a suspended well be plugged and abandoned cannot be exercised in relation to a well where drilling started before the relevant provisions of the Schedule come into force.