(1) In this section
—
section 17 block means —
(a) a
block constituted as provided by section 17; or
(b) if a
graticular section is wholly within the area that was covered by the
Commonwealth lease concerned — the graticular section; or
(c) if a
part only of a graticular section is within the area that was covered by the
Commonwealth lease concerned — that part of the graticular section.
Note for this definition:
See also subsection
(6).
(2) This section
applies if —
(a) a
Commonwealth lease has been granted on the basis that an area (the relevant
area ) is within the offshore area; and
(b) as a
result of a change to the boundary of the offshore area, the relevant area
—
(i)
ceases to be within the offshore area; and
(ii)
falls within the adjacent area;
and
(c)
either —
(i)
the conditions set out in subsection (3) are satisfied;
or
(ii)
the conditions set out in subsection (4) are satisfied;
and
(d)
there are one or more section 17 blocks (the relevant section 17 blocks ) that
—
(i)
correspond to the section 17 blocks that were covered by
the Commonwealth lease immediately before the change; and
(ii)
are in the adjacent area; and
(iii)
are not the subject of a variation under section 103A.
(3) The conditions
mentioned in subsection (2)(c)(i) are —
(a) one
or more, but not all, of the section 17 blocks that were covered by the
Commonwealth lease immediately before the change are in the relevant area; and
(b) the
Commonwealth lease subsequently ceases to be in force at the same time (the
relevant time ) —
(i)
as to all of the section 17 blocks that were covered by
the Commonwealth lease immediately before the change and that are in the
offshore area; and
(ii)
otherwise than as the result of the cancellation or
surrender of the Commonwealth lease.
(4) The conditions
mentioned in subsection (2)(c)(ii) are —
(a) all
of the section 17 blocks that were covered by the Commonwealth lease
immediately before the change are in the relevant area; and
(b) the
Commonwealth lease subsequently ceases to be in force at the same time (the
relevant time ) —
(i)
as to all of the section 17 blocks that were covered by
the Commonwealth lease immediately before the change; and
(ii)
otherwise than as the result of the cancellation or
surrender of the Commonwealth lease.
(5) The Minister is
taken —
(a) to
have granted the holder of the Commonwealth lease a lease over the relevant
section 17 blocks; and
(b) to
have done so immediately after the relevant time mentioned in whichever of
subsection (3) or (4) is applicable.
Note for this subsection:
For the duration of
the lease, see section 38D(2).
(6) If, after the
change to the boundary of the offshore area —
(a) a
part of a section 17 block that was covered by the Commonwealth lease
immediately before the change is in the offshore area; and
(b) the
remaining part of the section 17 block is in the adjacent area,
then, for the purposes
of this section (other than this subsection), each of those parts is taken to
constitute, and to have always constituted, a section 17 block.
[Section 38CD inserted: No. 7 of 2017 s. 39.]