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Crown Minerals Act 1991

Permits, access to land, and other matters - Decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure and wells - Decommissioning obligations in relation to wells

89S: Obligations of licence holders: decommissioning of wells

You could also call this:

"When you're done using a well, you must fill it in and clean up the site at your own cost."

Illustration for Crown Minerals Act 1991

If you hold a licence, you must plug and abandon any wells that were drilled or used for activities allowed by your licence. You have to pay for this work yourself. This includes all wells that are related to your licence, and any older wells that are relevant. If you are giving up part of your licence area, you must plug and abandon any wells in the area you are surrendering, as well as any relevant older wells.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS622413.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
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Part 1BPermits, access to land, and other matters
Decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure and wells: Decommissioning obligations in relation to wells

89SObligations of licence holders: decommissioning of wells

  1. A person who holds or will hold a licence at the time the obligation to plug and abandon 1 or more wells is required to be completed must carry out, and meet the costs of, plugging and abandoning all wells—

  2. drilled or used for the purposes of, or otherwise related to, activities authorised by the current licence, and all relevant older wells; and
    1. in a case where only part of the licence area is to be surrendered, located in the area of the licence that is to be surrendered, and all relevant older wells.

      1. Repealed

      2. Repealed

      3. Repealed

      4. Repealed
      Notes
      • Section 89S: inserted, on , by section 18 of the Crown Minerals (Decommissioning and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 53).
      • Section 89S heading: amended, on , by section 49(1) of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 40).
      • Section 89S(2): repealed, on , by section 49(2) of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 40).
      • Section 89S(3): repealed, on , by section 49(2) of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 40).
      • Section 89S(4): repealed, on , by section 49(2) of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 40).
      • Section 89S(5): repealed, on , by section 49(2) of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 40).